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| Perseverance in the state of grace with Perseverance in a life of faith and holiness. |
The Old School Baptists summarized their
understanding of the doctrine OF THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS in these words. The New School
Baptists have perverted this biblical teaching.
1689.17. Paragraph 1.
"Those whom God has accepted in the beloved,
effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, and given the precious faith
of his elect unto, can neither totally nor finally fall from the state of
grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally
saved, seeing the gifts and callings of God are without repentance, from which
source he still begets and nourishes in them faith, repentance, love, joy,
hope, and all the graces of the Spirit unto immortality; and though many storms
and floods arise and beat against them, yet they shall never be able to take
them off that foundation and rock which by faith they are fastened upon;
notwithstanding, through unbelief and the temptations of Satan, the sensible
sight of the light and love of God may for a time be clouded and obscured from
them, yet he is still the same, and they shall be sure to be kept by the power
of God unto salvation, where they shall enjoy their purchased possession, they
being engraved upon the palm of his hands, and their names having been written
in the book of life from all eternity."
Paragraphs 2 and 3 are a further elaboration
of Paragraph 1.
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Notes
1. Those whom God has accepted in the Beloved
are effectually called out of their native state of sin and death to that state
of grace and salvation in Jesus Christ, 1689.10.1.
- The effect of this free and sovereign
activity of God is immutable; those called into the state of grace in the
Beloved "shall certainly persevere THEREIN [in the state of grace and
salvation in Christ Jesus) to the end, and be eternally saved."
- That is the essence of the doctrine of the
perseverance of the saints; they immutably REMAIN in the state of grace and
salvation into which they have been called.
The New School Baptists - RBs and other
shades of Sovereign and Grace Baptists - have perverted this biblical teaching
by substituting perseverance in the state of grace with perseverance in a life
of faith and holiness.
The doctrine that declares the immutable
effect of God's sovereign act of effectual calling HAS BEEN PERVERTED into a
doctrine that declares the indispensable effort of man in a life of faith and
holiness.
Perseverance in the state of grace is the
immutable effect of God's free and gracious act in calling His elect into that
state; it does not involve or depend upon any activities of those effectually
called.
The fable of a life of faith and holiness is
completely repudiated in the summary above.
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The text of
Paragraph 2
This perseverance of the saints
depends not upon their own free will, but upon the immutability of the decree
of election,4 flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father,
upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ and union with
him,5 the oath of God,6 the abiding of his Spirit, and the seed of God within
them,7 and the nature of the covenant of grace;8 from all which ariseth also
the certainty and infallibility thereof.
Paragraph 3.
And though they may, through the
temptation of Satan and of the world, the prevalency of corruption remaining in
them, and the neglect of means of their preservation, fall into grievous sins,
and for a time continue therein,9 whereby they incur God's displeasure and
grieve his Holy Spirit,10 come to have their graces and comforts impaired,11
have their hearts hardened, and their consciences wounded,12 hurt and
scandalize others, and bring temporal judgments upon themselves,13 yet shall
they renew their repentance and be preserved through faith in Christ Jesus to
the end.14
Dellis Worsham Sr.
Amen, I always enjoy your lessons.
