In the middle of last month, Andrew at Weapons of Warfare asked in a comment what the difference was between the “perseverance” of the saints and the “preservation” of the saints. (This is something I mention in my Disclosure in the sidebar of this blog.) Since I just found the comment this evening, I thought I’d answer it here rather than there.

To me, the primary difference is this: the security of my salvation depends not on my faithfulness but on the faithfulness of Christ. It is based in part on Christ’s words in Jn 6.37-40 and 10.27-29 where He states that He will not lose any of us, and on His prayer in Jn 17.24 wherein He asks the Father that we be with Him in glory.

This is not just semantics but (I think) an important theological point. It means that my salvation from beginning to end is not my doing, that it is all the work of God, and that it is all of grace.

This is not to suggest that those maintaining perseverance believe in a works-based security, for they do not; it does mean, however, that I can know with as much certainty as possible that I am assured of my salvation. I do not have to continually worry about my last performance and whether or not I am sufficiently persevering. My focus is free to be on Christ without fear because He has promised to keep me if I have truly believed.


2 Cor 1:13