Calvin’s TULIP Part V: Irresistible Grace

“Perseverance of the Saints” is the portion of John Calvin’s system of doctrine that postulates that the elect will be saved and once they are saved, they cannot be lost.  This is also known as the Impossibility of Apostasy or “Once Saved, Always Saved.”  What the Bible says is a different matter (All emphasis mine, MDJ):

But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. I Corinthians 9:27

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. Hebrews 6:4-6

Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. Galatians 5:4

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Revelation 2:10

And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. Revelation 22:19

If a man can be fallen from grace, he must have been a partaker of that grace; if a man can fall away, he must have had part in that which he falls away from; if God can take away his part in the Book of Life, he must have had a part in that Book.  What does the Bible say about Perseverance of the Saints?  “…cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”  Persevere!

Until next time, let me encourage you to search the scriptures daily, whether these things are so.  Acts 17:11

Copyright 2009 Mance J. Davis Jr.