Reflections on Perseverance of the Saints: Assurance in God’s Sovereign Grace

As beautifully stated in the Westminster Confession of Faith, the doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints is that salvation depends entirely upon God's unchanging grace, not upon human effort. The tragedy is that many don't understand this truth.  Some erroneously think perseverance depends on their ability to remain faithful. This gives rise to anxiety and a works-based assurance that is contrary to Scripture. John 10:28-29 presents a significant corrective: our eternal life is secure in God's sovereign grip. Perseverance is not a matter of our holding onto God; it is about His unshakeable hold on us. The ability to endure in faith is not human-generated; it is the Spirit’s sanctifying work within us (Philippians 1:6).

When considering eternal life, many think of it as a future promise, but it is also a present reality for those born of God. Eternal life begins at the moment of salvation and flows from God’s covenant of grace. Perseverance is the natural outworking of this new life in Christ. We are eternally secure if we are born of God. Yet this assurance should not breed complacency. Instead, it compels us to resist sin, for the Spirit within us continuously transforms us to reflect Christ (1 John 3:9).

Perseverance relies not on our strength but wholly on God’s power. Misunderstanding this leads to striving for assurance in ourselves—a fruitless effort given our inherent depravity. It is Christ's atonement and the abiding presence of the Spirit, not to anything in our imperfect commitment. This doctrine reminds us that justification and sanctification are God's work from beginning to end and that it is His operative work that keeps us from falling, thus assuring perseverance (Romans 8:30).

Perseverance does entail faith, but not as an act of mere human willpower; it requires grace-enabled trust in Christ alone. It involves daily repentance and leaning on the Spirit to convict us of sin and point us toward growth in holiness. This doctrine brings great confidence and rejoicing for being set free from the fear of possibly falling away while it beckons one to rest in the finished work of Christ. It is the hope that reminds the believer that his salvation is not anchored in human frailty but in God's sovereign love. Christians can confidently thank God for the preservation He provides, knowing that nothing can separate us from His eternal hold.

Reflections on Irresistible Grace: God’s Sovereign Work in Salvation

The doctrine of irresistible grace underscores God's sovereign work in drawing sinners to Himself, a fact derived from Scriptures such as Ephesians 2:8-9 and Romans 8:7-8. Many people misunderstand this doctrine as if it means God forces belief upon us against our will. Rather, it means that when God calls a person to salvation, He overcomes man's natural resistance and makes the Gospel utterly compelling and desirable. It stresses the depth of human depravity—our inability to seek God on our own—and how divine intervention is required to awaken our hearts. This work of regeneration is beautifully seen in Ezekiel 36:25-27, where God cleanses us, gives us new hearts, and fills us with His Spirit, thus enabling us to follow Him. This in the Old Testament was a prophecy of what would be accomplished through the Gospel.

Many struggle with this doctrine, raising objections about free will and fairness. However, Scripture teaches that apart from Christ, we are “dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1). Dead people cannot respond unless made alive by God. Critics may claim that this negates human freedom, but irresistible grace works in harmony with our will—God changes our desires so that we willingly respond to Him. In Romans 9:14-23, the Apostle Paul speaks to and anticipates questions of fairness, reminding us that God is the Creator and, as such, has the right to show mercy as He pleases. Paul's rhetorical question, "Who are you, O man, to answer back to God?" calls us to trust God's wisdom and sovereignty.

John 3:5 illuminates the need to be "born of water and the Spirit" as illustrative of that inward washing and renewal described in Ezekiel. By the work of the Spirit in regeneration, one is changed and thus can both repent and believe. Without the interior working of God's Spirit within a person, none would ever turn to Christ because our flesh is inherently hostile to God. This realization should not lead to despair but to awe and gratitude. As Charles Spurgeon, the “Prince of Preachers,” reminds us, salvation is not our burden to bear—it rests securely in God’s hands. Understanding irresistible grace frees us from pride in our efforts and anxiety about our salvation, calling us instead to worship the One who saves us by His “grace upon grace.”

Reflections on Unconditional Election: Understanding God’s Sovereignty, Grace, and Our Response

The doctrine of unconditional election can initially feel unsettling, especially when fairness is considered from a human perspective. Like many, my initial reaction included questions about God’s love and justice. However, as I studied Scripture, my perspective shifted. Romans 9 vividly explains God’s sovereign choice in election, emphasizing His glory and purposes rather than our merit. God’s love is magnified in this doctrine: despite our complete unworthiness, He graciously chooses to save some, revealing His mercy in a way that humbles and fills us with awe. His ultimate aim in election is His glory and the display of His grace to undeserving sinners.

Unconditional election also challenges us to trust God’s character deeply. Deuteronomy 29:29 reminds us that some truths are beyond our understanding, but what we know is enough to trust in His wisdom and goodness. Without belief in unconditional election, we might miss the assurance and rest this doctrine provides. Instead of striving for salvation or fearing we might lose it, we can live in the freedom of knowing our security is in God’s hands, not our works. This should inspire humility, gratitude, and joy, as our salvation depends entirely on God’s grace, not our performance.

Another common objection to unconditional election is evangelism, but this objection misunderstands the relationship between God's sovereignty and human responsibility. God not only ordains the ends (who will be saved) but also the means (the proclamation of the gospel). Our role in evangelism is one of obedience to Christ's command and participation in God's work of salvation. We do not know whom God has chosen, so every act of evangelism is an opportunity for us to be used by Him as instruments of grace.

If this doctrine does not lead us to joy, gratitude, humility, and worship, it is worth examining what might hinder these responses. Is it a lack of understanding? A struggle to accept God’s sovereignty? The immeasurable grace realized in election should soften the heart and renew one's perspective. Ultimately, unconditional election calls us to marvel at God's mercy and to glorify Him, knowing He alone deserves the credit for our salvation.