The Misunderstood Doctrine: Perseverance of the Saints - Falling from Grace or Once Saved, Always Saved? 被误解的教义：圣徒的坚韧，圣徒会从恩中坠落（失去救恩）吗？还是一次得救，永远得救？

1. Introduction

1. 引言 (Introduction)

A Book that Misses the Mark: The well-known Bible teacher David Pawson once wrote a book titled “Once Saved, Always Saved?” While his ultimately goal was to prove that the “perseverance of the saints” is unbiblical, he didn’t attack the actual doctrine directly. Instead, he employed a classic logical fallacy known as the “Straw Man”: he first distorted the profound biblical doctrine of perseverance into the shallow slogan “Once Saved, Always Saved,” and then proceeded to criticize that caricature of the faith.

一本引起误解的书： 著名圣经教师大卫·鲍森（David Pawson）曾写过一本书叫《一次得救，永远得救？》。鲍森的原意是想通过这本书来证明“圣徒的坚韧”不符合圣经，但他并没有直接面对面地反驳这一深邃的教义。相反，他使用了逻辑上典型的“稻草人谬误”：他先将这一神圣的保守观歪曲成了一种极其浅薄的、发放“天堂门票”式的廉价恩典口号，然后再对这个被他自个儿扭曲了的“一次得救，永远得救”进行批判。

Overcoming the misconception: This reflects a common misunderstanding or criticism of Christianity: “Do you believe that as long as you believed once, you can do whatever bad things you want and still go to heaven?”

破题与澄清： 鲍森的误解，其实代表了世俗对基督教一个非常普遍的批评：“你们是不是相信只要信了一次，以后随便干什么坏事都能上天堂？”

Presenting the core argument: Many Christians indeed like to use the slogan “Once Saved, Always Saved” (OSAS) to express their assurance. But in reality, an orthodox faith with biblical depth does not endorse such a flippant, license-to-sin slogan. What we truly believe in is the “Perseverance of the Saints”—and it looks vastly different from the caricature drawn by its critics.

提出核心论点： 确实，许多基督徒喜欢用“一次得救，永远得救”（OSAS）这句轻率的口号。但事实上，正统的、符合圣经深度的信仰，绝不认同这种把救恩当作犯罪许可证的堕落神学。我们真正相信的，是“信徒的坚韧” (Perseverance of the Saints)——它与那些反对者所描绘的扭曲画像截然不同。

2. The Danger of “Once Saved, Always Saved”

2. “一次得救，永远得救” 这个口号的危险性

A breeding ground for cheap grace: This phrase often creates the illusion that salvation requires only a past moment of “decision,” completely disconnected from one’s present state of life.

廉价恩典的温床： 这种说法往往让人产生一种错觉——救恩只需要一个过去的“决志”时刻，而与现在的生命状态毫无关联。

Lack of the fruit of life: If someone claims to believe in the Lord but their life lacks any fruit of repentance and sanctification for years, and they live comfortably in sin, this slogan becomes an excuse for self-paralysis and deception.

缺乏生命的果子： 如果一个人自称信主，但生命中长年累月没有任何悔改和成圣的果子，且安然活在罪中，这句口号反而成了他们自我麻痹的借口。

Biblical warnings:

圣经的警告： 我们需要留意圣经中严厉的警告。

"So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."
— James 2:17

“这样，信心若没有行为就是死的。”
—— 雅各书 2:17

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."
— Matthew 7:21

“凡称呼我‘主啊，主啊’的人不能都进天国；惟独遵行我天父旨意的人才能进去。”
—— 马太福音 7:21

3. What is True “Perseverance of the Saints”?

3. 什么是真实的“信徒的坚韧”？

Not man’s striving, but God’s preservation: “Perseverance” is not primarily about us holding tightly to God, but about God’s mighty hand holding tightly to us.

"I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand."
— John 10:28

不是“人的强撑”，而是“神的保守”： “坚韧”首先不在于我们紧紧抓住神，而在于神大能的手紧紧抓住了我们。

“我又赐给他们永生；他们永不灭亡，谁也不能从我手里把他们夺去。”
—— 约翰福音 10:28

The continuity of election and sanctification: For those God saves, the Holy Spirit will inevitably work within them. True salvation necessarily brings life transformation—”justification by faith” is invariably accompanied by the process of “sanctification.”

