- God Perseveres to Preserve

4. Our Covenant Faithful God Perseveres to Preserve His People

The absolute certainty of the elect to continue in the state of grace is attributed solely to the covenant faithfulness of the Triune God, and not on anything the elect do. Remaining in that state of grace, i.e., the state of eternal life and salvation does not depend in any way upon performance by the elect. It depends entirely upon the Triune God persevering in His covenant faithfulness toward His covenant people. This absolute certainty of the saints continuing in the state of grace is despite the fact that ‘many storms and floods arise and beat against them’ and ‘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.’

The covenant of grace depends solely on the power and faithfulness of God and His mighty Christ chosen out of the people (Ps 89:19-29). And His seed shall endure forever, even if they do not continue in faith and holiness and must be chastened for breaking His commandments (Ps 89:30-37). The last will and testament of God on which our eternal life rests is conditioned only on the death of the testator, not the faithful and holy lives of the beneficiaries (Heb 9:15-17). The conduct of beneficiaries after the bequeathing of the estate (the state of grace) is not altered by later actions of the beneficiaries, for the transfer of assets has already taken place.

The 1689.17.2 reads thus, “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.”

Nothing at all said of the divine power of God keeping His elect in a life of faith and holiness to the end. It does insist upon the certainty and infallibility of the divine power of God persevering to preserve the elect in the state of grace forever; and not by anything the saints do, but upon the immutability of the decree of election. God perseveres to persevere His elect in the state of grace, therefore His elect remains in that same state.

1689.17.3 reads, “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, have their hearts hardened, and their consciences wounded, hurt and scandalize others, and temporal judgments upon themselves, yet shall they renew their repentance and be preserved through faith in Christ Jesus to the end.”

Everything stated here plainly militates against the claim that by the divine power of God the elect continue in a life of faith and holiness. The very opposite is stated. And despite all the evidence of faithlessness and ungodliness of life, they are kept in the state of grace to the end by the power of God. ‘Yet they shall renew their repentance and be preserved, through faith in Christ Jesus, to the end’ – i.e., they shall remain in the state of grace and salvation by Jesus Christ into which they were called at effectual calling. They are not disowned and cast away by the Father, not even the prodigal son was disowned. This is not in any way approving the swinish life of the prodigal son. “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” 2Tim 2:19.

God has promised to keep His elect people in the state of grace. God’s unconditional grace has not only brought the elect into a state of grace and salvation by Christ Jesus, but He also perseveres to preserve them in the same state unto eternity. The Scriptures do not promise any saint a life of faith and holiness by the power of God.