Charlie Bing, an advocate of Free Grace Theology, wrote an article against the Perseverance of the Saints. Here is the link: http://www.gracelife.org/resources/gracenotes/?id=49
Here is what Bing says in the article:
What is your response to Bing's article? My response is that there is a big difference between the consequence of being born again and the basis upon which God declares a sinner righteous. Perseverance is one of the consequences of being born again. However, perseverance is not the basis upon which God declares a sinner righteous. The doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints does not teach that sinners are saved by their perseverance. This doctrine does not teach that perseverance merits salvation or wins God's favor. This doctrine does not contradict the fact that sinners are saved by God's alone.
The imputed righteousness of Christ is the basis upon which God declares a sinner righteous. Christ's atonement, Christ's resurrection, and Christ's righteousness imputed to the believer is the sole basis upon which a person gets to heaven.
Here is what Bing says in the article:
The concept of The Perseverance of the Saints has been a part of various Christian theological systems from early Christianity. Simply stated, this teaching says that a true Christian will persevere in faith and good works to the end of life and so proves he or she is eternally saved. If a professed Christian does not persevere to the end of life, it proves that person was not a true Christian after all.
While perseverance emphasizes the Christian enduring through God's power, preservation emphasizes the Christian secured by God's promise. Preservation means that when God promises eternal life to believers in Jesus Christ, He will keep them secure with no possibility of ever losing their salvation.
Preservation of believers, not perseverance of the saints, is the view taught by God's Word and is consistent with the gospel of salvation by grace.
The argument for perseverance
Perseverance is taught by differing theological systems. The Reformed Calvinist position (It is the P in their TULIP) argues that since man is totally unable to respond, individuals must be unconditionally elected and they alone receive the benefits of Christ's atonement through God's irresistible grace. The faith that must be given to man as divine enablement to believe also becomes the power to keep one in the faith to the end of life. At the other end of the theological spectrum, the Arminian system argues that a person is saved only as long as he perseveres.
In both systems, works are necessary to prove and validate one's salvation. Without enduring good works, no one is finally saved. In both systems, assurance is temporary, that is, one can be sure of salvation only as long as he perseveres. Many in both systems admit that absolute assurance is impossible because no one can predict the future.
While perseverance emphasizes the Christian enduring through God's power, preservation emphasizes the Christian secured by God's promise. Preservation means that when God promises eternal life to believers in Jesus Christ, He will keep them secure with no possibility of ever losing their salvation.
Preservation of believers, not perseverance of the saints, is the view taught by God's Word and is consistent with the gospel of salvation by grace.
The argument for perseverance
Perseverance is taught by differing theological systems. The Reformed Calvinist position (It is the P in their TULIP) argues that since man is totally unable to respond, individuals must be unconditionally elected and they alone receive the benefits of Christ's atonement through God's irresistible grace. The faith that must be given to man as divine enablement to believe also becomes the power to keep one in the faith to the end of life. At the other end of the theological spectrum, the Arminian system argues that a person is saved only as long as he perseveres.
In both systems, works are necessary to prove and validate one's salvation. Without enduring good works, no one is finally saved. In both systems, assurance is temporary, that is, one can be sure of salvation only as long as he perseveres. Many in both systems admit that absolute assurance is impossible because no one can predict the future.
The imputed righteousness of Christ is the basis upon which God declares a sinner righteous. Christ's atonement, Christ's resurrection, and Christ's righteousness imputed to the believer is the sole basis upon which a person gets to heaven.
Comment