Chapter 3
PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS
Man's words
Canons of Dordt - Fifth Head of Doctrine
Article 6But God, who is rich in mercy, according to His unchangeable purpose of election, does not wholly withdraw the Holy Spirit from His own people even in their grievous falls; nor suffers them to proceed so far as to lose the grace of adoption and forfeit the state of justification, or to commit the sin unto death or against the Holy Spirit; nor does He permit them to be totally deserted, and to plunge themselves into everlasting destruction.
Article 8Thus it is not in consequence of their own merits or strength, but of God's free mercy, that they neither totally fall from faith and grace nor continue and perish finally in their backslidings; which, with respect to themselves is not only possible, but would undoubtfully happen; but with respect to God, it is utterly impossible, since His counsel cannot be changed nor His promise fail; neither can the call according to His purpose be revoked, nor the merit, intercession, and preservation of Christ be rendered ineffectual, nor the sealing of the Holy Spirit be frustrated or obliterated.
Article 9Of this preservation of the elect to salvation and of their perseverance in the faith, true believers themselves may and do obtain assurance according to the measure of their faith, whereby they surely believe that they are and ever will continue true and living members of the Church, and that they have the forgiveness of sins and life eternal.
* * *"The elect are not only redeemed by Christ and renewed by the Spirit; they are kept in faith by the almighty power of God. All those who are spiritually united to Christ through regeneration are eternally secure in Him. Nothing can separate them from the eternal and unchangeable love of God. They have been predestinated unto eternal glory and are therefore assured of heaven." The Five Points of Calvinism, Steele and Thomas, page 56
"By the term "perseverance of the saints" we mean that if a person is once saved he is always saved and can never slip from God's saving grace.
When we confess the perseverance of the saints we confess that there are no "if's" or "but's" about the certainty of our salvation, because it is God who is working in us, and if he has begun a good work there will be no moment of time from then on that he will not work within us. What a glorious comfort the knowledge of this fact brings to one who is a Christian. For he can know that if he really has put his trust in Jesus as his Saviour, then he can never slip away and be lost, whether because of his own sinful weakness and tendency to unbelief, or because of the wiles of the Devil. This is strictly a Reformed doctrine and hangs or falls together with the other four points (of Calvinism) that we have been discussing."
The Five Points of Calvinism, Edwin H. Palmer, Th.D., page 59
* * *"The Christian Reformed Church teaches that by virtue of their election, the substitutionary atonement of Christ, and his intercession for them, the salvation of God's people is assured; that God will not suffer those who are joined to Christ in true faith to totally fall from faith and grace; and that by reason of the continuous abiding of the Holy Spirit the believers will persevere in the way of salvation to the end."
"The Christian Reformed Church - What it Teaches"
Back to God Tract Committee, Tract No. 86, pages 13-14Q. Is Calvinism's absolute "Perseverance of the Saints" true, OR does GOD'S WORD teach that a saint or Christian can fall from grace?
"Ye are severed from Christ, ye who would be justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace." Gal. 5:4
"But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith" I Tim. 4:1
"Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." I Cor. 10:12
"For as touching those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come, and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame." Heb. 6:4-6
"Ye therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, beware lest, being carried away with the error of the wicked, ye fall from your own stedfastness." II Pet. 3:17
"Take heed, brethren, lest haply there shall be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God: but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called To-day; lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin: for we are become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end." Heb 3:12-14
"And those on the rock are they who, when they have heard, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away." Luke 8:13
"Moreover he (an Elder) must have good testimony from them that are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil." I Tim. 3:7
"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write... But I have this against thee, that thou didst leave thy first love. Remember therefore whence thou art fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I come to thee, and will remove thy candlestick out of its place, except thou repent." Rev. 2:1, 4-5
"Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge ye this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock in his brother's way, or an occasion of falling." Rom. 14:13
"Behold then the goodness and severity of God: toward them that fell, severity; but toward thee, God's goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off." Rom. 11:22
"Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord: looking carefully lest there be any man that falleth short of the grace of God;" Heb. 12:14-15
"...as that the day of the Lord is just at hand; let no man beguile you in any wise: for it will not be, except the falling away come first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition" II Thess. 2:2-3
Q. Is Calvinism's absolute "Perseverance of the Saints" true, OR does GOD'S WORD teach that the salvation of the saints is conditional upon certain "ifs" as to their continued faithfulness?
