The Five Points of Calvinism are one point in essence. If one is untrue, they must all be untrue. On the other hand, if all points are true, then all must be true, both scripturally and logically. The five points fall or stand together.

In the Arminian system of theology, man is not totally depraved and therefore able to exercise faith in his own strength. God elected him, they teach, but that upon foreseen faith; Christ died for every person and His grace can be resisted. If one believes these unscrip­tural teachings, it necessarily follows that since God only helped man save himself then the “saved” can eventually “fall from grace.”

John Calvin and all the magisterial Reformers taught otherwise because the Word of God clearly teaches, “salvation is of the Lord” (John. 2:9) from begin­ning to end. Mankind’s willful fall into sin was complete. Therefore, he needs a sovereign, electing God who administers irresistible grace on the basis of Christ’s atonement upon the soul so faith can be exer­cised by the grace of the Holy Spirit; ultimately the saved sinner perseveres in grace and faith through God’s preserving hand. The saints, the true church of Jesus Christ, cannot fall from grace or completely lose their faith because the Lord’s salvation is effectually applied to their souls. God’s saving grace in the heart of His people can never be annulled.

When considering the ultimate salvation of the believer we may not rest upon carnal reasoning (which is at enmity against God) as our foundation, but we must base our understanding of this point on the unchanging Word of God.

Christ spoke clearly while on earth, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand” (John 10:27-28). Peter wrote that the elect are des­tined “to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation” (1 Pet. 1:4-5). Jude wrote the church is “pre­served in Jesus Christ” (Jude 1).

Paul was persuaded by the truth of God and therefore writes exultingly, “that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the  love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:38-39). There is nothing — not even our dreadful unbelief that to our shame can wax strong at times that can separate us from God’s love in Christ to His church.

The true believer saved by the grace of God will persevere in faith throughout life and into glory hereafter. Our hope is not just for this life, appended by a passing wish about the eternity to come. If it were, we would still be miserable (1 Cor. 15:19). But our hope spans the borders of time and extends from God who dwells in the eternal realm of glory.

We persevere because our Savior preserves. If salvation were left up to the will of the believer, there would be no hope, no solid ground, and therefore no assurance. Here we rest and find a solid anchor for our soul “being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6).

What a comforting truth this doctrine affords the church of God. Faith may ebb low and seem non-existent; the Lord can withdraw the smiling countenance of His communion upon backsliding; but our heavenly Father’s grace will always win the day. He has invested too much in each sinner saved by grace alone to let even one fall and ultimately perish. Salvation was a costly undertaking for the Lord. It was not purchased with corruptible silver and gold but with the precious blood of Christ, the Lamb of God (1 Pet. 1:18). If even one sinner were to perish who was truly saved, the Lord would lose even more than we: He would have to lose His own reputation; He would have to witness His promises failing and His own Son’s costly blood losing its redemptive purpose. These things can never happen for then God would cease to be God. Let us then press onward as faithful soldiers in the army of our living Lord, remembering,

Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane;
But the church of Jesus constant will remain:
Gates of hell can never ‘gainst that church prevail;
We have Christ’s own promise and that cannot fail.