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    Sin & Salvation

    What Is the Perseverance of the Saints?

    What Is the Perseverance of the Saints? The perseverance of the saints is the doctrine that all whom God truly saves will continue in faith and be kept by His power unto the end.

    Key verse: John 10:28-29 (KJV)

    The perseverance of the saints is the doctrine that all whom God truly saves will continue in faith and be kept by His power unto the end.

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    Quick Answer

    The perseverance of the saints is the doctrine that all whom God truly saves will continue in faith and be kept by His power unto the end.

    "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." — John 10:28-29 (KJV)

    The Biblical Answer

    Perseverance of the saints — sometimes called eternal security — is the truth that no genuine believer will ever be finally lost. God Himself preserves His people, and they in turn persevere in faith and obedience to the end. 'Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ' (Philippians 1:6). This does not mean that Christians never stumble or struggle with sin. It means that the new life God has implanted cannot be extinguished, and the One who saved them will keep them. Those who fall away permanently show by their apostasy that they were never truly born again. This doctrine produces both assurance and watchfulness.

    Topic Overview

    What Does the Bible Say About Faith?

    What the Bible teaches about faith, believing in God, and trusting His promises.

    Key Scripture References

    "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand."
    "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."
    "Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."

    Frequently asked questions

    Frequently asked questions

    Related Questions

    Deep Dive Commentary

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    Read it in context

    The answer above sits inside John. The 365-day chronological plan reads it in the order the events happened.

    Read John on day 302 of the chronological Bible reading plan

    Keep the verses to hand

    Every verse quoted in “What Is the Perseverance of the Saints?” comes from the King James Version, free to download and print.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Perseverance of the saints — sometimes called eternal security — is the truth that no genuine believer will ever be finally lost. God Himself preserves His people, and they in turn persevere in faith and obedience to the end. 'Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ' (Philippians 1:6). This does not mean that Christians never stumble or struggle with sin. It means that the new life God has implanted cannot be extinguished, and the One who saved them will keep them. Those who fall away permanently show by their apostasy that they were never truly born again. This doctrine produces both assurance and watchfulness.

    Election is God's sovereign choice, before the foundation of the world, to save a people for Himself through Jesus Christ.

    Irresistible grace is the doctrine that when God sovereignly calls a sinner to salvation, the Holy Spirit effectually draws him to Christ.