Our Lord identifies His sheep as having been given to Him by God the Father. The Father elected them and because He loved them, He gave them to the Son. These are the same sheep for whom Christ died. (John 10:15) These sheep are the objects of the atonement. Christ died exclusively for them. He took upon Himself the penalty for their sins. Then by the efficacious work of the Holy Spirit, these sheep repent and believe in response to God’s irresistible grace.

35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will affliction, or turmoil, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written,

“FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG;

WE WERE COUNTED AS SHEEP FOR the SLAUGHTER.”

37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39 (LSB) 

Probably the number one thing that I have learned while presenting the doctrines of grace is that there are people who simply will not believe nor back away from their own conception of Soteriology. For instance, I have friends, acquaintances, and relatives who smirk and roll their eyes back when the topic of Persevering Grace comes up. I heard one fellow say once that God writes those who are saved in the Lamb’s Book of Life in pencil and that pencil has an eraser. Where in the Bible is that one?

Let’s look at some things that we do not mean when we say that God’s People are secure in their salvation through Persevering Grace. First, this doctrine does not mean that Christians are exempted from all spiritual danger just because they are Christians. Look at the passage I placed at the top of this post. All those bad things can happen to God’s people, but none of them can separate them from the Love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Perseverance does not mean that Christians are always kept from falling into sin, just because they are Christians. This is a tough one for some people. When they sin they believe they may have lost their salvation. No, it means that they sinned. Sin is serious business and Christians should be about mortifying it, but as long as we are in these bodies we will struggle with sin. Look at Simon Peter.

31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat. 32 But I have prayed earnestly for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, once you have returned, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32 (LSB)

Right after Jesus told this to Peter, he told our Lord that he would die before he would deny Him. Of course we know that Peter failed that very night by denying our Lord three times. Jesus told him that after sinning then repenting that he must strengthen his brothers (the other Apostles). So, we do sin and God uses our failures in our sanctification.

Perseverance does not mean that those who merely profess Christ without actually being born again are secure. This should be obvious. Religiosity buys us nothing. We are told in scripture to make sure we are truly saved.

10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and choosing sure; for in doing these things, you will never stumble; 2 Peter 1:10 (LSB) 

What a horrible thing that would be thinking that one was a sheep when all along we are actually a goat whom Christ does not know. Also, many who profess Christ are actually Satan’s seed. These are the ones who actually persecute God’s people, but believe they are serving God much like the Pharisees of Jesus and Paul’s day.

22 And you will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved. Matthew 10:22 (LSB) 

As we are persecuted, perhaps even unto death, those who are genuine will endure to the end because God perseveres with them. The only genuine proof that one hasbeen chosen by God and truly born again is his or her perseverance to the end.

Perseverance of the Saints is true because of God’s Persevering Grace. This doctrine does not say that God’s people can live as reprobates and hope to be ultimately saved. This isn’t, “Once Saved, Always Saved and we can live any way we want.” No, the ones who endure to the end as God’s genuine children are living sacrifices that have presented themselves to God, holy and acceptable as true spiritual worship.

Here are some passages that support this doctrine:

Heth

7 The angel of Yahweh encamps around those who fear Him,

And rescues them. Psalms 34:7 (LSB) 

3 Yahweh appeared to him from afar, saying,

“I have loved you with an everlasting love;

Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness. Jeremiah 31:3 (LSB) 

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