PERSEVERANCE AND PRESERVATION
PERSEVERANCE AND PRESERVATION Someone has said that perseverance and preservation are two sides of the same coin. I agree with that statement.
Preservation means that none of the elect will finally be plucked from the hand of God. This is sometimes referred to as the doctrine of ETERNAL SECURITY. It is sometimes defined as ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED. This is definitely a beautiful and comforting Biblical truth.
Perseverance is the other side of the coin. What I understand this to mean is that the elect will persevere in some degree of faith and holiness. When people hear this they sometimes run backwards, because they think that those who hold to this doctrine are teaching perfectionism. But this is not true. When I say that the elect will continue in some degree of faith and holiness, I am simply saying that their faith will not totally and finally fail. Someone has already given the example of Christ praying for Peter that his faith would not fail. Peter certainly had a grievous lapse of faith, but the Lord interceded for him and his faith was not totally and finally overthrown. In fact the Scripture teaches this in1 John 5:4, where it is said "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." When I say that the child of God will persevere in some degree of holiness, I simply mean that there is a difference in one who is spiritually alive and one who is spiritually dead. A child of God cannot live permanently in gross sin and be happy in it.
We get no credit for our perseverance. It is the work of God in us. As Paul said in1 Corinthians 15:10, "But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." Paul did not take one iota of credit for his zealous works on behalf of Christ. I appreciate the statement by 96 year old Brother Morris Oakley of Little Rock, AR. He told me, "Brother Guess, I give God 100% of the credit for anything I have ever done that is good. I take 100% of the blame for all the bad that I do." In my humble opinion, that is sound theology!
I like to picture the relationship between preservation and perseverance in this way. Often I have climbed steep places with one of my very small children. As we climb, I grasp the tiny hand in my big hand. I grip them with my strength and bring them to safety. They have no real strength, but instinctively they grip my hand with all their might. In reality their grip really does not get the job done, mine does. Nevertheless, they hold on to me. God’s big hand is the one that holds me, gets me to safety, and never lets me go. However, conscious of my weakness, and aware of the danger about me, I hold on to Him. Sometimes my grip gets very weak. Sometimes I get so distracted by the things of this world, I may for a time forget to hold on. Praise God, He continues to hold on.
People usually sing what they believe. Old Baptists love the song titled PRESERVATION. If you closely examine that and similar songs you will see elements of what our forefathers called perseverance.
PRESERVATION Now in Thy praise, eternal King, Be all my tho’ts employed;
While of this precious truth I sing, ‘Cast down, but not destroyed;’
Oft the united powers of hell My soul have sore annoyed; And yet I live this truth to tell, ‘Cast down, but not destroyed;’ In all the paths thru which I’ve pass’d What mercies I’ve enjoyed; And this shall be my song at last, ‘Cast down, but not destroyed,’ When I with God in heav’n appear, There shall I Him adore;
Destroyed shall be my sin and fear, And I cast down no more.
Perseverance is not works salvation. It is simply the outworking in our lives of what God has worked in us. This doctrine has been of great practical value to me. When I have been back slidden and away from God, Satan has tried to make me give up, to tell me that it is of no use, and that I might as well lie there and die in my self-pity. Then I can take the sword of the Spirit and drive Satan away. I can quote himPhp 1:6which says, "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:" The fire of eternal life will never go out in the heart of a child of God. Sometimes it may seem to be out, but when we stir the ashes of our heart and put the kindling of God’s word and the kerosene of the Holy Spirit on it, we feel like traveling on!
God bless each of you precious saints to lift up the hands that hang down and strengthen the feeble knees. Remember that He that is in you is greater than he that is in the world.
Hallelujah!
