Eternal Security

Eternal Security

August 26, 2012 Morning Service

Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK

Rick Boyne

Message Point: If we are truly saved, then we are truly saved for eternity; we cannot lose our salvation.

Focus Passage: Romans 8:31-39

Supplemental Passage: For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 NASB)

Introduction: Watchman Nee tells about a new convert who came in deep distress to see him. "No matter how much I pray, no matter how hard I try, I simply cannot seem to be faithful to my Lord. I think I'm losing my salvation." Nee said, "Do you see this dog here? He is my dog. He is house-trained; he never makes a mess; he is obedient; he is a pure delight to me. Out in the kitchen I have a son, a baby son. He makes a mess, he throws his food around, he fouls his clothes, he is a total mess. But who is going to inherit my kingdom? Not my dog; my son is my heir. You are Jesus Christ's heir because it is for you that He died." We are Christ's heirs, not through our perfection but by means of His grace.

Watchman Nee. http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/s/security_eternal.htm

I. Misconceptions about salvation

a. Salvation is earned (must be good, be baptized, be confirmed, etc)

b. Salvation is precarious (you can lose it and get saved again and again)

c. God is fickle (He may decide that He’s had enough and cut you off from His family)

II. Truth about salvation

a. Salvation is a gift (Eph 2:8-9)

b. Salvation is secure (Romans 8:38-39)

c. God is steadfast (Hebrews 13:8)

III. Observations about salvation

a. Not everyone who says “Lord, Lord” is saved

i. "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. (Matthew 7:21 NASB)

b. Not everyone who walks down the aisle or gets baptized is saved

i. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 NASB)

c. It is possible for a saved person to walk in the flesh, but will be without fruit

i. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, (Galatians 5:19-21a NASB)

ii. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (Romans 8:14 NASB)

d. We cannot judge whether or not a person is saved, but you can “inspect their fruit”

i. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23 NASB)

Invitation: The 3-year old felt secure in his father's arms as Dad stood in the middle of the pool. But Dad, for fun, began walking slowly toward the deep end, gently chanting, "Deeper and deeper and deeper," as the water rose higher and higher on the child. The lad's face registered increasing degrees of panic, as he held all the more tightly to his father, who, of course, easily touched the bottom. Had the little boy been able to analyze his situation, he'd have realized there was no reason for increased anxiety. The water's depth in ANY part of the pool was over his head. Even in the shallowest part, had he not been held up, he'd have drowned. His safety anywhere in that pool depended on Dad. At various points in our lives, all of us feel we're getting "out of our depth" -- problems abound, a job is lost, someone dies. Our temptation is to panic, for we feel we've lost control. Yet, as with the child in the pool, the truth is we've never been in control over the most valuable things of life. We've always been held up by the grace of God, our Father, and that does not change. God is never out of his depth, and therefore we're safe when we're "going deeper" than we've ever been.

Charles Ryrie, So Great Salvation, Victor Books, 1989, p. 137ff.

http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/s/security_eternal.htm