Preservation of the Believer in Christ
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Permanent Preservation of the Believer in Christ
Permanent Preservation of the Believer in Christ
Can a saved person ever perish?
Can a saved person ever perish?
If a person has been truly born again, he can never perish.
If a person has been truly born again, he can never perish.
The believer is safe and secure forever.
The believer is safe and secure forever.
Seven passages of Scripture are listed below as evidence of this glorious truth, though many more could be given.
Seven passages of Scripture are listed below as evidence of this glorious truth, though many more could be given.
1.—John 10:27-29.
1.—John 10:27-29.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
Notice these words of Christ, "I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish."
Notice these words of Christ, "I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish."
Plant your feet on that.
Plant your feet on that.
This is the promise of Christ without any conditions attached.
This is the promise of Christ without any conditions attached.
No sheep of His will ever perish!
No sheep of His will ever perish!
Notice, too, that both Christ and the Father hold you securely.
Notice, too, that both Christ and the Father hold you securely.
2.—John 5:24.
2.—John 5:24.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Here again the Lord Jesus Christ is speaking.
Here again the Lord Jesus Christ is speaking.
He promises that the person who hears His Word and believes on the One who sent Him has everlasting life, and will never come into condemnation, or judgment.
He promises that the person who hears His Word and believes on the One who sent Him has everlasting life, and will never come into condemnation, or judgment.
If one believer were ever lost, then the Son of God would have failed to keep His promise.
If one believer were ever lost, then the Son of God would have failed to keep His promise.
3.—John 3:36.
3.—John 3:36.
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life."
"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life."
Notice that it does not say, "he will have everlasting life."
Notice that it does not say, "he will have everlasting life."
He has it at the present time.
He has it at the present time.
Now, how long is "everlasting"?
Now, how long is "everlasting"?
Clearly it is forever.
Clearly it is forever.
4.—Romans 8:38,39.
4.—Romans 8:38,39.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
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.
The Apostle Paul announces that neither death, life, angels, principalities, powers, things present, things to come, height nor depth can separate the Christian from the love of God. And lest any child of God might worry that he might separate himself from the love of God, Paul adds, "nor any other creature." The believer is as safe as God can make him.
5.—II Timothy 1:12.
5.—II Timothy 1:12.
For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
Paul here expresses his confidence that Christ is able to keep what Paul had committed to Him, that is, his soul.
Paul here expresses his confidence that Christ is able to keep what Paul had committed to Him, that is, his soul.
In John 6:39, we learn that God has entrusted Christ with the preservation of all believers.
In John 6:39, we learn that God has entrusted Christ with the preservation of all believers.
And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
Is it possible that Christ could be unfaithful to His trust?
Is it possible that Christ could be unfaithful to His trust?
6.—Jude 24.
6.—Jude 24.
The Lord Jesus is the One who is able to keep Christians from falling, and to take them safely home to heaven.
The Lord Jesus is the One who is able to keep Christians from falling, and to take them safely home to heaven.
Christians are no more able to keep themselves saved than they were to save themselves in the first place, but Christ is able (I Peter 1:5).
Christians are no more able to keep themselves saved than they were to save themselves in the first place, but Christ is able (I Peter 1:5).
Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
7.—Romans 8:30.
7.—Romans 8:30.
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
"Whom He justified, them He also glorified."
"Whom He justified, them He also glorified."
Every saved person is glorified.
Every saved person is glorified.
Although Christians do not yet have their glorified bodies, yet it is so certain that God speaks of it as an accomplished fact.
Although Christians do not yet have their glorified bodies, yet it is so certain that God speaks of it as an accomplished fact.
If you are justified, then, as far as God is concerned, you are glorified too. In other words, the Christian is just as sure of heaven as if he were already there.
If you are justified, then, as far as God is concerned, you are glorified too. In other words, the Christian is just as sure of heaven as if he were already there.
In connection with the subject of the Christian's security, the following facts should be remembered.
In connection with the subject of the Christian's security, the following facts should be remembered.
1. A Christian does not lose his salvation when he sins.
1. A Christian does not lose his salvation when he sins.
Christ has already paid the penalty for all his sins—past, present and future.
Christ has already paid the penalty for all his sins—past, present and future.
God will not demand payment twice.
God will not demand payment twice.
Since Christ has died for my sins, I will never have to die for them.
Since Christ has died for my sins, I will never have to die for them.
God the righteous Judge, forgives the sinner who believes on Christ.
God the righteous Judge, forgives the sinner who believes on Christ.
2. But when a Christian does sin, he displeases his heavenly Father, and the happy family spirit that should exist between the child and his Father remains broken until that sin is confessed (I John 1:9).
2. But when a Christian does sin, he displeases his heavenly Father, and the happy family spirit that should exist between the child and his Father remains broken until that sin is confessed (I John 1:9).
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Notice clearly that there is a big difference between God, the Judge, dealing with a sinner, and God the Father dealing with an erring child.
Notice clearly that there is a big difference between God, the Judge, dealing with a sinner, and God the Father dealing with an erring child.
In the former case, the penalty for sin is death and hell.
In the former case, the penalty for sin is death and hell.
In the latter case, the result of sin is broken fellowship (I John 2:1,2).
In the latter case, the result of sin is broken fellowship (I John 2:1,2).
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
3. Even the Christian cannot sin cheaply.
3. Even the Christian cannot sin cheaply.
If a child of God wanders away from his Father, he can expect to be corrected (Hebrews 12:6,7).
If a child of God wanders away from his Father, he can expect to be corrected (Hebrews 12:6,7).
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
The Father might use sorrow or suffering to bring him back.
The Father might use sorrow or suffering to bring him back.
In some cases, God even takes the believer home to heaven, his body dies, but his soul is saved (I Corinthians 5:5).
In some cases, God even takes the believer home to heaven, his body dies, but his soul is saved (I Corinthians 5:5).
To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
4. While a Christian can and does, unfortunately, commit acts of sin, no true child of God lives a life of continual sin.
4. While a Christian can and does, unfortunately, commit acts of sin, no true child of God lives a life of continual sin.
"A Christian is not sinless, but he does sin less."
"A Christian is not sinless, but he does sin less."
If a person can keep on sinning without being brought back to fellowship with God through chastenings, it is a sure sign that he was never born again.
If a person can keep on sinning without being brought back to fellowship with God through chastenings, it is a sure sign that he was never born again.
Our security must not be an excuse to sin, but rather an incentive not to sin.
Our security must not be an excuse to sin, but rather an incentive not to sin.
5. There are several verses in the Bible which might seem to indicate that Christians can be lost again.
5. There are several verses in the Bible which might seem to indicate that Christians can be lost again.
However, if you examine them carefully, you will find that they refer to those who merely pretend to be Christians, or to those who have known the way of salvation and have rejected it.
However, if you examine them carefully, you will find that they refer to those who merely pretend to be Christians, or to those who have known the way of salvation and have rejected it.
Nowhere do the Scriptures say that a truly born again person can perish. It is only such [born again] persons who are secure.
Nowhere do the Scriptures say that a truly born again person can perish. It is only such [born again] persons who are secure.
From What Christians Believe: Basic Studies in Bible Doctrine and Christian Living by Alfred P. Gibbs... [et al.]; staff members of Emmaus Bible School. Chicago: Moody Press, 1951.
From What Christians Believe: Basic Studies in Bible Doctrine and Christian Living by Alfred P. Gibbs... [et al.]; staff members of Emmaus Bible School. Chicago: Moody Press, 1951.