Briefly stated, this truth means that all the elect will be preserved and will persevere in grace and will finally be in glory forever with God. None of them shall be lost. These five points that we have studied really comprise one unified system of Biblical doctrine. Each point necessarily follows the other. They stand or fall together. If the other four points are true, this fifth point has to be true. For example, according toEphesians 1:4, election is sure. If that is true, it necessarily follows that there must be preservation of the saints. Deny preservation, and election means nothing. This is also true concerning particular redemption. If those for whom Christ died could fall from grace, to that extent Christ would have died in vain. From Two Perspectives
Why do we refer to this truth as both Preservation and Perseverance? We do so because from God’s perspective it is Preservation. God’s people persevere in grace only because they have been preserved in Christ Jesus. From man’s perspective it is Perseverance. If a person is truly saved he will give evidence of his salvation. He will not completely lose his faith and die in a finally impenitent state. Only the wicked will die in his sins. {John 8:21} The combined truth of Preservation and Perseverance is clearly seen inPhp 2:12-13: "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." The London Confession To study this doctrine, let us examine the London Confession of Baptists of 1689. We will include one of the articles on Perseverance in this study sheet and other articles later on:
1. Those whom God hath accepted in the beloved, effectually called and sanctified by His Spirit, and given the precious faith of his elect unto, can neither totally nor finally fall from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved, seeing the gifts and callings of God are without repentance, whence he still begets and nourisheth in them faith, repentance, love, joy, hope, and all the graces of the Spirit unto immortality; {John 10:28-29;Php 1:6;2 Timothy 2:19;1 John 2:19} and though many storms and floods arise and beat against them, yet they shall never be able to take them off that foundation and rock which by faith they are fastened upon; notwithstanding, through unbelief and the temptations of Satan, the sensible sight of the light and love of God may for a time be clouded and obscured from them, {Psalms 89:31-32;1 Corinthians 11:32} yet He is still the same, and they shall be sure to be kept by the power of God unto salvation, where they shall enjoy their purchased possession, they being engraved upon the palm of his hands, and their names having been written in the book of life from all eternity. {Malachi 3:6;1 Peter 1:5}
2. "This perseverance of the saints depends not upon their own free will, but upon the immutability of the decree {Romans 8:30;Romans 9:11;Romans 9:16} and union with Him, the {Hebrews 6:17-18} oath of God, the abiding of His Spirit, and the {1 John 3:9} seed of God within them, and the nature of the {Jeremiah 32:40} covenant of grace; from all which ariseth also the certainty and infallibility thereof."
3. "And though they may, through the temptation of Satan and of the world, the prevalence of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of the means of their preservation, fall into grievous {Matthew 26:70;Matthew 26:72;Matthew 26:74} sins, and for a time continue therein, whereby they incur {Isaiah 64:5;Isaiah 64:9;Ephesians 4:30} God’s displeasure, and grieve His Holy Spirit, come to have their graces and {Psalms 51:10;Psalms 51:12} comforts impaired, have their hearts hardened and their consciences wounded, {Psalms 32:3-4} hurt and scandalize others, and bring temporal judgments {2 Samuel 12:14} upon themselves, yet they shall renew their {Luke 22:32;Luke 22:61-62} repentance and be preserved, through faith in Christ Jesus, to the end." Of Assurance of Grace and Salvation from the London Confession
We will examine the London Confession section entitled "Of Assurance of Grace and Salvation." This subject of assurance of salvation is intimately connected with the truth of perseverance. As a child of God perseveres in faith and holiness he becomes more and more assured of his salvation.
1. Although temporary believers and other unregenerate men, may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions of being in the favor of God, and (in a) state of salvation, {Job 8:13-14;Matthew 7:22-23} which hope of theirs shall perish; yet such as truly believe in the lord Jesus, and love him in sincerity, endeavoring to walk in all good conscience before him, may in this life be certainly assured {1 John 2:3;1 John 3:14;1 John 3:18-19;1 John 3:21;1 John 5:13} that they are in the state of grace; and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of god, which hope shall never make them {Romans 5:2;Romans 5:5} ashamed.
2. This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable persuasion, grounded upon {Hebrews 6:11;Hebrews 6:19} a fallible hope, but an infallible assurance of faith, founded on the blood and righteousness of Christ {Hebrews 6:17-18} revealed in the gospel; and also upon the inward {2 Peter 1:4-5;2 Peter 1:10-11} evidence of those graces of the Spirit unto which promises are made, and on the testimony of the {Romans 8:15-16} Spirit of adoption, witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God; and as a fruit thereof, keeping the heart both {1 John 3:1-3} humble and holy.
3. This infallible assurance doth not so belong to the essence of faith, but that a true believer may wait long, and conflict with many difficulties, before he be {Psalms 88:1-18;Psalms 77:1-12} partaker of it; yet being enabled by the Spirit, to know the things which are freely given him of God, he may without extraordinary revelation in the right use of means {1 John 4:13;Hebrews 6:11-12} attain thereunto; and therefore it is the duty of everyone to give all diligence to make his calling and election sure, that thereby his heart may be enlarged in peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, in love and thankfulness to God, and in strength and cheerfulness in the duties of obedience, the proper {Romans 5:1-2;Romans 5:14;Romans 5:17;Psalms 119:32} fruits of this assurance; so far is it {Romans 6:1-2;Titus 2:11-12;Titus 2:14} from inclining men to looseness.
