You do not hear the name John Calvin as much in today’s religious culture as in days past. The doctrine of the perseverance of the saints is not as popular as it once was. However, you do still hear some preachers proclaiming the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints, also called “Once saved; always saved.” John Calvin was the great promoter of this doctrine.
There are several verses used by Calvinists to defend this doctrine. In John 10:28-29, Jesus said that no one could snatch them (those the Father had given Him) out of His Father’s hand. These verses teach that no one else can snatch (grab or swipe) a soul from God. Yet, it does not say or imply that an individual cannot choose to leave God’s saving grace. It is a false interpretation to say that this verse teaches otherwise.
Another verse used to teach this doctrine is found in Ephesians 1:13. “In Him you also trusted…, in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.” In Ephesians 4:30, it says that Christians are sealed “for the day of redemption.” In 2 Corinthians 1:22, this seal is called a “guarantee.” From these verses it is taught that once a person is “sealed with the Holy Spirit,” then that person cannot become “unsealed.” However, the word “sealed” (sphragizo) is commonly used to mean a stamp such as a letter sealed by wax and a signet or some other type of seal meant to show authenticity and to keep secret until the time of opening. We see this in Esther 3:12; 8:8-10 and in Daniel 6:17. To be sealed with the Holy Spirit is a sign, a stamp of authenticity. It is not an unbreakable chain.
When a person obeys the Gospel, being baptized into Jesus Christ, that person is added to the church (Acts 2:38, 41, 47) and his or her name is written in the Book of Life. Philippians 4:3 says, “And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.” Having one’s name written in the Book of Life and being sealed with the Holy Spirit both have the same significance – salvation.
In the Book of Revelation we read, “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels” (Revelation 3:5). Here Jesus was speaking to the church – to the saved, but it requires overcoming the snares of the devil. In Revelation 22:19, God has said, “and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” It is abundantly clear that once a person has his or her name written in the Book of Life that this person’s name may be blotted out and his part (salvation) be taken away from the Book of Life.
Another phrase sometimes used by Calvinists is, “You can’t fall from grace.” It is said that a person is saved by the grace of God (Ephesians 2:8) and once God’s grace saves that person, then it is impossible to fall from that saving grace. Well, God’s grace does not fail; people do. In the Book of Galatians there were Christians who were turning away from the Gospel of Christ to another gospel (Galatians 1:6-9). In chapter 5:4 Paul wrote, “You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.” This verse clearly says that those Christians who attempted to be justified by law had fallen from grace. A person must be in grace before that person can fall from grace.
Perseverance of the saints is dependent upon remaining faithful to God and His Word. Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).
