WCF 17.3

17.3. Of the Perseverance of the Saints

Nevertheless, they may, through the temptations of Satan and of the world, the prevalency of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of the means of their preservation, fall into grievous sins; and, for a time, continue therein (Ps. 51 title and ver. 14): whereby they incur God’s displeasure, and grieve His Holy Spirit, come to be deprived of some measure of their graces and comforts, have their hearts hardened, and their consciences wounded, hurt and scandalize others, and bring temporal judgments upon themselves.

Proof texts

• Matt. 26:70, 72, 74 — [70] But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” [72] And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” [74] Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed.
• Isa. 64:5, 7, 9 — [5] You meet him who joyfully works righteousness, those who remember you in your ways. Behold, you were angry, and we sinned; in our sins we have been a long time, and shall we be saved? [7] There is no one who calls upon your name, who rouses himself to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have made us melt in the hand of our iniquities. [9] Be not so terribly angry, O LORD, and remember not iniquity forever. Behold, please look, we are all your people.
• 2 Sam. 11:27 — [27] And when the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.
• Eph. 4:30 — [30] And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
• Ps. 51:8, 10, 12 — [8] Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. [10] Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. [12] Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
• Rev. 2:4 — [4] But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.
• Song. 5:2, 3, 4, 6 — [2] I slept, but my heart was awake. A sound! My beloved is knocking. “Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my perfect one, for my head is wet with dew, my locks with the drops of the night.” [3] I had put off my garment; how could I put it on? I had bathed my feet; how could I soil them? [4] My beloved put his hand to the latch, and my heart was thrilled within me. [6] I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had turned and gone. My soul failed me when he spoke. I sought him, but found him not; I called him, but he gave no answer.
• Isa. 63:17 — [17] O LORD, why do you make us wander from your ways and harden our heart, so that we fear you not? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your heritage.
• Mark 6:52 — [52] for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.
• Mark 16:14 — [14] Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen.
• Ps. 32:3, 4 — [3] For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. [4] For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. <i>Selah</i>
• Ps. 51:8 — [8] Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
• 2 Sam. 12:14 — [14] Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the LORD, the child who is born to you shall die.”
• Ps. 89:31, 32 — [31] if they violate my statutes and do not keep my commandments, [32] then I will punish their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes,
• 1 Cor. 11:32 — [32] But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

For discussion

1. The Assembly cited Matt. 26:70, 72, 74 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2. 15 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
3. WSC Q36 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
4. WLC Q79 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WSC Q36 · WLC Q79 · WLC Q80 · WLC Q81 · CD 4.1 · SC60 5.1 · SC60 5.2 · SC60 5.3 · SC60 5.4 · IAR 5.6 · SHC 5.1 · SHC 5.2 · SHC 5.3