Eternal Security

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There are many sincere Christians, who deeply love the Lord Jesus Christ, but do not understand this critical concept. And many of these would be very offended at the suggestion that this is a fundamental doctrine of the Christian faith. But regardless of the opinions of anyone, this is indeed taught in the scriptures, and not only taught, but insisted upon as a basic and fundamental principle.

Many have the notion that after we die, there will be a trial held to see if we will be admitted to heaven, to see if we have been “good enough.” But this is a serious mistake. For the trial has already been held. And all have been already condemned. For the word of God plainly says that “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18) But there is a widespread second error, which is really only a modification of this error, that although we have already been saved by trusting Jesus, we need to do something to stay saved. The people who have been deceived by this idea fail to realize that they can no more deserve to stay saved, than they deserved to become saved in the first place. We need to realize that everything is based on the holy blood shed for us at Calvary. We need to consider the very words of Jesus, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” (John 5:24)

As one of the main groups that teach this error is the Catholic church, we will notice how the Bible version they currently approve renders this verse. “I tell you for certain that everyone who hears my message and has faith in the one who sent me has eternal life and will never be condemned. They have already gone from death to life.” (John 5:24, CEV) So again we see that even the Catholic Bible clearly teaches that, for the believer, as for the unbeliever, the trial has already been held. “Everyone” who has this faith “will never be condemned.” And why? Because “They have already gone from death to life.”

But we also need to notice the explicit wording of both of these translations, that whoever believes “has” an unending life. The Greek word here translated has is echei. (a form of word number 2192 in Strong’s Greek Dictionary) It indicates present possession, not future possession. That is, the meaning is that whoever hears the words of Jesus and believes in Him that sent Him, already has life. And this life will never end. That is the real, literal, meaning of the Greek words used in this passage. And then, this is reinforced with the promise that such a person will never be condemned.

But we need to consider the basic meaning of the words “everlasting life,” as rendered in the first translation above, or “eternal life,” as rendered in the other. In this regard, we need to realize that a life that has been lost was never “everlasting,” or “eternal.” For by its very definition, such a life cannot ever end. “Everlasting life,” or “eternal life,” neither means nor implies a life that has the potential to last for ever. Instead, it means a life that cannot be lost. And that is what Jesus meant when He said, “as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:14-16)

Again, Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:27-28) The word “never” in this promise is so strongly stated that in the Greek, it took five words to say it. This one English word is a translation of the Greek words ou me and eis ton aiona, which literally translate as absolutely not - for ever. (In the Greek, the word translated perish is between these clauses.) That is, the Greek text literally says absolutely not perish for ever.

In examining this all important doctrine, we need to consider Abraham. We read in Hebrews 6:13-14, “For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, ‘Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.’” This unconditional promise was made to Abraham in Genesis 22:17. But it was more than just a promise. For we are told that God “confirmed it by an oath.” Why did He do this? “For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.” (Hebrews 6:16-18)

God’s counsel is immutable. It cannot be changed. When He has made a promise, that promise will most certainly be kept. He wants us to understand this. So He showed it through His promise to Abraham. But He was not satisfied with simply showing it. He wanted to show it “more abundantly.” So He used man’s custom of confirming the promise by an oath. Men swear by something greater than themselves. But there is nothing greater than God. So He swore by Himself. Why did He do this? “That by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation.”

How did “we” get into the picture. The promise, and the oath, made to Abraham, was made so that “we might have strong consolation.” But who is the “we” here? It is those of us “who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast” and it “enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us.” (Hebrews 6:18-19)

Thus we see that this promise and oath, made to Abraham, was not for his sake alone. It was also to teach us a lesson. And what was the lesson? God will most assuredly keep His word. What He has promised He will certainly perform. But why does God make such a strong point of this? We learn this in Galatians 3:15-20:

“Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, ‘And to seeds,’ as of many, but as of one, ‘And to your Seed,’ who is Christ. And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.”

Here we see that the promise was stronger than the law. The Law could not annul the covenant, because that had already been made. But the covenant was not based on law. It was based on promise. Now promise and law are two very different concepts. Law is conditional, as in “If so-and-so, then such-and such.” But promise is unconditional, as in “I will do so-and-so.” In Galatians 3:15-20, as in Hebrews 6:13-19, our God stressed that His promises are unconditional.