拣选与成圣的连贯性： 神所拯救的人，圣灵必定在他们里面动工。真实的救恩必然带来生命的改变——“因信称义”必定伴随着“成圣”的过程。

They may stumble, but will ultimately return: True believers are also weak and can commit sins (like David and Peter), but the indwelling of the Holy Spirit makes it impossible for them to rest peacefully in sin forever. They will be disciplined by God, produce godly grief, and eventually repent and return.

虽然会跌倒，但终必回转： 真正的信徒也会软弱犯罪（例如大卫、彼得），但圣灵的内住使得他们不可能永远安寝在罪中。他们会被神管教，生出依着神意思的忧愁，最终悔改回转。

4. Fundamental Differences Summarized

4. 两者的根本区别总结

OSAS emphasizes: A human declaration guarantees eternal safety, regardless of subsequent behavior.

OSAS 强调的是：人的一个宣告保证了永远的安全，无论此后的行为如何。

Perseverance of the Saints emphasizes: God’s sovereign salvation and the Holy Spirit’s preservation ensure that the truly regenerated believer will continually trust and obey. Even through fierce storms and spiritual valleys, they will ultimately endure to the end.

信徒的坚韧 强调的是：神主权的拯救与圣灵的保守，使真正重生的信徒必定会持续信靠并顺从，即使经历狂风暴雨和灵性低谷，也终必忍耐到底。

5. Solid Scriptural Foundation

5. 圣经的坚固根基 (Scriptural Support)

"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."
— Philippians 1:6

“我深信那在你们心里动了善工的，必成全这工，直到耶稣基督的日子。”
—— 腓立比书 1:6

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand."
— John 10:27-28

“我的羊听我的声音……我又赐给他们永生；他们永不灭亡，谁也不能从我手里把他们夺去。”
—— 约翰福音 10:27-28

"They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us."
— 1 John 2:19

(This explains that those who completely abandon the faith actually never experienced true regeneration from the beginning.)

“他们从我们中间出去，却不是属我们的；若是属我们的，就必仍旧与我们同在；他们出去，显明都不是属我们的。”
—— 约翰一书 2:19

（这说明那些彻底离弃信仰的人，其实从一开始就没有经历真正的重生）。

"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
— Romans 8:38-39

“因为我深信无论是死，是生，是天使，是掌权的，是有能的，是现在的事，是将来的事，是高处的，是低处的，是别的受造之物，都不能叫我们与神的爱隔绝；这爱是在我们的主基督耶稣里的。”
—— 罗马书 8:38-39

"For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable."
— Romans 11:29

“因为神的恩赐和选召是没有后悔的。”
—— 罗马书 11:29

"who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."
— 1 Peter 1:5

“你们这因信蒙神能力保守的人，必能得着所预备、到末世要显现的救恩。”
—— 彼得前书 1:5

6. Voices from Church History: From Church Fathers to Reformers

6. 教会历史的见证：从教父到改教家

The Historical Consensus: The doctrine of perseverance is not a recent theological invention. From the early Ecumenical Councils to the Reformers, the emphasis has always been on God’s sovereign grace as the anchor for the believer’s soul.

历史的共识： “信徒的坚韧”并非现代神学的发明。从早期的大公会议、教父到改教家，大公教会始终强调上帝主权恩典是信徒灵魂永不沉沦的锚。

The Council of Ephesus (431 AD): This Third Ecumenical Council, authoritative for all historic Christianity, decisively condemned Pelagianism. By rejecting the idea that human will could achieve salvation on its own, it indirectly affirmed that we are entirely dependent on God’s sustaining grace from beginning to end.

以弗所大公会议 (431 AD)： 作为大公教会历史上极具权威的第三次大公会议，它果断地定罪了伯拉纠主义。通过拒绝“人可以靠自由意志达成救恩”的错误观点，会议间接确认了我们从始至终都必须完全仰赖上帝那持守性的恩典。

The Second Council of Orange (529 AD): This historic synod provided one of the most explicit affirmations of preserving grace in the Western tradition. It taught that even the regenerate need the constant “succor of God” to persevere.

