THECLCGICAL ISSUES

MU5T FAITH ENDURE FOR 5ALVATION TO BE 5URE? (Pt. 1)

c Pcsicr-icc:ncr 1cm Sicgcll

ho BibIo ropoalodIy docIaros lhal God has
onIy ono roquiromonl for Iosl, sinfuI
mankind lo bo savod. Thal roquiromonl is
simpIy lo boIiovo in lho Lord }osus Chrisl aIono for
ono's saIvalion (}ohn 3:16, Acls 16:31). This soIo
condilion is slipuIalod ovor 100 limos in lho Nov
Toslamonl. Bul is rocoiving God's gifl of saIvalion
roaIIy as simpIo as boIioving in Chrisl` Or musl
you do moro lhan boIiovo` Today, many
ovangoIicaI Chrislians adamanlIy affirm
lhal saIvalion is by "failh aIono." Yol in
lho samo broalh, lhoy praclicaIIy dony
lhal BibIicaI lrulh by sublIy rodofining
"gonuino" failh lo incIudo somo
nocossary compononl of good vorks,
such as fruilfuI, hoIy Iiving or failhfuI
onduranco lo lho ond of your Chrislian
Iifo. If lhoso oIomonls aro nol prosonl in
your Chrislian Iifo, lhon according lo
lhoir lhooIogy, you aro nol lruIy savod.
Musl your failh onduro and bo fruilfuI
for your saIvalion lo bo suro and socuro` Tho
ansvor is a rosounding "YES" according lo lho lvo
hisloricaI, Iroloslanl posilions of Arminianism and
CaIvinism. Though lhoso lvo doclrinaI posilions
cIaim lo bo in opposilion lo oach olhor, lhoy bolh
spoak in noar porfocl unison rogarding lho
nocossily of porsovoranco. In lho finaI anaIysis,
oach roquiros lhal your failh bo fruilfuI and
onduring for you lo uIlimaloIy bo savod. Is lhis
vhal lho BibIo says`

Wholhor ils lho doclrino of Arminianism daling
back lo }acob Arminius and his foIIovors in lho
oarIy 17lh conlury, or lho doclrino of CaIvinism
dorivod from }ohn CaIvin and his foIIovors in lho
16lh conlury, bolh loach lhal if your failh in Chrisl
coasos or faiIs al any poinl aIong your oarlhIy palh,
lhon God considors you lo bo Iosl and in nood of
His saIvalion. Arminianism loachos lhal saIvalion
can bo Iosl if you Ioso your failh. In such a caso,
your saIvalion is novor fuIIy socuro, and il is
dopondonl upon your failhfuInoss. On lho olhor
hand, CaIvinism loachos lhal if your failh faiIs lo
onduro lo lho ond of your Iifo, lhon il simpIy provos
you voro novor lruIy savod bocauso you didn'l
possoss "gonuino" failh. In oilhor caso, vholhor you
Iosl your saIvalion or provod lhal you voro novor
roaIIy savod lo bogin vilh, your saIvalion
uIlimaloIy doponds upon your failhfuInoss and
onduranco, insload of God's porsovoring
failhfuInoss lo you. So lhoro roaIIy is no difforonco
bolvoon Arminianism and CaIvinism vhon il
comos lo lho uIlimalo roquiromonl/s for saIvalion.

LndoublodIy, CaIvinisls viII baIk al
such an assossmonl, for lhoy oflon boasl
lhal lhoir syslom of saIvalion is uniquoIy
a graco-molhod of saIvalion, vhiIo
Arminianism or any boIiof syslom
conlrary lo CaIvinism is a vorks-
approach lo saIvalion.
1
Wilh lho
CaIvinisls' objoclions in mind, I havo
proparod a hoIpfuI oxorciso boIov lhal
viII iIIuslralo lho facl lhal lhoro is
virluaIIy no difforonco bolvoon lho lvo
lhooIogios rogarding lho nocossily for
porsovoranco in ordor lo uIlimaloIy
allain saIvalion. On lho noxl pagos aro sovoraI
quolalions addrossing lhis subjocl from aulhors
roprosonling bolh Arminianism and CaIvinism. As
you road oach quolo, lry guossing lho lhooIogicaI
porsuasion of lho vrilor. You can chock your
ansvors in lho foolnolos (and you may bo quilo
surprisod by somo of lho ansvors!).

