Preservation of the Faithful

The doctrine of eternal security is called "preservation of the saints" in Calvinism. From scripture we find that a "saint" is the following:

Psalm 50:4 He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people. 5 Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice. 6 And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself.

"He shall" are the first words. Of course, "He" is understood as "the mighty God" from verse one of this psalm. "Shall" is sometime in the future, thus this passage is prophetic. Hence, the song of God is about His arrival for in verse 2 we read: "Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined." Christians understand that Zion is Israel, even specifically Jerusalem, or the Temple Mount.

"The perfection of beauty" is God in the flesh - called Jesus whose death gave light unto the world!

It is necessary to understand that the Old Testament is all about Jesus. Those who minimize it as history or only for the Hebrew people are missing most of inspired writings about Jesus Christ.

Reading verse 4 above, that perfect person shall judge everyone living or dead. Jesus is much more than graceful; He is also just. People don't like the idea but it is Jesus who shall judge. Some say, "No, God will do that," carelessly forgetting that Jesus Is God. Yaweh is Yeshua,  who in English is called Jesus.

Almighty God "will gather my saints unto me" verse 5, and then goes on to explain who His saints are: "those who have made a covenant with my sacrifice".  God's sacrifice was the life of His "only begotten son" (John 3:16). The covenant made with the saints is the Covenant of Blood - those sanctified (made holy) by the Spirit of Grace. (Hebrews 10:29). This is shortened to the "Covenant of Grace". Rather being sealed by circumcision of the flesh, it is sealed by circumcision of the heart which we profess at baptism. Baptism is a testimony of sanctification, and is our part in accepting the covenant of grace.

Our part in sealing the deal is "by sacrifice" (verse 5). What is it that is sacrificed? Ourselves (Romans 12:1). Our living sacrifice from that passage is "circumcision of the heart," (Romans 10:29).

Thus, "saints" are those who have a changed nature as faith emerges, and God washes them clean with the blood of Jesus (Revelation 1:5).

I explain all this because if you are a sanctified Christian, you are a saint. God does the "setting apart" with sanctification. We don't need the Pope nor his cardinals to do God's job for Him. Neither do we need to be miracle-workers or be dead to be saints. However, we are to be dead to sin as God has made us righteous (Romans 5:19). Neither do we have to die for Jesus's name, but be willing to! (Luke 9:23). Taking up our cross and following Jesus doesn't end in the new birth but continues throughout life unto death. Taking up the cross" is hard work! Blessed are we, because as Simon helped carry Jesus's cross, Jesus bears ours with us! That takes me to the object of this commentary:

Psalm 31:23 O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.

It's for us who are His: "ye his saints" - all born-again Christians.  The key phrase is "the Lord preserveth the faithful".  This is "preservation of the saints" in action. However, it certainly is not the Calvinistic idea of that, but how it really is!

If we look at only "preserveth the faithful" the negative of that is "not preserveth the unfaithful". Hence, what faith is, determines doctrine.

Is it faithful when one first believes? Surely it is. How long must one be faithful? Five minutes? Ten? A month? I submit that one must be faithful to the end or it is not faith. Faith is: "belief and trust in and loyalty to God" (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). How long must we believe-in, trust, and be loyal to God. Fidelity is until death do we part! 

James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Love must be forever. We can't just love God for a few minutes because that is merely infatuation. Love must be enduring.

Perseverance is enduring temptation, and the reward is eternal life - "the crown of life". "Endureth" how long? Until receiving eternal life. God does "preserve the saints", however, they have a part in the preservation. Saints must remain saints unto the end. They do that by maintaining their faith. Faith is indeed a gift of God (Ephesians 2:8) but that gift must be kept and exercised (1 Thessalonians 1:3) which refers to "the work of faith".

The "proud doer" (Psalm 21:23) are the saints who willingly work for God. They, with God's help, remain faithful. However, faith is continuously given but our part is continuing to keep it!

Maintaining our faith is our responsibility. God gives us a gift, and we are to use it. However, he bears that work with us. We are preserved as saints if we endure - have faith, until the end.