Eternal Security

[Cody2]

Teaching that one can lose their salvation can discourage people from getting saved and can also keeps them from trusting the Lord Jesus Christ alone. The people that teach that salvation can be lost, teach that you have to do works along with faith to be saved and to keep yourself saved. This thinking can lead people to hell.

They get this false doctrine from not rightly dividing the word of God(2 Timothy 2:15). When we look at the Pauline Epistles that are doctrine for the Church Age Saint we see that we have Eternal Security and salvation is by faith alone.

Romans 10:4 "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." KJV

Romans 11:6 "And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work." KJV

We are told in God's word that if we believe on Jesus Christ that we can KNOW that we have eternal life. It is a guaranteed thing.

1 John 5:13 "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." KJV

Paul was the Apostle to the Gentiles(us) and preached the gospel of the grace of God. This gospel consists of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:3 "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" KJV

We know that we have Eternal Security because of the sealing of the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 1:13 "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise," KJV

Ephesians 4:30 "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." KJV

We are justified and redeemed by Christ alone. ALL of our sins are forgiven by the Blood alone and we have his righteousness, if we are saved.

Romans 3:24 "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;" KJV

1 John 1:7 "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." KJV

We are kept by the power of God and not ourselves. That means salvation cannot be received or kept by anything WE do.

1 Peter 1:5 "Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." KJV

Philippians 1:6 "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:" KJV

I Corinthians 1:8 "Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord." KJV

The Blood of Jesus Christ was an eternal offering for our sins.

Hebrews 10:10 "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." KJV

NOTHING can separate us from the love of Christ.

Romans 8:35 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." KJV

We are promised eternal life and told that no one can pluck us out of the hand of God. Remember God CANNOT lie.

John 10:28 "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." KJV

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." KJV

Titus 1:2 "In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;" KJV

We are said to be the sons of God once we believe and we're also said to be IN Christ. That means we are part of God's family and we're in the Body of Christ.

John 1:12 "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:" KJV

Romans 12:5 "So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another." KJV

1 Corinthians 1:30 "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:" KJV

2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." KJV

Galatians 3:26 "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." KJV

There are many other verses that say we are IN Christ, but with that in mind, take a look a the below scripture.

Matthew 7:23 "And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." KJV

If when we are saved, we are put IN the Body of Christ and made the children of God. With that being said, Jesus Christ cannot look at us and say that He never knew us because He did, we are IN His body.

Eternal Security is a true Biblical doctrine and the ONLY way not to believe it is to not believe what God has told us in the scriptures. For me, I take God at His word.

 

[Future Preacher]

Well said, Cody. Safe in the arms of Jesus. Nothing can pluck us out of His hands. If we could lose our salvation, that would defeat the purpose of the cross. Why would God send His Son to die at the hands of wicked man if the gift was only temporary or could be lost. It makes no sense.

 

[miamited]

Hi Cody,

I teach Jesus' command. Ye must be born again.

God bless you.
In Christ, Ted

 

[DD2008]

I think assurance is vital. John wrote that he wrote what he did write so that we may know we have eternal life. If you don't trust that Christ has saved you do you really trust Christ at all?

 

[PrincetonGuy]

Well said, Cody. Safe in the arms of Jesus. Nothing can pluck us out of His hands. If we could lose our salvation, that would defeat the purpose of the cross. Why would God send His Son to die at the hands of wicked man if the gift was only temporary or could be lost. It makes no sense.

The purpose of the cross was not to provide a warm, fuzzy, imaginative security blanket; the purpose of the cross was to set men free from sin and give them a new life in Christ. If a man who has been saved, born-again, and sanctified by the blood that Jesus shed for us on the cross should choose to trample under his feet the Son of God, and regard as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and insult the Spirit of grace, he shall suffer the vengeance of God who promises to judge His people.

Hebrews 10:29. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?
30. For we know Him who said, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.” And again, “THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.”
31. It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (NASB, 1995)

Hebrews 6:4. For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit,
5. and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,
6. and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.
7. For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God;
8. but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.
9. But, beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way.
10. For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.
11. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end,
12. so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (NASB, 1995)

The allegation that the teaching of conditional security makes no sense is a very cruel and unjust slap in the face of every Christian for 1,500 years, including the very men whom it pleased God to use to formalize the doctrine of the Trinity and to establish the New Testament Canon! It is also a cruel and unjust slap in the face of the large majority of Christians who for the most recent 500 years have continued to hold as true the historical teaching of salvation.

