Hebrews 10:38,39

Heb. 10:38-39. Now the just shall live by faith: but if (any man) draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

The inseparability of faith and perseverance is not only maintained in "The Perseverance of the Saints" (cf. above) but no less in "Justification by Faith Alone":

And that God in justification has respect not only to the first act of faith, but also to future, persevering acts, in this sense, viz., as expressed in life, seems manifest, by Romans 1:17; "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." And Hebrews 10:38; Hebrews 10:39, "Now the just shall live by faith; but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them that draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe, to the saving of the soul."

In 1736 Edwards preached a sermon on Hebrews 10:38; Hebrews 10:39 entitled, "Perseverance in holiness is absolutely necessary to salvation." Edwards notes that after the apostle's development of Christ's priesthood he exhorts to faith and perseverance. The apostle warns of those who had committed the unpardonable sin of apostasy but encourages those who were enduring persecution. Only a little while longer - the just must live by faith but backsliding is damnable in nature. Then Edwards explains that perseverance is not necessary as righteousness but as a title to eternal life. This theme is fortified in the sermon "Hypocrites Deficient in the Duty of Prayer":

1. That perseverance in the way of duty is necessary to salvation, and is abundantly declared so to be in the holy Scriptures; as Isaiah 64:5, "Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth, for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved." Hebrews 10:38; Hebrews 10:39, "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul hath no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul." Romans 11:22, "Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but towards thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness; otherwise thou also shalt be cut off." - So in many other places.

Chapter 11

Heb. 11:1