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Perseverance of the Saints The saints are those whom God has
accepted in Christ the Beloved, and effectually called and sanctified by
his Spirit. To them he has
given the precious faith that pertains to all his elect.
The persons to whom such blessings have been imparted call neither
totally nor finally fall from the state of grace, but they shall certainly
persevere in grace to the end and be eternally saved, for God will never
repent of having called them and made gifts to them. Consequently
he continues to beget and to nourish in them faith, repentance, love, joy,
hope, and all the graces of the Spirit that issue in immortality.
Many storms and floods may arise and beat upon them, yet they can
never be moved from the foundation and rock on which by faith they are
firmly established. Even if
unbelief and Satan's temptations cause them for a time to lose the sight
and comfort of the light and love of God, yet the unchanging God remains
their God, and he will certainly keep and save them by his power until
they come to the enjoyment of 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. In various ways—the temptations of Satan and of the world, the striving of indwelling sin to get the upper hand, the neglect of the means appointed for their preservation—saints may fall into fearful sins, and may even continue in them for a time. In this way they incur God's displeasure, grieve his Holy Spirit, do injury to their graces, diminish their comforts, experience hardness of heart and accusations of conscience, hurt and scandalize others, and bring God's chastisements on themselves. Yet being saints their repentance will be renewed, and through faith they will be preserved in Christ Jesus to the end.
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