ETERNAL SECURITY: PART 1
This shall be the first of a series on various aspects of eternal security.
What is eternal security and can a believer lose his/her salvation?[1]
We might explain eternal security like this: “Eternal security is that continuous operation of the Holy Spirit in the believer by which the work of divine grace that is begun in the heart is continued and brought to completion.” This means that once a person has undergone the real experience of salvation, of regeneration, that person cannot commit some sin or cease to believe with the result of a loss of salvation. That which keeps the believer safe and secure is the work of the Holy Spirit and the work of God on his behalf, not his own works.
Let’s look at this issue in greater detail:
1. Salvation Is Not Repeatable – There is not a single case in Scripture that states: this person was saved; he lost his salvation; and then he was re-saved some time later. That concept is nowhere in Scripture, nor is there a single case of someone who was saved, lost and then saved again later, recorded in the Bible.
2. True Salvation Produces Works of Righteousness – True salvation will produce genuine works of righteousness in one’s life. Anyone who has been truly saved will show it with some degree of evidences, although they might be quite small. A believer works because he is saved (Mat. 7:17‑20; Titus 2:11‑12; Jas. 2:14‑24; II Pet. 1:5‑10).
3. Doctrinal Consistency: The Test of True Faith (Col. 1:22‑23; II Jn. 2) – When a person is saved, he may not know that Yeshua (Jesus) was born of a virgin. When he does learn it, he will readily accept it. If he denies or rejects this truth, then perhaps he was never truly saved to begin with. Doctrinal consistency is a test of true faith.
4. Works of the Believer Rewarded (Heb. 6:10) – The believer does not attain his salvation by works. Rather, true salvation will result in works. Salvation itself is not a reward, but it is a free gift received by faith.
5. The Basis of the Exhortations to Godly Living – The exhortations in Scripture for godly living are based upon what God has done, never upon the fear of losing one’s salvation (e.g. Rom 12:1-2; 2 Cor 5:15; Eph 4:1)
6. The Results of Sin in the Believer’s Life – Sin severs one’s fellowship with God (I Jn. 1:6‑7, 9), but does not sever salvation. Once one believes, he has a “family relationship” with God. When one is born physically, he is born into a family and will always be a part of that family. At times, communion and fellowship within that family might become strained and broken because of animosity between members of the family. The same thing is true in the family of God. One may break fellowship because of one’s sin, but he will always remain in that family nonetheless.
7. Persistent Sin May Show a Lack of Conversion – Consistent sin does not show a loss of salvation. If anything, it may show that the person was never saved to begin with. Often people point to an individual saying that he had walked down the aisle and said “he believed on Jesus,” but has never shown the evidence of it. However, walking down the aisle does not mean a person had true saving faith, nor does merely saying that he believed mean he had true saving faith. The question is: “Was he ever really saved to begin with? Was he ever really converted in the true sense of the term?”
8. Perfection Is Not Achieved in This Life – Believers will be sinning for the rest of their lives. If one must reach perfection in order to maintain salvation, then every believer is in trouble. If anyone could have made it to perfection, it would have been the Apostle Paul, and yet he wrote, “I am not yet perfect” (Phil. 3:12‑14).
9. The Difference Between Position and Practice – Paul referred to the Corinthian church positionally as being a sanctified church (I Cor. 1:2). But according to their practice, they are one of the worst churches in the New Testament. There is a difference between position and practice; however, bad practice does not mean that the position has been lost.
10. The Relationship Between Works and Salvation – If works are needed to keep salvation, then salvation is by works. In Romans 4:4‑6 Paul said:
4Now to him that works, the reward is not reckoned as of grace, but as of debt. 5But to him that works not, but believes on him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness. 6Even as David also pronounced blessing upon the man, unto whom God reckons righteousness apart from works, . . .
Galatians 2:21:
I do not make void the grace of God: for if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nought.
And II Timothy 1:9:
. . . who saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before times eternal, . . .
