The Eternal Security of Salvation

Pop Quiz:

Is God eternal?

Is Jesus eternal?

Is the Holy Spirit eternal?

Is the Word of God eternal?

Is heaven eternal?

Then why in the world we think that our salvation would be anything other than eternal?

Tonight we are going to lay out the case for the eternal security of the believer, in fact there are three reasons why those who are saved CANNOT lose their salvation. There, first,

Reasons Relating to God the Father

It is God’s sovereign plan and purpose to get believers to heaven, therefore it is certain we will get there!

Romans 8:30 “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.”

John 6:37 “37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”

John 10:28–29 “28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”

It is God’s power alone which keeps believes saved

2 Timothy 1:12 “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.”

Jude 24 “24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,”

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

If God loved us enough to give His Son for us, His love will certainly keep us in Him! Romans 5:7–10 “7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”

God deals with His children so that they are not condemned with the world

Hebrews 12:6 “6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.”

1 Corinthians 11:31–32 “31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.”

There are also...

Reasons Relating to God the Son

Christ’s Intercession for believers is able to save them from any and all situations Hebrews 7:25 “25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

Christ’s advocacy for believers is based upon His atoning work and it is sufficient for all sin

Romans 8:31–34 “31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”

1 John 2:1 “1 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:”

Christ’s death for believers justified them so that no one can lay any charge to them. The One who justified us is also the Judge before whom we’ll stand Romans 8:34 “34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”

Christ’s promises assure believers of a present and permanent salvation

John 3:36 “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.”

John 5:24 “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.”

John 6:40 “40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

John 10:27–29 “27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”

Then there are...

Reasons Relating to God the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit indwells the believer and becomes the seal of God upon him

Romans 8:9 “9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”

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

If a believer could be lost, God would have to break this seal and he wold lose the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit has baptized every believer into the body of Christ and given him spiritual gifts. If a believer could be lost he would have to be taken out of the body and forfeit his place and gift

1 Corinthians 12:4–11 “4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.”

1 Corinthians 12:13 “13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”

The Holy Spirit is promised to be with believers forever John 14:16 “16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;”

Now, what about....

Scriptures that Seem to Teach Salvation can be Lost?

Matthew 24:13 KJV 1900

13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

This is a dispensational verse referring to those in the tribulation period who will be saved physically if they get to the end of the period.

1 Timothy 4:1–2 KJV 1900

1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

The faith here is the objective body of truth of God’s Word and the departure from this standard…like we are seeing today. This has no reference to the loss of salvation

Galatians 5:4 KJV 1900

4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

In the context Paul is citing two systems (law and grace) and pointing out that those who sought to be justified by the system of works had fallen from, or were not seeking to be justified by the system of grace.

John 15:1–6 (KJV 1900)

1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

This parable has to do with the fellowship and results of not being in fellowship with God. The casting forth and withering has to do with the loss of testimony and ability to bear fruit, not being saved or lost.

Hebrews 6:1–10 (KJV 1900)

1 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, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this will we do, if God permit. 4 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, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 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. 7 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: 8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. 9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. 10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

This passage deals with believers going on to maturity and argues if a believer could fall away and be lost it would be impossible to renew him. But since he can’t, because it would necessitate Christ dying again, he needs to go on to maturity in Christ.

Some Issues to Clarify Concerning Our Eternal Security

Many say this doctrine gives a believer the license to sin and still be saved.

It must be understood that the doctrine of eternal security does not give a person the license to sin. it is God’s will and standard for believers not to sin

1 John 2:1 “1 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:”

For those who do sin, God deals with them to correct them. Hebrews 12:6 “6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.”

Those who practice sin as part of their lifestyle are more than likely not saved to begin with:

2 Corinthians 13:5 “5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”

Philippians 2:13 “13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

1 John 3:8–9 “8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”

Bottom line — it was not you who saved yourself, therefore it is not you who keeps yourself saved. (Time allows, discuss how Jesus compares salvation to birth in John 3, and explain that while we often disappoint our human parents, nothing we ever do will take away our salvation, so it is with our heavenly Father.