1
"Arminianism donios lhis doclrino of Iorsovoranco,
bocauso il is a syslom, nol of puro graco, bul of graco
and vorks, and in any such syslom lho porson musl
provo himsoIf al Ioasl parliaIIy vorlhy." Lorraino
Boollnor, 1nc Rcjcrmc! Dc:irinc cj Prc!csiinciicn
(IhiIIipsburg, N}: Irosbylorian & Roformod Iub.,
1932), p.187. "Arminianism is a "vorks roIigion" al
Ioasl lo lho oxlonl lhal man musl accompIish lho good
vorks of roponlanco and failh . . . CaIvinism is slriclIy
a 'nol of vorks, Iosl any man shouId boasl roIigion
(Ephosians 2:8-9) bocauso il insisls on giving God aII
lho gIory for aII lhal is good." Duano E. Sponcor,
1UI|P. 1nc |itc Pcinis cj Ccltinism in inc Iigni cj
S:ripiurc (Grand Rapids, MI: Bakor Book Houso Co.
1979), p. 84. Soo aIso, Edvin H. IaImor, 1nc |itc Pcinis
cj Ccltinism (Grand Rapids, MI: Bakor Book Houso
Co., 1972, onIargod od. 1980), p. 59 and DanioI N.
SlooIo and Curlis C. Thomas, 1nc |itc Pcinis cj
Ccltinism (IhiIIipsburg, N}: Irosbylorian & Roformod
Iub. Co., 1963), p. 22.
T
5n thcrc rcaIIy
is nn diIIcrcncc
bctwccn
Arminianism
and CaIvinism
whcn it cnmcs
tn thc uItimatc
rcquircmcnt/s
Inr saIvatinn.
Arminian nr CaIvinist?

"1nc cnl cti!cn:c cj clc:iicn is cjjc:iucl
:clling, inci is, inc prc!u:iicn cj nclincss. An!
inc cnl cti!cn:c cj inc gcnuincncss cj inis :cll
cn! inc :cricini cj cur pcrsctcrcn:c, is c
pciicni :cniinucn:c in ucll-!cing."
2


"1ncrc is nc :lccnsing jrcm sin, cn!
nc scltciicn, uiincui c :cniinucl
ucl|ing in Gc!s ligni."
3


"1ncrc is nc tcli! cssurcn:c cj
clc:iicn cn! jincl scltciicn jcr cn
mcn, cpcri jrcm !cliccrcic
pcrsctcrcn:c in jciin."
4


"Ici us nci incn ic|c rcjugc in cur
slcin cr cn:curcgcmcni in cur lusi
jrcm inc ccusc! !c:irinc cj inc
sc:urii cj inc cclictcr. 8ui lci us
cpprc:icic inc !c:irinc cj inc
pcrsctcrcn:c cj inc scinis cn!
rc:cgnizc inci uc mc cnicricin inc
jciin cj cur sc:urii in Cnrisi cnl cs
uc pcrsctcrc in jciin cn! nclincss ic
inc cn!."
5


"1nc S:ripiurcs rcpccic!l cxncri us ic
pcrsctcrc, ic 'ncng in incrc. |i is cnl inc cnc
unc cn!urcs ic inc cn! unc uill cc sctc!."
6


"ln!urcn:c in jciin is c :cn!iiicn jcr juiurc
scltciicn. Onl incsc unc cn!urc in jciin uill
cc sctc! jcr cicrnii."

"8clicting in jcsus Cnrisi cn! in inc Onc unc
scni nim jcr cur scltciicn is nc:csscr jcr

2
CharIos Hodgo (CaIvinisl), Ccmmcnicr cn Rcmcns
(Grand Rapids, MI: Eordmans, roprinl 1994), p. 292.

3
Guy Duly (Arminian), |j Yc Ccniinuc (MinnoapoIis:
Bolhany Houso Iubs., 1966), p.141.
]
4
Roborl Shank (Arminian), Iijc in inc Scn (SpringfioId,
MO: Woslcoll Iubs., 1960), p. 293.

