January 12, 2012
Is it 'perseverance'
or is it 'preservation'?
Many debates about
the appropriateness of the word 'persevere' and 'preserve.'
What's the
difference? What are some implications? Do you care?
I have a thought.
God, by His own
grace and power, calls an elect out of his native state of sin and death into
that state of grace and salvation.
And as the result,
each child of God remains in that state of grace and salvation. Nothing can
oust a child of God out of that state of grace and salvation, except the same
power that brought about that translation. But the gifts and calling of God are
without repentance, Rom 11:29.
[Please note that
'remaining in that state of grace and salvation' is VASTLY different from
'continuing in a life of faith and holiness.' The former is the truth, the
latter is a lie of the devil and a fable of man].
So, I wonder what is
the use or purpose of needing the word 'to preserve' in that state of grace and
salvation?
The word 'to
preserve' implies the existence of a persistent effort acting to the contrary -
to dislodge God's children from that state of grace and salvation? Is that even
possible - to bring God's children back to the state of sin and death?
Do we read of any
such ideas, i.e. the Satan and His devils trying to dislodge God's children
from their state of grace and salvation? Is Satan even so stupid to attempt the
impossible?
I thought the word
'persevere' is a simple statement of the completeness and absolute certainty
of God's work to transferring the elect from the state of sin and death to that
of grace and salvation... therefore they immutably remain in that state of
grace because of God's free and sovereign act!
Is there even
further need for God to preserve them in that state of grace. The further need
to preserve implies the uncertainty of the work already done!
And that is
blasphemous!
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14 Comments
Sing F Lau
God, by His grace
and power, does the work of translating an elect out of his NATIVE state of sin
and death into THAT of grace and salvation. Amen and amen, blessed gospel
truth.
Is that work of
effectual calling complete and immutable?
If it is, then the
elect shall remain/persevere in that state of grace and salvation.
If it is not, then further work of preserving is needed indeed. But if it is not, what does that say about your God?
Sing F Lau
Romans 8: 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.
What is spoken of in
these verses:
- the children of
God continuing/persevering in that STATE/STANDING of grace and salvation in
Jesus Christ (as a result of what God has done). OR
- the children of
God continuing/persevering in a life of faith and holiness to the end?
Sing F Lau
I wholly agree that
God preserves us in life - which has to do with our well-being as His children.
Paul said in 1 Thess
5:23-24, "I pray God your whole body, soul, and spirit be preserved
blameless unto the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that called
you, who will also do it"
As far as our BEING
as God's children, God's work is complete and immutable, and needs no
preservation.
Often the focus of preservation is wrongly linked with the BEING issue, instead of the WELL-BEING issue.
PJ Walters
Many Reformers use
"persevere" to mean "continuing in a life of faith and
holiness." but that is a newer usage of it. The original - the Scriptural
- is that of remaining in the state of grace and salvation. I wish more people
would make the distinction.
Sing F Lau
"Those who
persevere to the end will be saved'
- question: will be
saved from what?
For those who do
persevere but fail to persevere to the end, what will happen to them? Do they
go to eternal condemnation?
Did Lot persevere to the end? What about Solomon? Are they saved - if they are, in what sense? Did they perish - if they did, perish in what sense?
Bill Taylor
And that, dear
brother, is the truth. How much time do you think God's people waste arguing
about one term over another - when neither term is needed?
Sing F Lau
Is that even
possible - to bring God's children back to the state of sin and death?
The effectual call
is IR-reversible! The justification, regeneration and adoption that took place
at the effectual call out of the native state of sin and death to that of grace
and salvation are IRREVERSIBLE.
Once the
righteousness of Christ is applied, it remains applied forever. None can undo
that.
Once the Holy Spirit
regenerates the justified, an child of God possesses eternal life... none can
take that away.
Once adopted into the family of God, a child of God become a permanent member of God's family, and forever.
Sing F Lau
Sometimes little
children sincerely offer their assistance... thinking that without it their
powerful father may falter and fail. A popular idea like... God must
predestinate all things if He is to remain in control of all things! Such idea
actually diminish the power and sovereignty of God! Such idea are reflective of
weak men... they can't control things unless they are all pre-programmed!
Cheri Thomas
Perseverance has to
do with discipleship. Preservation has to do with grace. Confusing the two has
to do with depravity.
Sing F Lau
Sistah, take this.
Buckle the safety harness!
You and Sistah Julie
bought me a BIG FAT dictionary by Noah Webster.
It says:
Perseverance:
2. In theology:
continuance in the STATE of grace to a state of glory; sometimes called final
perseverance!
I am an OLD line
Baptist, holding to old fashion OLB perseverance!
You are holding to
new progressive ideas! <LOL>
Thanks for good ole
Noah Webster's Dictionary!