ETERNAL SECURITY: PART 2
Posted on May 31, 2012 by Ariel Ministries
Another question we can ask regarding eternal security is: “What are the evidences of it?” Evidences for this may be grounded in the work of the Trinity.[1]
God the Father
1. The Sovereign Purpose of God
Romans 8:28‑30 spells out one of these sovereign purposes of God, when Paul said those who have been justified will be glorified. He does not say only some who have truly been saved are going to persevere to the end and then make it; he does not say that only some who are justified will eventually be glorified. What is stated is that those who have been justified are also guaranteed to be glorified by God the Father. See also 1 Cor 1:8, Eph 1:4, 11-12; 2:7; Phil 2:12-13; Heb 2:10
2. The Father’s Power to Keep
The second reason which is dependent upon God the Father is based upon the fact of the Father’s power to keep. The fact that He has the power to keep means that He will keep. John 10:25‑29 points out that God will give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish. The ones who have been saved have eternal life. And if the word eternal means anything, it means just that: it is eternal. If someone could lose his salvation, he did not have eternal life, he had only temporary life. John then emphasizes this fact even further with the next phrase. Not only does he state positively that God gives them eternal life, but then he also states negatively: they shall never perish. See also Rom 4:21; 8:28-30; 14:4; Col 3:3; II Tim 1:12; I Thes 5:23-24; Heb 7:25;
3. God’s Infinite Love
A third reason that eternal security is dependent upon God the Father is because of God’s infinite love. Romans 5:7‑10 states that, if God sent His Son to die for us when we were His enemies, He would certainly keep us now that we are His friends. The love of God was proved by the sending of His Son to die for our sins while we were His enemies. If God was willing to provide salvation when we were His enemies, the love of God will make sure that He is going to keep us now that we are His friends. See also Eph 1:4.
4. The Promise of God
The fourth reason dependent upon God the Father for eternal security is based upon the promise of God. God made a specific promise of eternal security, and the promises of God can never be rendered null and void. John 3:16 states that the believer will not perish. If a believer could lose his salvation and end up in Hell, then obviously a believer can perish. But according to this passage, once a person has accepted Yeshua as his Savior, as his Messiah, he simply will not perish. See also John 5:24; Heb 6:16-19.
God the Son
1. He Bore our Condemnation Forever
When the Messiah died He bore condemnation forever. He did not merely bear condemnation for past sins, for when Jesus died, all our sins were still future. He did not die just for some of our sins, He died for all of them. The Messiah has died, and He has borne our condemnation (Heb. 5:8‑9; I Jn. 2:2).
2. Believers Are Partakers of His Resurrection Life
The Messiah has risen, and believers are partakers of His resurrection life (Rom. 4:25; Eph. 2:6). The fact that we are partakers of His resurrection life emphasizes that resurrection life is not something that can be lost.
3. The Messiah’s Work As Advocate
The third reason that eternal security is dependent upon God the Son is the work of the Messiah as an Advocate (I Jn. 1:1‑2:2). As our Advocate, He deals with the sins in the believer’s life, but never with the threat of losing salvation. Because He is an Advocate on our behalf, sin in the believer’s life is dealt with, but not by loss of salvation.
4. The Messiah’s Work of Intercession
The Messiah intercedes so that none can be lost. He interceded while still on earth (Jn. 17:1‑26), and He is still interceding for us (Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:25).
5. The Messiah’s Role As Shepherd
As a shepherd (John 10:27‑29), three things may be pointed out:
- First, believers have eternal life. Again, the word eternal must mean what it says.
- Secondly, they shall never perish. No matter what the sheep do, they will never perish.
- Thirdly, no one [can] snatch them [from His] hand. No one has the power or the capacity to snatch them from His hand.
6. The Purpose of the Messiah’s Redemptive Work
“What is the purpose of His redemptive work?” Ephesians 5:25‑27 states that He died to purify the Church so that it will be without spot and without blemish and this is exactly what He intends to do. Certainly, if any part of that Body could lose its salvation that would be a spot; that would be a blemish. See also Heb 5:9; I Pet 3:18
God the Holy Spirit
1. The Holy Spirit’s Work of Regeneration
II Corinthians 5:17 states that all things have become new; Galatians 6:15 declares the believer to be a new creature or creation; Ephesians 2:10 teaches that believers have been created in Christ Jesus. The work of regeneration makes one a new creation, a new creature.
2. The Holy Spirit’s Ministry of Indwelling
When the Bible speaks of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling the believer, it emphasizes that once He comes to indwell that believer, He indwells him permanently, eternally, and for ever (Jn. 14:16‑17; I Cor. 6:19; Eph. 2:22; I Jn. 2:27).
3. The Holy Spirit’s Ministry of Spirit Baptism
By Spirit baptism, the believer is vitally joined to the Messiah (I Cor. 12:13) and becomes a member of His Body. There is no implication that it is possible to ever fall out of that Body.
4. The Holy Spirit’s Ministry of Sealing
The Holy Spirit does seal, and the purpose of the sealing is to seal up the believer in Christ so that he can never fall out. The clear emphasis is that the believer has been sealed, not just temporarily, not just until he no longer believes, but has been sealed unto the day of redemption. Having been sealed, the final redemption is guaranteed. Perhaps the sealing ministry of the Spirit is the most vital one, emphasizing eternal security (II Cor. 1:21‑22; Eph. 1:13‑14; 4:30).
5. The Power of the Holy Spirit
Philippians 1:6 brings out the fact that the Holy Spirit will complete the work He has begun. He has begun the work of salvation in us, and He will bring it to its final completion.