We see this again in a promise made to David, and stressed by repeating it twice in scripture. So we first read: “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.” (2 Samuel 7:12-16)

And then we also read concerning David, “My mercy I will keep for him forever, And My covenant shall stand firm with him. His seed also I will make to endure forever, And his throne as the days of heaven. ‘If his sons forsake My law And do not walk in My judgments, If they break My statutes And do not keep My commandments, Then I will punish their transgression with the rod, And their iniquity with stripes. Nevertheless My lovingkindness I will not utterly take from him, Nor allow My faithfulness to fail. My covenant I will not break, Nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips.” (Psalm 89:28-34)

These two remarkable passages describe a promise made to David, and both of them expressly say that absolutely nothing will ever annul it. This promise is remarkable in that both of these two scriptures explicitly state that it cannot even be cancelled by sin.

In 2 Samuel 7, the wording is “If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you.” And in Psalm 89 the wording is: “If his sons forsake My law And do not walk in My judgments, If they break My statutes And do not keep My commandments, Then I will punish their transgression with the rod, And their iniquity with stripes. Nevertheless My lovingkindness I will not utterly take from him, Nor allow My faithfulness to fail.” And then He adds, “My covenant I will not break, Nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips.”

In both of these passages God expressly says that sin, if it comes, will be dealt with. But the punishment will not be a cancellation of the promise. Then, in Psalm 89, God explains this by saying, “My covenant I will not break, Nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips.”

But what does this mean for us? In Isaiah 55:1-3 we read: “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you— The sure mercies of David.”

So “the sure mercies of David,” the absolutely unconditional promise made to David, which can never be annulled, even by sin, is now extended to whoever will come, whoever will hear.

Our God made absolutely unconditional promises to Abraham and to David. And He has taught us to apply the unconditional nature of these promises to ourselves. This is not a theory. It is not a conclusion drawn by logic from various passages of scripture. It is expressly stated in the Holy Scriptures. But why does God make such a point of applying these promises to ourselves? Because He has also made similar unconditional promises to us. These promises tell us that He will both save us and keep us. Even as the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” (2 Timothy 1:12) And as He also inspired Jude to end his epistle with the wonderful words, “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 1:24-25)

And this is why eternal security is a fundamental Christian doctrine. Because our security does not rest upon ourselves, or on anything we do, but upon our Lord Jesus Christ, and the sacrifice He made at Calvary. That is a firm foundation, which cannot be shaken. In comparison, all else is nothing but shifting sand.
 

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but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”
 
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HTacianas

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There are many sincere Christians, who deeply love the Lord Jesus Christ, but do not understand this critical concept. And many of these would be very offended at the suggestion that this is a fundamental doctrine of the Christian faith. But regardless of the opinions of anyone, this is indeed taught in the scriptures, and not only taught, but insisted upon as a basic and fundamental principle.

Many have the notion that after we die, there will be a trial held to see if we will be admitted to heaven, to see if we have been “good enough.” But this is a serious mistake. For the trial has already been held. And all have been already condemned. For the word of God plainly says that “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18) But there is a widespread second error, which is really only a modification of this error, that although we have already been saved by trusting Jesus, we need to do something to stay saved. The people who have been deceived by this idea fail to realize that they can no more deserve to stay saved, than they deserved to become saved in the first place. We need to realize that everything is based on the holy blood shed for us at Calvary. We need to consider the very words of Jesus, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” (John 5:24)

As one of the main groups that teach this error is the Catholic church, we will notice how the Bible version they currently approve renders this verse. “I tell you for certain that everyone who hears my message and has faith in the one who sent me has eternal life and will never be condemned. They have already gone from death to life.” (John 5:24, CEV) So again we see that even the Catholic Bible clearly teaches that, for the believer, as for the unbeliever, the trial has already been held. “Everyone” who has this faith “will never be condemned.” And why? Because “They have already gone from death to life.”

But we also need to notice the explicit wording of both of these translations, that whoever believes “has” an unending life. The Greek word here translated has is echei. (a form of word number 2192 in Strong’s Greek Dictionary) It indicates present possession, not future possession. That is, the meaning is that whoever hears the words of Jesus and believes in Him that sent Him, already has life. And this life will never end. That is the real, literal, meaning of the Greek words used in this passage. And then, this is reinforced with the promise that such a person will never be condemned.

