This is the third and the last part in the series of articles about the relationship between progressive sanctification and biblical counseling. You can find the first two parts below:
In this concluding article, I want to cover the doctrine of perseverance of the saints and the implications of both progressive sanctification and perseverance of the saints for biblical counseling.
Perseverance of the Saints
I will discuss the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints, covering its summary, its grounds, the challenge of experience, and the biblical teaching regarding "apostasy" or "falling away." As already mentioned in the first article, the material is taken from G. I. Williamson’s exposition of the Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 17.
Summary of the Doctrine
Those called and sanctified by God cannot fully fall away or turn back from God's grace. Instead, they will certainly persevere until the end and be saved (Jeremiah 32:40; John 3:36; 5:24; 10:28; Philippians 1:6; 1 Peter 1:5; 1 John 2:19).
The perseverance of the saints does not mean that salvation is secured by a "one-time" act but rather by a "genuine" faith proven in the ongoing process. It does not teach that effort is no longer necessary. Instead, effort is proof that "it is God who works in you both to will and to do His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).
The perseverance of the saints demonstrates that the true image of the Christian life is not a "playground" but a "battlefield." It is a deception of the enemy to think that life becomes simple and easy once a person turns to God, especially when facing life's problems and trials. The Christian life is a war from beginning to end (Psalm 38:9, 10, 12, 16, 17; Matthew 24:13).
Grounds of Perseverance
The perseverance of the saints is based on the following:
The plan of God for the saints, driven by His unchanging love.
The efficacy of the righteousness and intercession of Jesus.
The abiding presence of the Spirit and the seed of God.
The provisions set forth in the covenant of grace.
The Challenge of Experience
However, it may seem as though our experiences contradict this teaching of the Holy Scriptures. This is where we test what carries more weight in our belief: is our faith grounded in experience or in the Holy Scriptures?
1 John 2:19 teaches that there can be what is called false faith or service. The total departure of those who once served is a sure sign that they only had the appearance of faith and did not truly belong to the elect.
Types of "Falling Away" Taught by the Bible
The type of "falling away" from the faith taught by the Bible refers to believers falling into a grievous sin and remaining in that state for a period of time. This teaching does not condone sinning; instead, it serves as a serious warning against "playing" with sin. The goal of this doctrine is to remove false security.
The falling of the saints into grievous sin is a result of:
Temptations of the Devil and the world (1 John 2:15; Mark 1:13; Matthew 26:70, 72, 74).
The remaining corruption of our flesh (James 1:13-14).
Neglect of the means of grace intended to protect ourselves (Hebrews 10:24-25).
A believer's fall into sin results in the following:
Grieving God (2 Samuel 11:27).
Dishonoring God (2 Samuel 12:14).
Loss of assurance and comfort (Psalm 51:8, 10, 12).
Hardening of the heart and a wounded conscience (Psalm 32:3-4).
Emotional pain caused to others and self-judgment.
Because of the seriousness of this doctrine, it cannot be used to justify a false assurance of salvation. Ignoring this serious warning can cause intense grief not only to God but also to the believer, their loved ones, and their community. It can lead to great shame. The correct response to this teaching will keep a believer away from unnecessary sorrow and lead instead to a secure and peaceful life. Ultimately, a proper understanding of this doctrine provides the assurance that God holds our salvation.
Implications of Sanctification and Perseverance of the Saints to Biblical Counseling
As already mentioned in the first part of this series, all theological loci have implications for biblical counseling. The same is true with covenant theology and progressive sanctification. As for progressive sanctification and perseverance of the saints, these theological foundations provide us a framework for why and how a person actually changes. Instead of being distracted by focusing primarily on behavioral modification, your goal as a counselor would be the problem of the heart. Below are some of the key insights where you can translate these theological motifs into the counseling clinic:
First, since as a biblical counselor, you already have a holistic understanding of the heart, your focus in counseling, as already mentioned, is not the external behavior but the mind, the affection, and the will. The goal is not just negative but positive; not just to stop a bad habit but to draw the heart nearer to Christ.
Second, it gives your counselee hope when they feel stuck and their progress is super slow. The distinction between positional and progressive sanctification is very useful in this regard. The positional aspect gives your counselee the idea that their sanctification is 100% the work of God. This protects your counselee from the "shame-filled" ditch Darby Strickland warned about. The progressive aspect, on the other hand, validates the "messiness" in your daily walk with God. By viewing the Christian life as a "battlefield" and not a "playground," you as a counselor help your counselee to fight rather than give up.
Third, this prevents both the legalistic and licentious tendencies. Against legalism or self-reliance, you as a biblical counselor should direct your counselee to his union with Christ as the foundation. With this basis, your counselee will be protected from the idea of becoming a “hero,” leading to pride or burnout. Fighting licentiousness, the doctrine of perseverance teaches that genuine faith produces effort.
Last but not least, as a counselor, these doctrines should reorient your heart. Remember that you are not a “spiritual giant" looking down on your counselee as a struggling person. Instead, your counselees should see you also as a "work in progress."
This ends our series of articles that explore the relationship between progressive sanctification and biblical counseling.