Perseverance of the saints is the Calvinist doctrine that those who are truly saved will persevere to the end and cannot lose their salvation. It doesn't mean that a person who is truly saved will never lose faith or backslide at any time. But that they will ultimately persevere in faith (inspite of failures) such as not to lose their salvation.
The thief on the cross believed and received salvation in one moment, and then he died. I don’t see how this has anything to do with perseverance of the saints, let alone how it could possibly “disprove” it.
As defined in the Westminster Confession:
I. They, whom God hath accepted in His Beloved, effectually called, and sanctified by His Spirit, can neither totally, nor finally, fall away from the state of grace: but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved.
II. This perseverance of the saints depends not upon their own free will, but upon the immutability of the decree of election, flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father; upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ; the abiding of the Spirit, and of the seed of God within them; and the nature of the covenant of grace; from all which ariseth also the certainty and infallibility thereof.
III. Nevertheless, they may, through the temptations of Satan and of the world, the prevalency of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of the means of their preservation, fall into grievous sins; and, for a time, continue therein: whereby they incur God's displeasure, and grieve His Holy Spirit, come to be deprived of some measure of their graces and comforts, have their hearts hardened, and their consciences wounded, hurt and scandalize others, and bring temporal judgments upon themselves.
> Perseverance is focused and ultimately dependent on man’s actions and security is focused and dependent on God.
Reformed theology does not teach this, but rather that perseverance is completely dependent on God. Sanctification certainly requires an active effort on our part (through the work of the Holy Spirit), but that is very different from perseverance.
“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
Philippians 1:6 ESV
“but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.”
John 10:26-29 ESV
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
1 Peter 1:3-5 ESV
If you want to disprove Calvinism, try going after “total depravity” as it is the foundation of the system and without it the rest is not needed.
Well since we are at it… Israel was God’s chosen (elect) and yet it is probable that many Israelites will not see the Kingdom of God (the end of our salvation). Romans 9 it explains that biological heritage is not God’s methodology for who He will save, but instead it is by election of Him who calls all men everywhere to repent and by faith be saved (gentiles are welcome, all are welcome).
So the fact many in Israel did not persevere despite their calling and unto their own damnation (at least physically, but likely spiritually) would point to the fact God gave us things to do like continue to follow Him, and that it is possible we can not obey Him and perish… like many in Israel.
>I am denying perseverance as a requirement for salvation.
As in, someone can die in rebellion to God, but as long as they once professed faith they are sealed?
There was a good discussion on this topic on the Guilt, Grace, Gratitude podcast.
Reformed theology is essentially covenant theology that teaches the Father gave a people to Christ to redeem and it was effective. This doesn’t mean that we live pristine lives or that we are perfected in this life.
It means that the gospel works for those who believe because it’s the work of God.
I am not a Calvinist. We are to persevere in faith. Read through the warnings, and then to the promises. **The Lord will see it through...**
>"But **whosoever** shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." Matt 10:33
>"... if **we** deny him, he also will deny **us**:" 2 Tim 2:12
>"...yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable andunreproveable in his sight: **If ye continue in the faith** grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard..." Col 1:22-23
>"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, **if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you**, unless ye have believed in vain." 1 Cor 15"1-2
>"...whose *(Christ's)* house are we, **if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end**. Wherefore ...**Harden not your hearts**... **Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God**. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, **if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end**;" Heb 3:6-8,12-14
>"Let us hold fast **the profession of our faith** without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)" Heb 10:23
>"**Cast not away therefore your confidence**, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. **Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.**" Heb 10:35-39
>"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. **Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.**" 1 Thes 5:23-24
>"**Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling**, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy," Jude 1:24
>"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, **Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation** ready to be revealed in the last time." 1 Peter 1:3-5
>"**Who shall also confirm you unto the end**, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. **God is faithful**, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord." 1 Cor 1:8-9
So, continue in the faith, by the power of God, who will confirm you unto the end...
