17-1 Salvation is the work of God, from its commencement to its consummation.¹ Those regenerated by the Word of God through the work of the Holy Spirit become partakers of the divine nature.² They are preserved by the power of God³ so that they shall never totally or finally fall away,⁴ but shall persevere unto the end.⁵

¹ For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified (Rom.8:29,30).

² Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires (2Pe.1:4).

³ Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Phil.1:6). Who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time (1Pe.1:5).

⁴ My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand (John 10:27-29). He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ (1Cor.1:8). They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us (1Jo.2:19).

⁵ But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command (2Thes.3:3,4).