Caput V: De Perseverantia Sanctorum
Liberated Yet Longing
God frees his called ones from sin's dominion, yet in this life the flesh remains, driving believers to humble dependence and holy longing for final perfection.
Those whom God calls, in accordance with his purpose, into the communion of his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ our Lord, and whom he regenerates through the Holy Spirit — he does indeed set them free from the dominion and slavery of sin, but not, in this life, from the flesh and the body of sin entirely.✦✦ From this come the sins of our daily weakness, and blemishes cling even to the best works of the saints — giving them perpetual cause, before God, to humble themselves, to flee to Christ crucified, to put to death the flesh more and more through the Spirit by prayers and holy exercises of devotion, and to sigh toward the goal of perfection, until, set free from this body of death, they reign with the Lamb of God in the heavens.✦
Dependent on Faithful Grace
Converted believers could not stand by their own strength, but God faithfully confirms and powerfully preserves them in grace to the end.
Because of these remnants of indwelling sin, and the temptations of the world and of Satan besides, those who have been converted could not persist in this grace if they were left to their own strength. But God is faithful, who mercifully confirms them in the grace once bestowed, and powerfully preserves them in that same grace right to the end.
Watchfulness Amid Real Falls
Though God's preserving power is greater than the flesh, believers can still withdraw from grace through their own fault, fall into grievous sins, and lose the sense of grace until serious repentance restores them.
Although God's power, which truly confirms and preserves the faithful in grace, is greater than anything the flesh could overcome, the converted are not always so moved and directed by God that they cannot, in certain particular actions, through their own fault, withdraw from the guidance of grace and be led astray by the desires of the flesh and yield to them. Therefore they must continually watch and pray, so that they are not led into temptations. When they do this, they cannot be snatched away—not only by the flesh, the world, and Satan into sins, but even into grievous and atrocious ones; indeed, they are sometimes snatched away even by the just permission of God. The sad falls of David, Peter, and other saints, described in holy Scripture, demonstrate this. By such enormous sins they greatly offend God, they incur the guilt of death, they grieve the Holy Spirit, they interrupt the practice of faith, they wound their conscience most grievously, and sometimes for a time they lose the sense of grace — until, through serious repentance, the fatherly face of God shines again on those returning to life.
Mercy That Will Not Let Go
Out of unshakable election, God does not wholly withdraw his Spirit or let his own fall into final ruin.
For God, who is rich in mercy, out of the unshakable purpose of his election, does not completely take the Holy Spirit away from his own even in sorrowful falls, nor does he let them slip so far that they fall from the grace of adoption, from the state of justification, or commit a sin leading to death, or against the Holy Spirit, and so, utterly abandoned by him, rush headlong into eternal ruin.
The Immortal Seed and Renewal to Repentance
God preserves the immortal seed of regeneration within the fallen and renews them through his Word and Spirit to heartfelt repentance, faith, and zealous working out of salvation.
First, then, in these falls God preserves within them that immortal seed of his, from which they were reborn, so that it may not perish or be shaken loose from them.✦✦ Then through his Word and Spirit he surely and effectively renews them to repentance, so that they may grieve from the heart, in God's sight, over the sins they have committed, seek and obtain remission of sins in the blood of the Mediator through faith with a broken heart, and, once reconciled to God, experience again his mercies; that through faith they may adore his mercies, and from then on work out their salvation with fear and trembling all the more zealously.✦✦
Preserved by Free Mercy, Not Human Merit
Believers do not persevere by their own strength but by God's free mercy, for God's unchangeable purpose, promise, calling, and Christ's guardianship make their final falling away impossible.
They don't achieve this by their own merits or strength, but through God's free mercy — so that they don't completely fall away from faith and grace, and don't ultimately remain in their falls or perish. As far as they themselves are concerned, this could not only easily happen, but would undoubtedly happen; but as far as God is concerned, it absolutely cannot happen — that his purpose should change, his promise fall away, his effectual calling be revoked, or that Christ's merit, intercession, and guardianship should be rendered void, or that the Holy Spirit's seal should be made empty or be erased.
