The excessive preeminence given to the Holy Spirit in their devotions and their preoccupation with gifts, ecstasies, and “prophecies” has tended to neglect of the Scriptures. Why be tied to a Book out of the past when one can communicate every day with the living God? But this is exactly the danger point. Apart from the constant control of the written revelation, we soon find ourselves engulfed in subjectivity; and the believer, even if he has the best intentions, can sink rapidly into deviations, illuminism or exaltation. Let each remind himself of the prohibition of taking anything away from Scripture or adding anything to it (Deut. 4:2; Rev. 22:18–19). Almost every heresy and sect has originated in a supposed revelation or a new experience on the part of its founder, something outside the strictly biblical framework.
Rene Pache

Eternal Security00

Eternal Security00

ETERNAL SECURITY

I. Introduction In 1978 as I struggled with the content of the gospel and how it would affect my life as a Roman Catholic, I found that the one facet of it that “boggled” my mind was Eternal Security. I could not believe that once a person was “saved” that there was no way to ever “lose” that salvation. It seemed “crazy” to believe that I could become a Christian today and then commit all kinds of “gross” sins tomorrow and still have a secure future in the eternal home! I remember asking Bob Hey, the Christian who shared the gospel with me, “Bob, do you mean that if I accept Jesus as my Savior and Lord, and later in my life commit murder, adultery, theft, or even commit suicide, that I would still go to heaven?” His answer was a resounding yes. Today I understand about the security of the believer and realize that it is God who “elects” us and “calls” us and then “holds” us until the day we join Him in the Heavenly Paradise. I have no more affect over my security of salvation then I had over God’s decision to elect me to salvation.

II. Importance Is the study of eternal security an important issue in the Christian faith. Yes, for if there is a chance of “losing” our salvation then it would make all the difference in the world and in eternity. Knowing that our destiny may change tomorrow would certainly affect both the inner peace we now experience and our behavior on this earth. How anxious we would be. Eternal Security has often been labeled one of those doctrines that we shouldn’t break Christian fellowship over. In other words, we do not try to convince those who believe that they can lose their salvation; we just let them go and believe what they do, because they believe in Jesus. If they are wrong and are secure and cannot lose their salvation then it really will be ok in the end because they have it and just don’t know it. I used to agree with that logic and “kid” my Nazarene Brothers about the fact that they don’t believe in eternal security. But then I came to realize the real danger of such a doctrine. There are many false gospels in the world today, but they all have one aspect that they unite on–a works salvation. In other words, The false teachers agree that in order to get to heaven you must do your “works” and if they are “good enough” then God will “let you in.” Each has their own “twist” but essentially they are the same. Let’s look at two of the most popular false gospels in our country for examples of this: A. Roman Catholic’s Gospel – You are saved by Grace that was acquired by the death of Jesus on the Cross. But you receive the grace as you “do your works” (i.e., sacraments, rosaries, prayers, etc). The more works you do then the more grace you receive. If you die in the “state of grace” then you won’t go to hell. In time you will go to heaven, after a pause in Purgatory to “pay for your sins!” B. Morman’s Gospel – You are saved if (1) You believe in Jesus. (2) You are baptized by an Apostle (Morman of course). (3) You do good works. If you do all these things first then you will be saved. Notice that the overriding ingredient is man’s “works” to obtain or secure salvation. False teachers seek to convince people that “works” done before salvation gain some credit with God. A “new twist” to that gospel is the one that says, “You are saved by faith and faith alone (initially), but you are secure in that salvation only as you do your good works.” In other words, God saves you initially by Grace, but then you are responsible to “stay saved” by your works. That gospel is just as false as the ones that claim “works” are necessary for initial salvation. When Jesus said, “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through Me,” He meant not only does He save us initially but also “brings us” through our Christian Life to the Father, by His Power and Grace alone–not by our works. A person believing that they “maintain” their salvation is believing a false gospel that will condemn them to the eternal fires. Let us look at the various Biblical Passages that teach eternal security, later we will deal with the various objections that critics of eternal security have raised.

