Journal: Reformed Presbyterian Theological Journal
Volume: RPTJ 07:1 (Fall 2020)
Article: John Owen: Perseverance And Mortification In The Christian Life
Author: Richard C. Gamble

RPTJ 7:1 (Fall 2020) p. 10

John Owen:
Perseverance And Mortification In The Christian Life

Richard C. Gamble

Professor of Systematic Theology Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary

Owen On Perseverance (1654)

In response to John Goodwin’s 1642 work on justification called Imputatio Fidei, John Owen wrote The Doctrine of the Saints’ Perseverance Explained and Confirmed in 1654. Goodwin, not to be confused with Thomas Goodwin the Westminster Divine, wrongly maintained that God imputed faith to believers for righteousness, rather than imputing Christ’s righteousness to them.1 He also incorrectly believed that Christ died for those who finally perish.

Owen began by defining perseverance.2 There is perseverance in any good task against the wearisomeness of the task. Relative to saints, however, perseverance to the end is because of the unchangeableness of the divine decree.3 Thus, perseverance is by grace bestowed upon believers. This grace comes because there is in the believer a principle of new life and a habit of faith.4

In the believer’s salvation, Christ gives the Holy Spirit and all that accompanies salvation, takes their sin upon Himself, and actively imputes His righteousness to them. He takes them into an everlasting covenant, with innumerable promises, that He will be their God and will preserve them to be His people.5 Each day He increases faith, love and holiness in them, strengthens them, and heals their backsliding. In light of those promises and that covenant, God will keep His own in gospel obedience.6

RPTJ 7:1 (Fall 2020) p. 11

Owen demonstrated from Patristic sources that this has been the church’s teaching.7 Ambrose, for example, saw perseverance seated in predestination, in God’s unchanging love, in Christ’s complete redemption, and in His continual intercession.8 Medieval teaching did not break from this pattern.9

The doctrine of perseverance seals God’s mercy and grace to believers in the new covenant based on God’s unchangeableness and faithfulness. The believer needs to know this doctrine—it impacts our walk with God. It causes us to realize that we are those who have been built upon a rock.You must have a subscription and be logged in to read the entire article.
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