24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. John 5:24 (NASB)
As one who adheres to the Doctrines of Grace, I believe firmly in what is referred to as “the security of the believer.” Our confessions refer to it as the Doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints. R.C. Sproul liked to use the term “Persevering Grace” instead because he believed it put the emphasis on God and His grace preserving His saints rather than His saints working to be preserved.
Let’s look at some passages from scripture that speak of this.
3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, 5 in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:3-6 (NASB)
People may be inconsistent and have feet of clay, but not God. He finishes what He starts. We contend that our salvation is God’s work not ours. We affirm that salvation is Monergistic not Synergistic. That means that since we did not do anything to be saved, because we were spiritually unable to do so, God did it all. He regenerated us so that we are able to repent and believe. Through saving us by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9) he then justifies us. Since it is His work, He will complete it. God never leaves anything incomplete. Salvation produces regenerate people who still require God’s gracious, sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit in their minds and hearts. Since God finishes what He starts, He will not leave this work unfinished either. That of course is making His elect mature unto Christlikeness.