But we need to consider the basic meaning of the words “everlasting life,” as rendered in the first translation above, or “eternal life,” as rendered in the other. In this regard, we need to realize that a life that has been lost was never “everlasting,” or “eternal.” For by its very definition, such a life cannot ever end. “Everlasting life,” or “eternal life,” neither means nor implies a life that has the potential to last for ever. Instead, it means a life that cannot be lost. And that is what Jesus meant when He said, “as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:14-16)

Again, Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:27-28) The word “never” in this promise is so strongly stated that in the Greek, it took five words to say it. This one English word is a translation of the Greek words ou me and eis ton aiona, which literally translate as absolutely not - for ever. (In the Greek, the word translated perish is between these clauses.) That is, the Greek text literally says absolutely not perish for ever.

In examining this all important doctrine, we need to consider Abraham. We read in Hebrews 6:13-14, “For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, ‘Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.’” This unconditional promise was made to Abraham in Genesis 22:17. But it was more than just a promise. For we are told that God “confirmed it by an oath.” Why did He do this? “For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.” (Hebrews 6:16-18)

God’s counsel is immutable. It cannot be changed. When He has made a promise, that promise will most certainly be kept. He wants us to understand this. So He showed it through His promise to Abraham. But He was not satisfied with simply showing it. He wanted to show it “more abundantly.” So He used man’s custom of confirming the promise by an oath. Men swear by something greater than themselves. But there is nothing greater than God. So He swore by Himself. Why did He do this? “That by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation.”

How did “we” get into the picture. The promise, and the oath, made to Abraham, was made so that “we might have strong consolation.” But who is the “we” here? It is those of us “who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast” and it “enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us.” (Hebrews 6:18-19)

Thus we see that this promise and oath, made to Abraham, was not for his sake alone. It was also to teach us a lesson. And what was the lesson? God will most assuredly keep His word. What He has promised He will certainly perform. But why does God make such a strong point of this? We learn this in Galatians 3:15-20:

“Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, ‘And to seeds,’ as of many, but as of one, ‘And to your Seed,’ who is Christ. And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.”

Here we see that the promise was stronger than the law. The Law could not annul the covenant, because that had already been made. But the covenant was not based on law. It was based on promise. Now promise and law are two very different concepts. Law is conditional, as in “If so-and-so, then such-and such.” But promise is unconditional, as in “I will do so-and-so.” In Galatians 3:15-20, as in Hebrews 6:13-19, our God stressed that His promises are unconditional.

We see this again in a promise made to David, and stressed by repeating it twice in scripture. So we first read: “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.” (2 Samuel 7:12-16)

And then we also read concerning David, “My mercy I will keep for him forever, And My covenant shall stand firm with him. His seed also I will make to endure forever, And his throne as the days of heaven. ‘If his sons forsake My law And do not walk in My judgments, If they break My statutes And do not keep My commandments, Then I will punish their transgression with the rod, And their iniquity with stripes. Nevertheless My lovingkindness I will not utterly take from him, Nor allow My faithfulness to fail. My covenant I will not break, Nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips.” (Psalm 89:28-34)

These two remarkable passages describe a promise made to David, and both of them expressly say that absolutely nothing will ever annul it. This promise is remarkable in that both of these two scriptures explicitly state that it cannot even be cancelled by sin.

In 2 Samuel 7, the wording is “If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you.” And in Psalm 89 the wording is: “If his sons forsake My law And do not walk in My judgments, If they break My statutes And do not keep My commandments, Then I will punish their transgression with the rod, And their iniquity with stripes. Nevertheless My lovingkindness I will not utterly take from him, Nor allow My faithfulness to fail.” And then He adds, “My covenant I will not break, Nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips.”

In both of these passages God expressly says that sin, if it comes, will be dealt with. But the punishment will not be a cancellation of the promise. Then, in Psalm 89, God explains this by saying, “My covenant I will not break, Nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips.”

But what does this mean for us? In Isaiah 55:1-3 we read: “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you— The sure mercies of David.”

So “the sure mercies of David,” the absolutely unconditional promise made to David, which can never be annulled, even by sin, is now extended to whoever will come, whoever will hear.

Our God made absolutely unconditional promises to Abraham and to David. And He has taught us to apply the unconditional nature of these promises to ourselves. This is not a theory. It is not a conclusion drawn by logic from various passages of scripture. It is expressly stated in the Holy Scriptures. But why does God make such a point of applying these promises to ourselves? Because He has also made similar unconditional promises to us. These promises tell us that He will both save us and keep us. Even as the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” (2 Timothy 1:12) And as He also inspired Jude to end his epistle with the wonderful words, “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 1:24-25)

And this is why eternal security is a fundamental Christian doctrine. Because our security does not rest upon ourselves, or on anything we do, but upon our Lord Jesus Christ, and the sacrifice He made at Calvary. That is a firm foundation, which cannot be shaken. In comparison, all else is nothing but shifting sand.

