Human Free Will in the Perseverance of the Saints
The doctrine of perseverance of the saints—whether believers can lose salvation—divides Christian traditions along lines of divine sovereignty and human agency. Reformed theology teaches that "once justified and regenerated, the believer can neither totally nor finally fall away from grace, but will certainly persevere therein and attain everlasting life" [1]. This position grounds assurance in God's immutable decrees, the provisions of the covenant of grace, and Christ's intercession [1, 2]. The Anglican tradition similarly affirms that predestination and election "greatly establish and confirm their faith of eternal Salvation to be enjoyed through Christ" [8], while acknowledging this doctrine brings comfort specifically to those who "feel in themselves the working of the Spirit of Christ" [8].
Wesleyan and Catholic traditions contest this inevitability, insisting that faith remains a free gift that can be forfeited. Adam Clarke, interpreting John 6:39, argues that "it is the will of God that every soul who believes should continue in the faith," yet "he wills this continuance in salvation, without purposing to force the persons so to continue" [3]. Clarke points to Judas as evidence: "The Father willed that this Judas might be saved, without willing to force him to persevere" [3]. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states plainly, "We can lose this priceless gift," citing Paul's warning about those who "made shipwreck of their faith" [7]. Both traditions maintain that perseverance requires ongoing cooperation—believers must "nourish it with the word of God" and "beg the Lord to increase our faith" [7].
Lutheran theology occupies a middle position, teaching that human will "has some liberty to choose civil righteousness" but "has no power, without the Holy Ghost, to work the righteousness of God" [6]. This preserves a role for human agency in temporal matters while denying autonomous spiritual capacity.
All traditions agree that perseverance is maintained through divine power—"the power of God," "the power of Christ," and "the intercession of Christ" [2]—and that it must be "manifested in seeking God," "continuing in the faith," and "holding fast hope" [2]. The divergence centers on whether God's preservation operates irresistibly or cooperatively. Augustine affirms that "God's precepts themselves would be of no use to a man unless he had free choice of will" [5], yet Reformed interpreters like Calvin emphasize that "faith, as well as constancy in enduring persecutions, is an unmerited gift of God" [4]. The question remains whether grace secures perseverance unconditionally or invites ongoing human response.
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Perseverance of the saints — Their certain continuance in a state of grace. Once justified and regenerated, the believer can neither totally nor finally fall away from grace, but will certainly persevere therein and attain everlasting life. This doctrine is clearly taught in these passages, John 10:28, 29; Rom. 11:29; Phil. 1:6; 1 Pet. 1:5. It, moreover, follows from a consideration of (1) the immutability of the divine decrees (Jer. 31:3; Matt. 24:22-24; Acts 13:48; Rom. 8:30); (2) the provisions of the covenant of grace (Jer. 32:40; John 10:29; 17:2-6); (3) the ato”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Perseverance — An evidence of reconciliation with God -- Col 1:21-23. An evidence of belonging to Christ -- Joh 8:31; Heb 3:6,14. A characteristic of saints -- Pr 4:18. To be manifested in Seeking God. -- 1Ch 16:11. Waiting upon god. -- Ho 12:6. Prayer. -- Ro 12:12; Eph 6:18. Well-doing. -- Ro 2:7; 2Th 3:13. Continuing in the faith. -- Ac 14:22; Col 1:23; 2Ti 4:7. Holding fast hope. -- Heb 3:6. Maintained through The power of God. -- Ps 37:24; Php 1:6. The power of Christ. -- Joh 10:28. The intercession of Christ. -- Lu 22:31,32; Joh 17:11. The fear of God. -- Jer 32”
- John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on John 6:39: I should lose nothing - It is the will of God that every soul who believes should continue in the faith, and have a resurrection unto life eternal. But he wills this continuance in salvation, without purposing to force the persons so to continue. God may will a thing to be, without willing that it shall be. Judas was given to Christ by the Father, Joh 17:12. The Father willed that this Judas should continue in the faith, and have a resurrection unto life eternal: but Judas sinned and perished. Now it is evident that God willed that Judas might be saved, without willin”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, section 9.5: that the Philippians may know that they have been called to the faith of Christ on this condition — that they endure persecutions on his account, as though he had said that their adoption can no more be separated from the cross, than Christ can be torn asunder from himself. Here Paul clearly testifies, that faith, as well as constancy in enduring persecutions, 91 91 “ Les afflictions et persecutions ;” — “Afflictions and persecutions.” is an unmerited gift of God. And certainly the knowledge of God is a wisdom that ”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 5: Augustine — Anti-Pelagian — CHAP. 2 [II]--PROVES THE EXISTENCE OF FREE WILL IN MAN FROM THE PRECEPTS ADDRESSED TO HIM BY GOD.: Now He has revealed to us, through His Holy Scriptures, that there is in a man a free choice of will. But how He has revealed this I do not recount in human language, but in divine. There is, to begin with, the fact that God's precepts themselves would be of no use to a man unless he had free choice of will, so that by performing them he might obtain the promised rewards. For they are given that no one might be able to plead the excuse of ignorance, as the”
- Augsburg Confession (Lutheran) “Augsburg Confession (Lutheran, 1530), 1 Of Free Will they teach that man’s will has some liberty to: 1 Of Free Will they teach that man’s will has some liberty to choose civil righteousness, and to work 2 things subject to reason. But it has no power, without the Holy Ghost, to work the righteousness of God, that is, spiritual righteousness; since the natural man 3 receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, 1 Cor. 2:14; but this righteousness is wrought in the heart when the Holy Ghost is received 4 through the Word. These things are said in as many words by Augustine in his Hypognosticon,”
- Catechism of the Catholic Church (Catholic) “Catechism of the Catholic Church, CHAPTER THREE (part 6): anyone obtain eternal life 'But he who endures to the end.'"] Perseverance in faith 162 Faith is an entirely free gift that God makes to man. We can lose this priceless gift, as St. Paul indicated to St. Timothy: "Wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting conscience, certain persons have made shipwreck of their faith."44 To live, grow and persevere in the faith until the end we must nourish it with the word of God; we must beg the Lord to increase our faith;45 it must be "working through charity," aboundin”
- Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican) “Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican, 1571), Section 242: As the godly consideration of Predestination, and our Election in Christ, is full of sweet, pleasant, and unspeakable comfort to godly persons, and such as feel in themselves the working of the Spirit of Christ, mortifying the works of the flesh, and their earthly members, and drawing up their mind to high and heavenly things, as well because it doth greatly establish and confirm their faith of eternal Salvation to be enjoyed through Christ, as because it doth fervently kindle their love towards God: So, for curious and carnal per”