5
}ohn Murray (CaIvinisl), Rc!cmpiicn A::cmplisnc! cn!
Applic! (Grand Rapids, MI: Eordmans, 1955), p. 155.

6
}osoph KindoI (Roman CalhoIic), Wnci Musi | Dc ic cc
Sctc!? (MiIford, OH: Tho RiohIo Foundalion, 1995), p.
79.

7
R.C. SprouI (CaIvinisl), Grc:c Un|ncun (Grand Rapids,
MI: Bakor Books, 1997), p. 198.

ccicining inci scltciicn.. incrcjcrc uiincui
jciin nc cnc ncs ctcr ciicinc! jusiiji:ciicn, ncr
uill cncnc ccicin cicrncl lijc cui nc unc
cn!urcs ic inc cn!."
8


"Wc :cn nctcr |ncu inci uc crc clc:ic! cj Gc!
ic cicrncl lijc cx:cpi c mcnijcsiing in cur litcs
inc jruiis cj clc:iicn jciin cn! tiriuc,
|nculc!gc cn! icmpcrcn:c, pciicn:c
cn! gc!lincss, lctc cj crcinrcn.. |i
is i!lc ic scc| cssurcn:c cj clc:iicn
cuisi!c cj nclincss cj lijc."

"Wc :cnnci 'ccrn cur scltciicn
inrcugn gcc! ucr|s, cui cur jciin in
Cnrisi puis us in c spc:icl grc:c-jillc!
rclciicnsnip uiin Gc! sc inci cur
ccc!icn:c cn! lctc, :cmcinc! uiin
cur jciin, uill cc rcucr!c! uiin
cicrncl lijc."
10


"Hclincss in inis lijc is su:n c pcri cj
cur 'scltciicn inci ii is c nc:csscr
mccns ic mc|c us mcci ic cc pcric|crs
cj inc inncriicn:c cj inc scinis in
ncctcnl ligni cn! glcr."
11


"As inc cclictcrs scltciicn is rc:citc!, nci c
cn c:i cj rigniccusncss cui c cn c:i cj jciin, sc
inc cclictcrs scltciicn is mcinicinc!, nci c
c:is cj rigniccusncss cui c c lijc cj jciin . . . nis
sc:urii is nctcr in !cuci cs lcng cs nis jciin in
Cnrisi is sicc!jcsi, jcr nc is |cpi c jciin."
12


8
(Roman CalhoIic) Ccic:nism cj inc Ccincli: Cnur:n
(BIoomingdaIo, OH: AposloIalo for FamiIy
Consocralion, 1994), arlicIo #161 (oIIipsis addod).

9
Bonjamin B. WarfioId (CaIvinisl) as favorabIy quolod
by Lorraino Boollnor in 1nc Rcjcrmc! Dc:irinc cj
Prc!csiinciicn (IhiIIipsburg, N}: Irosbylorian &
Roformod Iub., 1932), p. 309 (oIIipsis originaI lo
Boollnor).

10
(Roman CalhoIic) Pillcr cj |irc, Pillcr cj 1ruin (San
Diogo: CalhoIic Ansvors, 1993), p. 23.

11
WaIlor MarshaII (CaIvinisl), as favorabIy quolod by
A.W. Iink (CaIvinisl) in 1nc Dc:irinc cj Scn:iiji:ciicn
(Groal Brilain: Chrislian Focus Iubs., 1998), p. 25.

12
AssombIios of God (Arminian) Iosilion Iapor, 1nc
Sc:urii cj inc 8clictcr (SpringfioId, MO: GonoraI
CounciI of lho AssombIios of God, 1978), p. 3 (oIIipsis
addod).

