Doctrine of Salvation Part 19: Perseverance of the Saints - Arminianism

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 and "shelter-in-place" recommendations, Dr. Craig gives this lecture from the safety of his home office.

"Defenders" is Dr. William Lane Craig's weekly Sunday school class on Christian doctrine and apologetics. This video is part 19 of his locus on the Doctrine of Salvation.

We welcome your comments in the Reasonable Faith forums:

[eternalbyzantium]

I am a Calvinist but I indeed find these videos intriguing nevertheless! Thank you Dr.

[pigeonrat]

I for some reason am not realizing how real this all is.
Oh Lord please help me here. Please.

[ht]

Once again, Dr Craig over exceeds in mastering such a good teaching of this topic.

[Michael-eetl]

Thank you Dr. Craig. I've been waiting for this one. Looking forward to the next one.

[JamesKimSynergize]

Again thank you, Dr. Craig, this was very insightful, especially since I have had trouble grasping Romans 9-11, which seems to me is very important to the whole of Romans! My tentative approach is to examine the individual/corporate framework from a social trinity perspective (Zizioulas). Neither those who emphasize the individual, nor the corporate are entirely right. In trinitarian language you end up with either tritheism or radical monotheism. Would it be insightful to say neither model has absolute veracity but rather sufficient truth? And in this way we can accommodate for each other with humility, that is, acknowledging the seemingly paradoxical truths espoused by each side? Thanks!

[EssenceofPureFlavor]

Arminius taught individual election via God' s foreknowledge of who would respond positively to the gospel. Afaik, corporate election (at least in the protestant realm) came later, primarily from Wesley.

[reynaldodavidJo]

So, Dr. Craig, do you agree with the doctrine of Arminian? But why did Acts 13:48 (KJV) says: ''And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.' =>>> In my opinion the phrase that says: ''AS MANY AS WERE ORDAINED TO ETERNAL LIFE BELIEVE'', Does not mean a Corporate group but can be said : ''Everyone ordained to Eternal Life Believe'' =>>> And also in John 6:44 (KJV) says: ''No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.'' =>>> This verse definitely shows that an individual person was elected to eternal life.... Please explain Dr. Craig, Thank you...

[jamesbertram]

IN ROMANS CHAPTER 8, NOTICE THE MENTIONS OF IF, IN V9, V11, V13, V17, AND IN V28, WHERE LOVING GOD IS ESSENTIAL TO THOSE WHO ARE CALLED SHARING IN GOD'S CONSUMATION IN CHRIST, AND NOTICE THE INDWELLING REALITY, AND NOT A EXTERNAL JUSTIFICATION

[mistergabrieljensen]

Genuine question:
You say (5:34) that an Arminian takes Romans 8:33–39 "to be about the corporate body of the elect" and the promises presented in the passage will "never be abrogated. The elect are thus safe and secure. But the individual's perseverance in faith is contingent." Can you help me make sense of the distinction between the collective church and the individuals that collectively make the church? Is not the corporate body made up of individuals? How do you draw this distinction, and what assurance is there (and for whom is this assurance) in believing that the elect are safe and secure but God's grace may not preserve individuals?

[collin]

I think the most consistent view is that a person can lose regeneration (Hebrews 6:4-8, 2 Peter 2:20-22, 1 Corinthians 9:24-10:13), but they cannot lose election (2 Timothy 2:19 and surrounding context, inferred from the fact that God knows who truly belong to him distinguished from those who fall away, John 6:39-40, Luke 22:31-32, John 17:12, Romans 11:4-5, that out of the "chosen" people Israel, God specifically chose only a remnant to persevere, and the rest fell away and bowed the knee to Baal). But election is not arbitrary, but based on God's wisdom and knowledge. Would I rather leave it up to the wisdom of people to decide who should belong in heaven, or the wisdom of God? He knows!! But even the elect must run the race, as Paul and the apostles did, and just like Peter said in 2 Peter 1:10-11, even the elect must "confirm their calling and election, " so they can enter the eternal kingdom. We run because we believe. By the might of his power, he brings us to the end. He brings us to the end because we run. If we run and believe, there is security. So I fully believe the two truths that the elect will persevere, but that the others will partake of the grace of God and then fall away from it. To my knowledge this is also what Augustine believed.

[osks]

Do I understand you correctly - are you suggesting that the ‘elect’ comprises that (corporate) body of people comprised of individuals who (of their own ‘free will’) choose to be saved (which then qualifies them as ‘the elect’)?

[aidanmcmanus]

Clearly the scriptures teach that an individual can lose their faith and quench the Spirit. All the warnings in the scriptures make no sense if one cannot lose their salvation. Those who say you can't, have come to the scriptures with preconceived ideas. They will twist the scriptures by proof-texting to justify their position. Read the scriptures in their simplicity and in their entirety and you will see the truth - if you are willing!