4. True believers may have the assurance of their salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as {Song of Solomon 5:2-3;Song of Solomon 5:6} by negligence in preserving of it, by {Psalms 51:8;Psalms 51:12;Psalms 51:14} falling into some special sin, which woundeth the conscience and grieveth the Spirit, by some sudden or {Psalms 116:11;Psalms 77:7-8;Psalms 31:22} vehement temptation, or by God’s withdrawing the {Psalms 30:7} light of his countenance, and suffering even such as fear him to walk in darkness and to have no light; yet are they never destitute of the {1 John 3:9} seed of God, and life {Luke 22:32} of faith, that love of Christ and the bretheren, that sincerity of heart and conscience of duty, out of which, by the operation of the Spirit, this assurance may in due time be {Psalms 42:5;Psalms 42:11} revived, and by the which in the mean time they are {Lamentations 3:26-31} preserved from utter despair.
It is important to remember that the child of God will overcome the world by his God-given Faith: "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." {1 John 5:4} This does not mean that the saint will never commit sin. It means that the Spirit of God in him will not suffer him to always live in sin but will work Godly sorrow in him and will bring him to repentance.1 John 3:9means that the born-again person will not continually and habitually live in sin as a way of life. The child of God may backslide temporarily and fall into much sin, but he will not live in it permanently in an unrepentant state. See alsoMatthew 7:21-23;James 2:20;1 John 2:4;1 John 2:15;1 John 3:3;1 John 4:15.
One of the ways that God causes His people to turn from their sins and to persevere in holy living is chastisement. See1 Corinthians 11:32;Hebrews 12:6.
Arguments That Are Used Against This Truth
There are many Scriptures that people who believe that a child of God can fall from grace use to support their arguments. Most of the arguments can be refuted by the principle taught in1 John 2:19, "They went out from us but were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us; but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us." There are those who make a profession of faith, who seem to show some fruits of the Spirit temporarily, but who are not truly regenerated. In time they show their true colors and manifest their true nature. There is a possibility that some of these hypocrites never openly reveal their true nature in this life. SeeMatthew 13:30.
These false professors, who have made a profession of religion, who may have outwardly reformed their lives, but who have no grace in their hearts, are described in such passages asMatthew 12:43;2 Peter 2:20-22.
Other Scriptures that the opponents of Preservation use to bolster their arguments, are not talking about falling out of relationship with God, but out of fellowship with Him. When David sinned he did not lose his salvation; he lost the joy of salvation. {Psalms 51:12} It is possible for a child of God to so walk for a time that he may appear to have lost his salvation, but no one who has truly been saved can ever be lost. The Comfort of This Doctrine This is a very useful and comforting doctrine. It helps the child of God to live close to the Lord. It encourages him to repent when he falls into sin. Satan tries to throw a child of God into despair when he falls into sin. He tries to keep him down. But the saint remembers that "he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." {Php 1:6} He knows the Lord is not through with him. He does not depend on his own faithfulness, but on the faithfulness of God for and in him. This truth gives hope to one who has fallen into sin. He remembers that David committed some horrible sins: adultery, murder, numbering the people. These are only some of the more prominent sins of David. There was a time when David was overwhelmed because of the burden of his sins. {Psalms 32:3-4} For a time he lived in an unrepentant state until the prophet of God came to him. God faithfully delivered David from his sin and granted him repentance.
All the saints in the Bible had their sins, sometimes grievous sins, but they were forgiven; and these saints are with the Lord. Nothing can change that fact. The one who truly believes this does not serve God from a sense of slavish fear-afraid that he can be saved today and lost tomorrow. He serves God out of a heart filled with gratitude to God for His great faithfulness.
I would like to further study the relationship between Preservation and Perseverance. To state again the doctrine of Preservation, we say that this means that of all for whom Christ died, none shall finally fall away and be lost. Nothing can pluck them out of the hands of God. None of them can ever lose his salvation. Some Scriptures which prove this areJohn 6:37-39;John 10:27-30;Romans 8:28-39;Jude 1:24;1 Peter 1:4-5, andPhp 1:6. This is a glorious truth which has been precious to the temptation-tossed saints all through the ages. To restate the doctrine of Perseverance, we say that this means that all of the saints shall persevere in faith and holiness. They will never permanently and fundamentally repudiate their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. While troubled by their sinful natures, they will nevertheless show evidences of their being alive in Christ. Grace in one’s heart does not lead to a life of careless, licentious living. We believers in grace have been accused of believing it is okay to "continue in sin, that grace may abound." But we say, along with the Apostle Paul, "God forbid. How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" {Romans 6:2} The truth of Preservation and Perseverance does not make robots of the saints of God. This truth, properly understood, does not make the saints lazy. In this wonderful truth we see the meshing of the doctrines of God’s Sovereignty and Man’s Responsibility.
