Perseverance of the Saints – The P of “TULIP”

What the Calvinist says about Perseverance of the Saints: (Taken from: http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Articles/ByDate/1985/1487_What_We_Believe_About_the_Five_Points_of_Calvinism/#Grace)

We mean that the saints will and must persevere in the obedience which comes from faith. Election is unconditional, but glorification is not. There are many warnings in Scripture that those who do not hold fast to Christ can be lost in the end.

This means that the ministry of the word is God's instrument in the preservation of faith as well as the begetting of faith. We do not breathe easy after a person has prayed to receive Christ, as though we can be assured from our perspective that they are now beyond the reach of the evil one. There is a fight of faith to be fought. We must endure to the end in faith if we are to be saved.

This is why we believe in eternal security--namely, the eternal security of the elect. The implication is that God will so work that those whom he has chosen for eternal salvation will be enabled by him to persevere in faith to the end and fulfill, by the power of the Holy Spirit, the requirements for obedience.

Nevertheless, we must also own up to the fact that our final salvation is made contingent upon the subsequent obedience which comes from faith. The way these two truths fit together is that we are justified through our first act of faith because God sees in it (like he can see the tree in an acorn) the embryo of a life of faith. This is why those who do not lead a life of faith with its inevitable fruit of obedience simply bear witness to the fact that their first act of faith was not genuine.

We are not left to ourselves and our assurance is very largely rooted in the sovereign love of God to perform that which he has called us to do.

Therefore we should be zealous to make our calling and election sure.

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Most people claiming to be a less than five point Calvinist say they agree with the teaching of the Perseverance of the Saints. In order to come to this decision they reject Calvinist definitions and embrace definitions they invent. This causes confusion about what is meant or what the person believes. In order to understand the term properly, you must go to the people in this system and ask for their definitions.

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Confusion abounds in the Calvinist explanation of the Perseverance of the Saints when they say, “…God will so work that those whom he has chosen for eternal salvation will be enabled by him to persevere in faith to the end…” and then saying, “…our final salvation is made contingent upon the subsequent obedience which comes from faith.”

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Even if we are, according to them, Unconditionally Elected, are included in the Limited Atonement, we come to have faith because of our Election, and we are not left to ourselves because of the power of the Holy Spirit, BUT then they say our final salvation is contingent on works? This is being said by a Calvinist? Should they have not said, “…our final salvation is made evident by the subsequent obedience…” and not, “…made contingent upon…”?

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For most Calvinists, Perseverance of the Saints is a direct result of the other points of Calvinism. According to their view, God has chosen the elect from before the foundation of the world. Since only the elect have their sin forgiven through the Limited Atonement of Christ, and the blood of Christ is effectual only for the elect, only the elect will have a persevering relationship with Christ. According to the Calvinists, if someone “falls away” it shows they never were chosen in the first place.

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So how can they say, “…our final salvation is made contingent upon the subsequent obedience which comes from faith…”? How can that statement fall into alignment with their view of God’s Unconditional Election? It can’t. Or how can it mesh with their understanding of God’s sovereignty? It doesn’t. As an out they say obedience comes from faith, and faith only is given to the elect, so only the elect will have faith, but they don’t stop there.

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In one place they say salvation is 100% God and 0% man, then describe Perseverance as some mixture of God and man, maybe a 50/50 or a 60/40 ratio, if you are saved. Remember, according to the Calvinist, “There is a fight of faith to be fought. We must endure to the end in faith if we are to be saved.” Sounds like an erroneous Arminian view of salvation retained by works, to me.

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Do I believe a person can loose his salvation? No. Do I believe retention of a person’s salvation is based upon his behavior? No. Does the Bible teach either of these ideas? No. Do I embrace the Calvinist teaching of “Perseverance of the Saints”? No. Why not? What does the Bible teach?

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Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 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.

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2Timothy 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

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

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Jude 1:24-25 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

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Clearly once you are truly saved, you are always saved. There is no loss of salvation to those who have salvation. We are secure by the blood of Christ and the strength of God’s Word.

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If someone was claiming to be saved because they were chosen, how could they have any confidence in their sanctification? A Calvinist has no real ground to stand on when claiming salvation because the ultimate test will come at judgment and then it is too late. Until judgment, a Calvinist can only hope they have been chosen.

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I know I am saved, not because of what I have done but because I have placed my faith in what Christ has done for me. I was given the promise: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:9-10 and Romans 10:13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” I did that and based upon the strength of God’s Holy and Infallible Word, I am saved.

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Now that I am saved I have the confidence of God’s promise, “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.” Romans 8:29 and then there is 1John 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. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”

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Additionally, I know God will actively “help” me to become more like Christ as He said in Hebrews 12:6-11:

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“For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”

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I rest secure in the knowledge I am in Christ and He is in me because if I have truly committed my life to Christ and repented of my sin, there is a relationship that can never be broken. This is not the Perseverance of the Saints but the Perseverance of the Promise.

Irresistible Grace – The I of “TULIP”

What the Calvinist says about Irresistible Grace: (Taken from: http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Articles/ByDate/1985/1487_What_We_Believe_About_the_Five_Points_of_Calvinism/#Grace)

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The doctrine of irresistible grace does not mean that every influence of the Holy Spirit cannot be resisted. It means that the Holy Spirit can overcome all resistance and make his influence irresistible.

The doctrine of irresistible grace means that God is sovereign and can overcome all resistance when he wills. "Our God is in the heavens; he does whatever he pleases" (Psalm 115:3). When God undertakes to fulfill his sovereign purpose, no one can successfully resist him.

