You may have heard of “perseverance of the saints” or “eternal security” thrown around at church. “Once saved, always saved” is a popular way to put this idea. Maybe you’ve asked questions like, “Can I lose my salvation? How do I know if I’ll stay a Christian to the end of my life? What about those who fall away?” This is an important and practical issue for every Christian to consider.
“Preservation of the saints” is the teaching that a Christian will be saved to the end; he won’t lose his salvation. He is born again and can’t be unborn. It was taught by Augustine in the 5th century AD and through the Middle Ages, and became prominent in the Reformation and John Calvin’s teachings. The important question to consider is: is this a man-made teaching or is it in the Bible? The Bible is our first and final authority – what does the Bible say about this issue?
A bulk of Bible verses show that you can have assurance and that you will be saved in the end. For example, Jesus said He would lose no one on the last day (John 6:38-40) and He gives His people eternal life and no one will be snatched out of His hand (John 10:28-29). There is NO condemnation for those in Christ (Romans 8:1) and those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified (Romans 8:30). If you are in Christ, you have been sealed with the promised Holy Spirit; He is the guarantee of your inheritance to come (Ephesians 1:13-14). God, who began a good work in you, will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus (Philippians 1:6), and He is guarding you through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed to you in the last time (1 Peter 1:5). You can have assurance that you will finish your race in Christ!
This does not deny your effort and need as a Christian to remain, endure, persevere, and fight the good fight of faith to the end. There are strong warnings not to deny Jesus or fall away. You must abide in His word and endure to the end (John 8:31-32 and Matthew 10:22). You will be saved if you hold fast to the Word, unless you believed in vain (1 Corinthians 15:1-2). Are you so quickly deserting the grace of Christ (Galatians 1:6)? Make sure of your election and calling (2 Peter 1:10). Continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, and do not shift from the hope of the gospel (Col 1:21-23).
“Perseverance of the saints” is not based on how tight the believer can hold on to God, but how tight God holds on to the believer. He will not leave you nor forsake you. He will sustain you and keep you to the end if you are His. Your salvation is based on His blood, not yours. The good news is that, “Neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).” Amen.