Those whom God has made accepted in the beloved, has effectually called, and sanctifies by his Spirit, cannot totally and finally fall away from a state of grace, but will certainly be enabled to persevere to the end and shall be saved.1 Their perseverance depends, not upon their own will, but upon the immutability of God’s decree, the election of grace, the strength of the Father’s love, the sufficiency of Christ’s propitiation, the efficacy of his intercession, their union with Christ, the indwelling of the Spirit, the seed of God within them, the nature and steadfastness of the covenant, and the promise and oath of God. It follows that their perseverance is certain and infallible.2 It is true they may, through the temptations of Satan and the world, the great strength of their inward corruption, and their neglect of the means of grace, fall into sins, and, for a time, continue therein, and thereby incur God’s displeasure, grieve the Holy Spirit, impair their grace, lose their comfort, harden their hearts, wound their consciences, involve themselves in temporal judgments, do injury to others, and give occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme.3 Nevertheless, they will be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation; yet their fall will be made very bitter to them.4
Those who continue to live undisturbed in sin, and flatter themselves that they are in a state of grace, have much reason to fear that they deceive themselves.5 For perseverance in grace implies, not only continuance in the possession and enjoyment of privileges, but also continuance in holiness, diligence, and watchfulness, in a holy walk and conversation, in earnest devotion to all duties, and in the use of all means of grace. Nothing is more opposed to sin than perseverance in grace; and he that so endures in grace to the end shall be saved.6
1 2 Peter 1:10; Phil. 1:6; John 6:35,39-40; 10:28-29; 1 Peter 1:5-9; Prov. 4:18; Psa. 84:7. 2 Rom. 8:31-39; 9:11,16; 2 Tim. 2:19; Jer. 31:3; John 10:28; 13:1; 14:16-17; 17:11; 1 Peter 3:18: Heb. 7:25; 9:12; 10:14; Luke 22:32; 1 John 2:19; 2 Thess. 3:3. 3 Psa. 30:7; 32:3; 51:8-14; Matt. 26:70-74; 2 Sam. 11:27; 12:14; Isa.64:5; Rev. 2:4; Song Sol. 5:6. 4 1 Peter 1:5; Jude 1:24-25; Isa 54:7-10; Jer 2:19; 3:12; 4:18; Psa. 89:31-34. 5 Rom. 6:1-2; Phil. 3:18-19; 2 Peter 2:8; Heb. 4:1. 6 1 Peter 1:13-15; Rom. 2:7; Heb. 12:1-2; 6:11; 2 Peter 1:5-8; 2 Tim. 2:3-5; 1 Cor. 9:24-27; Matt. 24:13; Rev. 2:10.
