Hi again David,
OSAS Arminians (in a similar way to
Perseverance of the Faith Calvinists) believe that someone who is truly saved will never fully "abandon" the faith, because they believe that, once they are 'changed' by God/caused to be
born again .. Ezekiel 36:26-27; John 3:3; 2 Corinthians 5:17, 21, God preserves them in the faith and sees them safely through this life to be with Him in Glory in the next life .. e.g.
Philippians 1:6, 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; Hebrews 7:25 cf
1 John 1:8-2:2.
If someone truly "abandons" the Christian faith, then we believe that they were never truly Christians/never "born again" to begin with .. e.g.
1 John 2:19, even though many may spend their entire lives in the church, fully believing that they are/have always been Christians, and may even appear to be "super" Christians to others because of some of the things that they do .. e.g.
Matthew 7:22-23; Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43. (nevertheless, at the Judgment, Jesus will tell them plainly, "
I never knew you", even though they claimed to have done great works in His very Name).
Scary stuff, yes?
Yours and His,
David
Westminster Confession of Faith
Chapter XVII. Of the Perseverance of the Saints
Section I.–They whom God hath accepted in his Beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace; but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved.
Section II.–This perseverance of the saints depends, not upon their own freewill, but upon the immutability of the decree of election, flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father; upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ; the abiding of the Spirit and of the seed of God within them; and t.he nature of the covenant of grace; from all which ariseth also the certainty and infallibility thereof.
Section III.–Nevertheless they may, through the temptations of Satan and of the world, the prevalence of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of the means of their perseverance, fall into grievous sins; and for a time continue therein: whereby they incur God's displeasure, and grieve his Holy Spirit; come to be deprived of some measure of their graces and comforts; have their hearts hardened, and their consciences wounded; hurt and scandalise others, and bring temporal judgments upon themselves.
.