Preservation and Perseverance really represent two sides of the same coin. They inseparably go together. To give a natural example that may shed some light the relationship between Preservation and Perseverance: I have several very small children. Sometimes I take a walk with one of them over some rough places. As we go over the rough places the little hand in mine grips ever so tightly. But what really provides safety to the child is the fact that my hand securely holds the small hand of the child. The gripping power of the little hand is so weak that it would soon be jerked out of my hand unless I was doing some gripping also. The child may think that his safety depends on his little grip, but not so. Compare my big hand to God’s Preservation, and the child’s little hand to our Perseverance and you begin to see the relationship between the two. But, remember, the little child doesn’t cease to grip hard- he does so instinctively. And the child of God doesn’t stop trying to persevere- he does to instinctively because of the life of God which has been placed in his heart!
Many, many Scriptures teach the doctrine of Perseverance and show the relationship between Preservation and Perseverance. One of these is1 Corinthians 15:10. There Paul says, "But by the grace of God I am what I am." (Preservation). "And his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all." (Perseverance). "Yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." (Preservation). Notice that Perseverance is dependent on Preservation. Notice also that God gets full credit for it all. God’s children are responsible for doing good works, but when they are blessed to perform them, they must give all the glory to God for His enabling grace.
Another passage which shows the relationship of these doctrines isPhp 2:12-13: "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." (Perseverance). "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." (Preservation).
These truths are also found in1 John 3:2-3. "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." (Preservation). "And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." (Perseverance).
Every Bible believer who has much light knows that election took place before the foundation of the world. {Ephesians 1:4;2 Timothy 1:9} Nothing can change the fact whether one is elect or not. Yet Peter in2 Peter 1:10says, "Brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure." This is Perseverance!
There was a song a few years back that said, "Love and Marriage, love and marriage, go together like a horse and carriage." This I tell you brother, you can’t have one without the other.
Well, that’s the way it is with Preservation and Perseverance. According to the Scriptures, you can’t have one without the other.
Appendix Preservation and Perseverance as Sung by the Saints
Introductory note: it is a very interesting phenomenon that in religion the songs that people sing usually reflect their beliefs. This is as it should be. To believe one thing and to sing another would be inconsistent. The Baptist forefathers believed, taught and sang the truths contained in the doctrine of Preservation/Perseverance. Following are a few examples from several standard, widely-used hymnals:
"Lone Pilgrim," #150 in Old School Hymnal Ye pilgrims of Zion, and chosen of God, Whose spirits are filled with dismay, Since ye have eternal redemption thru blood, Ye cannot but hold on your way. As Jesus, in covenant love did engage, A fullness of grace to display, The powers of darkness in malice may rage, The righteous shall hold on his way. This truth, like its Author, eternal shall stand, Tho’ all things in nature decay;
Upheld by Jehovah’s omnipotent hand, The righteous shall hold on his way.
They may on the main of temptation be tossed, their sorrows may swell as the sea; But none of the ransomed shall ever be lost; The righteous shall hold on his way.
Surrounded with sorrows, temptations and cares, This truth with delight we survey, And sing as we pass thru this valley of tears, The righteous shall hold on his way.
Adoration, verse five, #33 in Old School Hymnal Twas all of grace we were bro’t to obey, While others were suffered to go The road which by nature we choose as our way, Which leads to the regions of woe.
Grace ‘Tis a Charming Sound, verses four and five, #184 in Old School Hymnal Grace led my roving feet to tread the heavenly road; And new supplies each hour I meet, while pressing on to God.
Grace taught my heart to pray, and made mine eyes o’erflow;
Twas grace that kept me to this day, and will not let me go.
Broad Is The Road, #235 in the Good Old Songs; also found in the Old School Hymnal and in the Primitive Baptist Hymnal.
Broad is the road that leads to death, and thousands walk together there; But wisdom shows a narrow path, with here and there a traveler.
Deny thyself and take thy cross, is the redeemer’s great command;
Nature must count her gold but dross, if she would gain this heavenly land.
Lord, let not all my hopes be vain; create my heart entirely new, Which hypocrites could ne’er attain, which false apostates never knew.
