The perseverance of the saints according to Anabaptism

Many apostolic greetings contain precious truths of the doctrine of Christ. One of them is addressed to the Church of Philippi, which reads: "Knowing this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1: 6). From it, we can arrive at conclusive conclusions in the light of the Scriptures to justify aspects of paramount importance for the Christian walk.

         Separating the central object from the text, in this case, "the good work", we should look for the meaning of it, since there are many things that can be listed as such. In order to do so, we perceive that the verb "to begin" and the verb "to perfect" have an excellent function in order to identify the meaning to which they were applied to the "good work", since both characterize, respectively, the initial mark (past fact) and idea of ​​perpetuation (continuous future). When Jesus referred to the term, it was expressed in the following definition: "... the work of God is this: that ye believe on him whom he hath sent" (John 6:29), exhausting any other interpretation. Therefore, we find that work is the action of God upon one whose intentions have turned completely to God. Thus begins the process of the Christian walk through the gift of salvation received by the regenerate. According to Rienecker and Rogers, who explained the meaning of the verb to perfect in the future, the continuity of this salvation will come to the end, fulfilling its full purpose, as it is also deduced from the text, since it speaks of perfection until the day of Christ.

         The process of perfection in the Christian, however, does not constitute a unilateral action, but requires both an action of God and a reaction of the disciple, allowing the flow of divine grace to follow to the end. Nevertheless, various adversities will arise against those who have confessed Christ, allowing them to fight against them in order to achieve success over all opposition. Paul, the apostle, taught us in these terms and also on perseverance in faith by saying: "Brethren, as for me, I do not think that I have attained; but one thing I do, and forgetting the things that are behind, and advancing unto them that are before me, I press toward the mark for the prize of the most holy calling of God in Christ Jesus "(Philippians 3: 13- 14). Using a coherent language about the Christian vocation, the same apostle demonstrates the need for abstinence rather than corruptible so that the Christian does not waste time in embarrassment or be harmed in the Christian battle. To the Corinthians he said: "And everyone who fights for everything abstains; they (those who run in vain) do so to achieve a corruptible crown; but we are an incorruptible. For so I run, not as the uncertain thing; so I fight, not as beating in the air "(1 Corinthians 9: 25-26). The perseverance of the saints is, therefore, an insignia inherited from the primitive Church which boldly never gave up on Christian service, but rather inspired its heirs in the same perspective.

         The Anabaptism of the sixteenth century had the same doctrinal conviction. They were convinced to serve Christ to the end, even though this end came in the form of persecution, violence, or martyrdom. In these situations, the firmness with which they peacefully faced their persecutors and executioners demonstrated the spiritual level of each Anabaptist man and woman. They rested on the certainty of reaching the Eternal Kingdom and cultivated the awareness that they would not be lost in the way, for they would persevere and overcome any obstacle. Some brief instructions from Hans Schlaffer reveal this character among the brothers:

As Paul said, these are Christians who think just like Christ: they arm themselves for suffering, they do not get entangled in the things of the world, they do not engage in the works of darkness, but they do the works of light, they are not ashamed of their master Jesus nor of his words, but follow the same words (according to the measure of the grace of each one). Therefore, he will not be ashamed of them before God his heavenly Father and his angels, as he himself said ... If any man will follow me, saith the Lord, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, me. In short, a Christian is a follower of Christ. This can not be changed, even if the world ends in ruins ... So Christians lift their heads and await their redemption with joy. This redemption will come when Christ returns to judge the living and the dead.

         In Schlaffer's instruction, there was encouragement for all his Anabaptist readers to attempt perseverance to the end, since preserving faith and biblical instruction in prescribed form enabled the follower to live in the certainty of eternal life for the facing the hard walk. There is, however, no possibility of breaking the bond with God to the point of losing everything achieved. Above all, the faithful would take their profession of faith to the uttermost, not subjecting themselves to political authorities, often contrary to the Word, or to religious whose power was exercised with coercion and force against those who did not conform to religious dogmatism or state subservience. This would be a characteristic of the disciple of Christ who observed the biblical precept unconditionally, as well as the disentangling of the profane life. The ex-Catholic priest and Anabaptist confessed knew how to propose with mastery the objective teaching or with all simplicity that the preaching of Christ demands. He also proved, through his death, the persevering convictions alluded to, not denying his precious faith or portraying criticism of Catholic infant baptism. Hans Schlaffer died burned at the stake in 1528.