Why Your Life Matters Forever: Don’t Stop Believing

Calvinism teaches that a person can live any way that they want as long as they are Elect and will still be saved. Right? They think that you get saved and then God is going to take you to Heaven when you die and it doesn’t matter how you live because it is all based on Him. Don’t they? Doesn’t Calvinism mean that man’s actions have no eternal affect?

When the topic comes up, those who are against the doctrines often voice these criticisms in some way. If they don’t voice them then the questions seem to be just below the surface of the debate. But to answer to each of these questions is a resounding “No”. And that is where the divide comes in; the misunderstanding of the last of the Doctrines of Grace; Perseverance of the Saints.

Even Calvinists often miss the full meaning and implications of this most sobering doctrine. If it is ignored or misunderstood, the result is hyper-calvinism, which is the very opposite of true Calvinism. While Calvinism makes man very dependent and humble and sober before God, hyper-calvinism makes man arrogant and irresponsible. Let me briefly explain the implications of Perseverance of the Saints which make all the difference.

In it’s most boiled down form, the doctrine is this: That God will continue to grant to the Elect salvific grace for a saving faith which is life altering.

What that means is this. God is the only thing that keeps a person who believes from ceasing to believe. If God were to stop giving grace to an individual, which He has every right to do, then that person would die lost. Because the Bible clearly teaches that faith is necessary for final salvation. But those whom God has chosen, those will He continue to keep from falling back into the depravity which He pulled them from in the first place. In this way, Perseverance of the Saints is completely in line with the other Doctrines of Grace. As finite human beings though, we cannot see God’s ultimate plan or will. We are limited to knowing our own hearts and beliefs and to seeing the actions of others and ourselves.

The next aspect of the doctrine is that He grants this type of grace, the grace for eternal salvation, only to the Elect; but to the Elect, that Grace is sure. He will not let one of His own fall away. The Bible says in Romans that Neither life nor death, angels nor demons, neither present nor future, nor powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.

The apostle Paul speaks often of fighting the good fight and running the race in order to win. It would indicate that the entire journey matters. One of the most well known implications of Calvinism is predestination, and destination is the focus of this doctrine. Destination is also important here. Because by running a good race a person reaches the destination.

Peter writes that “Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure.” He isn’t saying to work for one’s salvation, what he is doing is echoing Jesus’ teaching that a tree is known by it’s fruit. As James says “Faith without works is dead.” If a person claims to be of God and does not live it then there is reason to doubt. Because even Jesus said “If you love me you will obey my commandments.”

Since even the demons know the truth about God, our faith must essentially be something greater if it is to save us. If a person has realized what God has done for them, loved that which hated Him, then that person must be completely humbled. And that humility becomes a source for seeking God’s will and the pleasures He offers.

This doctrine causes great soberness in the heart of the person who would follow God. Because there is a realization that though I may know the Truth, if God does not continue to grant grace then I will return to my evil and unbelief. But there great confidence knowing that I believe in His sacrifice and that my actions indicate that the faith I have is saving faith, and that is the Faith which God has promised to sustain.

Paul says “to us who are being saved it is the power of God”, speaking of the Cross. Being saved is a key term. He doesn’t say to those of us who have gotten saved. Salvation is current. God is saving the Elect. He holds them In His grace.

The journey matters. It’s what gets you to the destination. So “Live worthy of your calling”.

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