No. 157, verse three, in Good Old Songs.
If e’er I go astray, He doth my soul reclaim And guides me in His own right way, For His most holy name Palms of Victory, #232 in Old School Hymnal is an entire song describing the perseverance of a child of God.
"Never Alone," #201 in Old School Hymnal is a song of Perseverance and Preservation. This is only a very small sampling of the songs in our hymnals which describe the Preservation and Perseverance of the children of God. Brethren, our faithful fathers sang these truths. They believed them. They preached them. They lived them. Let us do the same, by the grace of God!
Further Notes The actual word "perseverance" is used only one time in the Bible, inEphesians 6:18. However, there are other theological concepts, such as the Trinity, that we teach even though the actual word "Trinity" is not in the Bible either.
I did not coin the theological term "perseverance." Our Baptist forefathers did. I believe what the great body of Primitive Baptists in the United States believed about perseverance in 1900 as they expressed it in the Fulton Confession of faith. I came to this doctrine by a careful study of the Scriptures. However, it was very comforting to me to find that this was where my forefathers had stood. This brings me to another point, that is the use of history. We can go to the ditch on either side in our use of church history. We can make either too much of it or too little of it. We make too much of it when we idolize the forefathers and what they believe and take their word above the Bible. When we substitute their traditions above the word of God, we have misused history. We Old Baptists rightly claim that the Scriptures are our only rule of faith and practice. We get our doctrine and practice from the Bible. On the other hand, we can make too little of history. We should respect the Lord’s dealings with our people in the past. We could and should learn much from those who have gone before. Really, to ignore or to denigrate the past, reveals an arrogance and pride in ourselves. We are saying that we know it all and that we can learn nothing from our forefathers. That is why I get nervous when I see people express no interest in or repudiate some of the confessions of faith that our Old Baptists have drawn up in the past. We may learn something they did not know, but we had be very careful about that. Those confessions are not perfect, but they deserve a careful reading and certainly should not be dismissed out of hand. We do not need any ad hoc, "homemade" doctrine among Old Baptists. We must be very studious and prayerful when we think we have discovered something different from what they taught.
I am grieved by the fact that many of our people know almost nothing but hearsay about our past. Many of our young preachers have never read the Black Rock Address, the Kehukee Declaration, the London and Fulton Confessions of Faith, and so on. That is why that people sometimes accuse people of bringing in something new, when they are really teaching what our people all over this country regarded as standard. I am almost 59 years old, and I feel a great burden to spend some of my remaining time in acquainting all that I can of our precious doctrinal and practical heritage.
I would also like to take this occasion to say something about "time salvation." That is also not a Bible expression. Different people mean different things by it. There are some extremists among us, who believe that you can completely separate eternal salvation and time salvation. They believe that a person can have eternal salvation and not have a lick of time salvation. Some even believe that a person can live like hell and still go to heaven. All they lose by their gross and repeated disobedience to God is a little loss of joy and peace in this life, but then they die and go to heaven. I strongly deny that the Bible teaches this. A tree is going to bear some fruit. There are going to be some signs of life. There is going to be some difference between a live man and a dead one. I know that the forefathers taught this. I know that the Bible teaches this.
There may be others who have gone too far in the other direction. I believe the reason why some people react to the teaching of perseverance is because they think we are teaching perfectionism. That is not the case. Sinners can and do fall every day. However there is a fundamental difference in one who has been born again and one who has not.
Even though I do not care for the term "time salvation" very much, I do believe what some who advocate it are teaching. I believe most definitely that there are blessings in obedience and chastisement in disobedience. If people want to call these blessings "time salvation" that is okay with me. I do not want to make a brother an offender for a word. One more thing I object to about the common teaching of time salvation is that we "earn" our time salvation. I do not believe this. I believe that, even in my obedience, God should receive 100% of the praise and credit for it. Even in this realm our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. Even "time salvation" is all of grace. I do not say that God is persevering, we are doing the persevering, but only because God is preserving us and is giving us the desire and power to persevere. I think that Paul made this very clear in1 Corinthians 15:10"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." Paul gives the proper balance here. We ought to try to serve God with all our might, and then we should give God all the credit for it. We may get some blessings in obedience, but, given the imperfect nature of our obedience, even our "time salvation" is all of grace.
I am not saying that we are robots in our obedience. Really, it is impossible for us to completely understand how God works all this out. However, we know that it is impossible for us to give God too much credit and it is impossible for us to abase ourselves too low.