Global Information Lookup Global Information

Conditional preservation of the saints information


The conditional preservation of the saints, or conditional perseverance of the saints, or commonly conditional security, is the Arminian Christian belief that believers are kept safe by God in their saving relationship with him upon the condition of a persevering faith in Christ.[1] Arminians find the Scriptures describing both the initial act of faith in Christ, "whereby the relationship is effected", and the persevering faith in him "whereby the relationship is sustained."[2] The relationship of "the believer to Christ is never a static relationship existing as the irrevocable consequence of a past decision, act, or experience."[3] Rather, it is a living union "proceeding upon a living faith in a living Savior."[4] This living union is captured in the simple command by Christ, "Remain in me, and I in you" (John 15:4).[5]

According to Arminians, biblical saving faith expresses itself in love and obedience to God (Galatians 5:6; Hebrews 5:8–9).[6][7] In the Remonstrant Confession of 1621, the first Remonstrants affirmed that true or living faith operates through love,[8] and that God chooses to give salvation and eternal life through his Son, "and to finally glorify all those and only those truly believing in his name, or obeying his gospel, and persevering in faith and obedience until death".[9]

Arminians believe that "It is abundantly evident from the Scriptures that the believer is secure."[10] Furthermore, believers have assurance in knowing there is no external power or circumstance that can separate them from the love of God they enjoy in union with Christ (Romans 8:35–39;[11] John 10:27–29).[12][13] Nevertheless, Arminians see numerous warnings in Scripture directed to genuine believers about the possibility of falling away in unbelief and thereby becoming severed from their saving union with God through Christ.[14] Arminians hold that if a believer becomes an unbeliever (commits apostasy), they necessarily cease to partake of the promises of salvation and eternal life made to believers who continue in faith and remain united to Christ.[15]

Therefore, Arminians seek to follow the biblical writers in warning believers about the real dangers of committing apostasy. A sure and Biblical way to avoid apostasy is to admonish believers to mature spiritually in their relationship with God in union with Christ and through the power of the Spirit.[16] Maturity takes place as Christ-followers keep on meeting with fellow believers for mutual encouragement and strength; exhorting each to love God and others;[17] to continue growing in the grace and knowledge of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ;[18] and to persevere in faith in prayerful dependence upon God through various trials and temptations.[19]

