Of the Perseverance of the Saints, XVII:1

They, whom God has accepted in His Beloved, effectually called, and sanctified by His Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved.

As we embark upon a short discussion of the Confession's treatment of perseverance, a few definitions may provide a good start.

1. Perseverance: Continuance, steadfastness. This is the duty of the Christian. We are called to run the race until the end, to endure. But we cannot do this under our own power.

2. Preservation: This is the grace of God, whereby he keeps us and empowers us to persevere.

3. Eternal security: The concept that Christian salvation cannot be lost. The believer is secure. There is not an exact correspondence between this idea and the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints as will be outlined here, but many people conflate the two.

4. "Once saved, always saved": This phrase is commonly used to describe eternal security. But it can be quite misleading and cause many to miss the full implications taught in the doctrine of perseverance. For one thing, it is often associated with antinomianism in the minds of some opponents.

The Confession is pointedly Trinitarian in its explication of the doctrine of perseverance--accepted by the Father in the Son, effectually called and sanctified by the Spirit. Note also the identification of the elect with Christ, the Beloved of God. Election unto salvation should never be thought of apart from Christ. We are elect in him.

The statement concerning the work of the Spirit invokes Romans 8:29 as well as Philippians 1:6 and Hebrews 12:2. What God starts, he finishes.

Any falling away is neither total nor final, or else indicative of false faith. More on this later in the chapter, as well as in the next chapter on assurance.

Tomorrow: The basis of perseverance.