Confessing the Faith

"Modern easy-believism has objected to the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints and taught in its place the doctrine which has become popularly known as “eternal security.” While the Confession does in a sense teach eternal security, it does not teach the popular view that eternal security means that men will be saved regardless of how they live and irrespective of whether they repent of the grievous sins into which they fall."

"Paragraph 3 speaks of the difficulties which attend perseverance in the Christian life and the reality that grievous sin may still be committed by authentic believers. Having spoken of the various causes of backsliding, paragraph 3 goes on to speak of the tragic fruits of backsliding. It lists five such sour fruits."

"The central assertion of this qualifying paragraph may be stated as follows: True Christians may and do fall into grievous sins and continue in them for a time."

"God’s covenant of grace does not fail to save those in covenant with Him. It actually and unfailingly saves all those in the covenant."

Chapter 17, Paragraph 2, traces the certainty of perseverance to five solid grounds in God’s work of salvation.

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"Interestingly, this paragraph on the grounds or causes of the preservation of the saints begins by telling us what that cause is not. It is not our free will."

Having stated and explained this wonderful doctrine in the opening sentence of its first paragraph, the same paragraph expands and explains the doctrine by speaking of:

1. The cause of perseverance

2. The obstacles to perseverance

3. The assurances of perseverance

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"Today we consider Chapter 17 of the Confession which takes up the great, biblical and Reformed doctrine Of the Perseverance of the Saints. That is also the title of the chapter. Because of the amalgamation of the Augustinian doctrine of grace with the Romish sacramentalism before the Reformation a measure of confusion reigned on this important subject. But with the Reformation the new clarity on this subject embodied in this chapter was attained."

A good work must meet or confirm to four criteria. It must have the right matter (it must be a thing which God commands); the right root (it must proceed from a heart purified by faith); the right manner (God’s work must be done God’s way) and the right end (the glory of God must be its ultimate purpose).

The good works of believers are accepted by God. They are not all rejected as filthy and unworthy. This is a great encouragement. But how can it be?