There is nothing that more troubles a child of God, than that he fears he shall never hold out. “These weak legs of mine,” he says, “will never carry me to heaven.” But perseverance is an inseparable fruit of sanctification. Once in Christ—forever in Christ. A believer may fall from some degrees of grace—but not from the state of grace. An Israelite could never wholly sell or alienate his inheritance. Lev 25:23. So our heavenly inheritance cannot be wholly alienated from us. How despairing is the Arminian doctrine of falling from grace! Today a saint—tomorrow a reprobate; today a Peter—tomorrow a Judas. This must needs cut the sinews of a Christian’s endeavor, and be like boring a hole in a vessel—to make all the wine of his joy run out. Were the Arminian doctrine true, how could the apostle say that the seed of God remains in him, and the anointing of God abides? I John 3:9; I John 2:27. What comfort would it be—to have one’s name written in the book of life—if it might be blotted out again? But be assured, for your comfort—that grace, if it is true, though ever so weak, shall persevere. Though a Christian has but little grace to trade with—yet he need not fear breaking, because God not only gives him a stock of grace—but will keep his stock for him. Augustine, “Grace may be shaken with fears and doubts—but it cannot be plucked up by the roots.”
Do not fear of finally falling away. If anything should hinder the saints’ perseverance, it must be either sin or temptation; but neither of these can.
(1:) Not the sin of believers. Their sins humble them. That which humbles them shall not damn them. They gather grapes off thorns; from the thorn of sin they gather the grape of humility.
(2:) Not temptation. The devil lays his temptation to blow up the fort of a saint’s grace; but he cannot do it. Temptation is a medicine for security; the more Satan tempts—the more the saints pray! When Paul had the messenger of Satan to buffet him, he said, “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.” 2 Corinthians 12:8. Thus nothing can break off a believer from Christ, or hinder his perseverance. Let this wine be given to such as are of a heavy heart.
Thomas Watson. A Body of Divinity.
