One of the most popular beliefs of all 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 face 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.
Fourth, Calvin used Ephesians 1:13 and 4:30 to claim that we cannot fall from the grace of God. "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed; ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, And grieve not the holy Spirit of God; whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." Calvin claimed that if we are "sealed" then we cannot fall. Calvin and his followers used the example of a sealed box that cannot lose it's contents. Is this the only way the word "sealed" can be used? According to A. T. Robertson in his Word Picture of the New Testament, this "sealed" means the "mark of ownership...marked and authenticated as God's heritage." The apostle Paul had this.in mind when he referred to the Holy Spirit as an identifying mark or "seal" to those who are saved (Galatians 4:6). It is necessary for us to have this other "witness" to our faithfifiness (Matthew 18:16; Mark 14:56; Romans 8:16).
Does the doctrine of Perseverance of the saints or once saved, always saved stand the test of the New Testament? An honest answer would be "NO!" Too many passages teach for Christians to remain faithful to God to answer in an other way.