The Perseverance of the Saints

Scripture supporting:  “Perseverance of the saints”

Revelation 14:12says:
¹²Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.^£  (ESV)

This can be a verse pointing to the doctrine of eternal security, but yet it gives a message of the ‘how’ God preserves His Saints. This would emphasize God sustaining these by “Faith” to the very end. This is the type of faith that would sustain one no matter what the cost. This type of faith would be a demonstration of what is called; ‘faith in action’.

Faith demonstrates several factors in one’s life and its result. 1) True saving faith in its very nature is eternal and therefore cannot be lost or destroyed. 2) Faith has a ‘preserving’ character as Rev. 14:12 shows. Faith would be like what salt is when used to preserve meat.

What keeps one’s faith up? To sustain one’s faith a person needs the word of God. This was illustrated in Revelation by those during the tribulation period having the ‘two witnesses’ (Rev. 11:3-13) and the 144,000 (Rev. 7:1-8; 14:1-5) there to give them God’s Word that is used in sustaining ones faith. In the tribulation period God’s Word is preached to contradict the false prophet’s message. Prior to that day God’s Word is being preached to enlighten one against the false prophets of today.

Below are several verses that point to the Biblical explanation that God preserves the saints. The specific words to note are underlined are in bold print.

Psalm 37:23–34 (ESV)

23 The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way ; 24 though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand. 25 I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. 26 He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.

27 Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever. 28 For the LORD loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever , but the children of the wicked shall be cut off. 29 The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever. 30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. 31 The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip. 32 The wicked watches for the righteous and seeks to put him to death. 33 The LORD will not abandon him to his power or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial. 34 Wait for the LORD and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off.

Isaiah 43:1–7 (ESV) – Israel’s Only Savior

“But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. 3 For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. 4 Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life. 5 Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you. 6 I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, 7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

Isaiah 45:17 (ESV) – But Israel is saved by the LORD with everlasting salvation; you shall not be put to shame or confounded to all eternity.

Isaiah 49:14–16 (ESV) 14 But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me.” 15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you . 16 Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands ; your walls are continually before me.

In the New Testament

John 3:16 (ESV) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:36 (ESV) Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life ; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

John 5:24 (ESV) Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

1 John 2:25 (ESV) And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life .

Jesus declares this: John 6:37–40 (ESV) All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out . 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

For additional proof of ‘preservation’ note that God transforms believers into a ‘new creation’.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation . The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

John 10:27–29 (ESV) 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish , and no one will snatch them out of my hand . 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

Jude 24 (ESV) Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy,

These verses and many others begin to give us a glimpse into the promise that God has given to His people. This type of ‘saving faith’ cannot die or be lost for it would contradict God’s promise, His purpose, His power and His Grace. In order for that faith to remain in you God sustains you by His Word.

With the knowledge that God sustains you through His Word one would find themselves in that Word each day. Give it a priority and have daily devotions. We would be anxious to be in His house of worship to learn of His counsel and to be with fellow believers who will strengthen our resolves.

1 Peter 1:5 (ESV) who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1 John 5:4–5 (ESV) 4  For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith . 5  Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Genuine saving faith will result in such obedience is the clear teaching of Scripture. Note:

John 8:31 (ESV) The Truth Will Set You Free – 31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,

John 14:21 (ESV )   Whoever has my commandments and keeps them , he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

John 15:14 (ESV) You are my friends if you do what I command you.

1 John 5:3 (ESV)  For this is the love of God , that we keep his commandments . And his commandments are not burdensome.

LDW