Foundations of Faith
ETERNAL SECURITY (I)

As noted in the Apr97 issue of GROWING, we are saved by “placing our trust for eternal salvation totally upon the Lord Jesus Christ and the work of atonement that He completed on the cross.” After telling us that we are saved through faith by God’s grace, the apostle Paul adds for emphasis, “Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8,9).

The question is often asked, “Can a person who is saved become lost again?” Since Christians are very much divided over this question, we must spend some time discussing it.

In this paper we shall present and seek to defend from Scripture the doctrine of the eternal security of the believer. This doctrine states that once a person has been born again by the Word of God and the Spirit of God, has been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, has received a new life and been made partaker of the divine nature, and has been justified from every charge before the throne of God, it is absolutely impossible that that person should ever again be a lost soul.

The doctrine of eternal security clearly assumes that a definite work of God has been done in the heart of the one who trusts in the finished work of Christ alone for salvation. It does not necessarily mean that if one merely professes to be saved, or goes through the motions of praying “the sinner’s prayer,” or “goes forward” at an evangelistic meeting and is pronounced “saved” by a Christian worker, that that person is forever secure; such persons may not truly be saved in the first place.

God’s salvation is a deep work. To be saved, people need first to realize they are lost, dead in trespasses and sins, heading for the lake of fire. To be saved, people need to repent of their sins, taking God’s side against themselves. To be saved, people need to understand and believe that the only way of salvation is through the horrible sufferings that Jesus endured on the cross as God’s punishment for our sin.

Here is what Scripture says about the person who truly believes these things:

1. The believer has eternal life (John 3:16; 5:24; 6:47; 1 John 5:13).

2. The believer shall never perish
(John 3:15,16; 10:28).

3. The believer shall not come into judgment (John 5:24; Rom. 8:1).

4. The believer shall never be separated from God’s love (Rom. 8:35-39).

5. The believer is kept by the power of God (1 Pet. 1:3-5).

6. The believer cannot be plucked out of the hand of Christ or His Father’s hand (John 10:28,29).

7. The believer is sealed by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13; 4:30).

8. The believer is perfected forever (Heb. 10:14).

9. There is no mention whatever in Scripture of the possibility of losing any of the blessings that have been discussed in the Sep97-Jan98 issues of GROWING. The Bible never once suggests that a true believer can become unforgiven, unjustified, unreconciled, unredeemed, unsanctified, abandoned by the Holy Spirit, or expelled from the family of God and the body of Christ. And what, pray tell, is everlasting life if it does not last forever after all?

When talking with one who does not accept the doctrine of eternal security, it is very important to have clearly in our minds the scriptures already mentioned that positively teach eternal security. Since Scripture cannot contradict itself, passages that may seem to contradict the ones listed above need to be carefully considered in their context.

Most of the scripture passages people use to reject the doctrine of eternal security are found to be warnings to challenge professing Christians. The Lord Jesus Himself laid the groundwork for this in His parable of the sower. He spoke of two classes of people who receive the Word initially but never go on to bear fruit:”He that received the seed into stony places, the same is he who hears the Word, and anon with joy receives it; yet has he not root in himself, but endures for a while; for when tribulation or persecution arises because of the Word, by and by he is offended. He also who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the Word, and he becomes unfruitful” (Matt. 13:20-22).

I have had a number of experiences, and maybe you have too, in which a person listens eagerly to the gospel and seems to receive it with joy. But after a few days it is as if nothing has happened. I dare not call such people saved, but continue to bring the gospel before them.

The term “carnal Christian” is sometimes used today to describe those who are truly saved but are living no differently from the typical unsaved person. Scripture does not recognize such a class of people. If we know people who say they are Christians but show no evidence of the fruit of the Spirit or works pleasing to God in their lives, we have no right to regard them as saved (John 15:2; Gal. 5:22,23; Eph. 2:10; Tit. 2:14; Jas. 2:17-26). Others show so little fruit that we may just have to fall back on the truth that “the Lord knows those who are His” (2 Tim. 2:19).

For these reasons, the apostle Paul was never satisfied in getting people simply to make a profession of Christ. He worked with them, discipled them, and taught them, to make sure that they were really saved, really growing in the truth, really giving evidence of salvation in their lives.

Many of the verses used to argue against the doctrine of eternal security are plainly the apostles’ determination that “converts” give clear evidence that they are saved:”And you who were once … enemies … has He reconciled … to present you holy … if you continue in the faith” (Col. 1:21-23). “I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labor in vain” (Gal. 4:9-11; Phil. 2:16; 1 Thess. 3:5). We are Christ’s house “if we hold fast the confidence … of the hope firm unto the end” (Heb. 3:6; 4:14; 10:23). “Faith without works is dead” (Jas. 2:17-26). Since salvation is “not of works,” and since those who truly believe have “everlasting life,” these passages must be talking about confirming one’s salvation, not losing it.

We shall continue this topic next time, considering some particularly difficult passages, including Heb. 6:4-6, as well as objections and questions that are commonly raised about eternal security.

Running the Race
Assignment 2: Suppose a born again believer in Christ has a wicked thought while crossing the street, and immediately is hit and killed by a truck. Would that person go to heaven or to hell? Write out a verse to support your answer.