For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. - Hebrews 10:36
For the past 8 weeks we have been learning about Calvinism and Arminianism. These 2 differing interpretations of the Bible formally originated during the Protestant Reformation over 400 years ago from the teachings of John Calvin and Jacob Arminius. Each seeks to explain the manner by which a person is saved (soteriology). Since that time, there has been ongoing debate within the Christian church - becoming heated at times - between proponents of each side. Such is the case even among Southern Baptist Churches.
Most people have an incomplete and oversimplified view of Calvinism and Arminianism which, unfortunately, leads to further division and frustration between the 2 camps. In truth, both theological systems are built on 5 underlying points - each of which can and should be considered separately. This is what we have been doing over the last 2 months, with the goal of better understanding and appreciating both perspectives.
This morning we will examine the 5th and final points of Calvinism and Arminianism. Both of them deal with the enduring nature of salvation and seek to answer the question, “Once someone has been saved, can they lose their salvation?” For the purposes of this series, I will refer to these 2 positions as “Persevering Salvation” and “Indefinite Salvation”.
I. WHAT IS PERSEVERING SALVATION?
Persevering Salvation, more commonly referred to as “The Perseverance of the Saints”, is a Calvinistic doctrine. It states that once a person has been born again or saved, they can never lose their salvation. God keeps or preserves the believer forever by the indwelling presence and power of the Holy Spirit. This is sometimes called “eternal security” or “the eternal security of the believer”.
There is significant Biblical support for this position. Believers are sealed by the Holy Spirit and His presence is the guarantee of their future inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14). How is this guarantee valid if salvation can be lost? God promises to complete the good work He has begun in the life of the Christian (Philipians 1:6). How could He make this promise if salvation can be lost? No one, not even Satan himself, can snatch a believer out of God’s hand (John 10:28-29). All those who come to Christ will never be cast out or lost (John 6:37-39). All of these verses, and others, argue for persevering salvation.
Jesus taught that those who have been born again already have eternal life (John 5:24). It began the moment that they were saved. They don’t have to wait on it until they die. Now think about this… How could this new life be lost if it is eternal from the moment of salvation? It can’t! Otherwise it wouldn’t be eternal, would it? The believer is eternally secure, having passed from death to life at the instant of their regeneration, and is exempt from God’s judgment!
II. WHAT IS INDEFINITE SALVATION?
It should be noted that Jacob Arminius and the original Remonstrants were undecided on this particular issue. They did not take a firm stance one way or the other on the enduring nature of salvation. However, in the centuries following his death, many Arminians adopted an opposing position to that of Calvinism.
Indefinite Salvation, more frequently called “Falling from Grace”, is a modern Arminian doctrine. It states that a saved person can lose their salvation. A believer’s salvation is conditionally secure based upon their own faithfulness and obedience. In other words, they must contribute something to it in order to retain it. Those who turn from the Lord and abandon the faith, after having been saved, forfeit their redemption and return to their unrepentant, depraved state.
Those who hold this view point to several different passages. A person must stand firm to the end in order to be saved (Matthew 24:13). Only those who actually live by and are led by the Holy Spirit will be saved (Romans 8:12-14). A believer must hold firmly to the Word, lest their belief is in vain (1 Corinthians 15:1-2). In order to reap the harvest, a person must not give up (Galatians 6:7-9). All of these verses suggest that a Christian must do certain things in order to maintain their salvation.
Paul wrote in his letter to the Galatians a stern warning to those who sought to be justified by the Law. He stated that they had “fallen from grace” (Galatians 5:4). They had forsaken their Christian faith and reverted to Judaism, which requires human works in order to attain God’s favor. Could it be that they lost their salvation? I don’t think so…
III. ETERNAL SECURITY
I, and virtually every Southern Baptist I’ve ever known, support the doctrine of “The Eternal Security of the Believer''. There is a popular saying within our denomination. I am sure you’ve heard it and probably even said it a few times - “Once saved, always saved”. This expression is synonymous with Persevering Salvation. In this respect, almost all Baptists, myself included, agree with Calvinism.