I believe with every ounce of my being that the historical teaching of salvation is true, and if I am wrong (but of course I am not), so was every Christian for 1,500 years, including the very men whom it pleased God to use to formalize the doctrine of the Trinity and to establish the New Testament Canon. If I am wrong, the New Testament was so very poorly written that no one, not even the most gifted scholars, were able to understand the doctrine of salvation for 1,500 years; and if that is true, the New Testament was so very poorly written that it cannot possibly be the inspired Word of God but is merely junk literature written by men with extremely poor writing skills. If I am wrong, the New Testament was so very poorly written and thus so very poorly understood that we have absolutely no assurance that anyone correctly understands any of it today. Therefore, if I am wrong, we have absolutely nothing upon which to base our Christian faith but 27 books of poorly written junk literature.

I am not wrong—and neither was the entire Christian church wrong for 1,500 years, and the New Testament and the rest of the Bible are the inspired Word of God.

As for the passages of Scripture that Cody quoted, not a single one of them says anything about the Christian who chooses to trample under his feet the Son of God, and regard as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and insult the Spirit of grace. Of course the Scriptures teach the assurance of salvation for the faithful—but they also teach the damnation of the unfaithful. In Nave’s Topical Bible we find the following:

Apostasy
Described
Deu_13:13; Heb_3:12
Caused by persecution
Mat_24:9-10; Luk_8:13
Caused by worldliness
2Ti_4:10
Guilt and punishment of
Zep_1:4-6; Heb_10:25-31; Heb_10:39; 2Pe_2:17; 2Pe_2:20-22
Cautions against
Heb_3:12; 2Pe_3:17
Shall abound in the latter days
Mat_24:12; 2Th_2:3; 1Ti_4:1-3
See Antichrist
Unclassified scriptures relating to
General references
Deu_32:15; 1Ch_28:9; Isa_1:28; Isa_65:11-16; Jer_17:5-6; Eze_3:20; Eze_18:24; Eze_18:26; Eze_33:12-13; Eze_33:18; Mat_13:20-21; Mar_4:5-17; Luk_8:13; Mat_24:10; Mat_24:12; Luk_11:24-26; Joh_15:6; Act_7:39-43; 1Co_9:27; 2Th_2:3; 2Th_2:11-12; 1Ti_4:1-2; 2Ti_3:1-9; 2Ti_4:3-4; Heb_6:4-8; Heb_10:26-29; 2Pe_2:1; 2Pe_2:15; 2Pe_2:17; 2Pe_2:20-22; 2Pe_3:17; Jud_1:4-6
See Backsliders; Reprobacy
Instances of:
Israelites
Ex 32; Num 14
Saul
1Sa_15:26-29; 1Sa_18:12; 1Sa_28:15; 1Sa_28:18
Amaziah
2Ch_25:14; 2Ch_25:27
Disciples
Joh_6:66
Judas
Mat_26:14-16; Mat_27:3-5; Mar_14:10-11; Luk_22:3-6; Luk_22:47-48; Act_1:16-18
Hymenaeus and Alexander
1Ti_1:19-20
Phygellus and Hermogenes
2Ti_1:15
See Backsliders, Backsliding of Israel

 

[Future Preacher]

In reply, sir, once saved, always saved is my belief. He died on the cross so that we all might be saved, but we have to accept that gift.

I in no way meant that someone who comes and says a sinner's prayer but lives their life in an un-righteous manner contrary to the Word of God is actually saved (though only God knows their heart).

Once we have accepted Him as our Savior, we seek to live our lives for Him. We seek to grow closer to Him and produce fruit. We can't keep Him a secret because His love in us is so overwhelming! Someone who lives their life contrary to the Bible's teaching but still claims Salvation is sadly mistaken.

I'm not sure why you think I've slapped 1,500 years worth of Christian faith in the face. I believe someone who claimed salvation yet fell and never returned would be considered an apostate. They're not plucked from His hands, rather they were never there because their heart wasn't there. It's not for us to judge who fits this category. As for backsliders, same thing. Only God knows their hearts and only He is judge.

 

[th1bill]

Cody,
If I were English I would tell you, "Spot on!" But being one of those rustic, somewhat, disliked Texas Farm Stock I'll just say, "Great teaching and excellent resourcing for your case.!"

Just as I would expect, I see that PG has jumped in with Selected Verse Extraction in an attempt to support what is not true. Having been in this battle for about 19 years now, I am never surprised when this doctrine is challenged today. What did surprise me and still does is the number of people that extract and isolate scriptures from the whole of scripture to come up with these heresies. People just refuse to see the scriptures as being written by one God and of one context.

