Systematic Theology, by Louis Berkhof - New Leaven

XI. Perseverance of the Saints
A. THE DOCTRINE OF THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS IN
HISTORY.
The doctrine of the perseverance of the saints is to the effect that they whom God
has regenerated and effectually called to a state of grace, can neither totally nor finally
fall away from that state, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end and be
eternally saved. This doctrine was first explicitly taught by Augustine, though he was
not as consistent on this point as might have been expected of him as a strict
predestinarian. With him the doctrine did not assume the form just stated. He held that
the elect could not so fall away as to be finally lost, but at the same time considered it
possible that some who were endowed with new life and true faith could fall from grace
completely and at last suffer eternal damnation. The Church of Rome with its Semi-
Pelagianism, including the doctrine of free will, denied the doctrine of the perseverance
of the saints and made their perseverance dependent on the uncertain obedience of
man. The Reformers restored this doctrine to its rightful place. The Lutheran Church,
however, makes it uncertain again by making it contingent on man’s continued activity
of faith, and by assuming that true believers can fall completely from grace. It is only in
the Calvinistic Churches that the doctrine is maintained in a form in which it affords
absolute assurance. The Canons of Dort, after calling attention to the many weaknesses
and failures of the children of God, declare: “But God, who is rich in mercy, according to
His unchangeable purpose of election, does not wholly withdraw the Holy Spirit from
His own people even in their grievous falls; nor suffers them to proceed so far as to lose
the grace of adoption and forfeit the state of justification, or to commit the sin unto
death or against the Holy Spirit; nor does He permit them to be totally deserted, and to
plunge themselves into everlasting destruction.” 95 The Arminians rejected this view and
made the perseverance of believers dependent on their will to believe and on their good
works. Arminius himself avoided that extreme, but his followers did did not hesitate to
maintain their synergistic position with all its consequences. The Wesleyan Arminians
followed suit as did several of the sects. The Reformed or Calvinistic Churches stand
practically alone in giving a negative answer to the question, whether a Christian can
completely fall from the state of grace and be finally lost.
95 V, Art. 6.
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