ETERNAL SECURITY
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The phrase "eternal security" means that once a person is saved by believing in Jesus Christ, that person’s salvation can never be lost through any subsequent sin, act, or lack of action. The believer’s place in heaven is eternally secure. If a Christian understands the Biblical teachings on salvation, then eternal security is not difficult to understand nor believe. Some of these Biblical teachings would include salvation by grace only, and that all personal sins (past, present, and future) were paid by Jesus Christ at the cross.
However, because many Christians do not understand a lot of the Scriptural teachings on salvation, eternal security is not taught nor accepted by many in the Church. There are many viewpoints from which the Bible teaches eternal security, many promises from God which would have to be broken to lose our salvation.
1. POSITIONAL VIEWPOINT - Every believer at the point of salvation is placed into the position of being in union with Christ.
Rom 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, (NIV)
Eph 1:3-6 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will- to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. (NIV)
Jude 1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, To those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ:
2. LOGICAL VIEWPOINT - God did the most for us when we were His enemies, and will do much more for us as members of His royal family.
Rom 5:9,10,15,17,20 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, (NIV)
Rom 8:32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all-- how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (NIV)
3. THE “HAND OF GOD” VIEWPOINT - The believer is held by God’s hand, and God will never let go. This is an anthropomorphism, that is, attributing to God some human characteristic that He, in fact, does not possess. This is for the purpose of helping us to understand some characteristic about God.
John 10:28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. (NIV)
Psa 37:24 though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand. (NIV)
4. EXPERIENTIAL VIEWPOINT - Though we may say we no longer believe, God remains faithful to us. This is because He is immutable, that is, unchanging.
2 Tim 2:13 if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself. (NIV)
5. FAMILY VIEWPOINT - We are born into the royal family of God and cannot be removed from it.
John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- (NIV)
Gal 3:26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, (NIV)
6. BODY VIEWPOINT - We are part of the body of Christ. The Head of the body, Christ, can never say to any member of the body, a believer, that He does not need him.
1 Cor 12:21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don’t need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don’t need you!" (NIV)
Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. (NIV)
7. GREEK TENSE VIEWPOINT - Salvation is spoken of in the Bible in the Greek Aorist tense, meaning once and for all.
Acts 16:31 They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved..." (NIV)
Salvation is also spoken of in Scripture in the Greek Perfect tense, meaning saved in the past with the result that you keep on being saved forever.
Eph 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast. (NIV)
8. INHERITANCE VIEWPOINT - The Bible guarantees believers an inheritance which can never perish or fade, kept in heaven for us.
Eph 1:11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, (NIV)
1 Pet 1:4-5 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-- kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. (NIV)
9. SOVEREIGNTY VIEWPOINT - God is sovereign in all things, and it is He who keeps us saved.
2 Pet 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (NIV)
Jude 24 To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy-- (NIV)
10. SEALING MINISTRY OF HOLY SPIRIT VIEWPOINT - The Bible tells us that we are sealed by the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of out protection and safe delivery.
2 Cor 1:21-22 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. (NIV)
Eph 1:13 And 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, (NIV)
Eph 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (NIV)
2 Tim 2:19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness." (NIV)
All of these Scriptural viewpoints promise us as believers that once we believe in Jesus Christ, our salvation is eternally secure. We are guaranteed a place in heaven, and there is nothing we can do to lose that. Based on these viewpoints and promises, it is the height of human ignorance and arrogance for believers to think that they can do anything to lose their salvation.
FALSE ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT ETERNAL SECURITY
Believers who think that they can lose their salvation betray how little they know about the Word of God, or how little they believe it. Such a heresy is based on a number of false assumptions which deny the aforementioned Bible teachings:
- That a believer can commit a sin that Christ’s death on the cross could not or did not cover. This belief would contradict the Bible’s teaching on unlimited atonement.
- That the power of man to sin and lose his salvation is greater than the power of God or of His salvation plan for mankind. This contradicts God’s sovereignty, omnipotence, and omniscience, as well as the sealing ministry of the Holy Spirit.
- That having been adopted as part of the royal family of God, we can later be "unadopted" or thrown out of the family by our heavenly Father.
