THE
PRESERVATION AND PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS
By
Wayne Camp
NEW
TESTAMENT CHURCHES WERE TAUGHT THE DOCTRINE OF THE PRESERVATION
AND PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS
In this study of New Testament Church
certainties it has been shown that it is certain the churches of
the New Testament period were taught the doctrines of grace. We
have seen that they were taught and they taught the total
hereditary depravity of man. In teaching that they also were
taught the natural inability of the unregenerate man to do that
is spiritually acceptable with God.
We have also seen that out of the whole of
the human race God did unconditionally choose an innumerable
multitude of specific persons to salvation. This election was not
based on any good seen or foreseen in those chosen; it was
according to God’s own good pleasure that he made his
election.
Then we saw that those same churches were
taught and did teach the doctrine of the limited atonement. They
were taught that Jesus laid down his life for his sheep. They
were taught that God gave the elect to Christ and that Christ
came to give eternal life to those given to him by his Father.
And, we further saw that those churches of
the New Testament period were also taught and did teach the
doctrine of the effectual call. This doctrine was abundantly
taught and two articles were written, yet we barely scratched the
service.
Finally, it is abundantly evident from the
Word of God that the churches of the New Testament period were
taught and grounded in the doctrine of the perseverance and
preservation of the saints. Most Baptists will agree to the
doctrine of preservation, but some object to the doctrine of
perseverance. The same God who preserves also works in his people
to will and to do of his good pleasure. The true believer has a
persevering attachment to the Lord Jesus Christ and he does
persevere. He will not, he cannot fall into a life of habitual
sin. He may stumble; he may commit terrible sins, but he will not
go on in this sin. That is evidence he was never saved in the
first place.
Jesus taught this doctrine
repeatedly. He taught that those who believe on him shall never
perish but have eternal life. John 3:15-16 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. There are two things in this passage that prove
that Jesus taught this doctrine. First, he assures that the one
believing on him will never perish. If he will never perish he
must be preserved. Second, he taught that the one believing on
him has eternal life. That is long enough. A life that is eternal
never ends. It is interminable. It cannot be terminated or cease.
Eternal life is eternal life and those having eternal life can
never perish, will never perish, cannot perish. Jesus reaffirmed
what he had said in verse 15 again in verse 16.
Jesus also taught that first
congregation that no believer will ever come into condemnation.
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my
word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life,
and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death
unto life. "Condemnation" is the act of adjudging
guilty. It is the opposite of justification and refers to a
persons legal standing before God. The believer is justified by
faith and is therefore not condemned before God. Jesus made his
statement with regard to the future. Not only is the true
believer not condemned at the present, he shall not come into
condemnation in the future. Jesus taught that the true believer
in Christ shall never come into condemnation.
We find Jesus teaching his
first church on this earth this doctrine again in John 6. As a
matter of fact, he was even teaching it to some folks who were
not saved, but members and apostles of that first assembly were
present when he was teaching. He taught that no one who comes to
him will ever be cast out. John 6:37 All that the Father giveth
me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise
cast out. Every one whom the Father gave him will come to him,
according to Christ. And, when they do come there is nothing that
can ever arise that will cause him to cast them out.
Of the expression, "I
will in no wise cast out," Dr. Gill writes, "The words
are very strongly and emphatically expressed in the original,
‘I will not, not, or never, never, cast out without."
This very emphatically assures all who are truly believing in
Jesus Christ for salvation that there is no reason or
circumstance that will cause Christ to cast them out. Gill
comments, "Christ will never cast them out of his
affections; nor out of his arms; nor out of the family that is
named in him . . . nor out of a state of justification and
salvation; and therefore they shall never perish, but have
eternal life.
