Preface to the Study
The Perseverance of the Saints is an essential corollary to the doctrine of Assurance. Assurance places the emphasis upon what God has done to secure salvation for the believer – not what the believer has done or will do to secure it. As such, assurance provides the believer with confidence that God’s work of salvation shall be completed – “He who began a good work in you is able to bring it forth until the day of completion.” (Philippians 1:6). Some might even refer to this as the preservation of the saints, placing the emphasis on God continuing to keep believers, rather than on what believers do to keep themselves.
Perseverance emphasizes the result of God’s work of preservation. Believers only persevere because of God’s preservation. They are “kept by the power of God” (1 Peter 1:5) and they are presented faultless before His glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24). Our assurance is because of what God did in salvation; our preservation is because of what God continues to do in keeping all that He has saved.
Preservation is an essential doctrine. In reality, it also has impact on our salvation. For example, in John 6, Jesus says, “All that the Father gives me will come to me and he that comes to me, I will in no way cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but to do the will of him that sent me. And this is the will of my Father who sent me, that of all that he has given me, I should lose none, but raise them up on the last day” (John 6:37-39). Jesus not only saves us; He keeps us. This is the Father’s will. And if even one were to be lost eternally, all would be lost eternally, because Jesus would not have done the will of His Father!
In some ways, this issue is a continuance of the previous issue on Assurance. Thus we begin this issue with another article by A. W. Pink which provides a conversation with “Mr. Humble Heart.” Here Pink provides, through means of a dialogue, some helpful insights into the nature of true conversion. We pray that this “conversation” will be helpful to those struggling to come to a full assurance of their faith. Likewise, the article by J. C. Ryle, “Reasons Assurance is Not Attained,” is designed to provide help for those who wonder why they do not have “confidence to come boldly before the throne.”
The question of “falling from grace” is often presented as proof that some do fall away and lose their salvation. Since this issue is often misunderstood by well-meaning believers, we have included the article “Falling from Grace” in this issue to help provide some answers to this theological question.
Finally, we have included two excellent sermons by Charles Spurgeon regarding the doctrine of Perseverance and a short section from the Miscellanies of Jonathan Edwards on Perseverance. Spurgeon preached often on this glorious doctrine to the great comfort and encouragement of many believers. The greatest task in preparing this issue was sorting through the many sermons he preached on perseverance to find a few to edit and reprint. The volume was so large and the teaching so wonderful that we have included a number of additional sermons by Spurgeon on Perseverance on our website. We pray that these will be a great encouragement to you as you read them.
Most of all, the Doctrine of Preservation gives credit where credit is due. Like the emphasis on Assurance that rests solely on what God has done, the emphasis on Perseverance/Preservation also gives God the glory alone. Those whom He by His grace has saved, He by His grace will be keep! To God be the Glory, alone and forever!
By His Grace, Jim & Debbie