- That the believer CAN be snatched out of the "hand of God" after being placed there by salvation.
- That God is not immutable (unchanging), that He can change His mind about us, or about His plans and promises.
- That we can be "amputated" from being part of the body of Christ, that Christ as the head of the body can cut off a foot or remove an eye.
- That our inheritance in heaven is not predestined or kept by God for us, but that it can perish or fade.
These false assumptions all violate clear Bible teaching to the contrary. They show a Christian’s lack of knowledge, lack of faith, and lack of humility. Such beliefs insure that a believer will never enjoy the confidence that comes with assurance of salvation, nor will such a believer ever mature to understand other basic or advanced Bible doctrines.
"PROBLEM" VERSES MISUSED TO DENY ETERNAL SECURITY
Believers who deny eternal security use a relatively few “problem” verses in an attempt to support their view. These verses are only “problems” because they are misunderstood and are taken out of their proper Biblical context. These relatively few verses are misused in an effort to deny what over a hundred other verses clearly and powerful teach.
For instance, a Bible verse may actually refer to loss of rewards (escrow blessings for the eternal state) for the believer after death, not to loss of salvation, such as:
1 Cor 3:15 If any man’s work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire.(NAS)
The aforementioned verse clearly says “...but he himself shall be saved...”, that is, this person has not lost salvation. Rather, this believer’s human good works have been burned, and he will suffer loss of eternal rewards.
Sometimes, a verse will refer to a believer’s loss of service or testimony, such as:
John 15:6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. (NIV)
It is important to note in the preceding illustration that Jesus uses, that it is men who are picking up the branch and throwing it into the fire, not God. This is important because in its context, the verse is not talking about a person’s salvation, but rather a carnal believer whose life here on earth no longer bears fruit.
Some verses may refer to unsaved false teachers, such as:
2 Cor 11:13-15 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve. (NIV)
Jude 4 For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. (NIV)
The first example clearly uses the words "false apostles", "deceitful", "masquerading", "Satan and his servants". These are not servants of Jesus Christ, not servants of righteousness, and they never were. Rather, these were false teachers masquerading as an angel of light. Jude 4 refers to the same type of men, calling them godless men who deny Jesus Christ, and refers to their condemnation written from eternity past. In both examples, the men discussed were never saved believers.
Some believers use a verse taken out of context to deny eternal security, like the following:
Matt 10:22 All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. (NIV)
This is a good example of a verse taken out of its context to distort its meaning. All one needs to do is to look at the preceding verse to see that Jesus is discussing events during the Great Tribulation.
Matt 10:21-22 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
Jesus is not discussing a believer’s salvation, but rather the believer’s survival of the judgments that will occur during the Great Tribulation.
DIVINE DISCIPLINE
Many believers think that the idea of eternal security, stated as "once saved, always saved", is ultimately a “license to sin”. The Bible certainly does not teach such a thing, but rather shows that God disciplines the continually carnal believer. Such intensified discipline can even result in sickness and even in “the sin unto death”.
Some examples of this can be found in Acts 5:1-11, Romans 6:16, and in Hebrews 6:4-20.
Romans 6:16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey-- whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? (NIV)
Hebrews 6:4-20 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned. Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of better things in your case-- things that accompany salvation. God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, "I will surely bless you and give you many descendants." And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. (NIV)
Acts 5:1-11 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God." When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?" "Yes," she said, "that is the price." Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also." At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events. (NIV)
IN SUMMARY
The Biblical concepts of grace and works are mutually exclusive (Rom. 11:4), that is, grace excludes works by definition.
Rom 11:6 And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. (NIV)
Salvation is entirely a gift from God, totally apart from anything we can earn or deserve. Even the faith we have is non-meritorious, requiring no talents or abilities and thus earning no merit, because anyone can “believe”. The only “good works” that a believer can perform is “divine good", works that are done while walking under the control of the Holy Spirit.