As shncking as it
may sccm Inr many
BibIc-bcIicving
Christians, whcn aII
is said and dnnc,
thcrc is nn practicaI
diIIcrcncc bctwccn
Rnmanism,
Arminianism, and
CaIvinism in
rcquiring IaithIuI
pcrscvcrancc tn
makc it tn hcavcn!
"|urincrmcrc, uc crc prcic:ic! inrcugn jciin.
Our :cniinuc! jciin in Cnrisi is inc insirumcni
cj Gc!s susicining ucr|. Gc! !i!ni sctc us
cpcri jrcm jciin, cn! Hc !ccsni |ccp us cpcri
jrcm jciin. Our jciin is Gc!s giji, cn! inrcugn
His prcic:iing pcucr Hc prcscrtcs ii cn!
nuriurcs ii. 1nc mcinicncn:c cj cur jciin is cs
mu:n His ucr| cs ctcr cincr cspc:i cj
scltciicn. Our jciin is |in!lc! cn! !ritcn cn!
mcinicinc! cn! jcriijic! c Gc!s
grc:c. 8ui ic sc inci jciin is Gc!s
grc:icus giji, uni:n Hc mcinicins,
is nci ic sc inci jciin cpcrcics
cpcri jrcm inc numcn uill. |i is
cur jciin. Wc cclictc. Wc rcmcin
sicc!jcsi. Wc crc nci pcssitc in inc
prc:css. 1nc mccns c uni:n Gc!
mcinicins cur jciin intcltcs cur
jull pcrii:ipciicn."
13


"Hcting sircssc! inc sctcrcigni
cn! grc:c cj Gc!, ii is clsc
impcrciitc ic cring inc jrcc uill cn!
rcspcnsicilii cj inc cclictcr inic
jc:us. Gc! !ccs nci uiin!rcu inc
pcucr cj :nci:c jrcm inc pcrscn
unc cclictcs. 8 inc cxcr:isc cj jrcc
uill inc cclictcr cc:cmcs c :nil! cj
Gc!, cn! c inc :cniinuc! cxcr:isc cj jrcc uill nc
rcmcins c :nil! cj Gc!. 1c |ccp cn cclicting is
inc cclictcrs rcspcnsicilii."
14


".clincugn inc 8iclc iclls us inci uc crc |cpi
c inc grc:c cj Gc!, ii !ccs nci cn:curcgc inc
i!cc inci Gc! |ccps us uiincui :cnsicni
uci:njulncss, !iligcn:c, cn! prccr cn cur
pcri."
15


"Ici us nccr inc :cn:lusicn cj inc unclc mciicr.
Ocjc:iitcl, inc clc:i uill pcrsctcrc, cn! inc
unc pcrsctcrc crc clc:i. Sucjc:iitcl, inc
in!iti!ucl is clc:i cnl cs nc pcrsctcrcs."
16


13
}ohn MacArlhur (CaIvinisl), |ciin Wcr|s (DaIIas: Word
IubIishing, 1993), p. 185.

14
AssombIios of God (Arminian) Iosilion Iapor, 1nc
Sc:urii cj inc 8clictcr (SpringfioId, MO: GonoraI
CounciI of lho AssombIios of God, 1978), p. 5.

15
Louis Borkhof (CaIvinisl), Ssicmcii: 1ncclcg (Grand
Rapids, MI: Eordmans, 1991), p. 548.

16
Roborl Shank (Arminian), Iijc in inc Scn (SpringfioId,
MO: Woslcoll Iubs., 1960), p. 301.

"1nc Spirii cj Gc! :cniinucs ic ucr| jciin in inc
rcgcncrcic cn! inc incrcin pcrsctcrc in gcc!
ucr|s, clucs siruggling cgcinsi inc rcmncnis
cj incir crigincl sin uncsc guili is pcr!cnc! cui
uncsc pcucr is !c:rccsingl jcli uniil !csircc!
ci !ccin."
1


"M scniimcnis rcspc:iing inc Pcrsctcrcn:c cj
inc Scinis crc, 1nci incsc pcrscns unc nctc cccn
grcjic! inic Cnrisi c iruc jciin,
cn! nctc inus cccn mc!c pcric|crs
cj nis lijc-giting Spirii, pcsscss
sujji:icni pcucrs |or slronglh] ic
jigni cgcinsi Scicn, sin, inc ucrl!
cn! incir cun jlcsn, cn! ic gcin inc
ti:icr ctcr incsc cncmics, ci
nci uiincui inc cssisicn:c cj inc
grc:c cj inc scmc Hcl Spirii."
18


