Eternal Security of the Believer
Our God is not fickle! He is not easily bored nor disgusted with His creations. He does not tire easily with us but is long-suffering and forbearing. He is lovingly and patiently forming a home and family for His good pleasure. When He saves, He forgives, calls, and empowers us, although we fail often. This is how the family of God operates.
We are saved by Faith and Live by Faith according to the Bible. We would claim heresy to those who seek to attain righteousness by their own works. And although we strongly protest salvation by works, some believers claim that we are Kept by Works, and/or our continuing in faith. This is not Bible salvation.
“I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.” Ecclesiastes 3:14
1. OBJECTION
Can you lose your salvation?
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:
But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. Hebrews 6:1-9
Many believe that this passage supports that view. Please note: if this is true, then it is impossible to be saved “again.”
Those who are not “born again” by faith and merely say a prayer or believe with head knowledge only, are dangerously treading with the dire warning of excluding themselves from salvation. (I.e. “stoney ground” – Matthew 13:3-9)
The passage in Hebrews 6 uses the word, “tasted.” This word is used infrequently in the NT and means to experience (Taste vs consume). The more common word, “eat” means to devour. (cf. Jesus “tasted” the vinegar but did not consume.)
“They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.” Matthew 27:34
Verse 9 – shows that the taste testers had what James would call a “dead” faith. Their faith does not produce anything of spiritual value.
2. AFFIRMATION
John 3:16 – Promised by God
John 5:24 – Passed from death to life (Hellproof)
John 6:37-39 – Jesus won’t lose you
John 10:27-31 – Never perish – unpluckable!
See also:
2 Timothy 1:12
Titus 1:2
1 Peter 1:4-5
1 John 2:24-25, 5:11-13
Jude 1
Cf. Romans 8:28-39
Nothing shall separate us from the love of Christ!
Israel as a nation in the Old Testament is a picture of the New Testament Believer! Even when the Jews sinned, disobeyed or were backslidden, God did not discard them. When they worshipped false gods, he chastised them as His dear children. He promised Israel a messiah, and they rejected and crucified Christ. But, God did NOT reject them. His promises for their salvation and coming Kingdom still stand.
The Eternal Security of the Christian is pictured by God’s care, protection and provision for the children of Israel as they wandered for forty years in the desert wilderness.
“These are the words of the covenant, which the LORD commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, beside the covenant which he made with them in Horeb.
And Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them, Ye have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt unto Pharaoh, and unto all his servants, and unto all his land;
The great temptations which thine eyes have seen, the signs, and those great miracles:
Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.
And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot.” Deuteronomy 29:1-5
Cf. Nehemiah 8:21-31
The Signet of the King
In ancient cultures, when the king stamped a newly written law with his signet, it was irreversible! (i.e. Esther/Daniel). We not only bear the name, Christian, we were SEALED by God’s signet, the Holy Ghost, the moment we were born again.
Ephesians 1:12-14, 4:30
Romans 8:22-25
2 Corinthians 1:22 and 5:5
We are Saved by God’s Power
Abraham was in deep sleep when God confirmed His covenant.
Hebrews 6:13-20 – God sware by Himself!
Cf. Genesis 15:1-18
Lot & Peter
Lot left the man of God to be a city elder in Sodom.
Genesis 18:16-32
Cf. 2 Peter 2:4-9
Peter swore by an oath when he denied the Lord.
Mark 14:26-31, 66-72
Cf Acts 2:14
We become the Sons (children) of God the moment we are born again. We are His children, heirs and adopted into His family. That is, we are legally and eternally kept by Him!
“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:
Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12-13