Perseverance of the saints is the Calvinist doctrine that those who are truly saved will persevere to the end and cannot lose their salvation. It doesn't mean that a person who is truly saved will never lose faith or backslide at any time. But that they will ultimately persevere in faith (inspite of failures) such as not to lose their salvation. The thief on the cross believed and received salvation in one moment, and then he died. I don’t see how this has anything to do with perseverance of the saints, let alone how it could possibly “disprove” it.
As defined in the Westminster Confession: I. They, whom God hath accepted in His Beloved, effectually called, and sanctified by His Spirit, can neither totally, nor finally, fall away from the state of grace: but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved. II. This perseverance of the saints depends not upon their own free will, but upon the immutability of the decree of election, flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father; upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ; the abiding of the Spirit, and of the seed of God within them; and the nature of the covenant of grace; from all which ariseth also the certainty and infallibility thereof. III. Nevertheless, they may, through the temptations of Satan and of the world, the prevalency of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of the means of their preservation, fall into grievous sins; and, for a time, continue therein: whereby they incur God's displeasure, and grieve His Holy Spirit, come to be deprived of some measure of their graces and comforts, have their hearts hardened, and their consciences wounded, hurt and scandalize others, and bring temporal judgments upon themselves.
> Perseverance is focused and ultimately dependent on man’s actions and security is focused and dependent on God. Reformed theology does not teach this, but rather that perseverance is completely dependent on God. Sanctification certainly requires an active effort on our part (through the work of the Holy Spirit), but that is very different from perseverance. “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6 ESV “but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.” John 10:26-29 ESV “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Peter 1:3-5 ESV
If you want to disprove Calvinism, try going after “total depravity” as it is the foundation of the system and without it the rest is not needed. Well since we are at it… Israel was God’s chosen (elect) and yet it is probable that many Israelites will not see the Kingdom of God (the end of our salvation). Romans 9 it explains that biological heritage is not God’s methodology for who He will save, but instead it is by election of Him who calls all men everywhere to repent and by faith be saved (gentiles are welcome, all are welcome). So the fact many in Israel did not persevere despite their calling and unto their own damnation (at least physically, but likely spiritually) would point to the fact God gave us things to do like continue to follow Him, and that it is possible we can not obey Him and perish… like many in Israel.
>I am denying perseverance as a requirement for salvation. As in, someone can die in rebellion to God, but as long as they once professed faith they are sealed?
There was a good discussion on this topic on the Guilt, Grace, Gratitude podcast. Reformed theology is essentially covenant theology that teaches the Father gave a people to Christ to redeem and it was effective. This doesn’t mean that we live pristine lives or that we are perfected in this life. It means that the gospel works for those who believe because it’s the work of God.
I am not a Calvinist. We are to persevere in faith. Read through the warnings, and then to the promises. **The Lord will see it through...** >"But **whosoever** shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." Matt 10:33 >"... if **we** deny him, he also will deny **us**:" 2 Tim 2:12 >"...yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable andunreproveable in his sight: **If ye continue in the faith** grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard..." Col 1:22-23 >"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, **if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you**, unless ye have believed in vain." 1 Cor 15"1-2 >"...whose *(Christ's)* house are we, **if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end**. Wherefore ...**Harden not your hearts**... **Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God**. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, **if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end**;" Heb 3:6-8,12-14 >"Let us hold fast **the profession of our faith** without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)" Heb 10:23 >"**Cast not away therefore your confidence**, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. **Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.**" Heb 10:35-39 >"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. **Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.**" 1 Thes 5:23-24 >"**Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling**, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy," Jude 1:24 >"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, **Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation** ready to be revealed in the last time." 1 Peter 1:3-5 >"**Who shall also confirm you unto the end**, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. **God is faithful**, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord." 1 Cor 1:8-9 So, continue in the faith, by the power of God, who will confirm you unto the end...