"1ruc jciin rctccls iisclj in
:cniinucl ccc!icn:c ic Cnrisis
:cn!iiicns jcr scltciicn."
1


"1c cclictc is ic ccc. Occ!icn:c
is inc inctiicclc mcnijcsiciicn cj
iruc jciin.. 1ruc jciin clucs
mcnijcsis iisclj in ccc!icn:c."
20


"Wc nctc sccn inci Gc!s scltciicn :ctcncni is
c :cniinuing :ctcncni. An! ii is c mcnsircus
!c:cpiicn ic icc:n inci inc :cniinucl sinncr uill
cc sctc! c c :cniinuing :ctcncni inci !cmcn!s
nis :cniinucl ccc!icn:c."
21


"1ncrc is c !cc!l cn! !cmncclc ncrcs ccing
ui!cl prcpcgcic! ic!c ic inc cjjc:i inci, ij c
sinncr irul c::cpis Cnrisi cs nis pcrscncl

17
}ohn Gorslnor's (CaIvinisl) dofinilion of lho
Iorsovoranco of lho Sainls, Wrcngl Diti!ing inc Wcr!
cj 1ruin (Bronlvood, TN: WoIgomulh & Hyall, 1991),
p. 147.

18
}acob Arminius' dofinilion of lho Iorsovoranco of lho
Sainls, 1nc Wcr|s cj jcmcs Arminius. }amos and
WiIIiam NichoIs (Grand Rapids, MI: Bakor Books,
roprinl 1999) VoI.1, p. 664.

19
Guy Duly (Arminian), |j Yc Ccniinuc (MinnoapoIis:
Bolhany Houso Iubs., 1966), p. 65.

20
}ohn MacArlhur (CaIvinisl), Gcspcl A::cr!ing ic jcsus,
p. 175 (oIIipsis addod).

21
Guy Duly (Arminian), |j Yc Ccniinuc (MinnoapoIis:
Bolhany Houso Iubs., 1966), p. 169.

WhiIc many CaIvinists
rcadiIy acknnwIcdgc
that Rnman
CathnIicism and
Arminianism advncatc
a wnrks-gnspcI, thcy
rcmain spirituaIIy
bIind tn thc Iact that
thc samc crrnr is
cndcmic tn thcir nwn
systcm duc tn its
unscripturaI dnctrinc
nI thc "pcrscvcrancc nI
thc saints."
Scticur, nc mciicr ncu nc litcs cjicrucr!s, nc
:cnnci pcrisn. 1nci is c scicni: lic, jcr ii is ci
!irc:i tcricn:c uiin inc icc:ning cj inc Wcr! cj
iruin. Scmcining mcrc incn cclicting in Cnrisi
is nc:csscr ic cnsurc inc sculs rcc:ning
ncctcn."
22



Thc Fivc Pnints nI CaIvinism

As shocking as il may soom for many BibIo-
boIioving Chrislians, vhon aII is said and dono,
lhoro is no praclicaI difforonco bolvoon Romanism,
Arminianism, and CaIvinism in roquiring failhfuI
porsovoranco lo mako il lo hoavon! WhiIo many
CaIvinisls roadiIy acknovIodgo lhal Roman
CalhoIicism and Arminianism advocalo a vorks-
gospoI, lhoy romain spiriluaIIy bIind lo lho facl lhal
lho samo orror is ondomic lo lhoir ovn syslom duo
lo ils unscripluraI doclrino of lho "porsovoranco of
lho sainls." Tho "porsovoranco of lho sainls" is lho
fiflh poinl in lho "Fivo Ioinls of CaIvinism." Tho
basic doclrinos of orlhodox CaIvinism havo
lradilionaIIy boon summarizod and sol in conlrasl
lo Arminianism by lho acroslic TLLII.

