Confession of Faith: Chapter 17: Of the Perseverance of the Saints

Chapter 17: Of the Perseverance of the Saints

1.  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. (a)

(a) Phil. 1:6, 2 Pet. 1:10, Rom. 8:28-30, John 10:28-29, 1 John 3:9, 1 John 5:18, 1 Pet. 1:5, 9

2.  This perseverance of the saints depends not upon their own free will, but upon the immutability of the decree of election, flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father; (b) upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ, (c) the abiding of the Spirit, and of the seed of God within them, (d) and the nature of the covenant of grace: (e) from all which ariseth also the certainty and infallibility thereof.(f)

(b) Ps. 89:3-4, 28-33, 2 Tim. 2:18-19, Jer. 31:3
(c) Heb. 10:10, 14, Heb. 13:20-21, Heb. 9:12-15, Rom. 8:33-39, John 17:11, 24, Luke 22:32, Heb. 7:25
(d) John 14:16-17, 1 John 2:27, 1 John 3:9
(e) Jer. 32:40, Ps. 89:34-37, see Jer. 31:31-34
(f) John 6:38-40, John 10:28, 2 Thess. 3:3, 1 John 2:19

3.  Nevertheless, they may, through the temptations of Satan and of the world, the prevalency of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of the means of their preservation, fall into grievous sins; (g) and, for a time, continue therein: (h) whereby they incur God's displeasure, (i) and grieve his Holy Spirit, (k) come to be deprived of some measure of their graces and comforts, (l) have their hearts hardened,(m) and their consciences wounded; (n) hurt and scandalize others, (o) and bring temporal judgments upon themselves. (p)

(g) Ex. 32:21, Jonah 1:3,10, Ps. 51:14, Matt. 26:70,72,74
(h) 2 Sam. 12:9, 13, Gal. 2:11-14
(i) Num. 20:12, 2 Sam. 11:27, Isa. 64:7, 9
(k) Eph. 4:30
(l) Ps. 51:8,10,12, Rev. 2:4, Matt. 26:75
(m) Isa. 63:17
(n) Ps. 32:3-4, Ps. 51:8
(o) Gen. 12:10-20,  2 Sam. 12:14, Gal. 2:13
(p) Ps. 89:31-32, 1 Cor. 11:32


With these last few studies on the Westminster Confession of Faith, I have attempted to present some
basic principles of the Christian Faith with Scripture references, if you have read these Scriptures prayerfully you can be assured that you have a sound biblical understanding of the basic tenants of the Christian faith and as you review those Scriptures and get them into your heart building up your understanding so that you can articulate them to others, you will be able to stand against error and correct those in error. One of the biggest deception of Satan that is evident in our culture is false Christianity, a Christianity that calls itself Christian but at its heart there is no Christ, there is only man, exalted in pride and arrogance, thinking that he can change God's Word to please himself in his sin. It does not matter how many men follow the error, it does not matter whether the culture pushes Christless Christianity, only those who continue following the biblical Christ will persevere to the end. The culture stands against Christ, and we should recognize also, that Christ stands against the culture, its easier to go along with the culture because we all wish to be liked, but Christ calls us to be different from the world, to  live in it and not become a part of it. Our culture presents homosexuality and abortion as progressive, tolerant, wise. Our culture presents those who call them sin as intolerant, arrogant, backwards. We all have to make choices, it's how we develop character and how we display our true loyalty, my prayer is that Christ has us all and we seek to please Him above all else, for in the end homosexuality, abortion, and any other sins we are holding up as good, The Lord will burn them up at His coming, the culture and all those who we wish to be like the culture, when we choose sin over Christ, will be burned up as well, and they will not be able to help us in any measure.

God Grace be with us all.

Next study: Holiness