Who said "eternal security is a fundamental Christian doctrine"?
 
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Who said "eternal security is a fundamental Christian doctrine"?
The entire book of Galatians is dedicated to stressing this doctrine, and the Apostle, speaking at the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, told those who were denying this doctrine, "I have doubts about you." (Galatians 4:20)

Teaching that a person can be lost after having received eternal life, is not only denying the basic and essential meaning of the words God used, it is also making our salvation out to rest, in part, on what WE do, instead of resting ENTIRELY on what JESUS did.

And THAT is why it is a denial of FUNDAMENTAL Christian doctrine.
 
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HTacianas

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The entire book of Galatians is dedicated to stressing this doctrine, and the Apostle, speaking at the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, told those who were denying this doctrine, "I have doubts about you." (Galatians 4:20)

Teaching that a person can be lost after having received eternal life, is not only denying the basic and essential meaning of the words God used, it is also making our salvation out to rest, in part, on what WE do, instead of resting ENTIRELY on what JESUS did.

And THAT is why it is a denial of FUNDAMENTAL Christian doctrine.

The letter to the Galatians speaks of those who are returning to the secondary law and has nothing to do with what we are discussing.

Now, again, you say that "eternal security" is a "fundamental Christian doctrine". Who declared that to be?
 
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Many have the notion that after we die, there will be a trial held to see if we will be admitted to heaven, to see if we have been “good enough.”

The Bible actually teaches there will be a trial or judgment and certain believers will not be able to enter the kingdom.

“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:22-23).

So while these believers did wonderful works in Christ’s name, they also justified sin or iniquity (Whereby Christ told them to depart from Him).

This is in context to doing what Jesus says because Jesus says that everyone who does not do what He says is like a fool who built His house upon the sand and when a storm came, great was the fall of that house (See: Matthew 7:26-27).

But what about Jesus’ saying that He never knew these believers in Matthew 7:23?

While it is possible that these believers could have started out thinking they could sin ahead of time (while accepting Jesus) with the thinking they are saved (all because they have a belief alone on Jesus), another possibility is Ezekiel 3:20. Lets read the verse:

“Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand” (Ezekiel 3:20).​

Seeing Jesus knows those believers who keep His commandments (1 John 2:3-4), we learn that if one commits iniquity (sin), their righteousness that they have done previously shall not be remembered. Seeing Jesus associates knowing a person by their righteousness (or in keeping His commandments), and they sin, God will no longer remember their righteousness anymore on account of their sin (unless they repent). This is how the Lord can say that He never knew them because their righteousness is no longer remembered anymore according to Ezekiel 3:20.

Many today fail to understand that those in the kingdom can be cast out because of their sin.

We see this truth expressed in Matthew 13:41-42.

41 “The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
(Matthew 13:41-42).​

To put it to you another way, Matthew 13:41-42 is saying that the Son of man (i.e. Jesus) will one day send forth His angels and they will gather out of HIS KINGDOM all things that “offend” (i.e. anything that makes others to sin - see Matthew 18:6 in the KJV and Darby Translation), and those people who do iniquity (i.e. sin or wrongdoing), and they will be thrown (cast) into the furnace of fire (i.e. the Lake of Fire) where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth (Note: Gnashing of teeth is what wolves do when they growl sometimes).

In other words, the angels of Jesus are going to gather out of HIS kingdom all those who justify sin in some way and they will be thrown into the Lake of Fire. So a person can be in the kingdom and later they are cast out.

Holding to any form of Belief Alone-ism leads to some kind of level of justifying sin in some way or turning God's grace into a license for immorality. A self professing Christian does not have to be a raging drunk, prostitute, axe murderer in order to be condemned by God. Remember, it only took one sin for Adam to fall spiritually and to lead to the fall of all of mankind from God. Ananias and Sapphira were condemned by God for their sin of lying to the Spirit because a great fear came upon the church and all who heard of what happened to them.

You said:
But this is a serious mistake. For the trial has already been held. And all have been already condemned. For the word of God plainly says that “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18)

Keep reading. In John 3:19-21 we learn that all who do evil hate the light. This is a part of the condemnation. Romans 8:1 says that there is no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus who walk not according to the flesh but who walk according to the Spirit. For Romans 8:13 basically says if we live after the flesh, we will die, but if we put to death the misdeeds of the body (sin) by the Spirit, we will live (live eternally).

