This is part 5 of a series.
Part 1 :: Why I Am a Calvinist: Introduction
Part 2 :: Why I Am a Calvinist: Depravity
Part 3 :: Why I Am a Calvinist: Election
Part 4 :: Why I Am a Calvinist: Atonement
Part 5 :: Why I Am a Calvinist: Calling

We come now to the last of what are known as the “Five Points of Calvinism,” Perseverance of the Saints. It has been argued that preservation would be a better word than perseverance, because it is God who keeps us in the faith, and not ourselves through our own efforts. I agree; it is entirely by the power of the Holy Spirit that our faith does not, and will not, fail. However, I prefer to keep perseverance. The main reason I do is that preservation seems to me to be too accommodating to the doctrine of “once saved, always saved” which is held by those who teach the heresy of Lordless Salvation*. We are not merely preserved in a passive state of grace; we are caused to actively persevere in our faith. Either word is acceptable, as long as we understand that we are preserved in a state of active faith, and that our perseverance is all of grace.

I used to find the Doctrine of Perseverance repulsive. My reaction was, “Well, if that’s true, then you could just ‘get saved’ and then live any way you want!† That just can’t be!” Obviously, judging the truth of a proposition by the attractiveness of possible consequences is horribly foolish, as it makes my “wisdom” sovereign; but that is the way I approached it. After I came to understand that the Bible does teach that salvation cannot be lost, I also found the answer to my fears of antinomianism; but I’ll save that for another time.

At this point, I was going to address some Scripture passages that might be used to refute the Doctrine of Perseverance; but as I looked at various passages, I saw that I had to stretch and rip them out of context to even consider them challenges at all. So, in the interest of brevity, I’m going to forego that for now. If anyone does present me with a substantial challenge, I’ll deal with it then.

Instead, I’ll go to a few passages in John’s Gospel and Paul’s Epistle to the Romans to show where this doctrine is taught. This is by no means a comprehensive list of texts on Perseverance, but I think it is more than sufficient.

John 3:14–16 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:35–36 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. 36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

John 6:35–58 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. 36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. 37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. 41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. 42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? 43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. 44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. 46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. 47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. 48 I am that bread of life. 49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. 52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

John 10:27–29 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

Romans 8:16–18 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Romans 6:20–23 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 8:29–39 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In these passages, we find the following assurances:

• The life we are given is eternal.
• God the Father has given us to Christ, and no one can take us from him.
• Christ will lose nothing that the Father has given to him.
• All whom the Father has given to the Son will be raised up on the last day.
• All who are justified will also be glorified.
• No one can bring any accusation against God’s elect.
• Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ.

How long is “eternal life”? Forever! Who can take us from Christ? No one! How many of God’s elect will Christ lose? None! How many of those who believe on the Son will he raise up on the last day? All of them! How many who are justified will see Heaven? Every one! Who can accuse God’s elect? No one! What can separate us from the love of Christ? Nothing!

We can rest assured that if we have been justified, we will surely be sanctified and glorified as well. This is the unbreakable promise of God: Whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

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*See Phillip L. Simpson, A Biblical Response To the Free Grace Movement Part One, Part Two, Part Three; Matt Waymeyer, “Free Grace” Theology and Acts 17:30-31, “Free Grace” and Matt. 7:21-23 Part 1, Part 2. Read The Gospel According to Jesus & The Gospel According to the Apostles by John MacArthur.
†I now believe that exact thing. How is that possible, considering my condemnation of the teaching of “Lordless Salvation”? That, as I said, may be a topic for future consideration.