"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." Matt. 16:24
"Jesus therefore said to those Jews that had believed him, If ye abide in my word, then are ye truly my disciples; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:31-32
"If ye keep my (Jesus') commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love." John 15:10"Faithful is the saying: For
if we died with him, we shall also live with him:
if we endure, we shall also reign with him:
if we shall deny him, he also will deny us:
if we are faithless, he abideth faithful; for he cannot deny himself." II Tim. 2:11-13"And you, being in time past alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and unreprovable before him: if so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard"... Col. 1:21-23
"Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble: for thus shall be richly supplied unto you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." II Peter 1:10-11
"...but Christ as a son, over his house; whose house are we, if we hold fast our boldness and the glorying of our hope firm unto the end." Heb. 3:6
"...for we are become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end: while it is said, To-day if ye shall hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation." Heb. 3:14-15
"Behold then the goodness and severity of God: toward them that fell, severity; but toward thee, God's goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they continue not in their unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again." Rom. 11:22-23
"Now I make known unto you brethren, the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye received, wherein also ye stand, by which also ye are saved, if ye hold fast the word which I preached unto you, except ye believed in vain." I Cor. 15:1-2
"The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified with him." Rom. 8:16-17
"And Adam was not beguiled, but the woman being beguiled hath fallen into transgression: but she shall be saved ... if they continue in faith and love and sanctification with sobriety." I Tim. 2:14-15"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Gal. 6:7-9
Q. Is Calvinism's absolute "Perseverance of the Saints" true, OR does GOD'S WORD teach that the salvation of the saints is conditional upon certain "if's" as to their neglect and unfaithfulness?
"Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men." Matt. 5:13
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; so neither can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned." John 15:4-6
"Therefore we (Hebrew saints) ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that were heard, lest haply we drift away from them. For if the word spoken through angels proved stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; how shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation?" Heb. 2:1-3
"For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries." Heb. 10:26-27
"But my righteous one shall live by faith: And if he shrink back, my soul hath no pleasure in him." Heb. 10:38
Q. Is Calvinism's absolute "Perseverance of the Saints" true, OR does GOD'S WORD teach that it is possible for those who have escaped the sin of the world through the knowledge of Jesus, to again be entangled by and to be overcome by sin?
"For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the last state is become worse with them than the first. For it were better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered unto them. It has happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog turning to his own vomit again, and the sow that had washed to wallowing in the mire." II Pet. 2:20-22
"For freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage." Gal. 5:1
* * *Q. Is Calvinism's absolute "Perseverance of the Saints" true, OR does GOD'S WORD teach that a saint or Christian can sin wilfully, thus reject God's Son and His salvation, and thus receive vengeance at the hand of the living God?
"For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries. A man that hath set at nought Moses law dieth without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses: of how much sorer punishment, think ye, shall he be judged worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Heb. 10:26-31
"See that ye refuse not him (Jesus) that speaketh. For if they escaped not when they refused him that warned them on earth, much more shall not we escape who turn away from him that warneth from heaven....for our God is a consuming fire." Heb. 12:25, 29
* * *Q. Is Calvinism's absolute "Perseverance of the Saints" true OR does GOD'S WORD teach that saints can deny the faith and that the faith of the saints can be overthrown?