Assurance Rooted in Promise and Spirit
The faithful can be certain of their perseverance and forgiveness through God's promises and the Holy Spirit's witness, finding solid comfort and the pledge of eternal glory.
Regarding this guarding of the elect for salvation and the perseverance of the faithful in faith, the faithful themselves can be certain—and they are, according to the measure of the faith by which they surely believe that they are and will remain forever true and living members of the Church—that they have forgiveness of sins and eternal life. So this certainty doesn't come from some special revelation made apart from or outside the word, but from faith in the promises of God, which he has most abundantly revealed in his word for our comfort, and from the testimony of the Holy Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are God's children and heirs.✦ Rom. 8. 16. Finally, from the serious and holy pursuit of a good conscience and good works. And this solid comfort of obtaining the victory, and this unfailing pledge of eternal glory — if God's elect were abandoned in this world, they would be the most wretched of all people.
Doubt, Temptation, and Stirred-Up Confidence
Though believers are assailed by doubts and severe temptations, God does not allow them to be tempted beyond their strength and again stirs up in them the certainty of perseverance.
Meanwhile, Scripture testifies that in this life the faithful are assailed by various doubts of the flesh, and that when they are caught in severe temptation they don't always sense this full assurance of faith, and this certainty of perseverance. But God, the Father of all consolation, doesn't allow them to be tempted beyond their strength, but with the temptation provides a way of escape. 1 Cor. 10 13 And through the Holy Spirit he again stirs up in them the certainty of perseverance.
Assurance That Humbles and Transforms
True perseverance-assurance produces humility, reverence, prayer, joy in God, gratitude, and careful walking in God's ways rather than pride or carelessness.
In fact, this certainty of perseverance is so far from making truly faithful people proud or carnally secure that, on the contrary, humility, filial reverence, true piety, and patience — in every struggle, in fervent prayer, in constancy under the cross, and in confessing the truth — are the true root of a joy firmly fixed in God; and reflecting on this benefit becomes a spur to serious, continual gratitude and to the practice of good works, as is clear from the testimonies of Scripture and the examples of the saints. Nor does renewed confidence in perseverance produce wantonness or an offense against piety in those who are restored after a fall; rather, it produces a much greater care in carefully guarding the ways of the Lord, which have been prepared so that, walking in them, they may keep their own certainty of perseverance, lest the face of a propitious God—whose contemplation is life sweeter than life itself to the devout, and whose withdrawal is more bitter than death—be turned away from them again because of an abuse of paternal kindness, and so they fall into deeper torment of soul.12
Means of Grace and the Church's Treasure
God preserves and perfects his grace through the Gospel, Word, meditation, and Sacraments; this doctrine of perseverance, though opposed by the world, is the Church's treasured possession, defended by God alone, to whom be glory forever.
Now just as it pleased God to begin this work of his grace in us through the preaching of the Gospel, so through hearing, reading, meditation, exhortations, warnings, and promises — and not least through the use of the Sacraments — he preserves, continues, and perfects it. This teaching about the perseverance of true believers and saints, and the certainty of that perseverance — which God has most abundantly revealed in his word for the glory of his name and the comfort of devout souls, and which he stamps upon the hearts of the faithful — the flesh cannot grasp, Satan hates, the world laughs at, the ignorant and hypocrites seize upon it to abuse it, and misguided spirits attack; but the bride of Christ has always most tenderly loved it as a treasure of inestimable worth and has steadfastly defended it, and to ensure she continues to do so, God will provide — God against whom no counsel can prevail and no strength can overpower.✦✦ To this God alone — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — be honor and glory forever. Amen.
Read the original Latin
Quos Deus secundum propositum suum, ad communionem Filii sui Domini nostri Jesu Christi, vocat, et per Spiritum Sanctum regenerat, eos quidem et a peccati dominio et servitute, non autem a carne, et corpore peccati, penitus in hac vita liberat.