You said:
But there is a widespread second error, which is really only a modification of this error, that although we have already been saved by trusting Jesus, we need to do something to stay saved. The people who have been deceived by this idea fail to realize that they can no more deserve to stay saved, than they deserved to become saved in the first place. We need to realize that everything is based on the holy blood shed for us at Calvary.

While we do need to believe in the blood of Jesus for salvation (Romans 3:25), we also need to walk in the light (i.e. abide in the light of God the Father - 1 Jn 1:5, by loving our brother - 1 John 2:9-11) as He (Christ) is in the light so that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin (See: 1 John 1:7). For the person who does not righteousness and does not love their brother is not of God (1 John 3:10). For everyone who hates his brother is like a murderer and no murderer has eternal life abiding in him (1 John 3:10). So there is no eternal security for a murderer. If one murders (which is a sin), they are not saved according to the apostle John.

You said:
We need to consider the very words of Jesus, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” (John 5:24)

John 5:24 refers to the words HEARS MY WORD as in reference to obeying what Jesus says. So those who obey the words of Jesus and believes in Him will have everlasting life and will not come into judgment and they will pass from death unto life.

As one of the main groups that teach this error is the Catholic church, we will notice how the Bible version they currently approve renders this verse. “I tell you for certain that everyone who hears my message and has faith in the one who sent me has eternal life and will never be condemned. They have already gone from death to life.” (John 5:24, CEV) So again we see that even the Catholic Bible clearly teaches that, for the believer, as for the unbeliever, the trial has already been held. “Everyone” who has this faith “will never be condemned.” And why? Because “They have already gone from death to life.”

I am strongly against Catholicism and find much of what they believe to be unbiblical.
Anyways, the Expanded Bible says this for John 5:24.

“I tell you the truth [Truly, truly I say to you], whoever hears [obeys] what I say [my word/message] and believes in the One who sent me has eternal life. That person will not be judged guilty [come into judgment/condemnation] but has already left death and entered life [passed from death into life].” (John 5:24) (EXB).

This is also in reference to Acts of the Apostles 3:23 that refers how if anyone who does not hear (obeys) that prophet (i.e. Jesus), they shall be destroyed. For Hebrews 5:9 says Jesus is the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. So we cannot just read those parts of the Bible we like at the expense of other ones.

You said:
But we also need to notice the explicit wording of both of these translations, that whoever believes “has” an unending life. The Greek word here translated has is echei. (a form of word number 2192 in Strong’s Greek Dictionary) It indicates present possession, not future possession. That is, the meaning is that whoever hears the words of Jesus and believes in Him that sent Him, already has life. And this life will never end. That is the real, literal, meaning of the Greek words used in this passage. And then, this is reinforced with the promise that such a person will never be condemned.

Jesus alone possesses immortality (1 Corinthians 16:22).
For he that has the Son has life, and he that does not have the Son does not have life (1 John 5:12).
So we have to abide in the Son in order to have eternal life for Jesus alone possesses immortality.
So how can we have an assurance that we know the Lord who is the source of our eternal life?
1 John 2:3 basically says we can have an assurance that we know the Lord if we find that we are keeping His commandments. But according to 1 John 2:4, we learn that it says the person who says they know the Lord and yet they do not keep His commandments, they are a liar and the truth is not in them. What truth is not in them? Jesus. For Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). For Jesus said we will abide in His love if we keep His commandments (John 15:10).

You said:
But we need to consider the basic meaning of the words “everlasting life,” as rendered in the first translation above, or “eternal life,” as rendered in the other. In this regard, we need to realize that a life that has been lost was never “everlasting,” or “eternal.” For by its very definition, such a life cannot ever end. “Everlasting life,” or “eternal life,” neither means nor implies a life that has the potential to last for ever. Instead, it means a life that cannot be lost.