Eternal Security: Part 3
Posted on June 14, 2012 by Ariel Ministries
Another important area of evidence for eternal security is based upon the lengthy passage of Romans 8:1‑39.[1]
Verse 1: There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus means that the believer is no longer under any condemnation, no matter how often he may personally sin.
Verses 2‑8: the believer has been delivered from the Law, and the Law can no longer condemn him.
Verses 9‑13: the divine nature is present within the believer, and this divine nature is not capable of spiritually dying.
Verses 14‑17: the believer is an heir of God; as an heir, he will not lose his inheritance.
Verses 28‑30: the divine purpose is that the very ones who have been justified-and every believer has been justified-will some day also be glorified.
Verses 31‑33: Paul emphasizes the execution of the divine purpose, and indeed the ones whom He has justified He will glorify, because He will not accept any charges [against His] elect.
Verse 34: in light of the Messiah’s achievement, the believer’s security is guaranteed to be eternal.
Verses 35‑39: Paul points out the incompetency of celestial and mundane things to keep one eternally. Believers do not have the power to keep themselves, so God is the One who is going to keep them. On the other hand, these verses emphasize further that there is nothing – absolutely nothing – that can now separate us from the love of God. Nothing outside of us, nothing inside of us, not even we ourselves can separate us from the love of God.
Eternal Security: Part 4
Another argument for eternal security is based upon the meaning of the word “eternal.”[1] The very meaning of the word “eternal” rules out the possibility of the loss of salvation, because if “eternal” means anything, it means “forever.” If someone could lose his salvation, then it is not eternal, but temporary instead. Involved in our salvation are ten eternal things:
First, there is an eternal plan that God has for our lives (Eph. 3:10‑11).
Second, based upon what the Messiah has done, we now have eternal salvation (Heb. 5:9).
Third, we have eternal redemption (Heb. 9:12).
Fourth, believers have an eternal inheritance (Heb. 9:15).
Fifth, those who have this eternal redemption, inheritance and salvation are destined for eternal glory (II Tim. 2:10; I Pet. 5:10).
Sixth, there is an eternal hope, because we have the guarantee of eternal glory (Titus 3:7; Heb. 6:17‑19).
Seventh, eternal hope, in turn, provides eternal comfort (II Thes. 2:16).
Eighth, God has made an eternal covenant with us, and by virtue of His being the covenant-keeping God, He will keep us saved (Heb. 13:20).
Ninth, we are destined for an eternal kingdom (II Pet. 1:11).
Tenth, we do indeed have eternal life now; we have it presently. It is not something we will receive later upon death, but we have eternal life right now (Jn. 3:14‑16, 36; 6:47; 10:28; Titus 3:7).
It cannot be overemphasized that eternal life must mean what it says: if it is not eternal, if a person could lose it, then it is only temporary life.
Eternal Security: Part 5
Posted on June 25, 2012 by Ariel Ministries
Here are eleven additional points to consider regarding eternal security:[1]
1) When Yeshua died for the sins of the world, He died for all of the sins of the world, not only until the next sin was committed. The very fact that the work of Jesus was finished -the fact that He does not need to come and die again – shows that those who have received the benefits of His work cannot lose it. Those who have received salvation cannot, therefore, lose it, because it would require the Messiah to do His work all over again (Heb. 10:12‑18).
2) In I Peter 1:4‑5 we see that believers have been kept through faith, and are kept unto the final consummation. God is doing the keeping. Indeed, if the retaining of salvation were dependent upon the believer, everyone would lose it.
3) Every believer is a new creature or creation (II Cor. 5:17). This fact means that one cannot suddenly now eternally cease to exist.
4) Just as no one can obtain salvation by works, but only through faith, even so, no one is going to keep his salvation by works. Read Ephesians 2:8‑9.
5) According to John 6:37‑40, the believer is a gift given by God the Father to the Son because of the Son’s obedience.
6) In I John 3:9, we read that the seed abides. The seed is the gospel seed that produces eternal life. This eternal life continually abides; it does not at some point become inoperative.
7) Salvation is a free gift (Rom. 11:29). A free gift is not truly free if it can be demanded back. When God gives a gift, it is a free gift of grace; it is not something that He will take back from the one to whom He has given it.
8) Salvation is also a birth, a new birth (Jn. 1:12; 3:3; Jas. 1:18; I Pet. 1:3, 23). The fact that salvation is a birth makes it final and unchangeable. Just as a child’s physical birth is final and unchangeable, so that it cannot be put back into the womb to start all over again, even so, believers are born again.
9) A believer is not able to keep himself saved any more than he was able to save himself in the first place (Gal. 3:3). Just as God saves, God is the One who is going to keep.
10) God has paid the highest price for believers: the blood of His Son. That is too high a price to give them up now.
11) Gross sins are punished, but never at the loss of salvation (e.g. I Cor 5:1‑5; 11:29‑32).
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