Jesus set himself before this
congregation as the good shepherd. He illustrated his care of his
sheep with what these folks knew to be true of a good shepherd
who would willingly lay down his life for his sheep. On the
matter of preservation and perseverance Jesus assured his church
that his sheep follow him and not one of his sheep will ever
perish or be plucked out of his hand. John 10:27-30 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. 30 I and my Father are one. In this passage both
the preservation and perseverance of the saved are taught. The
sheep here his voice and they follow him. That is perseverance.
Not only do they follow but he gives them eternal life and they
shall never perish. And, there is no one who can pluck them out
of the hand of Christ and his Father.
These are only a few of the
instances where Jesus taught the certain perseverance and
preservation of the saved to the church that he established and
taught while on this earth during his personal ministry.
It is abundantly evident that
Paul taught the doctrine of perseverance and preservation of the
saints. It is found in nearly every one of his epistles, if not
every one. It is found in his teaching that is recorded in the
book of Acts.
He taught that all things
work together for good for those who are the called according to
God's purpose. It would never be for the good of one of God's
children to be lost. Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to them who are the
called according to his purpose. Note that this assurance is for
those who are the called according to God’s purpose.
God’s purpose of election stands in the ability of God to
call his elect to salvation. And, the very ground upon which our
assured preservation and perseverance stands is the
unconditional, unchangeable election unto salvation. Since it is
unequivocally true that all things work together for our good,
how could we ever be lost again?
Paul also taught that those
whom God chose, called and justified are also glorified in the
mind and purpose of God. Romans 8:29-30 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. Get this firmly fixed in your mind if you have a
question about this doctrine. Before the foundation of the world,
God set his electing love on a multitude of specific people. With
God there is one eternal now; he is eternal; he inhabits
eternity. What he purposes he may, and does sometimes speak of as
already done, its accomplishment is so irrevocably certain. In
this passage he speaks of those whom he chose to salvation as
though every one of them were already called, justified and
glorified. Since I am already glorified in the mind and purpose
of God there is no way I could ever fail and be un-glorified, or
de-glorified in his mind and purpose. God cannot determine
something to be certain and it not be certain. My glorification
is absolutely certain for he who set his electing love on me and
predestinated me to be conformed to the image of his Son has also
called and justified me, both in purpose and standing. He called
me to his salvation and justified me by his grace. Since four of
the things set forth in this passage have proven to be true
because he purposed them, I can rest in the blessed assurance
that every one of those whom he has chosen in his sovereign love,
predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, called
effectually by his gracious calling, justified by his grace and
on the ground of the finished work of Christ, will surely be
glorified. The last is as certain to come to pass as were the
other four. This five-linked chain in God’s eternal purpose
cannot be broken. Not one link will fail. All will come to pass.
The saints will persevere and be preserved.
Paul taught those early
churches that not one charge can be laid to the account of the
elect. Romans 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's
elect? It is God that justifieth. Every charge that could ever be
raised against any of God’s elect was met and answered in
the death of Christ for his sheep. All our sins—past,
present and future—were laid on him. He fully met every
demand of God’s holy law and perfect justice. God made his
soul an offering for each and everyone of the sins of his elect.
When Jesus had fully and infinitely satisfied our sin debt God
had seen the travail of his soul and was fully satisfied. Jesus
paid it all. He paid it to the last farthing. If God had been
pleased to save thousands more than he has purposed to save, no
more would be necessary. He lifted up his holy, marred face on
Golgotha and cried, "Tetelestai!" "It is finished,
It is accomplished." If he finished it, secured eternal life
for all those given to him by the Father as he asserts (John
17:2), how could man put to it anything that would assure his
salvation? Or, how could he take anything from that which is
finished that would terminate his spiritual life and cause him to
land in hell? Perish the thought! Do not so demean the finished
work of Christ!
