Dr. Couch, is the last point in Calvinism (the P, Perseverance of the saints)
teaching that salvation is by works, or teaching that you need to work
to maintain your salvation?
ANSWER: No, this is not the case at all. To some but not all Calvinists it can
mean that one will not fall into terrible sins and slide backwards into
unbelief. But to most, it means eternal security or eternal salvation.
Those elect will indeed be brought home to heaven! The Westminster
Confession of Faith says on the subject:
They whom God has accepted in His Beloved,
effectually called and sanctified by His Spirit, can neither totally nor
finally fall away from the state of grace: but shall certainly
persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved.
Boettner writes:
The doctrine of Election and Efficacious Grace
logically imply the certain salvation of those who receive these
blessings. If God has chose men absolutely and unconditionally to
eternal life, and if His Spirit effectively applies to them the benefits
of redemption, the inescapable conclusion is that these persons shall
be saved.
I would be interested to know why you would think that Perseverance implies works on the part of the saved for salvation!
Thanks for asking,
Dr. Mal Couch