  1. ^ James Arminius, The Works of Arminius, 2:465, 466; 3:412, 413. Mark A. Ellis, The Arminian Confession of 1621, 77–78; 112–13. The Confession was primarily composed by Arminius' protégé Simon Episcopius (1583–1643), and approved by the Remonstrant Pastors in 1620. The first Dutch edition was published in 1621 and the Latin edition in 1622. For more background on the Confession see the "Introduction" by Ellis, v-xiii). French L. Arrington, Unconditional Eternal Security: Myth or Truth?, 63, 180. Stephen M. Ashby, "Reformed Arminianism," Four Views on Eternal Security, 163–166. Frederick W. Claybrook, Once Saved, Always Saved? A New Testament Study of Apostasy, 216–218. I. Howard Marshall, Kept by the Power of God: A Study of Perseverance and Falling Away, 210. David Pawson, Once Saved, Always Saved? A Study in Perseverance and Inheritance, 18–21. Robert Picirilli, Grace, Faith, Free Will. Contrasting Views of Salvation: Calvinism and Arminianism, 192. W. T. Purkiser, Security: The False and the True, 27–33. Robert Shank, Life in the Son: A Study of the Doctrine of Perseverance, 51–71. John Wesley, The Works of John Wesley, 10:284–298. J. Rodman Williams, Renewal Theology: Systematic Theology from a Charismatic Perspective, 2:119–127. Dale M Yocum, Creeds in Contrast: A Study in Calvinism and Arminianism, 128–129.
  2. ^ Shank, Life in the Son, 92; cf. Arrington, Unconditional Eternal Security: Myth or Truth? 182. Marshall writes: "The Christian life is a life which is continually sustained by the power of God. It does not merely depend upon a once-for-all gift of God received in the moment of conversion, but is a continual relationship to God in which His gracious gifts are received by faith" (Kept by the Power, 22).
  3. ^ Shank, Life in the Son, 116. cf. Williams, Renewal Theology 2:127, 134–135. Brenda Colijn writes: "Salvation is not a transaction but an ongoing relationship between the Rescuer and the rescued, between the Healer and the healed. The best way to ensure faithfulness is to nurture that relationship. Final salvation, like initial salvation, is appropriated by grace through faith(fulness) (Ephesians 2:8–10; 1 Peter 1:5)... Salvation is not a one-time event completed at conversion. It involves a growth in relationship ... that is not optional or secondary but is essential to what salvation means" (Images of Salvation in the New Testament, 140–141).
  4. ^ Shank, Life in the Son, 116. In another place Shank writes: "The faith on which our union with Christ depends is not the act of some past moment. It is a present living faith in a living Savior" (Life in the Son, 66).
  5. ^ Shank, Life in the Son, 43, 116.
  6. ^ Hebrews 5:8–9
  7. ^ Shank, Life in the Son, 7, 197, 218–219; Arrington, Unconditional Eternal Security: Myth or Truth? 182; Claybrook, Once Saved, Always Saved? A New Testament Study of Apostasy, 24–25. Brenda Colign writes: "The New Testament nowhere supports an understanding of saving faith as mere intellectual assent divorced from obedience. Saving faith entails faithfulness. Believers are saved by grace through faith for works (Ephesians 2:8–10). According to Hebrews, Jesus is 'the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him' (Heb 5:9). The 'things that belong to salvation' include faithfulness, patience and loving service (Hebrews 6:9–12). As James points out, the faith necessary for salvation is a faith that expresses itself in works (James 2:14–17)" (Images of Salvation in the New Testament, 140). Scot McKnight writes: "Perseverance ... is both belief and believing, trusting and obeying. ... Perseverance is an indicator of what faith is all about, not a specialized version of faith for the most advanced. True and saving faith, the kind Jesus taught, and that James talks about in James 2, and that Paul talks about in all his letters, is a relationship that continues. ... True faith is marked by steady love ..." (A Long Faithfulness: The Case for Christian Perseverance, 49).
  8. ^ The Arminian Confession of 1621, 76, 111.
  9. ^ The Arminian Confession of 1621, 74; see also 78–80. John Wesley wrote: "But he [Christ] has done all which was necessary for the conditional salvation of all mankind; that is, if they believe; for through his merits all that believe to the end, with the faith that worketh by love, shall be saved (The Works of John Wesley, "An Extract from 'A Short View of the Differences Between the Moravian Brethren,'" 10:202).
  10. ^ Shank, Life in the Son, 55 fn. 3; cf. Marshall, Kept by the Power of God, 199–200; Williams, Renewal Theology, 2:120–122, 130–135.
  11. ^ Romans 8:39
  12. ^ John 10:27–29
  13. ^ Shank, Life in the Son, 59, 211; Ashby, "Reformed Arminianism," 123, 163. George A. Turner and Julius R. Mantey write: "It is comforting to know that 'final perseverance' is a glorious possibility and that no combination of external circumstances can sever the believer from Christ (cf. Rom. 8:35–39; John 10:28)" (The Evangelical Commentary: The Gospel According to John, 304). Ben Witherington says: "Verses 28–29 [in John 10] say not only that Jesus' sheep are granted eternal life, and so will never perish, but also that 'no one will snatch them out of ... the Father's hand.' This speaks to the matter of being 'stolen' by outside forces or false shepherds. ... Both John 10:28 and Rom. 8:38–39 are texts meant to reassure [followers of Christ] that no outside forces or being can snatch one out of the firm grasp of God" (John's Wisdom: A Commentary on the Fourth Gospel, 190–91, 389 fn. 72)
  14. ^ Marshall, Kept by the Power of God, 157; Shank, Life in the Son, 158–164, 262; Arrington, Unconditional Eternal Security: Myth or Truth? 180.
  15. ^ Picirilli, Grace, Faith, Free Will, 201; Ashby, "Reformed Arminianism," 123–125, 167; Arrington, Unconditional Eternal Security: Myth or Truth? 62; The Works of John Wesley, 10:297–298.
  16. ^ Picirilli, Grace, Faith, Free Will, 207; Arrington, Unconditional Eternal Security: Myth or Truth? 184–185.
  17. ^ B. J. Oropeza, Church Under Siege of Persecution and Assimilation: The General Epistles and Revelation, Apostasy in the New Testament Communities, Volume 3 [Oregon: Cascade Books, 2012], 30–33; 47–48.
  18. ^ Gene L. Green, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: Jude and Peter [Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2008], 339–343.
  19. ^ B. J. Oropeza, In the Footsteps of Judas and Other Defectors: the Gospels, Acts, and Johannine Letters, Apostasy in the New Testament Communities, Volume 3 [Eugene: Cascade Books, 2011]: 129–130.

and 24 Related for: Conditional preservation of the saints information

Request time (Page generated in 1.1567 seconds.)