Hinc quotidiana infirmitatis peccata oriuntur, et optimis etiam sanctorum operibus nævi adhærescunt: quæ illis perpetuam sese coram Deo humiliandi, ad Christum crucifixum confugiendi, carnem magis ac magis per Spiritum precum et sancta pietatis exercitia mortificandi, et ad perfectionis metam suspirandi, materiam suggerunt; tantisper dum hoc mortis corpore soluti, cum Agno Dei in cœlis regnent.
Propter istas peccati inhabitantis reliquias, et mundi insuper ac Satanæ tentationes, non possent conversi in ista gratia perstare, si suis viribus permitterentur. Sed fidelis est Deus, qui ipsos in gratia semel collata misericorditer confirmat, et in eadem usque ad finem potenter conservat.
Etsi autem illa potentia Dei vere fideles in gratia confirmantis et conservantis, major est, quam quæ a carne superari possit; non semper tamen conversi ita a Deo aguntur et moventur, ut non possint in quibusdam actionibus particularibus a ductu gratiæ, suo vitio, recedere, et a carnis concupiscentiis seduci, iisque obsequi. Quapropter ipsis perpetuo est vigilandum et orandum, ne in tentationes inducantur. Quod cum non faciunt, non solum a carne, mundo, et Satana, in peccata etiam gravia et atrocia abripi possunt, verum etiam interdum justa Dei permissione abripiuntur. Quod tristes Davidis, Petri, aliorumque sanctorum lapsus, in sacra Scriptura descripti, demonstrant.
Talibus autem enormibus peccatis Deum valde offendunt, reatum mortis incurrunt, Spiritum S. contristant, fidei exercitium interrumpunt, conscientiam gravissime vulnerant, sensum gratiæ nonnunquam ad tempus amittunt: donec per seriam resipiscentiam in vitam revertentibus paternus Dei vultus rursum affulgeat.
Deus enim, qui dives est misericordia, ex immutabili electionis proposito, Spiritum Sanctum, etiam in tristibus lapsibus, a suis non prorsus aufert, nec eousque eos prolabi sinit, ut gratia adoptionis, justificationis statu excidant, aut peccatum ad mortem, sive in Spiritum Sanctum committant, et ab eo penitus deserti in exitium æternum sese præcipitent.
Primo enim in istis lapsibus conservat in illis semen illud suum immortale, ex quo regeniti sunt, ne illud pereat aut excutiatur. Deinde per verbum et Spiritum suum, eos certo et efficaciter renovat ad pœnitentiam, ut de admissis peccatis ex animo secundum Deum doleant, remissionem in sanguine Mediatoris, per fidem, contrito corde, expetant, et obtineant, gratiam Dei reconciliati iterum sentiant, miserationes per fidem ejus adorent, ac deinceps salutem suam cum timore et tremore studiosius operentur.
Ita non suis meritis, aut viribus, sed ex gratuita Dei misericordia id obtinent, ut nec totaliter fide et gratia excidant, nec finaliter in lapsibus maneant aut pereant. Quod quoad ipsos non tantum facile fieri posset, sed et indubie fieret; respectu autem Dei fieri omnino non potest: eum nec consilium ipsius mutare, promissio excidere, vocatio secundum propositum revocari, Christi meritum, intercessio, et custodia irrita reddi nec Spiritus Sancti obsignatio frustranea fieri aut deleri possit.
De hac electorum ad salutem custodia, vereque fidelium in fide perseverantia, ipsi fideles certi esse possunt, et sunt pro mensura fidei, qua certo credunt se esse et perpetuo mansuros vera et viva Ecclesiæ membra, habere remissionem peccatorum, et vitam æternam.
Ac proinde hæc certitudo non est ex peculiari quadam revelatione præter aut extra verbum facta, sed ex fide promissionum Dei, quas in verbo suo copiosissime in nostrum solatium revelavit: ex testimonio Spiritus Sancti testantis cum spiritu nostro nos esse Dei filios et hæredes. Rom. viii. 16. Denique ex serio et sancto bonæ conscientiæ et bonorum operum studio. Atque hoc solido obtinendæ victoriæ solatio, et infallibili æternæ gloriæ arrha, si in hoc mundo electi Dei destituerentur, omnium hominum essent miserrimi.
