“The Security of the Believer” In Calvinism’s TULIP acronym, it is represented by the “P” for “Perseverance of the Saints” “Eternal Security” “Impossibility of Apostasy” “Once Saved always saved” The core idea: One cannot fall from God’s grace

Once Saved Always saved “All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the State of grace, but shall persevere to the end. Believers may fall into sin through neglect and temptation, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, bring reproach on the cause of Christ, and temporal judgments on themselves, yet they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation” - [V. God’s Power of Grace—from a statement adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention May 9, 1963].

Once Saved Always Saved The Standard Manual for Baptist Churches states, – “We believe the Scriptures teach that such as are truly regenerate, being born of the Spirit, will not utterly fall away and perish, but will endure unto the end” [p. 67, XI. Perseverence of the Saints].

John Calvin ( ): Presbyterian Church Founder “ Of The Perseverance of the Saints,” claims: “They whom God hath 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” (The Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter XIX, pages 102,103).

Irenaeus ( AD) But as to themselves, they hold that they shall be entirely and undoubtedly saved, not by means of conduct, but because they are spiritual by nature. For, just as it is impossible that material substance should partake of salvation (since, indeed, they maintain that it is incapable of receiving it), so again it is impossible that spiritual substance (by which they mean themselves) should ever come under the power of corruption, whatever the sort of actions in which they indulged.

Irenaeus ( AD) For even as gold, when submersed in filth, loses not on that account its beauty, but retains its own native qualities, the filth having no power to injure the gold, so they affirm that they cannot in any measure suffer hurt, or lose their spiritual substance, whatever the material actions in which they may be involved. Wherefore also it comes to pass, that the "most perfect" among them addict themselves without fear to all those kinds of forbidden deeds of which the Scriptures assure us that "they who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."

Irenaeus ( AD) And committing many other abominations and impieties, they run us down (who from the fear of God guard against sinning even in thought or word) as utterly contemptible and ignorant persons, while they highly exalt themselves, and claim to be perfect, and the elect seed. For they declare that we simply receive grace for use, wherefore also it will again be taken away from us; but that they themselves have grace as their own special possession, which has descended from above by means of an unspeakable and indescribable conjunction; and on this account more will be given them - Against Heresies, Book 1 Chapter 6

Genesis 3:1-4 “Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, ‘Indeed, has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'? The woman said to the serpent, ‘From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.' The serpent said to the woman, ‘You surely will not die!’”

“Once Saved Always Saved”: An Attractive Doctrine A sense of security Zero accountability and responsibility No need for commitment to righteousness.

Provides Security? A Doctrine that is not true cannot provide security! – Money for salvation 1 Cor. 16 Acts 8:20

What Does the bible teach? Can we Fall from Grace? Specific Reference: – Gal. 5:4 You cannot be “severed” from something that you were not once connected to. You cannot “fall” from something that you were not “in.” – 1 Tim. 4:1 How can one depart from something that you’ve never been part of? – Heb. 6:4-6

What Does The Bible Teach? Can We Fall From Grace? Examples – Judas John 17:12 Judas was once in a right relationship with God and was one commissioned to cast out Demons (Matt. 10:4, 8) (Matt. 12:22-29) – Hymanaeus and Alexander 1 Tim. 1:19-20 You can’t suffer shipwreck without first being on the boat

What Does The Bible Teach? Can We Fall From Grace? Examples – Peter Gal. 2:11-13 Can a condemned man go to heaven. – Simon the Sorcerer Acts 8:13, believed and was baptized (along with others) Acts 8:18-24;

What Does The Bible Teach? Can We Fall From Grace? Inferences: – Illustrations/parables: Luke 8:13; The rocky soil John 15:1-6; branch – All Warnings regarding apostacy 2 Peter 2:20-22 Jude 1:1, 21 1 Cor. 9:27 – Encouragement to remain faithful Acts 12:22 encouragement given to disciples Rev. 2:10-11; addressed to the church at Smyrna