Actually, here are several lists of verses that makes it absolutely clear that believers can fall away from the faith:

Here is a General List of Verses on How Believers Can Fall Away:

1 Samuel 16:14
1 Samuel 31:4
Ezekiel 18:24
Hebrews 3:12-14
Hebrews 4:11
Hebrews 6:4-9
Hebrews 10:26-30
Hebrews 12:15
1 Timothy 1:18-20
1 Timothy 4:1-7
Galatians 3:1-5
2 Peter 2:20-22
2 Peter 3:17
Matthew 13:18-23
1 Corinthians 10:12
2 Thessalonians 2:3​

Now, do not misunderstand me, believers cannot lose their salvation (like they would a pair of car keys), but they can forfeit their salvation (i.e. they can willingly throw it away by rebelling against God). In fact,

Here is a list of believers who have forfeited their salvation:

Saul (1 Samuel 16:14) (1 Samuel 31:4)
Demas (2 Timothy 4:10)
The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)
Judas Iscariot (Psalm 41:9) (Luke 6:16) (Acts 1:25)
Hymenaeus and Philetus (2 Timothy 2:17-18)
Unnamed Christians destroyed by false teaching (2 Timothy 2:17-18)
Many Unnamed Disciples (John 6:66)
Some Younger Christian Widows (1 Timothy 5:14-15)
Some Christians Eager For Money (1 Timothy 6:8-10)
Ananias and Sapphira (Acts of the Apostles 5:1-11)​

And here is a list of potential fallen believers:

The Servant Who is Not Looking For Him (Luke 12:45-46)
Recent Convert Who is a Potential Spiritual Leader (1 Timothy 3:6)
The Unforgiving in Heart (Matthew 6:14-15)
Luke Warm Unrepentant Believer (Revelation 3:14-22)
Fruitless Christians (John 15:1-10) (Matthew 25:14-30)
Widows That Live in Pleasure (1 Timothy 5:5-6)
Believers Whose Seed Fell Upon the Rocks (Luke 8:13)
Believers Whose Seed Was Choked by Thorns (Matthew 13:22)
Gentile Believer Who Did Not Have on a Wedding Garment (Matthew 22:1-14) (Revelation 19:7-8)
The Potential Fellow Believer Who Erred From the Truth & Was Converted Back (James 5:19-20)​

In fact, Paul is against Eternal Security or a sin and still be saved type belief. For Paul says,

  1. We can fall from grace (Galatians 5:4).

  2. We can be moved away from the hope (Colossians 1:23).

  3. We can be a castaway (1 Corinthians 9:27).

  4. We can be cut off just like the Jews if we do not continue in God’s goodness (Romans 11:20-22).

  5. We can sow to the flesh and reap corruption instead of sowing to the Spirit which reaps everlasting life. (Galatians 6:8).

  6. We can deny God by a lack of good works (Titus 1:16).

  7. We can shipwreck our faith (1 Timothy 1:19).

  8. We can deny the faith and be worse than an infidel if we do not provide for our own household (1 Timothy 5:8).

  9. We can err from the faith and pierce ourselves thru with many sorrows if we love and covet after money (1 Timothy 6:10).

  10. Hymnenaeus and Philetus have overthrown the faith of some (2 Timothy 2:18).


And that is what Jesus meant when He said, “as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:14-16)

Believing in Jesus is more than just believing in the person of Jesus for salvation, but it is believing in everything He taught, said, and did, too. This means we have to obey Jesus. For Jesus said, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). Jesus then follows up with the same point he made in Matthew 7:26-27.

You said:
Again, Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:27-28) The word “never” in this promise is so strongly stated that in the Greek, it took five words to say it. This one English word is a translation of the Greek words ou me and eis ton aiona, which literally translate as absolutely not - for ever. (In the Greek, the word translated perish is between these clauses.) That is, the Greek text literally says absolutely not perish for ever.

Notice verse 27. It says that the kind of sheep Jesus is talking about here is not sinful and lazy sheep who do nothing but they are the kind of sheep who FOLLOW Jesus. For Jesus says his sheep hear His voice and they FOLLOW. This means that they obey Jesus. So it is the followers of Jesus (those who obey Jesus) who have this promise (Which is conditional).

You said:
In examining this all important doctrine, we need to consider Abraham. We read in Hebrews 6:13-14, “For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, ‘Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.’” This unconditional promise was made to Abraham in Genesis 22:17. But it was more than just a promise. For we are told that God “confirmed it by an oath.” Why did He do this? “For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.” (Hebrews 6:16-18)

Hebrews 10:26 says if we willfully sin after are receive the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins. Hebrews 3 warns us not to harden our hearts by the deceitfulness of sin whereby we could depart from the living God. Abraham not only believed God as a part of salvation, but Abraham also was justified by works by offering his son Isaac upon the altar. Nobody was around to see Abraham offer his son. This is why faith without works is dead (James 2:17). This is why without holiness, no man shall see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14-15).
 