III. What the Bible Says.

  1. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith. . .”

That quote comes from the Book of Ephesians, Chapter 2, Verse 8. It reminds us how we “got saved”–by grace. The faith we had did not save us; rather, it merely brought the grace which had the power of salvation. What is grace? Grace is God’s unmerited favor by which He saves us and makes us righteous. It is based solely on His love as displayed through the death of Jesus on the cross. Our works had nothing to do with it; in fact, we were nothing but sinners when God saved us for, “God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8). When we first received salvation we were “wicked sinners” who had nothing to offer God. Yet God saved us. Why would a God who saved “worthless sinners” decide to take away that salvation because of a sin? Before, when we were God’s enemies He saved us. Now we are children of God. Would He treat us less graciously than He does His enemies? No, in fact, He realizes that even though He saved us we are still subject to sins, and reminds us that the grace that saved us will continue to “save” us unto eternal life, because, “. . .where sin increased, grace increased all the more. . .” (Romans 5:20). God’s grace continues to “cover” whatever sins we commit. It does not matter how great a sin we commit–His grace is sufficient to cover it. The unbeliever has never humbled himself before God by asking for that saving grace. But, as Christians, we have received the living and saving grace of God. B. God “keeps” us from falling out of salvation. Jude writes, “To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault. . .” (Jude 24), which affirms that we do not keep ourselves in salvation by our works. Rather, it is God who “keeps us from falling.” We cannot fall out of grace. God continually gives us His gracious, undeserved, unmerited forgiveness to cover our sins. Think of illustrations in the Bible of Christians who fell into serious sin. Moses, who was called by God to lead the God’s Chosen people to the Promised land, fell into immediate sin by the killing of an Egyptian. Did God throw him out of the Kingdom? No, he was immediately covered with more grace. David, God’s anointed King over Israel, was the spiritual leader of the people of Israel, yet committed adultery with Bathsheba, and then murdered her husband. God not only forgave him, but allowed him to continue to rule Israel and to write many of the Psalms found in the Old Testament. Lastly, look at Peter, who publicly denied any association with Christ, by saying that he was not a disciple of Jesus. Yet he also was “kept” in the kingdom and given great responsibility over the new Church. God will keep us from falling away despite our sins. C. “I give them eternal life.” Jesus, when referring to those who would believe on Him said, “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). There is no more security than the security of being in God’s grip! Who are those who would try to take believers out of God’s hand? The one who is a thief and a destroyer, known as Satan and his followers. But even they cannot “yank” a Christian away from God. The evil ones can tempt and sometimes cause us to fall into grievous sins, but never can they remove us from the hand of God. Jesus said He gives His sheep eternal life. What makes eternal life eternal? The simple fact that it will never end. If he gives us eternal life today and then takes it away tomorrow because of sin, then it was not eternal but only “temporary eternal life,” which is no eternal life at all. D. “You were marked in Him with a seal.” When we first believed something happened that we could not see or feel–we were marked as a Child of God. “. . .you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession–to the praise of His glory.” (Ephesians 1:13-14). Christians are marked with the Holy Spirit, who is the “down payment” God made when He bought us with His Blood. A deposit is the “earnest money” that guarantees that the purchase will be completed at a time yet future. God guarantees us that we are His possession, and the indwelling Spirit is His proof. E. “He who began a good work. . .” When we were saved it was not a chance happening. God had planned from eternity past to save us and our salvation was a partial fulfillment of His overall plan. The Apostle Paul assures us that what God begins–God finishes, “. . .He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6). Note it is God who “carries on the good work.” He is the one sanctifying us and we merely try to co-operate with Him. We continually will fall short of the glory of God, but will keep confessing our sins and receiving His precious grace.