Paul further taught that
there is nothing anywhere, past, present or future that can
separate one of God's elect from his love. Romans 8:35-39 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. Did Paul miss anything in his
list of those things which cannot separate us from the love of
God which is in Christ? I read the list and I can think of
nothing. But, just in case something could be missing in the list
of specific things, it is comprehended in the category of
"any other creature." Only the three Persons of the
Godhead are excluded from this designation. We are assured,
therefore, specifically and generally there is nothing that can
separate us. No created being or thing, no circumstance or
incident can separate us from the love of God. Since the three
Persons of the Godhead have covenanted together to accomplish our
salvation without a single failure, without one chosen sheep
being lost, they will not separate us from this love and Paul
affirmed to the church at Rome that no created thing could
separate us. We will be caused to persevere. We will be Divinely
preserved in Jesus Christ.
This inspired Apostle boldly
avowed that there is absolutely no condemnation for one who is in
Christ. Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them
which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but
after the Spirit. One who is lost is condemned. One who goes to
hell goes there because he stands condemned before God. But,
there is absolutely no condemnation to the person who is in
Christ, who is justified in Christ and by his blood. No
condemnation! Absolutely no condemnation! Blessed assurance Jesus
is mine. I am in him and he is in me and in him there is no
condemnation! It is the Father who has justified us; he will not
condemn. It is on the grounds of the finished work of the Son
that we are justified; he will not condemn. It is the Holy Spirit
who bears witness with our spirits that we are in a state of
justification before God; he will not condemn. And, since God has
justified us; no man or angel can condemn us. There is no
condemnation, not one single charge against us that would condemn
us, because we are in Christ. What assurance this must have been
to the members of the church in Rome and all who read in the
churches then and since.
Paul taught that one who has
believed on Christ is sealed until the day of redemption.
Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the
word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after
that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of
promise. Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God,
whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. The seal spoken
of, contrary to what some have advocated in their religious
sophistry, is not a seal like the seal on a bottle. It is a seal
of authority, such as the Seal of the United States or the Seal
of the President of the United States. These seals say that the
only way you can remove the significance of the seal is to
destroy the entity behind the seal. The Seal of the United States
would be invalidated only if the United States were destroyed.
The seal of the USSR is without any significance any more because
the USSR has collapsed; it has been destroyed; it is no more. The
only way one who is sealed by the Holy Spirit could ever be lost
and condemned is for the Holy Spirit and the other Persons of the
Godhead to be destroyed. That will not happen, therefore, those
sealed by the great seal of the Holy Spirit are sealed unto the
day of their glorification with Christ, sealed to the day of
redemption of the body.
Paul taught those early
churches that what God has commenced in the elect he will
complete. Philippians 1:6 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 Apostle is referring to the great
work of salvation. It begins in the elect in regeneration which
produces repentance and faith. God is not a quitter. He always
finishes what he starts. Once he commences in one of his elect
the work of salvation, he will perform it until Christ comes and
receives that person up into glory unto himself. He will perform
it and no man can stay his hand from completing it. Absolutely
none can stay his hand from this great and gracious work.
This inspired apostle of
grace, this proclaimer of the gospel of the grace of God, taught
that Christ is able to keep what is committed to him for
safekeeping. 2 Timothy 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. I cited this
verse in a debate once and the opponent admitted that Christ was
able to keep us. He said something to this effect, "It is
not a matter of Christ’s ability; it is a matter of
Christ’s willingness. Will he keep us?"
Peter taught this doctrine of
perseverance and preservation to the folks to whom he addressed
his epistles. He taught that the elect are begotten to a living
hope and are kept by the power of God through faith. 1 Peter
1:2-5 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father,
through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and
sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and
peace, be multiplied. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten
us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ
from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled,
and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are
kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be
revealed in the last time. Peter taught that the inheritance of
believers is one that cannot corrupt; it is incorruptible.
Therefore, it will always exist. In does not fade away. It will
always be there for the believer. Moreover this undefiled,
incorruptible, unfading inheritance is reserved for all who are
kept by the power of God through faith. The believer is kept by
the power of God; therefore the believer is preserved for his
reserved inheritance.
