Sunday Night Bible Study @ RHCC October 31st 2021

Chapter 40: The Doctrine of the Application of Redemption

The Perseverance of the Saints (Remaining a Christian)
Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem

Can true Christians lose their salvation?

How can we know if we are truly born again?

Outline
The Order of Salvation
1. Election God’s Choice of People to Be Saved
2. The Gospel Call Proclaiming the Message of The Gospel
3. Regeneration Being Born Again
4. Conversion Faith and Repentance
5. Justification Right Legal Standing
6. Adoption Membership in God’s Family
7. Sanctification Right Conduct of Life
8. Perseverance Remaining a Christian
9. Death Going to Be with The Lord
10. Glorification Receiving A Resurrection Body

Key Points:
• God will preserve all true believers through their faith until the end, and only those who
persevere by the power of God until the end are true believers.
• Hebrews 6:4–6 and similar passages indicate that some who give many external
indications of conversion may finally fall away.
• It is possible to have deep and growing assurance in this life.

I. EXPLANATION AND SCRIPTURAL BASIS

Definition: The perseverance of the saints means that all those who are truly born again
will be kept by God's power and will persevere as Christians until the end of their lives,
and that only those who persevere until the end have been truly born again

A. All Who Are Truly Born Again Will Persevere to The End.
John 6:38-40
For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. Now this is the
will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For
this is the will of My Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I
Myself will raise him up on the last day.”

John 10:27-29
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will
never perish⁠—ever; 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.

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John 3:36
He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath
of God abides on him.”

Romans 8:1, 30
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
and those whom He predestined, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified; and those
whom He justified, He also glorified.

Ephesians 1:13-14
In Him, you also, after listening to the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation⁠—having also believed, you
were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, unto the
redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

Philippians 1:6
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of
Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 1:3-5
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us
to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an
inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and unfading, having been kept in heaven for you, who are protected
by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1. Everyone who believes in Jesus will have eternal life

John 6:38-40; 10:27-29; 3:36
For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. Now
this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on
the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him
will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and
they will never perish⁠—ever; 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.

He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but
the wrath of God abides on him.”

2. There is a connection between God's eternal purposes in predestination and His

working out of those purposes in life
Romans 8:1, 30
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
and those whom He predestined, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified; and
those whom He justified, He also glorified.

3. God places the “seal” of the Holy Spirit on those who believe
Ephesians 1:13-14
In Him, you also, after listening to the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation⁠—having also
believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our
inheritance, unto the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

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4. God protects and works to bring about eternal life

Philippians 1:6
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the
day of Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 1:3-5
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has
caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to obtain an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and unfading, having been kept in heaven for
you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the
last time.

B. Only Those Who Persevere to The End Have Been Born Again
John 8:31-32
So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word, then you are truly My
disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

Matthew 10:22
And you will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be
saved.

Colossians 1:22-23
but now He reconciled you in the body of His flesh through death, in order to present you before Him holy
and blameless and beyond reproach⁠— if indeed you continue in the faith firmly grounded and steadfast, and
not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation
under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.

Hebrews 3:14
For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end,

1 John 2:19
They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they were of us, they would have remained with
us; but they went out, so that it would be manifested that they all are not of us.

1. God does not guard us apart from our faith, but only by working through our faith
John 8:31-32
So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word, then you are
truly My disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

1 Peter 1:3-5
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has
caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to obtain an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and unfading, having been kept in heaven for
you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the
last time.

2. These warning passages are not given to make us think assurance of salvation is
impossible, but to warn people against falling away, and to warn those who have
fallen away.

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There are many evidences of salvation that can give us genuine assurance (see
point D below).
C. Those Who Finally Fall Away May Give Eternal Signs of Conversion.
1. Judas
John 6:64, 70
But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were
who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him.
Jesus answered them, “Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?”

Matthew 26:22
And being deeply grieved, they each one began to say to Him, “Surely not I, Lord?”

2. False brothers, disguised as servants of righteousness

Galatians 2:4
But this was because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our
freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us.

2 Corinthians 11:15, 26
Therefore it is not surprising if his ministers also disguise themselves as ministers of righteousness,
whose end will be according to their deeds.
I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my
countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the desolate places,
dangers on the sea, dangers among false brothers.