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But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.” (2 Samuel 7:12-16)

King Saul is actually proof that one can start off good with God but they can later end badly with God.
We can see Saul was clearly in favor with God in the beginning, but he later started to do bad things like doing the duties of a priest and in not killing the Amalekites. We learn that the Spirit departed from Saul and he later consulted a witch and committed suicide. These actions by King Saul at the end of his life show that he was no longer possessed salvation of our God. Saul fell away from God. So your mention of king Saul is proof against Eternal Security. For the passage you quote says, My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul. So Saul once had mercy but God took away His mercy from Saul because of his disobedience.
 
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The entire book of Galatians is dedicated to stressing this doctrine, and the Apostle, speaking at the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, told those who were denying this doctrine, "I have doubts about you." (Galatians 4:20)

Teaching that a person can be lost after having received eternal life, is not only denying the basic and essential meaning of the words God used, it is also making our salvation out to rest, in part, on what WE do, instead of resting ENTIRELY on what JESUS did.

And THAT is why it is a denial of FUNDAMENTAL Christian doctrine.

Paul was fighting against "Circumcision Salvationism" (Which is Law Alone Salvationism without God's grace); A certain sect of Jews were trying to deceive some Christians into thinking they had to first be circumcised in order to be saved. This was a heresy that was clearly addressed at the Jerusalem council (See Acts of the Apostles 15:1, Acts of the Apostles 15:5, Acts of the Apostles 15:24). Paul also addressed this problem; Paul said to the Galatians that if you seek to be circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing (Galatians 5:2), and then Paul mentions how if you seek to be justified by the Law, you have fallen from grace (Galatians 5:4). This "law" is the Torah (or the Old Law, i.e. the 613 Laws of Moses) because circumcision is not a part of the commands given to us by Jesus and His followers. We are not under the Law of Moses given to Israel (the 613), but that does not mean we are not under the Law of Christ (See: Romans 8:2, Galatians 6:2, and 1 Corinthians 9:21). For even to believe in Jesus is a commandment or Law (See: 1 John 3:23). But the importance is that believing in Jesus is an act of being saved initially and foundationally by God’s grace.

For while we are saved by the gospel (Which is believing that Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He was risen three days later for our salvation - 1 Corinthians 15:1-4), there is also the call of the gospel in 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 that says…. God has chosen you to salvation through the Sanctification of the Spirit and a belief of the truth, too. For while we are saved by God’s grace without works initially and foundationally (Ephesians 2:8-9), we can also deny God by a lack of works, too (See: Titus 1:16). For without holiness, no man shall see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).
 
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The problem with Belief Alone-ism (or Eternal Security) is that if you tell a child that they are saved by a belief alone in Jesus and it is nothing else in that they do, and you never see them again, they could turn out to be the next George Sodini or Kenneth Nally.

In an LA Fitness Gym in Pennsylvania on August 4, 2009, a man named George Sodini fired 50 rounds into an aerobic class before turning the gun on himself. The shooting resulted in four deaths (including Sodini himself) and nine injured. George Sodini was a member of the Tetelestai Church where he sat quietly for many years, listening to the deceptions of his preacher. Talking about the pastor of his Church, Sodini wrote in his blog dated Dec. 31, 2008,

“this guy” (Alan “Rick” Knapp) “teaches (and convinced me) you can commit mass murder then still go to heaven. Ask him.“

And in a post dated August 3, 2009, Sodini said;

“Maybe soon, I will see God and Jesus. At least that is what I was told. Eternal life does NOT depend on works. If it did, we will all be in hell. Christ paid for every sin, so how can I or you be judged by GOD for a sin when the penalty was already paid. People judge but that does not matter. I was reading the Bible and The Integrity of God beginning yesterday, because soon I will see them.

After the horrible incident in Pennsylvania, Pastor Knapp’s deacon, Jack Rickard commented on Sodini’s death and said;

“George is going to heaven, but he’s not going to get his rewards,” (SOURCE )

Kenneth Nally, another believer of Belief Alone-ism, committed suicide in 1980 after he was taught that even self-murder would not stop a person once saved from going to heaven.

This is the true fruit of Belief Alone-ism or Eternal Security.

Article source:
O.S.A.S. – THE WATCHMAN'S CRY
 
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Kenneth Nally committed suicide as per his influence of John MacArthur's ministry and MacArthur said that he was still saved.

Here is a quote from an article:

"At the trial, MacArthur, 45, is seeking to clarify his church’s teaching on suicide. “It’s not only a sin, it’s illegal,” he says. “But we teach that even if a believer takes his own life, the Lord will still receive him into His presence.”