What about those people who once professed faith in God and later turned from it? How do you explain that, if salvation is eternally secure? The Bible answers this question by stating that a person who abandons the faith was never truly saved to begin with. Perhaps they claimed to be, and may have even acted the part, but their profession wasn’t genuine (1 John 2:19). A truly saved person is a changed person - a new creation in fact - and will never wholly abandon the LORD (2 Corinthians 5:17). They may backslide or wander away for a season, but they will always return to Shepherd. True believers will endure to the end.
Some critics argue that this stance gives Christians a license to sin because they cannot lose their salvation. However, if a sinner has been truly saved by the grace of God and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, they will not want to sin. Instead, they will strive to keep the Lord’s commandments. Those who profess to be Christian yet are content living sinful lifestyles are liars - they are not truly saved (1 John 2:3-4). Faithful obedience to God is evidence of our salvation, but not the reason for it. We are saved by grace to do good works, not by good works to attain or retain God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8-10).
CONCLUSION
We have completed our presentation and discussion of the 5 points of Calvinism and Arminianism. Let’s go over them quickly.
As it pertains to man’s spiritual condition, Calvinists believe in “Total Depravity” and Arminians believe in “Partial Depravity”. I agree with the Calvinists.
As it pertains to election and predestination, Calvinsts believe in “Unconditional Election” and Arminians believe in “Conditional Election”. I disagree with both and prefer corporate election.
As it pertains to Christ’s death and resurrection, Calvinists believe in “Limited Atonement” and Arminians believe in “Unlimited Atonement”. I agree with the Arminians.
As it pertains to the allure of God’s grace, Calvinists believe in “Irresistible Grace” and Arminians believe in “Resistible” grace. I agree with the Arminians.
As it pertains to the enduring nature of salvation, Calvinists believe in “Persevering Salvation” and Arminians believe in “Indefinite Salvation”. I agree with the Calvinists.
If we look back at the Calvinism/Arminianism Spectrum that I introduced at the beginning of this series, I land exactly in the middle. I think there are strengths and weaknesses on both sides of the debate. Where are you on this scale?
For the past 8 weeks we have been learning about Calvinism and Arminianism. These 2 differing interpretations of the Bible formally originated during the Protestant Reformation over 400 years ago from the teachings of John Calvin and Jacob Arminius. Each seeks to explain the manner by which a person is saved (soteriology). Since that time, there has been ongoing debate within the Christian church - becoming heated at times - between proponents of each side. Such is the case even among Southern Baptist Churches.
Most people have an incomplete and oversimplified view of Calvinism and Arminianism which, unfortunately, leads to further division and frustration between the 2 camps. In truth, both theological systems are built on 5 underlying points - each of which can and should be considered separately. This is what we have been doing over the last 2 months, with the goal of better understanding and appreciating both perspectives.
This morning we will examine the 5th and final points of Calvinism and Arminianism. Both of them deal with the enduring nature of salvation and seek to answer the question, “Once someone has been saved, can they lose their salvation?” For the purposes of this series, I will refer to these 2 positions as “Persevering Salvation” and “Indefinite Salvation”.
I. WHAT IS PERSEVERING SALVATION?
Persevering Salvation, more commonly referred to as “The Perseverance of the Saints”, is a Calvinistic doctrine. It states that once a person has been born again or saved, they can never lose their salvation. God keeps or preserves the believer forever by the indwelling presence and power of the Holy Spirit. This is sometimes called “eternal security” or “the eternal security of the believer”.
There is significant Biblical support for this position. Believers are sealed by the Holy Spirit and His presence is the guarantee of their future inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14). How is this guarantee valid if salvation can be lost? God promises to complete the good work He has begun in the life of the Christian (Philipians 1:6). How could He make this promise if salvation can be lost? No one, not even Satan himself, can snatch a believer out of God’s hand (John 10:28-29). All those who come to Christ will never be cast out or lost (John 6:37-39). All of these verses, and others, argue for persevering salvation.