IV. Answering the Critics. Those who argue against eternal security raise these arguments to prove their case against an eternal salvation. They are: A. Eternal Security – Gives a license to sin. Answer – Neither the grace of God nor the security of salvation gives the believer divine permission to sin (Rom 6:1-2; 1John 2:1). If a person has the idea that eternal security gives him a license to sin, then he probably is not saved, since a truly saved person will not make a practice of sinning. (1John 3:9). Even if a person is a genuine Christian and tries living in sin because he cannot lose his salvation, God will chasten the sinning Christian even to the point of physical death in order to restore him to proper fellowship. (1Cor 11:31-32; Heb 12:5-11; 1John 5:16-17 with examples in Acts 5:1-11; 1Cor 5:1-5; 11:27-32; 1John 5:16-17). B. Eternal Security – Destroys motivation for Christian living and service. Answer – The Bible appeals to the Christian to live for Christ and to serve Him, not to gain or to keep salvation, but because salvation is an assured possession and secured for eternity. (Psalm 37:28; John 10:27-29; 1John 5:13). It is a hindrance to Christian service if the Christian is continually worried about keeping or losing salvation. C. Eternal Security – Contradicts the experience of certain individuals in the Bible. Answer 1) King Saul–Scripture infers that Saul was a saved man. (1Sam 10:7, 9-10). However, rather than losing his salvation, it appears that Saul was chasten of God in the severest form, that is, by physical death because of his continual disobedience to God. (1Sam 28:18-19; 31:3-4). 2) Judas–He is an example of a person who was lost and never had experienced salvation in the first place. (John 6:64; 70- 71; 13:10-11; 17:11-12; Psalm 41:9; Matt 11:19; 26:50). D. Eternal Security – Contradicts certain Biblical passages. Answer 1) 1Cor 6:9-10; Gal 5:19-21; Rev 22:15–These verses refer to lost persons who are habitually characterized by the attitudes and/or actions expressed by these sins rather than referring to saved people who supposedly lost their salvation by committing one or more of these sins as an incident uncharacteristic of their general tenor of life. Otherwise, Abraham (lying), Moses (murder), and David (adultery and murder) would not inherit the kingdom of God. (1Cor 6:9-10). 2) Hebrews 6:4-6–The persons referred to in this passage are unbelievers, notice especially Hebrews 6:7-9; 10:26-39. 3) Matthew 24:13–Endurance or salvation is evidence of a genuine salvation. (Phil 1:6; 1John 2:19). 4) Ezekiel 3:20; 18:24, 26; 33:12-13, 18–The righteous being referred to in this context may only be self-righteousness. In the context of this passage, it is also possible that the death referred to is physical rather than spiritual. 5) John 15:2,6–These verse refer to persons who may profess to be saved but actually are not genuine believers. Every true believer bears some fruit (Matt 7:20; 13:23) as a result of at least some abiding in Christ, although admittedly the degree of abiding and fruit-bearing may vary from individual believer to individual believer. The “branch in Me” (verse 2) is used in a figurative illustration. Judas would be an example of such a branch who was in the circle of Christ’s chosen disciples and yet was not a true believer. Others interpret John 15:2,6 as believers who experience severe chastisement. 6) 2Peter 2:20-22–The context indicates that false teachers and not true believers are in view here.

V. Conclusion Eternal security is a reality for everyone who believes. When Jesus died on the cross He “paid” for all of our sins. When we received His saving grace as a free gift we received total forgiveness of all our past, present and future sins. As we go through our Christian life we will sin, but not as much as we mature. When we do sin it will affect the “joy of our communion with God” and will require a confession to restore the sweetness of the relationship. But God has, by His sovereign will, declared some to be His forever. He chose those of us who are saved because He wanted to without any goodness being found in us. The keeping of that salvation is also entirely up to Him and neither our sins nor our good works have any affect on that security. However, to purposely sin after receiving such a great salvation is “stepping on the Blood of Christ” and can bring swift discipline from our Good and Loving Father, but never a loss of salvation. (Note: Many of the arguments and answers listed above in Section IV. were extracted from class notes taken from Dr. H. W. Holloman’s class on Theology at Talbot Theological Seminary.)