Can Christians lose their salvation? How should we think about our loved ones who used to profess faith in Christ but no longer believe? Today, R.C. Sproul examines the biblical teaching of the perseverance of the saints. This week, we’re celebrating 30 years of Renewing Your Mind. With your donation of any amount, you can receive R.C. Sproul’s book Everyone’s a Theologian, plus lifetime digital access to 5 complete teaching series and digital study guides from Dr. Sproul: Chosen by God, Dust to Glory, The Holiness of God (original and expanded editions), Knowing Scripture, and What Is Reformed Theology?: https://gift.renewingyourmind.org/3619/resource-collection Never contacted Ligonier before? Request your free copy of R.C. Sproul’s booklet introducing the Bible’s message of salvation, The Great Rescue: https://renewingyourmind.org/rescue Meet Today’s Teacher: R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was known for his ability to winsomely and clearly communicate deep, practical truths from God’s Word. He was founder of Ligonier Ministries, first minister of preaching and teaching at Saint Andrew’s Chapel, first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine. Meet the Host: Nathan W. Bingham is vice president of ministry engagement for Ligonier Ministries, executive producer and host of Renewing Your Mind, host of the Ask Ligonier podcast, and a graduate of Presbyterian Theological College in Melbourne, Australia. Nathan joined Ligonier in 2012 and lives in Central Florida with his wife and four children. Renewing Your Mind is a donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts
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Do you remember the warning of Jesus, Simon, Simon, Satan would have you and sift you like wheat? But I have prayed for you, so that when you turn, strengthen the brothers. Now, he fell, but he returned. He was restored. And so his fall was for a season. And that's why we say that true Christians can have radical and serious falls, but never total and final falls from grace.
Once saved, always saved. Have you heard that expression before? Is that true? Is God actually saving people? Or is He attempting to save people, but some just don't make it? These are important questions. And for 30 years, R.C.
Sproul and Renewing Your Mind have been answering questions like these to help you better know who God is and to better know His Word so that your mind is renewed and your life is transformed to the praise and glory of God. As we close out our special 30th anniversary celebration week, today you'll hear a message from Dr. Sproul's classic series, What is Reformed Theology?
on the perseverance of the saints. Here's Dr. Sproul.
We come now to our session in this series on the nature of Reformed theology, and I just want to read a brief entry from the Westminster Confession of Faith, which is a historic doctrinal standard of Reformed theology dating back to 17th century England, where we have this reference to the doctrine of effectual calling.
It reads as follows, "...all those whom God has predestined unto life, and those only He is pleased in His appointed and accepted time effectually to call by His Word and Spirit out of that state of sin and death in which they are by nature."
to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ, enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God, taking away their heart of stone and giving unto them a heart of flesh, renewing their wills and by his almighty power, determining them to that which is good, and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ, yet so as they come most freely, being made willing by His grace."
Now, I make this reference once again to the efficacy of the grace of regeneration as a bridge, a transition to the final point of the acrostic tulip, which brings us to the P in tulip and tulip. Now, I'm sure you'll be delighted to know I'm not going to change this letter. And the letter stands for the perseverance of the saints.
However, even though I'm not changing the letter, I'm going to make a change in the word. I also think that that little catchphrase, perseverance of the saints, is true. dangerously misleading because, again, it suggests that the persevering is something that we do perhaps in and of ourselves.
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