Interim testatur Scriptura fideles in hac vita cum variis carnis dubitationibus conflictari, et in gravi tentatione constitutos hanc fidei plerophoriam, ac perseverantiæ certitudinem, non semper sentire. Verum Deus, Pater omnis consolationis, supra vires tentari eos non sinit, sed cum tentatione præstat evasionem. 1 Cor. x. 13. Ac per Spiritum Sanctum perseverantiæ certitudinem in iisdem rursum excitat.
Tantum autem abest, ut hæc perseverantiæ certitudo vere fideles superbos, et carnaliter securos reddat, ut e contrario humilitatis, filialis reverentiæ, veræ pietatis, patientia; in omni lucta, precum ardentium, constantiæ in cruce et veritatis confessione, solidique in Deo gaudii vera sit radix: et consideratio istius beneficii sit stimulus ad serium et continuum gratitudinis et bonorum operum exercitium, ut ex Scripturæ testimoniis et sanctorum exemplis constat.
Neque etiam in iis, qui a lapsu instaurantur, lasciviam ant pietatis injuriam procreat rediviva perseverantiæ fiducia; sed multo majorem curam de viis Domini solicite custodiendis, quæ præsparatæ sunt ut in illis ambulando perseverantiæ suæ certitudinem retineant, ne propter paternæ benignitatis abusum propitii Dei facies (cujus contemplatio piis vita dulcior, subductio morte acerbior) denuo ab ipsis avertatur, et sic in graviores animi cruciatus incidant.
Quemadmodum autem Deo placuit, opus hoc suum gratiæ per prædicationem Evangelii in nobis inchoare; ita per ejusdem auditum, lectionem, meditationem, adhortationes, minas, promissa, nec non per usum sacramentorum illud conservat, continuat, et perficit.
Hanc de vere credentium ac sanctorum perseverantia, ejusque certitudine, doctrinam, quam Deus ad nominis sui gloriam, et piarum animarum solatium, in verbo suo abundantissime revelavit, cordibusque fidelium imprimit, caro quidem non capit, Satanas odit, mundus ridet, imperiti et hypocritæ in abusum rapiunt, spiritusque erronei oppugnant; sed sponsa Christi ut inæstimabilis pretii thesaurum tenerrime semper dilexit, et constanter propugnavit: quod ut porro faciat procurabit Deus, adversus quem nec consilium valere, nec robur ullum prævalere potest. Cui soli Deo, Patri, Filio, et Spiritui Sancto sit honor et gloria in sempiternum. Amen.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Rom.6.6 — We know this: our old self was crucified with him, so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we might no longer be enslaved to sin.
- ↩John.8.34-John.8.36 — Jesus answered them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.' John.8.35 — The slave does not remain in the house forever; the Son remains forever. John.8.36 — So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
- ↩Rom.7.24 — Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
- ↩1Pet.1.23 — For you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.
- ↩1John.3.9 — Everyone who has been born of God does not practice sin, because his seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.
- ↩Phil.2.12 — Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
- ↩Ps.2.11 — Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
- ↩Rom.8.16 — The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.
- ↩1Cor.2.14 — But the natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he is not able to understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
- ↩Acts.5.39 — But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them, and you may even be found fighting against God.
Notes
- 1 ↩The Latin instaurantur is morphologically uncertain (possibly passive indicative 'are restored' vs. subjunctive 'may be restored'); translated as a passive indicative statement of fact, which fits the context of those already brought back from a fall.
- 2 ↩præsparatæ is of uncertain lemma (possibly praesparo, 'prepared beforehand'); translated as 'prepared' in the sense of divinely provided ways, consistent with the Canons' theology of perseverance as God's sustaining work.
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