It's Not All About You

Eternal Security

It's not all about you

I would say that the question most frequently asked by Christians is this: is it possible for me to lose my salvation?

It bothers so many of us. We know the stakes. And the possibility of having got it wrong, haunts so many believers.

This message is the first in a series that are stand- alone messages but which all bear upon the question of eternal security.

Do we believe that the Blood of Christ cleanses us from sin?

Absolutely - no problem there - just read 1 John 1:9.

Do we accept that no-one can snatch us away from God?

Of course we do - the Bible says so. No one can snatch us out of the Father’s hand - John 10:28-29 makes that one quite clear

But here's where agreement ends and doubts begin!

We hear so many things that can make us insecure - particularly if we're really struggling to the live the lives we know we should.

So many doubts

So many different slants and theories

When do we get saved?

Is it at a particular point in time?

Or does it develop over time?

Is it possible to stop believing and lose it all?

Can we blow it by persisting in willful sin?

Or does that willful sin show that we've already blown it in the first place? After all - the tree is known by its fruit!

So - to extend that principle a little - can we forfeit Eternal Life - not just by sinning - but by being unfruitful and unproductive in our lives? Carelessly allowing our salvation to slip through our fingers - as Hebrews 2:3 seems to suggest?

In this series, we're going to examine these fears and see if they have any basis in reality. What does the Word of God actually teach?

But don't just take my word for it. Like the Bereans - examine this subject for yourself. I'm confident that when you understand the principles by which God operates - understand His motivations in relation to your salvation, you'll put to rest these doubts and fears; you'll appreciate the yawning gulf that divides human reasoning from Divine wisdom and Infinite Love and Grace.

This first session is entitled: 'It's not all about you'

We'll discuss this in a moment - but first let's address a couple of the concerns we mentioned at the beginning.

Among the various positions adopted on the question of eternal security, what undisputed facts can we all agree on - if we take the Word of God at face value? What does the Bible clearly teach about eternal life?

Well - the first thing we find is that:

Eternal life is a present possession!

It's not something we have to wait to receive;

Not something we grow into;

And not something that develops gradually.

The Bible does talk about aspects of our salvation that still lie in the future - but entering into a relationship with God - and receiving the gift of eternal life - is something that happens at a particular point in our lives!

In John 5:24 Jesus said these words:

“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.

Then in Ephesians 2:4-5 we read:

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions---it is by grace you have been saved.

And finally, Paul says in Romans 5:1-2

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.

So that's quite clear. Salvation isn't something we're looking forward to - it's something that occurs in one point of time!

So you and I are either saved right now or we're not saved at all!

So what's the next thing we can agree on?

It's this. It appears that we can be sure that we have eternal life. God intends for us to have confidence - to be able to rest quietly in the knowledge and complete assurance of salvation - no shadow of a doubt!

John writes in his first epistle, chapter 5:13:

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

In Rom 8:16 Paul says:

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

And in 2 Timothy 1:12, we hear Paul's stirring words:

I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.