It is my prayer that PG has the Christian sense to discuss the issue with you and that an argument will not ensue. God bless and good teaching.

 

[PrincetonGuy]

In reply, sir, once saved, always saved is my belief. He died on the cross so that we all might be saved, but we have to accept that gift.

I in no way meant that someone who comes and says a sinner's prayer but lives their life in an un-righteous manner contrary to the Word of God is actually saved (though only God knows their heart).

Once we have accepted Him as our Savior, we seek to live our lives for Him. We seek to grow closer to Him and produce fruit. We can't keep Him a secret because His love in us is so overwhelming! Someone who lives their life contrary to the Bible's teaching but still claims Salvation is sadly mistaken.

I'm not sure why you think I've slapped 1,500 years worth of Christian faith in the face. I believe someone who claimed salvation yet fell and never returned would be considered an apostate. They're not plucked from His hands, rather they were never there because their heart wasn't there. It's not for us to judge who fits this category. As for backsliders, same thing. Only God knows their hearts and only He is judge.

We have the testimony of the Scriptures, the Early Church Fathers, and 2,000 years of Church history that prove that men who have been saved, born-again, and sanctified by the blood of Jesus have subsequently fallen away from the faith after years of faithful service, and have returned to their own vomit like a sow returns to wallowing in the mire. If we cannot know if a man is truly a saved Christian until he dies as a faithful Christian, there is no assurance of salvation for anyone. We, as Christians, are saved by grace through faith, but those Christians who fail to continue in that faith become severed from Christ and the life that is only found in Christ.

Colossians 1:21. And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds,
22. yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—
23. if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister. (NASB, 1995)

Gal. 5:1. It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
2. Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you.
3. And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law.
4. You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. (NASB, 1995)

 

[PrincetonGuy]

Cody,
If I were English I would tell you, "Spot on!" But being one of those rustic, somewhat, disliked Texas Farm Stock I'll just say, "Great teaching and excellent resourcing for your case.!"

Just as I would expect, I see that PG has jumped in with Selected Verse Extraction in an attempt to support what is not true. Having been in this battle for about 19 years now, I am never surprised when this doctrine is challenged today. What did surprise me and still does is the number of people that extract and isolate scriptures from the whole of scripture to come up with these heresies. People just refuse to see the scriptures as being written by one God and of one context.

It is my prayer that PG has the Christian sense to discuss the issue with you and that an argument will not ensue. God bless and good teaching.

If all Christians were heretics for the first 1,500 years of the Church, including the very men whom it pleased God to use to formalize the doctrine of the Trinity and to establish the New Testament Canon, in all likelihood all Christians today are seriously in error. An infinitely more likely scenario is that the doctrine of eternal security was first conceived in the 16th century as a consequence of a radically incorrect understanding of the sovereignty of God that arose a few years earlier, and is another aberration of the truth.

 

[MrJim]

Everything PrincetonGuy said I would agree with strongly. I used to be OSAS but no longer....

 

[DD2008]

Everything PrincetonGuy said I would agree with strongly. I used to be OSAS but no longer....

Do you know you have eternal life?

Have you ever read this:

1 John 5:13 NIV
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.

Did the Holy Spirit accomplish the goal of his writting he describes above with you?

If you couldn't know you have eternal life for sure, the Holy Spirit wouldn't have inspired that passage to be written. So, if you really do believe in Christ, meaning you really do trust that Christ is who he says he is and will do what he says he will do and you have faith in him that his work is righteous then you are saved because Christ can indeed be trusted to do what he says. He won't let you mess it up because you are his.

Ephesians 1:11 NIV
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,

John 6:40 NIV
40 For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

Isaiah 55:11 NIV
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

I believe this so strongly that there is not one shadow of a smidgen of a dount about it in my mind. Jesus saves absolutley everyone who places their faith in him period, no looking back. Absolutley everyone who has faith in Christ can know they have eternal life.

 

[JM]

1689: "Those whom God hath accepted in the beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, and given the precious faith of his elect unto, can neither totally nor finally fall from the state of grace...faith, repentance, love, joy, hope, and all the graces of the Spirit unto immortality; and though many storms and floods arise and beat against them, yet they shall never be able to take them off that foundation and rock which by faith they are fastened upon...perseverance of the saints depends not upon their own free will, but upon the immutability of the decree of election, flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father, upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ and union with him..."

...consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus...

jm
PS: I do not believe in OSAS but that God's people will press on til the end.