"But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith" I Tim. 4:1
"But if any provideth not for his own, and specially his own household, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever." 1 Tim. 5:8
"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith...." I Tim. 6:10
"O Timothy, guard that which is committed unto thee, turning away from the profane babblings and oppositions of the knowledge which is falsely so called; which some professing have erred concerning the faith." I Tim. 6:20-21
"...holding faith and a good conscience; which some having thrust from them made shipwreck concerning the faith: of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander...." I Tim. 1:19-20
"But shun profane babblings: for they will proceed further in ungodliness, and their word will eat as doth a gangrene: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; men who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already, and overthrow the faith of some." II Tim. 2:16-18
Q. Is Calvinism's absolute "Perseverance of the Saints" true, OR does GOD'S WORD give us a definite example of one who truly believed, was baptized, and continued with the truth, and then fell away into wickedness and iniquity by which he could have perished?
"And Simon (the sorcerer) also himself believed: and being baptized, he continued with Philip; and beholding signs and great miracles wrought, he was amazed....Now when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit. But Peter said unto him, Thy silver perish with thee, because thou hast thought to obtain the gift of God with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right before God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray the Lord, if perhaps the thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee. For I see that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity. And Simon answered and said, Pray ye for me to the Lord, that none of the things which ye have spoken come upon me." Acts 8:13, 18-24
* * *Q. Is Calvinism's absolute "Perseverance of the Saints" true, OR does GOD'S WORD teach that members of the true church can do things that will cause them to loose their part of the tree of life and of the holy city?
"I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things for the churches.... I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto them, God shall add unto him the plagues which are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book." Rev. 22:16, 18-19Q. According to GOD'S WORD, who was the first to teach,
"Ye shall not surely die",
"The impossibility of apostasy",
"The Perseverance of the Saints"?"Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which Jehovah God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of any tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat: but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:" Gen. 3:1-4
* * *Q. Is Calvinism's absolute "Perseverance of the Saints" true, OR does GOD'S WORD warn saints to beware of the devil lest they fall and be devoured by him?
"Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour, whom withstand stedfast in your faith" I Pet. 5:8-9
"Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." Eph. 6:11
"Be subject therefore unto God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7
"Moreover he (an Elder) must have good testimony from them that are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil." 1 Tim. 3:7
"But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons" 1 Tim. 4:1
Q. If Calvinism's absolute "Perseverance of the Saints" is true, and the devil has not caused one saint to fall in 2000 years, why does the devil continue "as a roaring lion, walking about, seeking whom he may devour"?
Q. Is the devil really that stupid?
Q. If Calvinism's absolute "Perseverance of the Saints" is true, why does the devil continue "as a roaring lion, walking about, seeking whom he may devour", when Calvinism tells him that God will give him the non-elect reprobates whether he walks, roars, or does anything at all to get them?
* * *Q. Is Calvinism's absolute "Perseverance of the Saints" true, OR does GOD'S WORD teach that names can be blotted out of God's book of life?
"And Moses returned unto Jehovah, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin -- ; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. And Jehovah said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book." Ex. 32:31-33
"Add iniquity unto their iniquity;
And let them not come into thy righteousness.
Let them be blotted out of the book of life,
And not be written with the righteous." Psalm 69:27-28"He that overcometh shall thus be arrayed in white garments; and I will in no wise blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches." Rev. 3:5-6
"And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." Rev. 22:19 AV
Q. Is Calvinism's absolute "Perseverance of the Saints" true, OR does GOD'S WORD teach that only those who overcome and are faithful unto death shall be saved?
"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God." Rev. 2:7
"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death." Rev. 2:11
"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written, which no one knoweth but he that receiveth it." Rev. 2:17
"Nevertheless that which ye have, hold fast till I come. And he that overcometh, and he that keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give authority over the nations....He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches." Rev. 2:25-26, 29
"He that overcometh shall thus be arrayed in white garments; and I will in no wise blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches." Rev. 3:5-6
"I come quickly: hold fast that which thou hast, that no one take thy crown. He that overcometh, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go out thence no more: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God, and mine own new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches." Rev. 3:11-13
"He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches." Rev. 3:21-22
"He that overcometh shall inherit these things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son." Rev. 21:7
"Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches." Rev. 2:10-11
"...he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved." Matt. 10:22
Q. If Calvinism's absolute "Perseverance of the Saints" is true, why does GOD'S WORD tell saints to hold fast, to overcome, to be faithful unto death?
