While oftentimes confused with the rather trite phrase associated with of american evangelical easy-belivism: “Once Saved Always Saved” , the doctrine of perseverance — rightly understood — is a deep well of hope and strength for the sojourning saint.
Join us this Wednesday at 7:00 PM as we meet at the Spring Green Library to obtain a deeper understanding of God’s promise to complete in each one of us the good work he has begun.
General Introduction
1. The question: “Can a Christian, who at one time truly belived the gospel, fall away from the faith and ultimately lose his or her salvation?”
2. The history: It has only been the “reformed” that have denied this possibility and defended a doctrine called: “The Perseverance of the Saints”.
3. The approach: We must answer the question at hand in a manner which honors ALL of scripture (Matt. 5:17-18, John 10:35, Acts 20:27, 1 Cor. 2:13, 2 Peter 1:19-21,3:16).
4. The motive: That we ourselves might be sure of our eternal salvation and that we might also then help other saints obtain such an assurance (Phil. 1:6, 2 Peter 1:10-11).
Explicit Affirmations
1. Jesus assumed and affirmed the doctrine of perseverance by using words like “eternal” and “everlasting” to describe our personal salvation (John 3:14-16).
2. Jesus explained that our hope of perseverance is based on his Father’s work of election, effectual calling, and preserving power (John 6:37-40, 10:27-30).
3. Paul also traced our hope of perseverance back to God’s eternal decree; describing it as an unbreakable “Golden Chain of Salvation” (Romans 8:28-30).
4. Main point: God’s obvious ability and expressed intention to preserve his saints is undeniable (Phil. 1:6, 1 Peter 1:5, 2 Tim. 2:19, 2 Thess. 3:3).