Peter also taught that we
have a calling and election of which we can be certain. 2 Peter
1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your
calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall
never fall. The Apostle is not telling us that there are works
that we can do to earn and thereby make our calling and election
sure. He is admonishing us to examine ourselves to see whether or
not we are in the faith. We must examine our lives to see if they
give grounds for us to be certain that we are one of the called.
We must examine our lives and see if we bear the fruits of a
saved person. We must examine our lives to see if we have put on
those things that will reveal we are of the chosen and called
ones. When we see these things we can know that we are truly
chosen and will be preserved and caused to persevere.
Peter taught that God is
unwilling that even one of his elect should perish. 2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count
slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any
should perish, but that all should come to repentance. In the
past we have examined this passage thoroughly. In fact, when we
studied the doctrine of election as a New Testament church
certainty, I showed that this verse is not universal in its scope
as some claim. God is long suffering to US. It was shown that the
us of this verse are the elect. And, God is not willing that any
of his elect perish. Not only will he bring them to repentance
and faith, he will preserve them for their eternal glory with
Christ. This verse is another evidence that the churches of the
New Testament period were taught the doctrines of grace,
including the doctrine of the preservation and perseverance of
the saints.
Yes, here is another inspired
writer who proclaimed this great doctrine. Jude taught the
doctrine of the perseverance and preservation of the saved. He
taught that we are preserved in Jesus Christ. Jude 1 Jude, the
servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are
sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and
called. Preserved in Jesus Christ. We are not preserved in our
own righteousness. We are not preserved in our works. We are not
preserved in our church membership. We are not preserved in the
observance of the ordinances. We are preserved in Jesus Christ.
He is our keeper and our preserver. That is preservation of the
saved, the called in Christ Jesus.
Jude also taught perseverance
of the saints. He taught that Christ is able to keep us from
falling and is able to present us faultless before the presence
of his glory. Jude 24 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. Some affirm that the idea of the
expression "keep you from falling" is "make you
sure-footed." Christ is able to make his people sure-footed
and is able also to present them from falling.
CONCLUSION
In recent studies we have proven
that the churches of the New Testament period believed and were
taught the doctrines of grace—the total depravity and
inability of man, the unconditional election of certain persons
of the human race to salvation, the death of Christ specifically
for the elect, the sheep for whom he laid down his life, the
effectual call of those chosen and for whom atonement was made,
and the preservation and perseverance of those chosen, called,
and justified.
An unprejudiced examination of
the Scriptures clearly reveals those first churches on this earth
believed and proclaimed the gospel of the sovereign grace of God.
They did not hedge; they did not water it down; they did not cut
the corners off it. They taught it boldly; they taught it
clearly; and they taught it with thankful hearts. But we
are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved
of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to
salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the
truth; Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of
the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." (II Thes. 2:13-14).
On the grounds of this election
to salvation and their being called to that salvation to which
they were chosen, Paul admonishes them to stand fast by the
doctrines. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the
traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our
epistle.
How this admonition does need to
be heeded by those claiming to be children of God. How sad it is
to see churches that were founded upon Biblical principles and
doctrines departing from those doctrines. It is even sadder that
some are even changing their stands and openly declaring
themselves to believe exactly opposite on these matters to what
their forefathers believed.
When the Son of man cometh,
shall he find faith on the earth? Only if we proclaim
tenaciously, consistently, and repeatedly the precious doctrines
of our Baptist forefathers. That is why we labor to produce and
send out this paper. We believe those glorious doctrines of the
churches of the New Testament period are still relevant to God's
people today. They were important enough to Paul that he was
willing to die for them.
But none of these things
move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I
might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have
received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
Return to Index Page for Past Issues
of The Grace Proclamator and Promulgator
Return to
CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCHC HOME PAGE
E-MAIL US:
rwcamp@gpp-5grace.com
This page was last updated
March 04, 2011.