perseverance

Cork Free Presbyterian Church, 10 Briarscourt (Annex) Shanakiel, Cork, Ireland
Pastor: Colin Maxwell. Email: colin.maxwell@fpcmission.org

PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS
THE AGREEMENT OF SOME OTHERWISE NON REFORMED WRITERS

This page has come out of a debate I am currently having with a Non Reformed IFBS missionary on the Calvinistic doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints. It is Mr McGovern who has picked this subject and basically he takes us to task over the "how" of the saints persevering unto the end. If you want to follow the doctrinal end of this debate, then click here and on you go. This page is set up to develope a side argument that I have introduced. Having sought to allay Mr McGovern's fears by relating what we do actually believe on this matter, I thought it might be good to see how others who are within the Evangelical/Fundamental circle but who were not Calvinists viewed this doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints as held by Calvinists. I can show you where these men, although opposed to the other 4 points of Calvinism, more or less agreed with the 5th point. I do not say this to make them "One Point Calvinists" but simply to show that the 5th Point of Calvinism is not the danger and threat which McGovern (and others of his line of thinking) say it is, but is simply the agreed doctrine of Bible men, Calvinist or not.

1) H.A. IRONSIDE

"People say, “I see you believe in that old Baptist doctrine of ‘once in grace, always in grace.’” Or another says, “I understand you hold that old Presbyterian idea of ‘the final perseverance of the saints.’” I do not know why this should be called either Baptist or Presbyterian, only to the extent that Baptists and Presbyterians agree with the Book, and the Word of God clearly shows that once God takes us up in grace nothing can separate us from the love of Christ so that evidently the expression, “once in grace, always in grace,” is a perfectly correct one. But, on the other hand, I am not so enthusiastic about the other expression, “the perseverance of the saints.” I believe in it; I believe that all saints--all really belonging to God--will persevere to the end, for the Book tells me, “He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved” (Matthew 24:13), and if a man starts out and makes a profession but gives it all up, he will never be saved, because he was never born again to begin with, he was never truly changed by grace divine. On the other hand, the reason he endures to the end is not because of any particular perseverance of his own. What I believe in, and what the Word of God clearly teaches, is the perseverance of the Holy Spirit. When He begins a work, He never gives up until it is completed. That is our confidence." (Eternal Security of the Believer)

2) DAVID CLOUD (WAY OF LIFE)

"Though I do not agree with Calvinist theology, I can readily admit that there are many good things about Calvinism, especially if it is contrasted with the shallow, man-centered theology and evangelism that is so popular today. Four things come to mind readily:

3. Calvinism gives eternal security to the believer. Calvinism promises eternal security to the believer, because it knows that (1) salvation is entirely of God's grace and thus depends nothing whatsoever on man's puny works whether good or bad, (2) God has elected and ordained the saved person to a glorious eternal inheritance, and (3) the saved persevere in the faith through the effective working of the indwelling Holy Spirit. In this it is right on target.

4. Calvinism teaches that the elect will give evidence of their calling. The Calvinist knows that salvation produces a dramatic change in a person's life, and in this he is right on target. Any "salvation" that does not result in a change of life and direction and thinking and purpose is not a biblical salvation." (Older edition of his "hot" sermon on: "Calvinism: Who is the Enemy - answered here.)

3) JOHN R. RICE

"However, the hyper-Calvinistis are very strict Calvinists and believe in five main points that make an acrostic on the word TULIP" [My note: Rice is wrong to designate those who believe in the 5 points as Hyper Calvinists. Hyper Calvinism denies basic Calvinist tenets like the free offer of the gospel and man's commanded duty to repent and believe the gospel etc., However I include this sentence for context of the quote below.]

"Perseverance or preservation of the saints (that is correct). God does keep those who are born again." (Dr. Rice, Here are more questions..." Volume 2 Sword of The Lord Publishers, p.191)

TO BE CONTINUED