Jesus taught that those who have been born again already have eternal life (John 5:24). It began the moment that they were saved. They don’t have to wait on it until they die. Now think about this… How could this new life be lost if it is eternal from the moment of salvation? It can’t! Otherwise it wouldn’t be eternal, would it? The believer is eternally secure, having passed from death to life at the instant of their regeneration, and is exempt from God’s judgment!
II. WHAT IS INDEFINITE SALVATION?
It should be noted that Jacob Arminius and the original Remonstrants were undecided on this particular issue. They did not take a firm stance one way or the other on the enduring nature of salvation. However, in the centuries following his death, many Arminians adopted an opposing position to that of Calvinism.
Indefinite Salvation, more frequently called “Falling from Grace”, is a modern Arminian doctrine. It states that a saved person can lose their salvation. A believer’s salvation is conditionally secure based upon their own faithfulness and obedience. In other words, they must contribute something to it in order to retain it. Those who turn from the Lord and abandon the faith, after having been saved, forfeit their redemption and return to their unrepentant, depraved state.
Those who hold this view point to several different passages. A person must stand firm to the end in order to be saved (Matthew 24:13). Only those who actually live by and are led by the Holy Spirit will be saved (Romans 8:12-14). A believer must hold firmly to the Word, lest their belief is in vain (1 Corinthians 15:1-2). In order to reap the harvest, a person must not give up (Galatians 6:7-9). All of these verses suggest that a Christian must do certain things in order to maintain their salvation.
Paul wrote in his letter to the Galatians a stern warning to those who sought to be justified by the Law. He stated that they had “fallen from grace” (Galatians 5:4). They had forsaken their Christian faith and reverted to Judaism, which requires human works in order to attain God’s favor. Could it be that they lost their salvation? I don’t think so…
III. ETERNAL SECURITY
I, and virtually every Southern Baptist I’ve ever known, support the doctrine of “The Eternal Security of the Believer''. There is a popular saying within our denomination. I am sure you’ve heard it and probably even said it a few times - “Once saved, always saved”. This expression is synonymous with Persevering Salvation. In this respect, almost all Baptists, myself included, agree with Calvinism.
What about those people who once professed faith in God and later turned from it? How do you explain that, if salvation is eternally secure? The Bible answers this question by stating that a person who abandons the faith was never truly saved to begin with. Perhaps they claimed to be, and may have even acted the part, but their profession wasn’t genuine (1 John 2:19). A truly saved person is a changed person - a new creation in fact - and will never wholly abandon the LORD (2 Corinthians 5:17). They may backslide or wander away for a season, but they will always return to Shepherd. True believers will endure to the end.
Some critics argue that this stance gives Christians a license to sin because they cannot lose their salvation. However, if a sinner has been truly saved by the grace of God and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, they will not want to sin. Instead, they will strive to keep the Lord’s commandments. Those who profess to be Christian yet are content living sinful lifestyles are liars - they are not truly saved (1 John 2:3-4). Faithful obedience to God is evidence of our salvation, but not the reason for it. We are saved by grace to do good works, not by good works to attain or retain God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8-10).
CONCLUSION
We have completed our presentation and discussion of the 5 points of Calvinism and Arminianism. Let’s go over them quickly.
As it pertains to man’s spiritual condition, Calvinists believe in “Total Depravity” and Arminians believe in “Partial Depravity”. I agree with the Calvinists.
As it pertains to election and predestination, Calvinsts believe in “Unconditional Election” and Arminians believe in “Conditional Election”. I disagree with both and prefer corporate election.
As it pertains to Christ’s death and resurrection, Calvinists believe in “Limited Atonement” and Arminians believe in “Unlimited Atonement”. I agree with the Arminians.
As it pertains to the allure of God’s grace, Calvinists believe in “Irresistible Grace” and Arminians believe in “Resistible” grace. I agree with the Arminians.
As it pertains to the enduring nature of salvation, Calvinists believe in “Persevering Salvation” and Arminians believe in “Indefinite Salvation”. I agree with the Calvinists.
If we look back at the Calvinism/Arminianism Spectrum that I introduced at the beginning of this series, I land exactly in the middle. I think there are strengths and weaknesses on both sides of the debate. Where are you on this scale?