Conditional preservation of the saints

Last Update:

The conditional preservation of the saints, or conditional perseverance of the saints, or commonly conditional security, is the Arminian Christian belief...

Word Count : 53529

Five Articles of Remonstrance

Last Update:

outright rejecting the notion of perseverance of the saints, argues that it may be conditional upon the believer remaining in Christ. The writers explicitly...

Word Count : 1629

Second work of grace

Last Update:

commit sin proper; the free will to backslide into sin and commit apostasy, however, exists (cf. conditional preservation of the saints), and on sin after...

Word Count : 1636

Remonstrant Confession

Last Update:

the Synod of Dort (1618), the Remonstrants became persuaded of conditional preservation of the saints, and of the possibility of apostasy, which is that...

Word Count : 2313

Eternal security

Last Update:

(though the Reformed, Plymouth Brethren, Hyper-Grace and Free Grace traditions teach different versions of eternal security). In contrast, conditional security...

Word Count : 4091

Perseverance of the saints

Last Update:

Perseverance of the saints (also called preservation of the saints) is a Christian teaching that asserts that once a person is truly "born of God" or "regenerated"...

Word Count : 5870

Backsliding

Last Update:

Antinomianism Apostasy in Christianity Conditional preservation of the saints Lapsi (Christianity) Perseverance of the saints Ernest Frederick Eilert (1910)....

Word Count : 1119

2023 Asbury revival

Last Update:

Methodism, culture of the United States, and the growth of the Jesus movement. Notably, news of the revival largely spread on social media, as the participants...

Word Count : 2085

Hypostatic union

Last Update:

31-35 and The Sickness Unto Death p. 132-133 Hannay Gregory of Nyssa, Antirrheticus Adversus Apollinarem. Saint Cyril of Alexandria. St. Cyril of Alexandria:...

Word Count : 1696

God the Son

Last Update:

Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which does maintain the one-ness of the trinity. Divi filius Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament...

Word Count : 1661

Global Methodist Church

Last Update:

The Global Methodist Church (GM Church, or GMC) is a Methodist denomination of Protestant Christianity subscribing to views consistent with the conservative...

Word Count : 2907

Arminianism

Last Update:

conditional on remaining in Christ and can be lost through apostasy. Traditional Calvinists believe in the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints...

Word Count : 9469

Covenant theology

Last Update:

understanding the overall structure of the Bible. It uses the theological concept of a covenant as an organizing principle for Christian theology. The standard...

Word Count : 7981

Shield of the Trinity

Last Update:

arms was given the following heraldic blazon in "On Sacred Heraldry" by E.L. Blackburne (attached as Appendix II to Emblems of the Saints, By which they...

Word Count : 3085

Pneumatology

Last Update:

discipline within Christian theology that focuses on the study of the Holy Spirit. The term is derived from the Greek word Pneuma (πνεῦμα), which designates "breath"...

Word Count : 613

Methodism

Last Update:

entirely sanctified again (the Arminian doctrine of conditional security). Methodists hold that sacraments are sacred acts of divine institution. Methodism...

Word Count : 22254

Latitudinarian

Last Update:

of 17th-century English theologians – clerics and academics – from the University of Cambridge who were moderate Anglicans (members of the Church of England)...

Word Count : 671

Biblical inspiration

Last Update:

Biblical inspiration is the doctrine in Christian theology that the human writers and canonizers of the Bible were led by God with the result that their writings...

Word Count : 2539

Wesleyan theology

Last Update:

Wesley was an outspoken defender of the doctrine of conditional preservation of the saints, or commonly "conditional security". In 1751, Wesley defended...

Word Count : 14458

Decision theology

Last Update:

made holy. Evangelical Christianity portal Sinner's prayer Conditional preservation of the saints Gibson, James. "Wesleyan Heritage Series: Entire Sanctification"...

Word Count : 540

Imparted righteousness

Last Update:

is the basis for justification. This section is a precis of N. T. Wright's work in "What Saint Paul Really Said". N. T. Wright, who is one of the best-known...

Word Count : 1049

Last Adam

Last Update:

as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous" (Romans...

Word Count : 2204

List of Christian denominations

Last Update:

of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) Latter Day Church of Christ (Kingston Clan) The True and Living Church of Jesus Christ of Saints of the Last...

Word Count : 12217

High church

Last Update:

The term high church refers to beliefs and practices of Christian ecclesiology, liturgy, and theology that emphasize "ritual, priestly authority, [and]...

Word Count : 1851

PDF Search Engine © AllGlobal.net