Modern 1689 Confession

 Original

Reeves

Chapter 17: Of The Perseverance of the Saints

1. Those whom God hath accepted in the beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, and given the precious faith of his elect unto, can neither totally nor finally fall from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved, seeing the gifts and callings of God are without repentance, whence he still begets and nourisheth in them faith, repentance, love, joy, hope, and all the graces of the Spirit unto immortality; and though many storms and floods arise and beat against them, yet they shall never be able to take them off that foundation and rock which by faith they are fastened upon; notwithstanding, through unbelief and the temptations of Satan, the sensible sight of the light and love of God may for a time be clouded and obscured from them, yet he is still the same, and they shall be sure to be kept by the power of God unto salvation, where they shall enjoy their purchased possession, they being engraven upon the palm of his hands, and their names having been written in the book of life from all eternity.

( John 10:28, 29; Philippians 1:6; 2 Timothy 2:19; 1 John 2:19; Psalms 89:31, 32; 1 Corinthians 11:32; Malachi 3:6 )

2. This perseverance of the saints depends not upon their own free will, but upon the immutability of the decree of election, flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father, upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ and union with him, the oath of God, the abiding of his Spirit, and the seed of God within them, and the nature of the covenant of grace; from all which ariseth also the certainty and infallibility thereof.

( Romans 8:30 Romans 9:11, 16; Romans 5:9, 10; John 14:19; Hebrews 6:17, 18; 1 John 3:9; Jeremiah 32:40 )

3. And though they may, through the temptation of Satan and of the world, the prevalency of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of means of their preservation, fall into grievous sins, and for a time continue therein, whereby they incur God's displeasure and grieve his Holy Spirit, come to have their graces and comforts impaired, have their hearts hardened, and their consciences wounded, hurt and scandalize others, and bring temporal judgments upon themselves, yet shall they renew their repentance and be preserved through faith in Christ Jesus to the end.

( Matthew 26:70, 72, 74; Isaiah 64:5, 9; Ephesians 4:30; Psalms 51:10, 12; Psalms 32:3, 4; 2 Samuel 12:14; Luke 22:32, 61, 62 )

Chapter 17

The Perseverance of the Saints

1. Those God has accepted in the Beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, and given the precious faith of his elect can neither totally nor finally fall from the state of grace.  They will certainly persevere in grace to the end and be eternally saved, because the gifts and callings of God are irrevocable.  Therefore, he still brings about and nourishes in them faith, repentance, love, joy, hope, and all the graces of the Spirit that lead to immortality.¹  Even though many storms and floods arise and beat against them, yet these things will never be able to move the elect from the foundation and rock they are anchored to by faith.  The felt sight of the light and love of God may be clouded and obscured from them for a time through their unbelief and the temptations of Satan.²  Yet God is still the same;  they will certainly be kept by the power of God for salvation, where they will enjoy their purchased possession.  For they are engraved on the palms of his hands, and their names have been written in the book of life from all eternity.³

¹John 10:28, 29; Philippians 1:6; 2 Timothy 2:19; 1 John 2:19. ²Psalms 89:31, 32; 1 Corinthians 11:32. ³Malachi 3:6.

2. This perseverance of the saints does not depend on their own free will but on the unchangeableness of the decree of election,⁴ which flows from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father.  It is based on the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ and union with him,⁵ the oath of God,⁶ the abiding of his Spirit, the seed of God within them,⁷ and the nature of the covenant of grace.⁸  The certainty and infallibility of their perseverance is based on all these things.

⁴Romans 8:30 Romans 9:11, 16. ⁵Romans 5:9, 10; John 14:19. ⁶Hebrews 6:17, 18. ⁷1 John 3:9. ⁸Jeremiah 32:40.

3. They may fall into grievous sins and continue in them for a time, due to the temptation of Satan and the world, the strength of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of means of their preservation.⁹  In so doing, they incur God's displeasure and grieve his Holy Spirit;¹⁰ their graces and comforts become impaired;¹¹ their hearts are hardened and their consciences wounded;¹² they hurt and scandalize others and bring temporary judgments on themselves.¹³  Nevertheless, they will renew their repentance and be preserved through faith in Christ Jesus to the end.¹⁴

⁹Matthew 26:70, 72, 74. ¹⁰Isaiah 64:5, 9; Ephesians 4:30. ¹¹Psalms 51:10, 12. ¹²Psalms 32:3, 4. ¹³2 Samuel 12:14. ¹⁴Luke 22:32, 61, 62.