Preservation

We come here to the fifth of the so-called "Five Points of Calvinism," the Perseverance of Saints. This is the Biblical teaching that salvation once give cannot be lost.

Some will immediately notice, however, that there are two words used to describe this doctrine, the word "preservation" and the word "perseverance." Each has a different emphasis.

The word "preservation" emphasizes the fact that believers cannot lose their salvation because of God's power and grace. He PRESERVES His people (Ps. 37:28, Jer. 32:40, I Pet. 1:5).

That word reminds us, therefore, that salvation is ALL of grace. That believers do not lose their salvation is not due to their obedience, their faithfulness, and their efforts, but solely to the grace of God that keeps and protects them from falling.

What, then, does God preserve? He preserves the new life of regeneration that is in them as the seed of all their salvation (I Jn. 3:9). In preserving that, He also preserves their faith and their obedience, so that, though imperfectly, they do continue to believe and to keep God's commandments. To put it very simply, He preserves His own work of grace in them (Ps. 90:17, 138:8, Phil. 1:6).

He does not preserve the flesh and the works of the flesh! In the believer the flesh, its works, and its dominion are to be destroyed (Gal. 5:24, Heb. 9:13). Nor may the believer want them to be preserved and try to preserve them.

We do well to remember that according to this doctrine, it is saints, that is, those who are holy, who are preserved, and they are preserved unto more holiness. That they are not holy by their own strength makes no difference. Without holiness, no man shall see the Lord (Heb. 12:14).

Nor are they preserved apart from faith. Faith is always the way of, though never the reason for, salvation. I Peter 1:5 teaches that preservation, too, is in the way of faith: "Who are kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation...."

From what, then, are believers preserved? They are not preserved from temptation, from weakness, or from falling into temptation and sin.

How important it is to remember that. They are not preserved from falling, but from falling away. Due entirely to their own weakness and sinfulness, believers can and do fall into temptation and sin. Psalm 37:24 expresses this very beautifully: "though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord upholdeth him with His hand.

That believers can and do fall is demonstrated in Scripture by the examples of men like David and Peter. That they cannot fall away is demonstrated by their restoration. Indeed, in the case of Peter the Lord gave assurance beforehand that Peter would not fall away (Lk. 22:31, 32).