Q. Why does GOD'S WORD give all these warnings and conditions if it is impossible for saints to fall?
Q. Is Calvinism's absolute "Perseverance of the Saints" true, OR does GOD'S WORD teach and warn saints that their salvation is conditional on their "continuing" in the faith and in the Word?
"Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;" John 8:31 AV
"As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love." John 15:9 AV
"And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, and to Iconium, and to Antioch, confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God." Acts 14:21-22
"Behold then the goodness and severity of God: toward them that fell, severity; but toward thee, God's goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off." Rom. 11:22
"...God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:" Rom. 2:5-7 AV
"And you, being in time past alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and unreproveable before him: if so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard...." Col. 1:21-23
"But he that looketh into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and so continueth, being not a hearer that forgetteth but a doer that worketh, this man shall be blessed in his doing." James 1:25
"But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." II Tim. 3:14-15 AV
"Take heed to thyself, and to thy teaching. Continue in these things; for in doing this thou shalt save both thyself and them that hear thee." I Tim. 4:16
"For we have not here an abiding city, but we seek after the city which is to come. Through him (Jesus) then let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which make confession to his name." Heb. 13:14-15
Q. Why does GOD'S WORD teach and warn saints to "continue in the faith", if it is impossible for them not to do so?
Q. What happens when a saint stops "continuing" in the faith and in the Word?
Q. Is Calvinism's absolute "Perseverance of the Saints" true, OR does GOD'S WORD teach that even the great apostle Paul was concerned about his own perseverance?
"...but I (Paul) buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected." I Cor. 9:27
"Brethren, I (Paul) count not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Phil. 3:13-14
* * *Q. Is Calvinism's absolute "Perseverance of the Saints" true, OR does GOD'S WORD teach that the apostle Paul was deeply concerned about the perseverance of the saints which were at Colossae?
"Paul...To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ that are at Colossae:" Col. 1:1-2
"For I would have you know how greatly I strive for you..." Col. 2:1
"Take heed lest there shall be any one that maketh spoil of you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ:" Col. 2:8
"Let no man rob you of your prize..." Col. 2:18
Q. Is Calvinism's absolute "Perseverance of the Saints" true, OR does GOD'S WORD teach that the apostle Paul was very much concerned about the perseverance of the saints which were at Philippi?
"Paul ... to all the saints ...that are at Philippi" Phil. 1:1
"Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ: that, whether I come and see you or be absent, I may hear of your state, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the gospel; and in nothing affrighted by the adversaries:" Phil. 1:27-28
"So then, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure... that I may have whereof to glory in the day of Christ, that I did not run in vain neither labor in vain." Phil. 2:12-13, 16
"Wherefore, my brethren beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my beloved." Phil. 4:1
* * *Q. Is Calvinism's absolute "Perseverance of the Saints" true, OR does GOD'S WORD teach that the apostle Paul was very much concerned about the perseverance of the saints which were in Galatia?
"Paul...unto the churches of Galatia... I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel;" Gal. 1:1-2, 6
"O foolish Galatians, who did bewitch you...? ...Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now perfected in the flesh? Did ye suffer so many things in vain? " Gal. 3:1, 3-4
"but now that ye have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how turn ye back again to the weak and beggarly rudiments, whereunto ye desire to be in bondage over again? Ye observe days, and months, and seasons, and years. I am afraid of you, lest by any means I have bestowed labor upon you in vain." Gal. 4:9-11
"My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you -- but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone; for I am perplexed about you." Gal 4:19-20
"For freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage." Gal. 5:1
* * *Q. Is Calvinism's absolute "Perseverance of the Saints" true, OR does GOD'S WORD teach that the apostle Paul was very much concerned about the perseverance of the saints which were at Corinth?
