ETERNAL SECURITY
Definition: It’s impossible for people who are genuinely saved–who have the real thing–to lose that salvation.
PROOFS:
SECURITY DEPENDS ON GOD
As does salvation–if your concept of man’s sinfulness and God’s grace is right, this issue will not be a problem!
REASONS THAT DEPEND ON THE FATHER
1. God’s purpose John 10:27-29
God has purposed that no one shall pluck the redeemed out of His hand.
2. God’s power Jude 24
He is able to present you faultless.
He is able to keep you from stumbling.
3. God’s love
John 13:1, 34-35 Christ’s work is the result of His love.
Rom. 9:11-13 (Eph. 1:4-5) God’s election is based on His love.
Rom. 8:35-39 Nothing can separate us from His love.
Who is “us?” –compare verses 28-31
4. The Son’s prayer to the Father John 17:11-15, 20
Can the Father deny this prayer of the Son?
REASONS THAT DEPEND ON THE SON
Rom. 8:34 “Who is he that condemns?” => NO ONE! Why?
Compare verses 35-39–“nothing can separate us from His love.”
Three reasons:
1. The death of Christ
2. The resurrection of Christ
3. The intercession of Christ (compare Heb. 7:25).
At least one other reason that depends on the Son:
4. The advocacy of Christ 1 John 2:1
Intercession is preventive
Advocacy is corrective
Both are part of Christ’s intercessory work.
REASONS THAT DEPEND ON THE HOLY SPIRIT
1. The regenerating work of the Holy Spirit
John 3:3, 5-6; Titus 3:5
Human life, once generated, never ends.
Being born again is an eternal life, which never ends.
2. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit
1 Cor. 6:19; Rom. 8:9
Carnal Christians are included among people who are indwelt.
To become lost, we would have to be “dis-indwelt”
No record is ever given of this happening.
3. The baptizing work of the Holy Spirit
1 Cor. 12:12-14. 18-20, 27
There is never a concept of amputated members (dropped off)
We have been joined into the body of Christ which grows to maturity (Eph. 4:11-16)
4. The sealing of the Holy Spirit
Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30; 2 Cor. 1:21-22
The seal is the mark of ownership.
By it the contents are made secure.
It can be broken only by the sender or by the recipient.
God is both.
He has sealed it.
He will receive it.
He has said it won’t be broken until the day of redemption.
The Spirit is the guarantee of that promise.
AREA OF CONFUSION–THE NATURE OF SALVATION
Relevant Facts
Rom. 3:23 No one deserves salvation
Rom. 7:14, 18 Even saved people are still sinful.
Eph. 1:4-5; Rom 9:16 God’s election is based on love and mercy
Eph. 2:7-10 God will be glorified in eternity because of His kindness–NOT because of our works.
2 Cor. 5:17-19 When we are saved, we become different.
Out desires and attitudes change.
John 3:19-21 Saved people enjoy God’s work in our life.
James 2:14, 17-18, 26 Living faith (the only kind) produces fruit!
True faith changes our life–internally and externally.
We become new creatures with new works.
Problem
The arguments against eternal security usually center on experience:
“I know someone who I’m sure was saved, but now couldn’t be!”
1. Two pertinent questions:
(1) How do you know they were saved?
(2) How do you know they couldn’t be saved now?
2. Alternate view
Matt. 13:3, 5-6
The ground produced “life”
Anyone inspecting it on the surface would conclude: “This is good ground!”
The life appeared to be genuine.
It was never good ground. It was doomed from the start!
It gave the appearance of real life.
13:7 Produced until choked out
13:20-22
1 John 2:18-19
True faith produces irretractable life.
People sometimes try to counterfeit life.
It’s possible to deceive yourself.
Many people know the gospel clearly and continue to trust their own abilities for approval before God.
Such people may even lead others to genuine salvation by using the Scriptures, while not being saved themselves!
It’s to these people that the warnings of Scripture are addressed.
They urge us to examine ourselves, to be sure we have the real thing.
True living faith produces righteousness.
OBJECTIONS
1. Security breeds license (Rom. 6)
Sometimes true–that’s a serious charge!
Anti-security does not necessarily breed holiness!
Most people propose you can be re-saved.
In reality, neither view is noted for license.
People who desire salvation tend to watch how they live!
2. Faith in the Bible is present tense.
Sometimes it’s aorist tense: John 1:12; 1 Cor. 15:2; Acts 16:31
Our position allows for both–faith is continuous!
This argument doesn’t allow any past tense occurrences!
3. You can be saved, then murder someone and remain saved.
Is murder the fruit of the new creature? 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 5:17-23
PROBLEM PASSAGES
1. Hebrews 6
Go on to perfection 1-3
Because you can’t go back and start over again 4-6
Things to note:
The clear point (6): you can’t be restored!
It can only happen once!
What makes you fall?
Any sin?
Serious sins? Like what?
“Anything worse than what I do!”
2. John 15:6
Subject is fruitfulness–NOT salvation!
This is an illustration of a principle–NOT a doctrine of damnation.
3. 1 John
The theme is fellowship–NOT salvation.
4. 1 Cor. 9:27
“Cast away” = “disapproved”
Refers to rewards after inspection.
5. Gal. 5:4
If you choose the law way of justification, you turn away from the grace way!
6. Matt 24:13
Refers to deliverance at end of tribulation–NOT salvation from sin.
7. Rev. 22:19
Could be a book with all living listed.
Could view both as inheritance.
People who amend it lose the inheritance.
Emphasizes unchangability of our message.
All the redeemed are kept eternally secure by the power of God through the new birth, the indwelling and sealing of the Holy Spirit, and the intercession of Christ. This doctrinal truth should not be called "the perseverance of the saints", but rather, the perseverance of God. He is the One who keeps His children in His hand and provides all we need (Jn. 10:27-29; Jude 1, 24; Rom. 8:34-39; 1 Jn. 1:8-2:2; Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30; 2 Cor. 1:21-22).
The strongest reason for believing in the security of the true child of God is the nature of salvation itself. Our salvation has never been based on what we do. It is the completed work of Christ that saves. When a person genuinely trusts in Christ, he becomes a new creature; he is no longer the same. That transformation, though it doesn't make us perfect nor sinless, does last forever (Rom. 3:23; 7:14, 18; Eph. 1:4-5; Rom. 9:6; Eph. 2:7-10; 2 Cor. 5:17-18; Jn. 3:19-21; Jas. 2:14, 17-18, 26).