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bible, calvinism, christianity, eternal security, Perseverance of the saints, reformed, reformed theology, Robert Lewis Dabney, southern baptist, southern baptist convention, theology
Wow. You would think I would have a little more time to blog in the summer, but it always seems to be just the opposite. This will be my first post in June. It’s somewhat of a follow-up to a brief thought I shared about a month ago regarding the possibility of believing in vain.
I grew up in a Southern Baptist church. I’ve been a member of three different Southern Baptist churches in three different towns–which means, among other things, that I’ve been exposed to the well-known phase “Once saved, always saved” all of my life. It has become something of a Southern Baptist mantra.
For the record, I despise the phrase. I wish it would go away. Despite the grain of truth it contains, it is so misused that not only is it not helpful, it’s often detrimental to the cause of Christ. It seems much better to me to simply stick with the biblical emphasis on what is commonly referred to as the perseverance of the saints. The Bible is clear, I think, on the fact that final salvation is conditional on perseverance in faith and holiness.
Strive…for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord (Heb. 12:14).
And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard (Col. 1:21-23).
but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope (Heb. 3:6)
For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end (Heb. 3:14).
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain (1 Cor. 15:1-2).
I could quote more passages, but I think those are sufficient to make the point. I recently came across a statement on this topic by the Reformed theologian R.L. Dabney in a Theopedia article. Dabney strongly condemns the misuse of the “once saved, always saved” proposition, and even derides those who abuse it.
We do not teach that any man is entitled to believe that he is justified, and therefore shall not come again in condemnation on the proposition “once in grace always in grace,” although he be now living in intentional, willful sin. This falsehood of Satan we abhor. We say, the fact that this deluded man can live in willful sin is the strongest possible proof that he never was justified, and never had any grace to fall from. And, once for all, no intelligent believer can possibly abuse this doctrine into a pretext for carnal security. It promises to true believers a perseverance in holiness. Who, except an idiot, could infer from that promise the privilege to be unholy? (R. L. Dabney, The Five Points of Calvinism)
Personally, I would stop short of using such strong language toward people who misuse the doctrine of eternal security, but I have no problem with strongly condemning the abuse of the idea. In fact, it would be wrong not to clearly and publicly denounce it.
The unfortunate thing is that Christians just can’t accept that some things are a mystery. We want to explain away salvation so that it’s a mere formula for success, but in the Bible there are many passages and some of them seem to say that salvation is for ever (eternal security) whereas some seem to indicate that there are options for God if a “believer” turns out to be a bad apple. There’s no way that both sides can be right. One or the other or neither. But that’s not good enough for us. It’s a mystery. Not knowing the answer to this one does not stop me from doing my duty as a Christian to witness for our Savior.
Sorry for the slow response, Dan, but I appreciate your comment. It’s good and right to pursue a clear understanding of Scripture, and to know it as clearly and accurately as possible. It’s also good to remember that, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” (1 Cor. 13:8)
Not always growing up Baptist…this phrase, and its misuse, has always bothered me to no end. I think it has misled many people into a false sense of security. To me, the ‘once saved, always saved’ mantra allows, even encourages others to walk an aisle and sign a card and live how ever they want…because they are ‘saved’…according to the preacher officiating. Where instead, what God has finally allowed me to start wrapping my mind around is that the ‘true saints’ will persevere.
Similar wording…but very different perspective…
Jay,
As you can tell from the post, I completely agree with you. I believe the phrase has done far more harm than good.
Barry, would Dabney’s interpretation leave no room for homosexual churches and those who say they are believers yet openly practice homosexuality?
Can you explain the “perseverance of the saints” as you understand it? as we battle the flesh and the principalities and powers of darkness, yet adopt an attitude of pride for persevering, do we not walk on thin ice in justification, also?
selahV,
I just got back from a week of Boy Scout camp, so I apologize for the delayed reply.
I’m not sure I understand a couple of your questions, so I’ll answer the one I think I do (“Can you explain the ‘perseverance of the saints’…?”). I like this simple, clear definition from Wayne Grudem’s “Systematic Theology”:
The perseverance of the saints means that all those who are truly born again will be kept by God’s power and will persevere as Christians until the end of their lives, and that only those who persevere until the end have been truly born again.
Christian perseverance, as seen in the passages I originally quoted, is nothing more (or less) than persistence in a life of faith and holiness. That doesn’t mean Christians will never sin; they certainly will. But the overall trajectory of their lives will be one of growth in faith and holiness.
Here’s another helpful paragraph from the Theopedia article I mentioned:
…the doctrine of eternal security is usually expressed without the reference to the perseverance (or continuance) and other means of grace indicative of true saving/justifying faith. This mind-set goes hand-in-hand with the “easy believism” and “carnal Christianity” so prevalent in the evangelical church today. It is characterized by the trite phrase “once saved, always saved”, suggesting that one may continue in a life of willful sin and be confident of salvation because he has made a profession of faith in the past. This goes against biblical exhortations, warnings for final salvation and qualifications of true saving faith.
One more quote, this one by Michael Horton, highlighting the danger of misunderstanding the concept of “once saved, always saved”:
When we speak of once saved, always saved, we are not taking into account the full scope of salvation. We have been saved (justification), was are being saved (sanctified), and we will one day be saved (glorified). You cannot claim to have been “saved” (justified) unless you are being sanctified. Jesus Christ is Savior and Lord.
I’d say Dabney’s view leaves no room at all for so-called “homosexual churches,” nor for the brazen practice of homosexuality by those who claim to be believers.
At the same time, taking pride in our own apparent perseverance would seem to indicate a lack of saving faith. Can we possibly be Christians if we are characterized by an attitude that is diametrically opposed to faith and humility? If we have been saved, it is by faith, and if we are persevering, we will necessarily be marked by humility. Perhaps it will not be great humility – and we certainly won’t be impervious to the assaults of pride – but we will have the humility that continues to repent and believe in spite of any and all failure in regards to pride (or, for that matter, homosexuality or other such sin with which we may wrestle).
The true believer recognizes his sin as sin, and he accepts God’s just judgment against it, and he lays hold of grace to fight against it, and he gratefully receives the Father’s discipline. This is how we grow in holiness. The fact that there is a struggle, and a confession, and a renewal of repentance in response to failure, are all signs of saving faith. The very idea of a “homosexual church” goes against this. And so does the idea of a “proud Christian.” For, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
True Christians will struggle with sin. The lack of a struggle is not a good sign, whether it is the result of flagrantly accepting our sin (as in the case of the “homosexual church”) or merely being impressed with our own morality (as the oxymoronic “proud Christian”).