The doctrine of the perseverance of the saints, also known as “once saved always saved,” is a debated topic among Christians. Those who affirm this doctrine believe that genuine believers will endure to the end in faith and good works. Those who deny it argue that true believers can fall away and lose their salvation. What does the Bible teach on this important issue?
Evidence for Perseverance of the Saints
There are several passages in Scripture that seem to support the doctrine of perseverance of the saints:
- John 6:39 – “And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.”
- John 10:27-29 – “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”
- Romans 8:29-30 – “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”
- 1 Corinthians 1:4-8 – “I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
- Philippians 1:6 – “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
- 1 Peter 1:3-5 – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
These verses point to God’s power and intention to keep believers secure in Christ. He holds them firmly in His hand, sustains them to the end, and guarantees their inheritance. While believers may stumble and fall, God never lets go of those who are truly His.
Counter Evidence Against Perseverance
However, there are also passages that seem to warn believers against falling away:
- Matthew 24:13 – “But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”
- John 15:6 – “If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.”
- 1 Corinthians 9:27 – “But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”
- Galatians 5:4 – “You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.”
- Hebrews 6:4-6 – “For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.”
- 2 Peter 2:20-22 – “For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. What the true proverb says has happened to them: ‘The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.'”
These verses warn of the real danger of falling away from the faith and forfeiting salvation. Those who do not continue in Christ and his gospel face judgment and condemnation.
How to Resolve the Tension
So how can these two sets of biblical passages be reconciled? Here are a few possible ways to think about their relationship:
- Apparent contradictions – Scripture has apparent contradictions at times. We have to study carefully and recognize our finite ability to fully comprehend God’s ways.
- Warnings as means of grace – God graciously warns and exhorts believers to persevere in faith. The warnings are meant to stir up faith, not uncertainty.
- Preserving faith and falling away – God promises to preserve genuine faith but also warns against unbelief and falling away from saving faith.
- Perseverance is proof of salvation – Perseverance is the evidence and result of authentic salvation. Those who finally fall away show their faith was never real.
- Cannot lose salvation, but can lose rewards – Believers cannot lose their salvation, but can forfeit heavenly rewards through unfaithfulness.
- God’s sovereignty and human responsibility – God is absolutely sovereign in salvation, yet we are still responsible to persevere in faith.
There are good reasons for affirming both the security of believers in Christ and also the warnings against falling away. One helpful perspective is to see perseverance as the evidence of genuine salvation. Those who are truly saved will endure to the end, while those who fall away demonstrate that their faith was never real (1 John 2:19). Scripture affirms God’s preservation of believers and also his warnings and exhortations to continue in the faith.
Key Passages on Preservation and Warning
Looking closer at a few key passages can help further clarify this issue:
John 10:27-30
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.
Jesus declares that he gives eternal, secure life to his sheep. He promises they will never perish or be snatched out of his hand or the Father’s hand. This affirms the preservation and security of genuine believers.
1 Corinthians 1:7-9
So that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
God will sustain true believers to the end and keep them blameless until Christ’s return. This is based on God’s faithfulness and the believer’s union with Christ. But it’s also linked to waiting eagerly for Christ’s return, which is evidence of genuine faith.
1 John 2:19
They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.
Those who fall away show that they were never truly born again in the first place. Their apostasy reveals their lack of genuine saving faith. In contrast, John says “if they had been of us, they would have continued with us.” Perseverance is the evidence of authentic faith.
Hebrews 6:4-6
For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit…if they then fall away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.
This is a very sobering warning about the danger of falling away from even the most heightened spiritual experiences if one does not have genuine faith. It’s debatable whether this describes genuine believers or professing believers. In either case, it underscores the urgency of persevering in faith and not renouncing Christ’s sacrifice.
Synthesis and Conclusion
In synthesizing the biblical evidence, here are a few key conclusions:
- God promises to sustain and keep all genuine believers in faith to the end. His power is able to preserve believers.
- There are serious dangers of falling away that require diligence, endurance and God’s enabling grace to overcome.
- Perseverance in faith and holiness is the evidence of true salvation. Those who fall away show they were never truly born again.
- Therefore, believers can have assurance of salvation if they continue trusting in Christ, while also taking the warnings against apostasy seriously.
- As Charles Spurgeon said, “Perseverance is the badge of true saints. The Christian life is not a beginning only in the ways of God, but also a continuance in the same as long as life lasts.”
In closing, Scripture affirms that God preserves His elect and enables them to persevere to the end. Believers have security in Christ but are also responsible to continue believing the gospel and obeying Christ. Warnings against falling away spur on believers to endure to the end. The evidence of genuine salvation is ultimately seen in a life of faith that perseveres to the glory of God.