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Perseverance of the Saints

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Perseverance may be defined as that continuous operation of the Holy Spirit in the believer, by which the work of divine grace that is begun in the heart is continued and brought to competition. It is because God never forsakes His work that believers continue to stand to the very end.
Louis Berkhof from Systematic Theology (pg. 546)

The doctrine of the perseverance of the saints does not maintain that all those who profess the Christian faith are certain of heaven. It is saints - those who are set apart by the Spirit - who persevere to the end. It is believers - those who are given true, living faith in Christ - who are secure and safe in Him. Many who profess to believe fall away, but they do not fall from grace for they were never in grace. True believers do fall into temptations, and they do commit grievous sins, but these sins do not cause them to lose their salvation or separate them from Christ. The Westminster Confession of Faith gives the following statement on this doctrine:
    They whom God hath accepted in His Beloved, effectually called and sanctified by His Spirit, can neither     totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace: but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and     be eternally saved.
Boettner is certainly correct in asserting that
    This doctrine does not stand alone but is a necessary part of the Calvinistic system of theology. The     doctrines of Election and Efficacious Grace logically imply the certain salvation of those who receive     these blessings. If God has chosen men absolutely and unconditionally to eternal life, and if His Spirit     effectively applies to them the benefits of redemption, the inescapable conclusion is that these persons     shall be saved. The following verses show that God's people are given eternal life the moment they     believe. they are kept by God's power through faith and nothing can separate them from His love. They     have been sealed with the Holy Spirit who has been given as the guarantee of their salvation, and     they are thus assured of an eternal inheritance.
David Steele & Curtis C Thomas from The Five Points of Calvinism (pg. 56)

Perseverance of the saints is the biblical doctrine that God infallibly preserves in faith all of those he has given to the Son (John 6:37, 39, 44, 63-65) so that they are never lost. It maintains that none who are truly redeemed by Christ can be condemned for their sins or finally fall away from the faith. For as the apostle Paul states in Philippians 1:6, “I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
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Title Notes
Perseverance of the Saints - A Categorized Scripture List Nathan Pitchfordicon
Religious Affections Jonathan Edwardsicon
Perseverance of the Saints: An Introduction to the Debate Sam Stormsicon
A Defense of the Perseverance of the Saints - Part 1 Sam Stormsicon
A Defense of the Perseverance of the Saints - Part 2 Sam Stormsicon
Perseverance of the Saints Brian Schwertleyicon
Biblical Reflections on Hebrews 6 John Hendryxicon
Final Perseverance (Perserverance of the Saints) - Hebrews 6:4-6 C.H. Spurgeon (pdf)icon
The Perseverance of the Saints - Part 2 John G. Reisingericon
The Perseverance of the Saints - Part 1 John G. Reisingericon
Perseverance of the Saints John MacArthur (.pdf)icon
Of The Perseverance of the Saints 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith - Chapter 17icon
Can A Christian Lose Salvation? (.pdf) Geoff Ashleyicon
Perseverance of the Saints Jeff Spry (pdf)icon
Perseverance of the Saints www.GospelOutreach.neticon
"P" Is for Perseverance of the Saints Daniel W. Massie - Examining Calvinismicon
Run, Christian, Run! - A Sermon on Hebrews 12:1-4 D. Patrick Ramseyicon
The Fall of Peter F.W. Krummachericon
Predestination and the Saints' Perseverance P. H. Mellicon
The Doctrine of Particular Election and Final Perseverance Isaac Backusicon
Perseverance Of The Saints Scripture Proofsicon
The Preservation of the Saints John Samson - John 6:34-39icon
The Preservation of the Saints Vincent Cheungicon
Perseverance and Assurance: A Survey and a Proposal Thomas R. Schreiner - The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology 2 (1998): 32-62.icon
Perseverance of the Saints - Part 1 Jay Wegter - Why security is joined to diligence (2 Peter 1)icon
The Perseverance of the Saints - Part 2 Jay Wegter - Our Response to the Spirit’s Sanctifying Work, (2 Thess. 2:13-15)icon
Perseverance of the Saints Bob Burridge - Subjective Soterioloty (Lesson 9)icon
The Saints' Perseverance Asserted and Vindicated John Gillicon
Perseverance of the Saints: Is it the Doctrine of Eternal Security? Tony Warrenicon
1 John 3:9 and the Doctrine of Perseverance Sam Stormsicon
Revelation 3:5 - The Reward Promised to Those Who Persevere Sam Stormsicon
The Necessity of Endurance for Salvation Eric Schumachericon
The Perseverance of the Saints, Encouraging to the Christian C. Matthew McMahonicon
Perseverance of the Saints: A Reformed and Biblical Doctrine Scott J. Simmonsicon
Powerfully Kept Jim Ellifficon
The PRESERVATION and the PERSEVERANCE of the Saints Jim Ellifficon
The Perseverance of The Saints Gise J. Van Barenicon
Gospel Grounds and Evidences of the Faith of God's Elect John Owenicon
The Perseverance of the Saints Loraine Boettnericon
Saving Faith John Bunyanicon
Perseverance: An Act of Man or an Act of God? J.W. Cartericon
Perserverence of the Saints R. L. Dabneyicon
Perseverance of the Saints R. B. C. Howellicon
Perseverance of the Saints Jacob Moseleyicon
The Perseverance of the Saints Arthur C. Custanceicon
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Recommended Reading

The Assurance of Our Salvation: Studies in John 17
by Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Assured by God
by Burk Parsons (ed)

Five Points of Calvinism
by David N. Steele, Curtis C. Thomas, and S. Lance Quinn

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