T - TolaI Dopravily
U - LncondilionaI EIoclion
L - Limilod Alonomonl
I - IrrosislibIo Graco
P - Iorsovoranco of lho Sainls

To proporIy undorsland lho CaIvinislic doclrino of
porsovoranco, ono musl undorsland lhoso fivo
poinls of CaIvinism. AII fivo poinls aro IogicaIIy
inlorroIalod. CaIvinism loachos lhal mankind is
icicll !cprctc! in his sin, spiriluaIIy doad boforo
God, and lhoroforo incapabIo of saving himsoIf,
vhich is aII lruo lo Scripluro. Hovovor, CaIvinism
aIso inlorprols lho lolaI dopravily of man lo moan
"icicl inccilii." Thal is, a Iosl man is ullorIy
incapabIo of posilivoIy oxorcising his viII, so lhal
ho is spiriluaIIy incapabIo of boIioving in Chrisl
unIoss lho HoIy Spiril firsl rogonoralos him and
givos him lho gifl of failh.

Basod on lhis faIso assumplion lhal man is
incapabIo of boIioving boforo ho's born again,

22
A.W. Iink (CaIvinisl), as quolod by Iain H. Murray in
1nc Iijc cj Arinur W. Pin| (Edinburgh: Tho Bannor of
Trulh, 1982), pp. 248-249.
CaIvinism lhon roasons lhal God musl havo
un:cn!iiicncll clc:ic! onIy corlain mon and
vomon lo bo savod. This uncondilionaI oIoclion is
mado slriclIy on lho basis of God's sovoroign
choico, compIoloIy aparl from man's voIilion or
choico lo boIiovo in Chrisl.

TradilionaI CaIvinism aIso loachos lhal sinco God
dolorminod onIy a soIocl porconlago of mankind lo
bo oIocl and doslinod for saIvalion, il vouId bo
suporfIuous for Chrisl lo purchaso lho saIvalion of
lho non-oIocl vhon Ho diod for sin on CaIvary's
cross. Thoroforo, lhoy boIiovo Chrisl providod a
"limiic! cicncmcni" by dying onIy for lho sins of lho
oIocl.

Noxl is lho loaching of irrcsisiiclc grc:c. Sinco
God uncondilionaIIy choso corlain poopIo lo bo
savod and Chrisl spocificaIIy paid for lho sins of
lhoso oIocl, God viII vork in lhoir Iivos in such a
vay lhal lhoy viII bo irrosislibIy dravn lo Chrisl.
Aparl from man's voIilion, God dravs lhom,
rogonoralos lhom, givos lhom lho gifl of failh, and
lhoy forovor lhoroaflor boIiovo in His Son.

FinaIIy, lho "pcrsctcrcn:c cj inc scinis" loachos lhal
aII vhom God irrosislibIy dravs lo rogonoralion in
Chrisl viII, of nocossily, provo lhoir oIoclion by
porsovoring in failh and hoIinoss. CaIvinism
concIudos lhal lho sainl's porsovoranco in failh is
guaranlood by God bocauso saving failh ilsoIf is a
divino gifl, and il musl lhoroforo bo porfocl and
onduring if il is gonuinoIy of God.


Thc FiIth Pnint nI CaIvinism

Thus, CaIvinism doos loach lho olornaI socurily of
lho boIiovor, bul lhal socurily is condilionod upon
an unfaiIing, fruilfuI, and onduring failh. From
God's slandpoinl, lho saIvalion and socurily of lho
oIocl is novor in quoslion, bul from lho human
slandpoinl, il is condilionod upon failhfuI
porsovoranco lo lho ond of ono's oarlhIy Iifo.

