The correct way to describe this doctrine is the perseverance of the saints rather than eternal

security.

It is not just that we are eternally secure, it is that we are eternally secure because our

faith perseveres. Persevers. Welcome to Grace to you, the Bible teaching ministry of John MacArthur.

I'm your host, Phil Johnson.

Sometimes theological debates may seem impractical, best left in seminary classrooms. Maybe you've thought that

about issues like election or free will or the depravity of man. But even though these subjects

stir up controversy, they can't be ignored. It's crucial that every believer, not just pastors

and professors, every believer needs to know

what the Bible says about this important teaching.

So stay here on, Grace to You, as we begin a study from John MacArthur that has generated

a significant response from our radio audience over the years.

It's titled The Doctrines of Grace.

And as a way of introducing this study,

we once asked John why these doctrines of grace are so controversial. People either love them or hate them. And there's not much in between. Here's what John said. I think primarily there are

two reasons. Reason number one is because the foundational doctrine of grace is the depravity of man.

And that essentially is to understand that man is corrupt in every element of his life.

Every part of him is corrupt. And he is both unable to do anything

about that corruption and unwilling to do anything about that corruption. So if you rightly understand

what the Bible teaches about the doctrine of total depravity, it is that man cannot do anything to change himself.

He cannot make any contribution to save himself.

That's not a popular doctrine.

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