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JOHN CALVIN : LIFE, LEGACY AND THEOLOGY -<br />
PROF. M. M. NINAN<br />
P<br />
"PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS"<br />
ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED<br />
<br />
"Perseverance of the saints" (also known as "perseverance of God with the saints" <strong>and</strong><br />
"preservation of the believing") (the word "saints" is used to refer to all who are set apart by<br />
God, <strong>and</strong> not of those who are exceptionally holy, canonized, or in heaven) asserts that since<br />
God is sovereign <strong>and</strong> his will cannot be frustrated by humans or anything else, those whom<br />
God has called into communion with himself will continue in faith until the end. Those who<br />
apparently fall away either never had true faith to begin with (1 <strong>John</strong> 2:19), or, if they are saved<br />
but not presently walking in the Spirit, they will be divinely chastened (Hebrews 12:5–11) <strong>and</strong><br />
will repent (1 <strong>John</strong> 3:6–9).<br />
"They whom God has accepted in His Beloved, effectually called, <strong>and</strong> sanctified by His Spirit, can<br />
neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the<br />
end, <strong>and</strong> be eternally saved." Westminster Confession of Faith XVII, 1<br />
"Those who are sovereignly elected <strong>and</strong> regenerated will continue in the faith. “Those whom God hath<br />
accepted in the Beloved, <strong>and</strong> sanctified by His Spirit, will never totally nor finally fall away from the<br />
state of grace, but shall certainly persevere to the end; <strong>and</strong> though they may fall through neglect <strong>and</strong><br />
temptation, into sin, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces <strong>and</strong> comforts, bring reproach<br />
on the Church, <strong>and</strong> temporal judgments on themselves, yet they shall be renewed again unto<br />
repentance, <strong>and</strong> be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation”<br />
Abstract of Principles, 1858.<br />
The last of the five points of <strong>Calvin</strong>ism teaches that God preserves His people so they can never be<br />
lost. To put it simply, it means this: "Once you are saved, you are always saved."<br />
God's Word is full of proof for this beautiful truth. And though many deny it, <strong>and</strong> tell you that you can<br />
be lost <strong>and</strong> saved many, many times, <strong>and</strong> therefore can never be sure of your salvation, the Bible<br />
says otherwise. Talking about His elect sheep, Jesus said: "And I give them eternal life; <strong>and</strong> they shall<br />
never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my h<strong>and</strong>" (<strong>John</strong> 10:28). See <strong>John</strong> 6:39, 17:2,<br />
11,12; Romans 8:37-39; II Tim. 1:12; 4:18, etc. etc.<br />
Some object to this doctrine because it supposedly makes men "carnally secure" in their salvation.<br />
That is, if I know nothing can make me go to hell once God has saved me, I will "live like the devil."<br />
There have been some who have used this beautiful truth as an excuse to live like the devil. But they<br />
are not Christians. This is because you cannot know whether you are an elect or not.<br />
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