"Paul... unto the church of God which is at Corinth... called to be saints..." I Cor. 1:1-2
"but I (Paul) buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected. For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant, that our fathers... lusted ... were idolaters... committed fornication... made trial of the Lord...murmured" I Cor. 9:27-10:10
"Howbeit with most of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness...and fell in one day three and twenty thousand... and perished by the serpents... and perished by the destroyer." I Cor. 10:5-10
"Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." I Cor. 10:11-12
Q. When Rom. 8:35-38 says that nothing shall separate us from the love of God, about whom is it speaking?
"them that love God" Rom. 8:28
Q. Does GOD'S WORD teach that man's love for God can become cold and does it warn saints to keep themselves in God's love?
"...the love of the many shall wax cold. But he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved." Mat. 24:12-13
"...abide ye in my love." John 15:9b
"...keep yourselves in the love of God..." Jude 21
Q. According to GOD'S WORD, how does a man show his love to God and thus keep himself in God's love?
"...abide ye in my love. If ye keep my (Jesus') commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.... Ye are my friends, if ye do the things which I (Jesus) command you." John 15:9-10, 14
"...if any man serve me (Jesus), him will the Father honor." John 12:26
"If ye love me, ye will keep my (Jesus') commandments.... He that hath my (Jesus') commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me.... Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." John 14:15, 21, 23
"...for the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came forth from the Father." John 16:27
"And hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his (Jesus') commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his (Jesus') commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;" I John 2:3-4
* * *"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who hath given them unto me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand." John 10:27-29
Q. Does this scripture teach Calvinism's absolute "Perseverance of the Saints", OR does it teach that sheep are safe only as long as they hear the shepherd's voice and follow him?
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life;" John 10:27-28
"...abide ye in my love." John 15:9b
"...keep yourselves in the love of God..." Jude 21
Q. Is Calvinism's absolute "Perseverance of the Saints" true, OR does GOD'S WORD teach that saints are safe and fruitful only as long as they abide in Christ, and that when they cease to abide in Christ they wither, are unfruitful, are gathered, and are burned as dead branches?
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; so neither can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned." John 15:4-6
"Well; by their (the Jews') unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by thy faith. Be not highminded, but fear: for if God spared not the natural branches, neither will he spare thee. Behold then the goodness and severity of God: toward them that fell, severity; but toward thee, God's goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they continue not in their unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again." Rom. 11:20-23
Q. If Calvinism's absolute "Perseverance of the Saints" is true, what is the purpose of these and hundreds of other warnings for the saints which we find in GOD'S WORD?