"The succor of God is to be ever sought by the regenerate and converted also, so that they may be able to come to a successful end or persevere in good works."
— Canon 10, Second Council of Orange

第二届奥兰治会议 (529 AD)： 这一具有里程碑意义的历史性会议，为西方教会传统中关于“保守恩典”的教义提供了最明确的确认。它教导说，即便是重生的人，也需要上帝不断的扶助才能坚守到底。

“上帝的扶助，即便对重生和改宗的人，也应不断寻求，使他们能达到美善的终局，并在善工中坚守到底。”
—— 奥兰治会议，条款 10

St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430): The Great Doctor of Grace explicitly taught that perseverance is a distinct “gift of God” (Donum Perseverantiae). It is not something we achieve, but something God maintains in us.

"I assert, therefore, that the perseverance by which we persevere in Christ even to the end is the gift of God; and I call that the end by which is finished that life wherein alone there is peril of falling."
— St. Augustine, *On the Gift of Perseverance*

希波的圣奥古斯丁 (354-430)： 这位伟大的恩典博士明确教导说，坚韧本身是上帝白白的“恩赐” (Donum Perseverantiae)。这不是我们靠意志达成的，而是上帝在我们里面维持的。

“因此我断言，使我们在基督里坚持到底的坚韧，乃是上帝的恩赐；我所说的‘到底’，是指这充满堕落危险的生命的终点。”
—— 圣奥古斯丁，《论坚韧的恩赐》

Martin Luther (1483-1546): Luther emphasized that faith is an “invincible” work of God within us. He described the Christian life not as a static state, but as a dynamic process of being “guarded” and “purified” by God’s power.

马丁·路德 (1483-1546)： 路德强调信心是上帝在我们里面“不可战胜”的工作。他将基督徒生命描述为一种动态的过程，是不断被上帝的大能“保守”和“洁净”的过程，而非一种死板停滞的状态。

The Canons of Dort (1619): In response to challenges against this doctrine, the historic Synod of Dort summarized it perfectly: our perseverance depends entirely on God’s faithfulness.

"But God is faithful, who having conferred grace, mercifully confirms and powerfully preserves them therein, even to the end."
— Canons of Dort, Fifth Point, Article 3

多特信经 (1619)： 为了回应对此教义的挑战，多特会议做出了完美的总结：我们的坚韧完全取决于上帝的信实。

“然而上帝是信实的，祂既然赐下了恩典，便会仁慈地坚固他们，并用大能保守他们在那恩典中，直到末了。”
—— 多特信经，第五要点，第三条

7. The 17th-Century Crisis: Remonstrants vs. the Synod of Dort

7. 17 世纪的危机：抗辩派与多特会议

The Remonstrant Challenge (1610): The followers of Jacobus Arminius issued a document called the Remonstrance. In its fifth article, they initially expressed uncertainty but eventually taught that true believers could potentially forfeit their salvation through negligence or sin.

"True believers can fall from true faith and can fall into such sins as cannot be consistent with true and justifying faith... and therefore finally to fall and to perish." 
— The Opinion of the Remonstrants (1618)

抗辩派的挑战 (1610)： 雅各·阿米念的追随者发布了一份名为《抗辩文》的文件。在第五条中，他们最初表示不确定，但最终公开教导说，真信徒可能因疏忽或犯罪而完全丧失救恩。

“真信徒可能从真实的信心坠落……并陷入那些与真实的、使人称义的信心不相容的历史罪恶中……并因此最终离弃神而永远沉沦。”
—— 抗辩派立场声明 (1618)

The Definitive Response (1619): In response, the historic Synod of Dort met to clarify the biblical position. They affirmed that perseverance is not a human achievement, but a divine work of preservation.

"For God is faithful, who having conferred grace, mercifully confirms and powerfully preserves them therein, even to the end." 
— Canons of Dort, Fifth Head of Doctrine, Article 3

多特会议的果断回应 (1619)： 作为回应，历史性的多特会议召开，旨在澄清圣经立场。他们确认，“坚韧”并不是人的成就，而是上帝神圣的“保守”工作。

“因为上帝是信实的，由于祂赐下了恩典，祂便仁慈地确认并在当中有力地保守他们，直到末了。”
—— 多特信经，第五要点，第三条

Perspective Shift: The Synod of Dort taught that while we may let go of God’s hand, He never lets go of ours. The doctrine is better understood not as the “perseverance of the believer,” but as the “Preservation of God.”

