The Holy Spirit as a Helper to Christians in Times of Weaknesses

In analyzing the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints, the ability to persevere isn’t from the person but from the Holy Spirit. Some people prefer to use the term preservation instead of perseverance since the latter can be very misleading. If there’s any reason why Christians can’t completely fall away–it’s because the Spirit helps them in their weaknesses. The Christian is never saved and told, “Well you’re on your own! Sanctify and grow up by yourself!” Instead, we have the marvelous truth that the Holy Spirit is indeed the source of strength.

Jesus, the Source of the Saints’ Perseverance

As mentioned, the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints isn’t the saints persevering to stay saved (otherwise that would be conditional security) but the saints persevering as a result of being saved. The acronym TULIP wasn’t invented by John Calvin. Rather, it was made to summarize what Calvin taught. Calvinism was, according to Charles H. Spurgeon, a nickname given because of what Calvin taught. Yet, Calvin was just a man and the reformers never called themselves reformers, they just wanted to be biblical. The term the perseverance of the saints was made to differentiate fake converts from true ones. Often mistaken as works salvation, it isn’t since the focus is the result of salvation that comes out of authentic faith.

Elisha and the Axe Head

Finally, it’s time to resume blogging on Elisha. I couldn’t help but think of the number of times I wish miracles were still available. This was one instance of a hopeless situation when an axe head was lost. We can find the account in 2 Kings 6:1-7. The short account is a display of God’s magnificent power, His paid attention even to the smallest detail. It’s easy to think of Elisha’s great miracles such as paying off a widow’s debts, reviving the dead woman’s son, and maybe his most famous account was healing Naaman’s leprosy. Whenever Elisha is mentioned, the very first thing that comes into my head is healing Naaman’s leprosy.

Growing Holiness as a Characteristic of a Truly Once Saved, Always Saved Person

It’s really something when we’ve got people claiming to be saved but evidence says otherwise. There’s always this clamor that fruit inspectors are “Pharisees”. Please, Matthew 7:14-20 says that by their fruits you will know them. Discipleship and discipline are done for new converts and backsliders but not apostates. One of the characteristics of being saved is a degree of holiness. Sure, nobody becomes 100% holy at the moment. We can’t expect instant sanctification in the faith. Sure, Christians aren’t perfect but there’s always going to be some degree of holiness. It’s easy to say one is OSAS but can the evidence back it up? Even worse, when evidence is asked, such people start their usual Ad Hominems and red herrings in the form of name callings and unsubstantiated accusations.

1 Corinthians 15:10: Understanding the Apostle Paul’s Perseverance Only by God’s Grace

As studying the doctrines of grace continues, I think I want to focus on how often the doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints is often misunderstood and I believe, purposely misrepresented. I had to flip a few pages back in the Desiring God devotional which uses 1 Corinthians 15:10 as the key verse. The study is all about the grace of God. Sometimes, an unbeliever can say to the Christian, “You’re definitely and obviously going to Heaven by your good works.” However, things can get sour when the Christian says that works don’t save and that he or she is doing every sort of good work as a result of being saved. It’s a very big difference there, right?

TULIP is All About God’s Life-Changing Grace

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There’s so much misrepresentation of what Calvinism or TULIP is all about. Some non-Calvinist brethren don’t understand it. There was even this statement of TULIP as a flower. Most people don’t understand that the term Calvinism wasn’t created by John Calvin but named after him. TULIP became an acronym to summarize what Calvin emphasized. I did more than a year of study about TULIP. I read through Dr. John F. MacArthur’s book The Gospel According to Jesus to investigate the book than rely on what Hyles followers have to say.

Beware of False Preachers Who Subtly Introduce Antinomianism

Jude verse 4 warned about the following which I will quote from the KJV:

⁴ For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.