"Watch therefore" Matt. 24:42 "be ye also ready" Matt. 24:44 "Watch and pray" Matt. 26:41 "take ye heed" Mark 13:23 "Pray that ye enter not into temptation" Luke 22:40 "Abide in me (Jesus)" John 15:4 "watch ye" Acts 20:31 "Let not sin...reign" Rom. 6:12 "Be not overcome by evil" Rom. 12:21 "overcome evil with good" Rom. 12:21 "Overthrow not...the work of God" Rom. 14:20 "Purge out the old leaven" I Cor. 5:7 "Be not deceived" I Cor. 6:9 "take heed" I Cor. 8:9 "run; that ye may attain" I Cor. 9:24 "be ye steadfast, unmovable" I Cor. 15:58 "stand fast in the faith" I Cor. 16:13 "be not entangled again" Gal. 5:1 "I forewarn you" Gal. 5:21 "let each man prove his own work" Gal. 6:4 "Be not deceived" Gal. 6:7 "work that which is good" Gal. 6:10 "Wherefore remember" Eph. 2:11 "sin not" Eph. 4:26 "neither give place to the devil" Eph. 4:27 "grieve not the Holy Spirit of God" Eph. 4:30 "Let no man deceive you" Eph. 5:6 "Look...carefully how ye walk" Eph. 5:15 "be strong" Eph. 6:10 "Put on the whole armor of God" Eph. 6:11 "Stand therefore" Eph. 6:14 "put on the breast-plate of righteousness" Eph. 6:14 "take the helmet of salvation" Eph. 6:17 "take...the sword of the Spirit" Eph. 6:17 "work out your own salvation" Phil. 2:12 "Beware" Phil. 3:2 "beware of the evil workers" Phil. 3:2 "stand fast in the Lord" Phil. 4:1 "Take heed lest" Col. 2:8 "Let no man rob you of your prize" Col. 2:18 "Let the word of Christ dwell in your richly" Col. 3:16 "Continue steadfastly" Col. 4:2 "Brethren, we beseech and exhort you" I Thess. 4:1 "let us not sleep" I. Thess. 5:6 "let us watch and be sober" I Thess. 5:6 "Quench not the Spirit" I Thess. 5:19 "hold fast that which is good" I Thess. 5:21 "let no man beguile you" II Thess. 2:3 "brethren, stand fast" II Thess. 2:15 "be diligent" I Tim. 4:15 "take heed to thyself" I Tim. 4:16 "take heed...to thy teaching" I Tim. 4:16 "Continue" I Tim. 4:16 "Fight the good fight of faith" I Tim. 6:12 "guard that which is committed unto thee" I Tim. 6:20 "Hold the pattern of sound words" II Tim. 1:13 "Remember Jesus Christ" II Tim. 2:8 "Give diligence to present thyself approved" II Tim. 2:15 "know this" II Tim. 3:1 "shun foolish questionings" Titus 3:9 "give the more earnest heed" Heb. 2:1 "Harden not your hearts" Heb. 3:8 "Take heed, brethren" Heb. 3:12 "Let us...give diligence" Heb. 4:11 "Let us press on" Heb. 6:1 "let us hold fast the confession of our hope" Heb. 10:23 "let us run...the race" Heb. 12:1 "wax not weary" Heb. 12:3 "Be not carried away by . . . strange teachings" Heb. 13:9 "Be not deceived, my beloved brethren" James 1:16 "Hearken" James 2:5 "resist the devil" James 4:7 "establish your hearts" James 5:8 "arm ye yourselves" I Pet. 4:1 "Be sober, be watchful" I Pet. 5:8 "stand ye fast" I Pet. 5:12 "make your calling and election sure" II Pet. 1:10 "remember the words which were spoken" II Pet. 3:2 "forget not" II Pet. 3:8 "beware lest...ye fall" II Pet. 3:17 "abide in him (Christ)" I John 2:28 "let no man lead you astray" I John 3:7 "believe not every spirit" I John 4:1 "prove the spirits" I John 4:1 "guard yourselves" I John 5:21 "contend earnestly for the faith" Jude 3 "remember ye the words" Jude 17 "keep yourselves in the love of God" Jude 21 "hear what the Spirit saith to the churches" Rev. 2:7 "Remember" Rev. 2:5 "repent and do the first works" Rev. 2:5 "Be thou faithful unto death" Rev. 2:10 "Repent therefore; or else" Rev. 2:16 "Be thou watchful" Rev. 3:2 "remember ... and repent" Rev. 3:3 "hold fast that which thou hast" Rev. 3:11 "be zealous therefore, and repent" Rev. 3:19 "hear what the Spirit saith to the churches" Rev. 3:22 Q. If Calvinism's absolute "Perseverance of the Saints" is true, why does GOD'S WORD give these and hundreds of other warnings for the saints?
Q. Why does GOD'S WORD warn saints to persevere when according to Calvinism it is impossible for them not to persevere?
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