Article Source:
Fundamentalist Clergymen Face Charges of 'Malpractice' When a Parishioner Turns to Suicide

John MacArthur says that a person can take the mark of the beast and they can still be saved afterwards. Listen to this audio clip by him here:

https://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/audio/macarthur-take-mark.mp3

John MacArthur says,

".. sin does not result in spiritual death for the believer ...
(The MacArthur Study Bible, p. 1927, comment on James 1:15)"

This is all a part of the problem with Eternal Security. It leads to turning God’s grace into a license to sin and or to make light of sin in some way (by suggesting a believer can sin and still be saved on some level).
 
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Kenneth Nally committed suicide as per his influence of John MacArthur's ministry and MacArthur said that he was still saved.

Here is a quote from an article:

"At the trial, MacArthur, 45, is seeking to clarify his church’s teaching on suicide. “It’s not only a sin, it’s illegal,” he says. “But we teach that even if a believer takes his own life, the Lord will still receive him into His presence.”

Article Source:
Fundamentalist Clergymen Face Charges of 'Malpractice' When a Parishioner Turns to Suicide

John MacArthur says that a person can take the mark of the beast and they can still be saved afterwards. Listen to this audio clip by him here:

https://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/audio/macarthur-take-mark.mp3

John MacArthur says,

".. sin does not result in spiritual death for the believer ...
(The MacArthur Study Bible, p. 1927, comment on James 1:15)"

This is all a part of the problem with Eternal Security. It leads to turning God’s grace into a license to sin and or to make light of sin in some way (by suggesting a believer can sin and still be saved on some level).
The scriptures I quoted are more powerful that all the reasonings you have provided.
 
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The scriptures I quoted are more powerful that all the reasonings you have provided.

But my reasonings included Scripture that are just as equally powerful.
A proper rebuttal with Scripture should be in order if you believe your position truly has any weight to it. For I can keep going with a lot more verses than the ones I have shown. For I have been debating against Eternal Security, Belief Alone-ism, and a or sin and still be saved belief for many years.
 
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But my reasonings included Scripture that are just as equally powerful.
A proper rebuttal with Scripture should be in order if you believe your position truly has any weight to it. For I can keep going with a lot more verses than the ones I have shown. For I have been debating against Eternal Security, Belief Alone-ism, and a or sin and still be saved belief for many years.
You made many assumptions about the meanings of a nimber of scriptures, without demonstrating that they actually meant what you daid. The reason you did not demonstrate that these scriptures had this meaning was that you cannot. For they do not mean what you claim they mean.

I demonstrated that the scriptures indeed say, and very explicitly say, that those who trust in Jesus already have a life that an never end. There is simply no escape from this, because this is the actual meaning of the Greek words used in stating this. I also quoted scriptures that explicitly said that the pron=mises of God were so absolute that even sin could not cancel them.

Your answer was simply to deny it all, and to try to reason it away with scriptures that are not even about true believers.
 
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You made many assumptions about the meanings of a nimber of scriptures, without demonstrating that they actually meant what you daid. The reason you did not demonstrate that these scriptures had this meaning was that you cannot. For they do not mean what you claim they mean.

Sure they do. But you simply are not able to provide any rebuttal because again you cannot argue against what the Word of God actually says plainly.

You said:
I demonstrated that the scriptures indeed say, and very explicitly say, that those who trust in Jesus already have a life that an never end. There is simply no escape from this, because this is the actual meaning of the Greek words used in stating this. I also quoted scriptures that explicitly said that the pron=mises of God were so absolute that even sin could not cancel them.

Sorry, I believe I just undid what you wrote by quoting other verses. It is up to you to refute my points in Scripture in return. If not, then I win, and other readers will see the truth and be set free by it.

You said:
Your answer was simply to deny it all, and to try to reason it away with scriptures that are not even about true believers.

Again, you have to demonstrate your case with the Bible to prove your point here. But is that going to happen? Only time will tell.
 
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Again, you have to demonstrate your case with the Bible to prove your point here. But is that going to happen? Only time will tell.
I already did that, in the muiti-part OP. I am not going to write another whole book, just to deal with your cavils.
 
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I already did that, in the muiti-part OP. I am not going to write another whole book, just to deal with your cavils.

So be it.
May the Lord bless you (even if we disagree strongly on the Scriptures in regards to this topic).
 
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