What Is Perseverance of the Saints? by Michael A. Milton [P & R Publishing, 2009] (Paperback) [Paperback]

Basics of the Faith

by Michael A. Milton

What Is Perseverance of the Saints? by Michael A. Milton [P & R Publishing, 2...

Genres: Theology, Christian

Paperback

First published February 3, 2009

About the author

Michael A. Milton and his family live in Charlotte, North Carolina and is the host of the national Bible teaching television program Faith for Living, a songwriter and recording artist, and the author of numerous books and articles. Previously he was the senior minister of the historic First Presbyterian Church of Chattanooga, Tennessee and is currently Chancellor and CEO elect of Reformed Theological Seminary and the James M. Baird Jr. Professor of Pastoral Theology, there.

Reviews

[Heather Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The perseverance of the saints is a delight to those who are struggling with sin. If you are His and He is yours, dear child of God, the means of grace that Christ has ordained will give you victory. It may be that your struggle lasts your whole life, but can anything withstand the power of the love of lesus Christ? Nay, "nothing!" says St. Paul. Sin could not finally overcome David. Sin could not finally overcome Peter. The paradox of the gospel is that the very thing that seeks to attack you and destroy you, the very thing which is the source of shame in your life, becomes in the hands of a redeeming God the thing that brings honor to God and good to His children. As the plot of Haman to destroy Esther's people and Mordecai in particular turned on Haman - and he was hung on the gallows built for Mordecai the Jew-so the devil is undone by the very thing he uses to accuse you or shame you. The ruling motif in the believer's life is the cross, the greatest symbol of victory over shame and sin and sorrow and loss. The God who promised that He would restore the years that the locust had eaten (Joel 2:25) is the God who will cause all things-all things-to work together for your good (Rom. 8:28).”

[Mike Milton]

I am the author. See http://michaelmilton.org/books

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concisely explains and defends the Reformed doctrine of the perseverance of the saints. It includes resources for further study.

Notes
Definition: "Those united to Christ by the effectual call of the Father and indwelt by the Holy Spirit, will persevere unto the end."

Verses: John 10:27-29; Phil 1:6; Jer 31:3; 32:40; John 17:12; 5:24; Heb 7:25; Rev 3:5; Rom 8:25-29; 33-39.

1 John 2:19; Matt 13 show that visible church contains those who aren't believers.

If a lovingly unrelenting Creator decreed your salvation from before the foundation of the earth, sent His Son to live and die to pay for your sins, ascended to Heaven where He ever prays for you, and the Holy Spirit opens your heart to believe and you become a child of God - can all that ever be undone?

God is sovereign, yet man is responsible. 2 Pet 1:10-11; Phil 2:12; Luke 22:21-32; Heb 10:23-25; Ps 90:17.

There are warnings against falling away because God ordains our end and the means to His end: obedience flowing from a renewed heart.

Heb 6:4-8 refers to those who have professed faith but weren't truly converted or justified.

Warnings stir the believer on to faithfulness, and convert the unbeliever for fear of judgment.

This doctrine "glorifies Jesus Christ just like all the other doctrines of grace. And it also requires that I bow to the Lord in every part of my salvation. His grace saved me and it's His grace that keeps me."

[Mark A Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is those who endure to the end, the Bible says, that will be saved. Does this mean we can have no assurance of salvation? Must we simply try our best and hope that it is enough? To combat these notions, Milton examines what has been called "the perseverance of the saints." Here he unpacks the biblical evidence that Christ keeps His people, not losing a single one of those the Father has given to Him.

[Dan Glover · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty good intro to this much misunderstood doctrine from someone who clearly has a pastoral heart.

[Wade · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very solid explanation and defense of a very important doctrine of Scripture.