g. Perseverance of The Saints
This point of this Philosophy is that the Elect will persevere to the end, and if someone does not, they were not really Elect. The problem is twofold: Calvin’s definition of Election is wrong, and His understanding of Eternal Redemption is as well. But he needs this point, because of the grace of God is irresistible to the Elect, then how does one explain those who fall away?
If precept is built upon precept (and it is), then when God laid the precept that Salvation is Eternal, this statement would automatically be deemed false. This is sophistry at it’s finest, because if the grace of God is irresistible to the Elect, then they would never fall away anyway, so if they do, “clearly” they were not really elect. This is a logically fallacy that is necessary to make the philosophy work. We never find that all saints will preserver. To the contrary we find many saints that don’t, seven churches receiving stern rebuke because of their compromise, and many believers falling away.
Consider David, Lot, Peter’s multiple failures, Jonah, Demas, just to name a few. Thomas was elect to be an Apostle and doubted God. Even John the Baptist had doubts. Enduring “to the end” ensures a full reward and a “well done thy good and faithful servant”. When the prodigal son fell away and departed, his blessings from his father stopped. But he was no less a son to his father than ever before, nor did his fathers love for him stop. When he came to himself and repented, his father received him, but he had no more inheritance – all the father had now belonged to the faithful son. The cost of departing is great, and eternal blessings are lost. But God has redeemed us forever, and that can never be undone.