More specifically irresistible grace refers to the sovereign work of God to overcome the rebellion of our heart and bring us to faith in Christ so that we can be saved. If our doctrine of total depravity is true, there can be no salvation without the reality of irresistible grace. If we are dead in our sins, totally unable to submit to God, then we will never believe in Christ unless God overcomes our rebellion.
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Now we come to two huge issues with Calvinism’s view of God: First, God’s sovereignty dictates and empowers every action of man, and second, God’s call to salvation, because of His sovereignty, is irresistible.

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Before we delve into these two issues let me again draw your attention to their claim. They said, “If our doctrine of total depravity is true, there can be no salvation without the reality of irresistible grace.” As stated, the tulip of Calvinism must contain every petal or it does not exist. There is no three-point or four-point Calvinist. If you agree with the Calvinists on just one of their points, in the Calvinist way of understanding, you have bought the whole tulip.

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Back to the issues at hand, the sovereignty of God and God’s irresistible call to salvation. One more clarification is necessary here. It is impossible to read the Bible and believe God is anything less than totally sovereign. God is totally sovereign. God is completely sovereign. God does whatever He pleases anytime He pleases.

Scripture is abundantly clear about God’s sovereignty. I have no issues accepting the fact of God’s sovereignty. I do not accept the Calvinist version of God’s sovereignty. Calvinism defines God’s sovereignty as God’s complete control over every thought and movement of every living being at all times.

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To the Calvinist, especially John Piper, if God is not controlling and directing every person, every animal, every dust mite, and the direction of every hair on your body, then God is somehow less than completely sovereign. John Piper likes to say there is only one will of God, the perfect will of God and everything happening is at the center of His will. This is not a scriptural view of God’s sovereignty. Need some proof?

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Genesis 2:19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.

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Did you notice the phrase, “to see what he would call them”? As God made the animals He brought them to Adam to be named. Of course God knew what Adam would call them, but there is something God did to give Adam the ability of choice. Since God is totally sovereign, is He unable to give man the ability to choose? Is a King less sovereign when His subjects exercise the choice He gives them? Is one verse not enough?

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How about this passage:

Isaiah 14:12-14 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

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When Lucifer rebelled did it make God less of a King? No. Was God less sovereign when Lucifer became full of pride and rebellion? Of course not. Actually this shows God’s sovereign power and how it remains in spite of rebellion. Did God’s sovereignty have to be the reason for Lucifer’s fall? By no means.

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According to the Calvinist view, God, because His sovereignty requires complete control of everything all the time, is the author of sin. How absurd. Calvinists believe God was in complete control of Lucifer’s thoughts and actions, even when Lucifer rebelled.

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Calvinists have a problem understanding the difference between being in control and taking control. Biblical sovereignty shows God is in control even when He does not control.

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When God allows another being to make a choice (and I did not use the Armenian concept of “free will” because it is just as wrong) God does not loose any of His power or authority. When I, as a Father, allow my children to make a choice, I am not any less of a Father. In fact, when my child makes a wrong choice, I am given the opportunity to show the strength of my authority and my “sovereignty” as the head of the family. Their disobedience is not my preference nor is it my will. In fact I am saddened by my opportunity to show my authority in the face of disobedience.

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The Bible has plenty of examples showing the total sovereignty of God does not require God to dictate every movement and every thought of man. Look at the three times Paul tried to go to Asia. Look at how Peter wrongly replaced Judas with Matthias. Look how Peter wrongly associated himself with the Jews and Paul had to correct him. Does this show God’s complete control of every detail? I believe it shows the sovereignty of God by allowing men to make wrong choices and yet God is still in control, even when He did not control the minutia.

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With this understanding of God’s sovereignty, we are now ready to look at the Calvinist idea of Irresistible Grace. Look at what they say again, “More specifically irresistible grace refers to the sovereign work of God to overcome the rebellion of our heart and bring us to faith in Christ so that we can be saved. If our doctrine of total depravity is true, there can be no salvation without the reality of irresistible grace.”

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Does God sometimes call a person in an almost irresistible way? Yes. The testimony of Paul will verify the near irresistibility of God’s call. Does the conversion of Paul prove the position of Irresistible Grace in the life of every believer? No.

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The only way for irresistible grace to conform to the Bible is to use it in a logical sense. For example, I am saved because I did not resist God’s grace. In fact, we are all saved because we did not resist God’s grace. So for us (the Christians) we can say we found God’s grace to be irresistible. Not because we could not resist, but because we did not resist.

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This is not the understanding of the Calvinist. According to the Calvinist, when God elects someone to salvation He will continually present Himself in ways and times the elect unsaved person will find impossible to resist. Man is considered to be so Totally Depraved God must make His grace irresistible or else man will not be saved. If there is one small opportunity for man to resist God’s grace, he will because of his Total Depravity.

The only saving grace for the Totally Depraved must be, according to the Calvinist, Irresistible Grace.

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What does the Bible say?

Matthew 23:37 - O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

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Matthew 22:2-3 - The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.

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Proverbs 1:23-25 - Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:

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Acts 7:51 - Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.

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Isaiah 55:6-7 - Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

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Romans 1:20-21 - For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

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Scripture is clear on this issue. God’s grace is resistible. Man is responsible for his choice and man’s choice does not negate the sovereignty of God. God is sovereign and man is able to choose and bears the responsibility of his choice alone. When man chooses sin and bears the consequences of sin, God is still just as sovereign as He ever was.

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If you read the original statement closely there is a hint of contradiction. This opposing view is visible in their statement: “When God undertakes to fulfill his sovereign purpose, no one can successfully resist him.” See it? “When God undertakes to fulfill his sovereign purpose…” So are they saying God does not always work to fulfill His sovereign purpose? In their understanding of things, if God does not control everything, He is not completely sovereign. This is simply not true.