Denying "eternal security" is ultimately denying salvation by grace. It also requires denying the Biblical teachings on many other doctrines, including sanctification, expiation, propitiation, and the sealing ministry of the Holy Spirit. Last but not least, such a denial requires rejecting over a hundred passages of scripture that teach eternal security, verses that are powerful and clear, thus blaspheming God by calling Him a liar, and thereby presenting another gospel.
God’s plan of salvation is not arbitrary. He chooses to save everyone based on grace, excluding all human works and merit. The plan, its execution, and its revelation are the work of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Therefore, our eternal salvation depends solely, entirely upon God.
BIBLICAL PROOFS OF ETERNAL SECURITY
The following comprehensive chart, though not exhaustive, gives a good overview of the Biblical basis for the doctrine of Eternal Security, why believers can never lose salvation.
Because every Christian is in eternal union with Christ. Eph 1:1-3
Because the believer shares Christ’s election. 1 Pet 1:2
Because every believer is baptized into Christ by the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation. This is an eternal identification with Christ. 1 Cor 12:13
Because every believer is a permanent member of Christ’s body. 1 Cor 12:13
Because God remains faithful even if we do not. 2 Tim 2:12-13
Because every Christian (at the moment of salvation) passes from death unto eternal life.
John 10:28
Because the believer is no longer under condemnation. Rom 8:1
Because Christ is the life of the believer. Col 3:4
Because every believer is declared righteous. Rom 3:20
Because every believer is accepted in the beloved. Eph 1:6
Because of Christ’s advocacy. 1 John 2:1, 2
Because of God’s choice. Matt 22:14
Because Christ is the believers foundation. 1 Cor 3:11
Because of the circumcision in Christ. Col 2:10
Because of Christ’s intercession. Heb 7:25 & Rom 8:34
Because an eternal inheritance is reserved for us. 1 Pet 1:4
Because we have been perfected forever. Heb 10:14
Because we are promised confirmation unto the end. 1 Cor 1:8-9
Because we are promised to appear with Christ in Glory. Rom 8:30
Because we are dead to the law. Rom 7:4
Because God judged Christ in our place (law of double jeopardy would apply). Isa 53:6
Because our salvation is by grace (which excludes works). Eph 2:8-9
Because God gave us Christ and will freely give us all things. Rom 8:32
Because of the blood of Christ. Rom 5:8,9
Because we have been purchased & belong to God. Heb 9:12
Because the new birth is everlasting. 1 John 3:9
Because of the promise of a resurrection. 1 Cor 15:51
Because we are a protected people. Titus 2:14
Because we are his vessels of mercy. Rom 9:23,24
Because nothing can separate us. Rom 8
Because the comforter (Holy Spirit) abides with us forever. John 14:16, 17
Because we are not the objects of God’s wrath. 1 Thess 5:9
Because sin no longer has dominion over us. Rom 6:14
Because of our new & permanent position in the light. 1 Thess 5:4-5
Because we are Holy stones in the building. Eph 2:19-22
Because we are In Him & He in us. We can’t get out & He won’t leave. John 14:20
Because of God’s Assurance. Heb 10:22
Because of Christ’s prayer (which must be answered). John 17:15
Because the promise of God to finish the work He began. Phil 1:6
Because no one can lay anything to the change of God’s elect. Rom 8
Because Jesus taught it. John 10:28-29
Because we are joint heirs with Christ. Rom 8:17
Because we have been reconciled by & to God. Eph 2:14-17
Because we have been crucified with Christ. Retro-active positional truth. Rom 6:6-8
Because the bible is true. 2 Tim 3:16
Because of the gospel of grace. Titus 2:11
Because of the "sin unto death;" the length God will go to save us. 1 John 5:16
Because of God’s love, which endures forever. Psalm 136: 1-26
Because of Christ’s expiation (God accepts). Col 2:14
Because we’ve been given God’s incorruptible seed. 1 Pet 1:23
Because we are citizens of Heaven. Phil 3:20
Because of the unconditional covenant to save sinners who believe in Christ by grace through faith. Titus 1:1-2
Because the believer shares Christ’s eternal destiny. Eph 1:5,11
Because every believer is sealed with the Holy Spirit. Eph. 4:3
Because every believer is born into the family of God. Eph 2:19
Because every believer is permanently indwelt by God (The Holy Spirit) 3:16 & 1 Cor 6:19; Gal 4:6
Because every believer is given a new eternal nature. 2 Cor 5:17
Because the believer is no longer in Adam. John 14:20
Because Christ is the Good Shepherd who never loses any sheep. John 10:28-29
Because Christ paid the price for all of our sins. John 1:29
Because every believer issanctified. 1 Cor 1:30
Because every believer has been translated into the kingdom of His dear Son. Col 1:13
Because of God’s foreknowledge. Rom 8:29
Because of the unequivocal statements of Romans Chapter 8.