This dislinclion bolvoon lho boIiovor's sc:urii and
his pcrsctcrcn:c is ropoalodIy slrossod in lho
vrilings of CaIvinisls lhomsoIvos. For oxampIo,
19lh conlury CaIvinisl lhooIogian, CharIos Hodgo,
slalod, "|i musi cc rcmcmccrc! inci unci inc Apcsilc
crgucs ic prctc is nci mcrcl inc :cricini cj inc
scltciicn cj incsc inci cclictc, cui incir :cricin
pcrsctcrcn:c in nclincss. Scltciicn in sin, c::cr!ing ic
Pculs ssicm, is c :cnirc!i:iicn in icrms. 1nis
pcrsctcrcn:c in nclincss is sc:urc! pcril c inc inucr!
sc:rci injlucn:c cj inc Spirii, cn! pcril c cll inc mccns
c!cpic! ic sc:urc inci cn! insiru:iicns,
c!mcniiicns, cxncriciicns, ucrnings, inc
mccns cj grc:c, cn! inc !ispcnsciicns cj nis
prcti!cn:c."
23


Ono of lho cIoarosl slalomonls on lho
CaIvinislic dislinclion bolvoon lho
boIiovor's socurily and his porsovoranco
comos from popuIar aulhor and loachor,
}ohn MacArlhur. Ho vrilos, "| cm
:cmmiiic! ic inc cicli:cl iruin inci scltciicn
is jcrctcr. Ccnicmpcrcr Cnrisiicns nctc
:cmc ic rcjcr ic inis cs inc !c:irinc cj cicrncl
sc:urii. Pcrncps inc Puriicns icrminclcg is mcrc
cpprcpricic, inc spc|c cj inc pcrsctcrcn:c cj inc scinis.
1nc pcini is nci inci Gc! gucrcniccs sc:urii ic
ctcrcnc unc uill sc nc c::cpis Cnrisi, cui rcincr inci
incsc uncsc jciin is gcnuinc uill prctc incir scltciicn is
sc:urc c pcrsctcring ic inc cn! in inc uc cj
rigniccusncss."
24



EtcrnaI 5ccurity vs.
Pcrscvcrancc nI thc 5aints

LnforlunaloIy, many BibIo-boIioving Chrislians
havo vrongIy assumod lhal lho CaIvinisl doclrino
of lho "pcrsctcrcn:c cj inc scinis" is synonymous
vilh lho BibIicaI doclrino of olornaI socurily.
Hovovor, lho lvo shouId nol bo oqualod. Tho
BibIicaI doclrino of olornaI socurily loachos lhal ono
vho has boon lruIy rogonoralod by God's graco
lhrough failh aIono in Chrisl aIono shaII novor bo in
dangor of God's condomnalion or Ioss of
saIvalion, bul ho or sho is kopl olornaIIy
savod by God's graco and povor. Tho
BibIo givos lho comforling assuranco lo
us as foobIo sinnors lhal lho socurily of
saIvalion rosls upon lho failhfuInoss of
God lo us, nol our on-going failhfuInoss
lo Him. Tho socurily of our saIvalion
rosls upon lho gracious and morcifuI
porsovoranco of lho Savior lovard savod
sinnors, nol on lho porsovoranco of
sainls. For God lo roquiro olhorviso
vouId rosuIl in a moril-basod saIvalion
lhal donios lho ullorIy gracious naluro of God's gifl
of olornaI Iifo.

In parl lvo of lhis sorios on porsovoranco viII provido BibIicaI
ansvors lo lvo vilaI quoslions. Firsl, is lho BibIicaI failh in
Chrisl vhich savos us from HoII an onduring, ropoalod
aclivily, or is il an inslanlanoous acl` SocondIy, doos finaI
saIvalion dopond upon lho porsovoranco of lho sainls, or lho
porsovoranco of lho Savior, or bolh`


23
CharIos Hodgo, Ssicmcii: 1ncclcg (Grand Rapids, MI:
Eordmans, roprinlod 1989),VoI. 3, pp. 112-13.

24
}ohn MacArlhur, 1nc Gcspcl A::cr!ing ic jcsus (Grand
Rapids, MI: Zondorvan, 1988), p. 98.

Tom SlogaII is a gradualo of lho Graco Inslilulo of BibIicaI Sludios and
is lho paslor-loachor al Word of Graco BibIo Church in MiIvaukoo, WI


Thc Wnrd nI
Gnd abundantIy
and rcpcatcdIy
tcstiIics that it is
Gnd whn kccps
His chiIdrcn
sccurc thrnugh
His nwn pnwcr
and gracc.