Editing Perseverance of the saints (section)

=== Perseverance of the saints hinders assurance of salvation ===
The doctrine of perseverance of the saints can suggest that a believer have some [[assurance of salvation|assurance of final salvation]]. However, this interpretation faces criticism for its perceived inconsistency. In orthodox Calvinism, while the elect will persevere to the end, believers cannot know they are elect until they persevere to the end.{{sfn|Grudem|1994|loc={{zwnj}}|p=860|ps=. "[T]his doctrine of the perseverance of the saints, if rightly understood, should cause genuine worry, and even fear, in the hearts of any who are “backsliding” or straying away from Christ. Such persons must clearly be warned that only those who persevere to the end have been truly born again."}} This reality, regardless of explanations for definitive [[Apostasy in Christianity|apostasy]], undermines the practical utility of "perseverance of the saints," hindering assurance of salvation. This critique has been advanced by various non-Calvinist sources, including proponents of [[free grace theology]],{{sfn|Geisler|2002|loc=n. 7|p=68|ps=. "Most strong Calvinists claim that full assurance in this life is possible. However, this is inconsistent with their other beliefs that one must maintain a life of faithful works to the end to be sure one is saved and did not really have "false assurance" during one's life and was, therefore, one of the nonelect."}} and advocates of [[conditional preservation of the saints]], such as [[Arminianism|Arminians]].{{sfn|Purkiser|1972|loc={{zwnj}}{{zwnj}}|p=74|ps= "This turns out to be a curious sort of security. In effect one says, "If I am elected to eternal life, I am eternally secure. But I cannot, in the nature of the case, be sure that I am so elected."."}}