3. “I never knew you”

Matthew 7:21-23
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the
will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, in Your
name did we not prophesy, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name do many
miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice
lawlessness.’

4. “they have no root in themselves, but are only temporary”

Mark 4:16-17
And in a similar way, these are the ones being sown on the rocky places: those who, when hearing
the word, immediately receive it with joy; and they have no root in themselves, but are only
temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall
away.

5. Need to abide in the vine (Jesus)

John 15:1-7
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vine-grower. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit,
He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He cleans it so that it may bear more fruit. You
are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As
the branch cannot bear fruit from itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you
abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much
fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a
branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you
abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

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6. Hebrews 6:4-8: were they ever truly born again?

Hebrews 6:4-8
For in the case of those once having been enlightened and having tasted of the heavenly gift and
having become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and having tasted the good word of God and the
powers of the age to come, and having fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to
repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. For
ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for
whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is unfit
and close to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.

a) “once having been enlightened”

understood truths of gospel, not with response of faith
b) “have tasted of the heavenly gift”
'taste' could refer to a sampling or a knowledge one might reject
c) “having become partakers of the Holy Spirit”
close participation or loose association
d) “renew them again to repentance”
change of mind or sorrow over sin
e) People who are affiliated with the church, had sorrow over sin, understood
the gospel, and felt some power of the Holy Spirit at work.
f) Author gives severe warning to those in danger of slipping away from
Christian profession
g) Context supports this interpretation
Hebrews 6:9-12
But we are convinced about you, beloved, of things that are better and that belong to
salvation, though we are speaking in this way. For God is not unrighteous so as to forget
your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and
continuing to minister to the saints. And we desire that each one of you show the same
diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not
become dull, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

7. Hebrews 10:26-31 There is a strong warning against falling away.

Hebrews 10:26-31
For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a
sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume
the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy by the mouth of
two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment do you think he will deserve who has
trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as defiled the blood of the covenant by which
he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is
Mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” It is a terrifying thing to fall into the
hands of the living God.

8. “I will never erase his name from the book of life”

Revelation 3:5
He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments, and I will never erase his name from the
book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

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9. Saul from the Old Testament: Saul should not be taken as someone who lost his
salvation, but as someone from whom the Holy Spirit withdrew His empowering
presence for the role of king
D. What Can Give A Believer Assurance?
1. Do I have a present trust in Christ for salvation?
Colossians 1:23
if indeed you continue in the faith firmly grounded and steadfast, and not moved away from the
hope of the gospel, which you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and
of which I, Paul, was made a minister.

Hebrews 6:12
so that you may not become dull, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the
promises.

John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him
shall not perish, but have eternal life.

2. Is there evidence of a regenerating work of the Holy Spirit in my heart?

a) Is there a subjective testimony of the Holy Spirit bearing witness that we
are God’s children?
Romans 8:15-16
For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received
the Spirit of adoption as sons by whom we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself
testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,

1 John 4:13
By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.

b) Is there evidence of the fruit of the Spirit in our lives?

Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.

c) Is there evidence of believing and accepting the sound teaching of the

church?
1 John 2:23-24
Everyone who denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son
has the Father also. As for you, let that which you heard from the beginning abide in you. If
what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the
Father.

1 John 4:6
We are from God. The one who knows God hears us; the one who is not from God does
not hear us. From this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

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d) Is there evidence of a present relationship with Jesus Christ?

John 15:4, 7
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit from itself unless it abides in the
vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done
for you.

e) Is there evidence of obedience to God’s commands?

1 John 2:4-6
The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is
a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, truly in him the love of God
has been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in
Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.

1 John 3:14, 17
We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. The one
who does not love abides in death.
But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart
against him, how does the love of God abide in him?

James 2:17-18
Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead by itself.
But someone will say, “You have faith; and I have works. Show me your faith without the
works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”

3. Do I see a long-term pattern of growth in my Christian life?

2 Peter 1:5-7, 10
Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in
your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control,
perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and
in your brotherly kindness, love.
Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and choosing sure; for in doing
these things, you will never stumble;

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4. How Much Change of Life Is Needed to Have Assurance of Salvation?

2 Timothy 2:19
Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are
His,” and, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to depart from wickedness.”