 

[MrJim]

Do you know you have eternal life?

Have you ever read this:

1 John 5:13 NIV
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.

Did the Holy Spirit accomplish the goal of his writting he describes above with you?

If you couldn't know you have eternal life for sure, the Holy Spirit wouldn't have inspired that passage to be written. So, if you really do believe in Christ, meaning you really do trust that Christ is who he says he is and will do what he says he will do and you have faith in him that his work is righteous then you are saved because Christ can indeed be trusted to do what he says. He won't let you mess it up because you are his.

Ephesians 1:11 NIV
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,

John 6:40 NIV
40 For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

Isaiah 55:11 NIV
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

I believe this so strongly that there is not one shadow of a smidgen of a dount about it in my mind. Jesus saves absolutley everyone who places their faith in him period, no looking back. Absolutley everyone who has faith in Christ can know they have eternal life.

I used to believe in the golden ticket and if it turns out to be true that will be dandy and I'll be glad I was wrong...

 

[JM]

Mr. Jim, you are now apart of the Eastern Orthodox denomination?

 

[faceofbear]

Telling others they are sinners and teaching about judgment, Hell, and much of the Old Testament also turns people away from Christianity, just sayin'.

Christ did say to count the costs.

Hi Cody,

I teach Jesus' command. Ye must be born again.

God bless you.
In Christ, Ted

Christ said that to one guy, yeah, but Christ also taught another guy to sell all our possessions and give to the poor.

 

[Big Drew]

I know I can't debate in this forum since I'm not Baptist...but I just wanted to ask this question...

The Pentecostal says someone lost their salvation...the Baptist says they were never really saved to begin with...can someone explain to me what the difference is in these two statements?

 

[DeaconDean]

I really, really hate, to see this topic keep coming up year after year after year.

As seen in the previous posts, there are quite a few who adamately, and vehemently argue against OSAS.

And there are few like myself, who adamately and feverishly argue for OSAS.

This topic does nothing more than breed contempt.

And there are those who support "Perseverance", but yet deny OSAS.

Eternal life is not eternal life if it can be gained in the morning, lost by lunch time, and regained by evening.

I'm gonna stick with Paul when he said to Timothy:

"I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guardhttp://www.biblestudytools.com/2-timothy/1-12.html#cr-descriptionAnchor-2 what I have entrusted to him for that day...and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.http://www.biblestudytools.com/2-timothy/4-18.html#cr-descriptionAnchor-2 " -2 Tim. 1:12; 4:18 (KJV)

God Bless

Till all are one.

 

[MrJim]

Mr. Jim, you are now apart of the Eastern Orthodox denomination?

No. I visited a Divine Liturgy and it was great but I still reside in Baptistown just outside Protestantville..

 

[MrJim]

I really, really hate, to see this topic keep coming up year after year after year.

As seen in the previous posts, there are quite a few who adamately, and vehemently argue against OSAS.

And there are few like myself, who adamately and feverishly argue for OSAS.

This topic does nothing more than breed contempt.

And there are those who support "Perseverance", but yet deny OSAS.

Eternal life is not eternal life if it can be gained in the morning, lost by lunch time, and regained by evening.

I'm gonna stick with Paul when he said to Timothy:

"I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guardhttp://www.biblestudytools.com/2-timothy/1-12.html#cr-descriptionAnchor-2 what I have entrusted to him for that day...and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.http://www.biblestudytools.com/2-timothy/4-18.html#cr-descriptionAnchor-2 " -2 Tim. 1:12; 4:18 (KJV)

God Bless

Till all are one.

Year after year...more like week after week

 

[MrJim]

I know I can't debate in this forum since I'm not Baptist...but I just wanted to ask this question...

The Pentecostal says someone lost their salvation...the Baptist says they were never really saved to begin with...can someone explain to me what the difference is in these two statements?

lol

The "once saved" people use the "never saved to begin with" line as their safety net when the "salvation experience" doesn't work out.

It would be better to hear more preachers speak about this; if the Eternal Security is true (and perhaps it is) then they should preach harder on what Paul said here:

Phil 2:12 –Phil 2:13 NKJV
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

No, not salvation by works, but in making sure that indeed one is saved and not relying on a "sinner's prayer" or "Roman's Road prayer" experience for a golden ticket...trade "work out" with "excercise"

Thing is, the most devout amongst us in our churches could be the person next year some are saying..."Wow, who would have thought, I guess he was never saved to begin with..."

Regardless of what both sides of the argument declare, it still comes down to the continued evidences of a God-changed life