The perseverance of the saints is a doctrine that speaks directly to the question of whether a genuine Christian can fully and finally fall away from the faith. According to Reformed theology, if God elects people from all eternity, then certainly the elect will remain elect forever. The Scriptures, including the book of Hebrews, contain passages that seem to indicate that people can and do lose their salvation, but a closer examination of these passages reveals that they are speaking about those who were never truly converted in the first place. The doctrine of perseverance is closely tied to the doctrine of election, and it is based on the promise of God to finish what He has started and the efficacy of the great high priest who intercedes for us every day.
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