The Bible vs Calvin

According to Calvin's doctrine of "Perseverance of the saints" :

"Perseverance (or preservation) of the saints (The word "saints" is used in the Biblical sense to refer to all who are set apart by God, and not in the technical sense of one who is exceptionally holy, canonized, or in heaven). The doctrine asserts that since God is sovereign and his will cannot be frustrated by humans or anything else, those whom God has called into communion with himself will continue in faith until the end. Those who apparently fall away either never had true faith to begin with or will return." {-Wikipedia}

Calvin: "God is sovereign and his will cannot be frustrated by humans or anything else,.."

Bible: It is important that we distinguish between God's Sovereign will and His desire. Examples of God's Sovereign will are the numerous fulfilled prophesies throughout Scripture. God's Sovereignty is also on display in the life of Joseph; God used the sins of others to bring about His Sovereign will revealed to Joseph in Joseph's dreams. Basically, Sovereignty describes God's ultimate control over His creation. By His Sovereignty, God has given mankind the freedom and capacity to choose to obey or disobey. The "free-will" of mankind is as obvious throughout Scripture as God's Sovereignty. [To insist that acts of sin are also predetermined of God {as the First Cause according to the Principle of Causality- Determinism}, in my deepest conviction, is blaspheming of the Holy Ghost.] Since mankind is given decisiveness by God's Sovereign will- God also has implemented rewards and consequences. [Reward and consequence also would make no sense if all our acts, whether obedience or disobedience, where predetermined by God.] Now, it is by God's Sovereign will that we have the ability to choose; it is His desire that we choose to obey. This desire is unquestionably revealed in 2Peter 3:9-

9 The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.

Peter, by inspiration, is clearly teaching that God does not force us to turn to Him but is being patient; not desiring that any should perish. Because God is Sovereign, He could "make" anyone obey Him; but He gives us the freedom to choose thus validating our love for Him-

John 14:15 "If you love Me, you will keep My commands."

Calvin: "those whom God has called into communion with himself will continue in faith until the end."

Bible: Calvin's doctrine of Perseverance{or preservation} cannot be reconciled with Matthew 7:21-23/Hebrews 6:4-6/Hebrews 10:26-31.

1) -->Matthew 7:21-23

The "many," being turned away by Jesus, protested that they had performed miracles, prophesied, and cast out demons in Jesus' name. Especially note the fact that the"many" where able to cast out demons in Jesus' name; however, in Acts 19:14-16 the Jewish exorcists where unable to cast a demon out because they invoked the name of Jesus not having their invocation mingled with faith. Therefore, we can legitimately draw the conclusion that the "many" that were now being rejected/disinherited by Jesus had once had faith. Jesus indicated that the reason for their disinheritance was that the "many" had deliberately practiced lawlessness. Below is part of a comment I made recently on another post concerning Matthew 7:21-23:

"...Take, for instance, where Jesus says, "Depart from me for I never knew you" {Matt 7:23} ...

This statement {ουδεποτε εγνων υμας (translated “I never knew you”} was commonly used as a legal action to officially indicate a disinheritance/disownership of an heir/servant. Jesus’ proceeding statement, “because you practice lawlessness,” was also required in an action of disinheritance to officially give the reason for the disinheritance. Those within Jesus’ audience would have clearly understood what He was teaching. So you see, Matthew 7:23 is more than just a casual rejection; it is a disinheritance of an heir... We can, and will, be disinherited if we die having hardened our neck{Proverbs 29:1} to God’s correction and rebelled against the Holy Spirit’s leading to turn from known sin{Ezekiel 3:20/Ezekiel 33:12-16}."

Another example in Scripture is the servant mentioned in Luke 12:45-46 that was severely punished and disowned because when he saw that the master had not arrived at the expected time he began to act wickedly.

2) --> Hebrews 6:4-6

The latter text of vs 4 clearly says that [they] "were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,.." and (vs 6) "If they shall fall away,[it is impossible] to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame."

3) --> Hebrews 10:26-31

26 For if we deliberately sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire about to consume the adversaries. 28 If anyone disregards Moses' law, he dies without mercy, based on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment do you think one will deserve who has trampled on the Son of God, regarded as profane the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know the One who has said, Vengeance belongs to Me, I will repay, and again, The Lord will judge His people. 31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God! -HCSB

[vs 29 clearly sets the context that these verses indicate that they are speaking of one who had been sanctified by the blood of the covenant but had now insulted the Spirit of grace by deliberately continuing to sin(vs 26); "How much worse punishment do you think one will deserve who has trampled on the Son of God {after being sanctified by His blood}.]

Calvin: "Those who apparently fall away either never had true faith to begin with or will return."

Bible: There is absolutely no Scriptural support for this view. Oftentimes some will recite 1John 2:19 as support-

19 "They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. However, they went out so that it might be made clear that none of them belongs to us."

This verse does not even address faith. Verse 19 is a continuation of verse 18 which addresses the presence of many antichrist. Verses 20-23 distinguishes Christians from antichrist because Christians acknowledge that Jesus is the Christ.

The suggestion that those who fall away will return if they have(that is, had) genuine faith is absolutely unsupported by Scripture.