One of the most popular beliefs of ail the Calvinist doctrine is Perseverance of the Saints, or as it is better known as "once saved; always saved." I would like for us to take a look at the scriptures Calvin used to try and back up this doctrine. The reason for spending so must time and space on this subject is because we fade so many who believe this false doctrine and we need to be able to show them from God's word why this doctrine is false.
Third, 1 John 3:9, "Whosoever is born of God doth not 'commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God" Some who follow Calvin's teaching claim that this passage points out that the "elect" of God cannot sin. The word "commit" is in the present tense which indicates a continuing action. Does not commit or continue to commit sin. Many passages leach that "cannot" does not mean the inability, rather it means that there will be a penalty to be paid if one does such thing (Ezekiel 18:4). When we keep this passage in the context of the epistle of I John we see that this passage cannot mean that those who are born of God cannot commit sin, because of what is written in 1 John 1:6-2:3, "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us; If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness; If we say that we have not sinned we make him a liar, and his word is not in us; My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only; but also for the sins of the whole world And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments."
Notice "if we say that we have no sin. we deceive ourselves," also the need by Christians to "keep his commandments." Christians understand that there is a penalty to be paid for living in sin and they also understand that sin in our lives causes us to have the need to repent and confess our sins to our heavenly Father so that our sins can be forgiven. The point of "once saved always saved" takes away all responsibility away from Christians to remain faithful and places that responsibility on God!