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Evanescent grace is a doctrine taught by Calvinism and mentioned in John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion. Broadly, it states that no one can truly know whether one is among the elect because God offers "evanescent grace" to some people which makes them think they are saved, and causes them to outwardly act saved, although they are not. The doctrine is controversial because of the implication that God tells lies. Calvin promoted "self-examination" as a way for believers to discern whether they are saved or not, although since the damned are already deceived into thinking they are saved, this self-examination ultimately proves nothing.
Experience shows that the reprobate are sometimes affected in a way so similar to the elect that even in their own judgment there is no difference between them. Hence, it is not strange, that by the Apostle a taste of heavenly gifts, and by Christ himself a temporary faith is ascribed to them. Not that they truly perceive the power of spiritual grace and the sure light of faith; but the Lord, the better to convict them, and leave them without excuse, instills into their minds such a sense of goodness as can be felt without the Spirit of adoption .... there is a great resemblance and affinity between the elect of God and those who are impressed for a time with a fading faith .... Still it is correctly said, that the reprobate believe God to be propitious to them, inasmuch as they accept the gift of reconciliation, though confusedly and without due discernment; not that they are partakers of the same faith or regeneration with the children of God; but because, under a covering of hypocrisy they seem to have a principle of faith in common with them. Nor do I even deny that God illumines their mind to this extent .... there is nothing inconsistent in this with the fact of his enlightening some with a present sense of grace, which afterwards proves evanescent(3.2.11, Institutes).
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