视角的转变： 多特会议教导说，虽然我们可能会松开上帝的手，但祂永远不会松开我们的手。这一教义与其被理解为“信徒的自强不息”，不如被理解为“上帝主权的保守”。

8. The Hebrews 6:4 Challenge: Overcoming Hard Sayings

8. 希伯来书 6:4 的挑战：攻克难点

The Objection: Critics of perseverance often point to a specific “warning passage” in the Epistle to the Hebrews:

反对者的质疑： 反对此教义的人常引用希伯来书中的一段“警告经文”：

"For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance..." 
— Hebrews 6:4-6 (ESV)

“论到那些已经蒙了光照、尝过天恩的滋味、又于圣灵有分，并尝过神善道的滋味、觉悟来世权能的人，若是离弃道理，就不能叫他们从新懊悔了。”
—— 希伯来书 6:4-6 (和合本)

The Augustinian Distinction: St. Augustine, in his response to those who argued such people were true believers, clarified that while they had indeed been “enlightened” and “moved” by the Spirit’s external work, they lacked the specific “Gift of Perseverance” (donum perseverantiae) which God only bestows upon those He has truly chosen to save to the end.

"But of such as these, none perished when they were being called, but they were called in such a way as to be truly chosen... They were not in that number of sons, even when they were in the faith of sons." 
— St. Augustine, *On the Gift of Perseverance*, Chapter 9

奥古斯丁的区分： 圣奥古斯丁在回应那些认为“离弃者曾是真信徒”的观点时，明确指出：虽然这些人确实被圣灵的外在工作所“光照”和“感召”，但他们缺少那唯独赐给神所预定救赎到底之人的“坚韧之恩” (donum perseverantiae)。

“然而在这样的人中，没有一个是在被呼召时毁灭的，因为他们是以被真正拣选的方式而受召的……即便当他们拥有‘儿子的信心’时，他们也不在儿子的定额（定数）之内。”
—— 圣奥古斯丁，《论坚韧的恩赐》，第 9 章

Reformed Interpretation (Temporary Faith): John Calvin and the Reformers explained such cases as “Temporary Faith” (fides temporaria). These individuals are like the “rocky ground” in Jesus’ parable: they receive the word with joy but have no root. They experience a shadow of grace, but their hearts were never fundamentally united to Christ.

改教家的解释（暂时性的信心）： 加尔文和改教家们将此类情况解释为“暂时性的信心” (fides temporaria)。这些人就像耶稣比喻中那“石头地”里的种子：他们欢喜领受真道，但心里没有根。他们经历到了恩典的影子，但其内心从未真正与基督联合。

The Biblical Verdict: The principle is summarized by St. John:

"They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us." 
— 1 John 2:19 (ESV)

Hebrews 6 serves as a severe warning against surface-level profession and hypocrisy, not a denial of God’s sovereign power to keep His own.

圣经的判语： 这一原则被圣约翰总结为：

“他们从我们中间出去，却不是属我们的；若是属我们的，就必仍旧存留在我们中间；他们出去，显明他们都不是属我们的。”
—— 约翰一书 2:19 (和合本)

希伯来书第 6 章是对浅表层面的认信和伪善的严厉警告，而非否定上帝保守祂子民的大能。

9. Conclusion & Application

9. 结论与应用 (Conclusion & Application)

Brings great comfort: Our assurance of salvation is not built on our own fragile will, but on God’s faithful promises. This dispels a believer’s fear of “losing” their salvation.

带来极大的安慰： 我们的得救确据不建立在我们自己脆弱的意志上，而是建立在神信实的应许上。这驱散了信徒对“失去救恩”的恐惧。

Brings holy reverence: This is by no means a free pass for indulgence. On the contrary, it encourages us to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12).

带来圣洁的敬畏： 这绝不是放纵的通行证，反而激励我们“当恐惧战兢做成你们得救的工夫”（腓 2:12）。

Final appeal: Authentic faith is a marathon. We are able to endure to the end because Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, leads us from the front and preserves us from behind.

结尾呼吁： 真实的信仰是一场持久战。我们能坚持到底，是因为那位创始成终的耶稣在前面引导，也在后面保守。