The Westminster Confession of Faith (1643–46) speaks of believers obtaining an

“infallible assurance”:

Such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus, and love him in sincerity, endeavoring to walk in
all good conscience before him, may, in this life, be certainly assured that they are in the
state of grace.… This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable persuasion … but
an infallible assurance of faith founded upon the divine truth of the promises of salvation,
the inward evidences of those graces unto which these promises are made, the
testimony of the Spirit of adoption witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of
God.

5. Practical Pastoral Application

“At this point, in terms of pastoral care with those who have strayed away from
their Christian profession, we should realize that Calvinists (those who believe in
the perseverance of the saints) and Arminians (those who think that Christians
can lose their salvation) will both counsel a “backslider” in the same way.
According to the Arminian, this person was a Christian at one time but is no
longer a Christian. According to the Calvinist, such a person never really was a
Christian in the first place and is not one now. But in both cases the biblical
counsel given would be the same: “You do not appear to be a Christian now—
you must repent of your sins and trust in Christ for your salvation!” Though the
Calvinist and Arminian would differ on their interpretation of the previous history,
they would agree on what should be done in the present.”

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II. SPECIAL TERMS

• Assurance of Salvation – The internal sense we may have based upon certain
evidences in our lives that we are truly “born again” and will persevere as Christians
until the end of our lives.
• Eternal Security – Another term for “perseverance of the saints.” However, this term
can be misunderstood to mean that all who have once made a profession of faith are
“eternally secure” in their salvation when they may not have been genuinely converted
at all.
• Perseverance of The Saints – The doctrine that all those who are truly “born again”
will be kept by God’s power and will persevere as Christians until the end of their lives,
and that only those who persevere until the end have been truly “born again.”

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III. SCRIPTURE MEMORY PASSAGE

John 10:27–28
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them,
and they will never perish⁠—ever; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.

NOTE: This outline is based on the outline published outline of Wayne Grudem when teaching this chapter to his
enrichment class at Scottsdale Bible Church.

“Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB) for all Old Testament Verses,
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973,
1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Used by permission. [Link]“

“Scripture quotations taken from Legacy Standard Bible (LSB) for all New Testament, Psalm and Proverbs,
Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. [Link]

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IV. HYMN

“Call Jehovah Thy Salvation”

(Use tune of “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus.”)
Call Jehovah thy salvation, rest beneath th’ Almighty’s shade,
In his secret habitation dwell, and never be dismayed:
There no tumult shall alarm thee, thou shalt dread no hidden snare:
Guile nor violence can harm thee, in eternal safeguard there.
From the sword at noonday wasting, from the noisome pestilence,
In the depth of midnight blasting, God shall be thy sure defence:
He shall charge his angel legions watch and ward o’er thee to keep;
Though thou walk through hostile regions, though in desert wilds thou sleep.
Since, with pure and firm affection thou on God hast set thy love,
With the wings of his protection he will shield thee from above:
Thou shalt call on him in trouble, he will hearken, he will save;
Here for grief reward thee double, crown with life beyond the grave.
Author: James Montgomery, 1822

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CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP SONG

“Yet Not I, but through Christ in Me”

What gift of grace is Jesus, my redeemer!

There is no more for heaven now to give.
He is my joy, my righteousness, and freedom,
My steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace.
Refrain 1

To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus,

For my life is wholly bound to his.
Oh how strange and divine, I can sing: all is mine!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me.

The night is dark, but I am not forsaken,

For by my side, the Savior He will stay.
I labor on in weakness and rejoicing,
For in my need, His power is displayed.

Refrain 2

To this I hold, my Shepherd will defend me.

Through the deepest valley He will lead.
Oh the night has been won, and I shall overcome!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me.

No fate I dread, I know I am forgiven.

The future sure, the price it has been paid,
For Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon,
And He was raised to overthrow the grave.

Refrain 3

To this I hold, my sin has been defeated.

Jesus now and ever is my plea.
Oh the chains are released, I can sing: I am free!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me.

With every breath I long to follow Jesus,

For He has said that He will bring me home,
And day by day I know He will renew me,
Until I stand with joy before the throne.

Refrain 4
To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus.
All the glory evermore to Him.
When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat:
Yet not I, but through Christ in me!

Tag

When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat:

Yet not I, but through Christ in me!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me!
Words by Rich Thompson, Jonny Robinson, and Michael Farran

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