PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS

Daniel B. Wallace

T he perseverance of the saints is one of the most vital and precious truths of Scripture. Essentially, this doctrine means two things: (1) those who are genuinely saved will be saved forever, and (2) those who continue in the faith are genuinely saved.

FALSE SECURITY

All who will be saved forever are saved because of Christ’s work on the cross and God’s power to keep them saved. Known as eternal security, this truth is often stated as, “Once saved, always saved.” Unfortunately, many people think that simply making a confession at some point in their lives means they are saved even if their lives bear no Christian fruit. Some even think they can live like the devil and yet be safe because of their earlier confession. But genuine faith requires genuine repentance (Mk 4:12; Ac 2:38; 20:21).

TRUE SECURITY

Genuine believers continue in the faith and good works throughout their lives. One basis for this conclusion is Jesus’s parable of the sower (Mt 13:3-23; Mk 4:3-20; Lk 8:4-15). Only the fourth soil type bears fruit even though the second and third types show life (belief) for a short while. The fourth soil symbolizes a genuine believer. The bearing of fruit (continuing in the faith and good works) is also the evidence of genuine belief named in John 15, where Jesus said only the branch that bears fruit is saved (5-6).

THE SOURCE OF SECURITY

Believers do not continue in the faith by their own strength. Rather, each member of the Trinity works to preserve them. In the first place, our salvation completely depends on Jesus’s work, not on our merit (cp. Rm 3:21-26; 4:5-8; 8:1; Eph 2:8-9). Romans 8:30 is to the point: “And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.” So sure is our salvation that Paul speaks of our future glorification in the past tense!

Genuine Christians also continue in the faith because they are sealed with the Holy Spirit as a down payment (Eph 1:13-14) of the blessings promised by God, including eternal life. Paul had this in mind when he said: “And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit. You were sealed by him for the day of redemption” (Eph 4:30). God the Spirit assures us of salvation at the beginning of our spiritual life and keeps us in the faith to the end of our earthly life (Jn 10:27; Rm 8:16; 1Jn 2:20,27; Jd 24).

John 10:27-29 teaches that true believers continue to hear the Lord’s voice and follow him, meaning they continue in the faith and in good works. The Lord gives “them eternal life, and they will never perish—ever! No one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” But can’t a believer, of his own free will, choose to wander out of the Father’s and Jesus’s protective hands? No. A good shepherd does not allow his sheep to go astray. As our Good Shepherd, Jesus keeps us safe from the thief (Satan) and from ourselves.