Because the believer is a gift to Christ from God. John 17: 6, 11-12
Because we are the objects of His consolation. 2 Thess 2:16
Because an eternal home is prepared for us. John 14:1-3
Because God promises glorification. Rom 8:29
Because we have an eternal redemption. Heb 9:12
Because we are promised that we shall bear Christ’s image. 1 Cor 15:49
Because we are promised preservation. 2 Tim 4:18
Because we are at peace with God. Col 1:20
Because Christ is the captain of our salvation (it depends on him). Heb 2:9
Because God is determined to save us that He might show the exceeding riches of His grace. Eph 1:6
Because God will not change His mind (repent). Rom 11:29
Because we remain under grace. Rom 6:14
Because we are born of the Spirit and have become spirit. John 3:6 & John 1:13
Because Christ promises to never leave us or forsake us. Heb 13:5
Because Christ is our federal head (the head & its members can’t be lost). Rom 5:19
Because the old has passed away never to return to the status, position & location in Adam). 2 Cor 5:17
Because of Gods effectual call. Rom 11:29, 2 Tim 1:9
Because God chastens His own (he doesn’t allow us to continue in sin). 1 Cor 11:31,32
Because the Holy Spirit is given as an earnest (guarantee). Eph 1:14
Because we cannot give up our salvation (wishing to be lost, won’t make it so). Rom 8
Because of the Greek aorist tense, once & for all. Acts: 16:31. Also, the perfect tense, saved in the past with theresult that we go on being saved forever. Eph 2:8-9
Because the Holy Spirit intercedes. Rom 8:26
Because we are blessed with every spiritual blessing. Eph 1:3
Because of God’s testimony. 1 John 5:9-13
Because God commendeth His love to us before our salvation. Rom 5:8-10
Because we shall never perish. John 10:28-29
Because we are delivered. 2 Tim 4:18
Because Paul (through the Holy Spirit) believed & taught eternal security. Rom 8
Because God can not lie. Titus 1:2
Because we are partners with Christ in service. 1 Cor 1:9
Because we have been given access to God. Titus 2:14
Because it depends on God. Rom 8
Because God is able to do what He promised. Eph 1:19-23
Because of God’s sovereignty. Rom 9:15-23
Because of God’s goodness. 1 John 4:8
Because of Christ’s propitiation. Rom 3:25
Because of Christ’s atonement, death, burial & resurrection, which are not in vain. Acts 2:23
Because God is our Father. 1 Cor 1:3
Because we are sheep & not goats. Matt 25:32-33
Some Last Questions And Answers
1. Doesn’t Hebrews Chapter 2 teach "loss of salvation”?
No! It actually teaches "Eternal Security." See Hebrews 2:11 (God is our Father).
2. Doesn’t Revelation 2:2-7 teach "loss of salvation”?
No! The removal of the lampstand from its place is not the loss of eternal life.
3. Doesn’t James 1:4-15 teach "loss of salvation”?
No! It speaks of physical death (which occurs to believer & unbeliever alike).
Copyright (c) 2000, Frank J. Gallagher
Abiding In The Word
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All materials are written by me and are copyrighted. These materials may be freely copied and distributed for the purpose of study and teaching, so long as they are made available to others free of charge, and my copyright is included. These materials may not, in any manner, be sold nor used to solicit "donations" from others, nor may they be included in anything you intend to copyright, sell, or offer for a fee. God the Holy Spirit freely provides this knowledge in grace, and so do I. My copyright is exercised to keep these materials freely available to all.
