Eternal Security

Review:

Turn to John 5:24

Remember: we are learning this material so that we can teach others these principles.

Chapter three was about our new life in Christ. At the moment of salvation, we are placed in Christ and Christ indwells us. From that moment forward, we are commanded to walk in newness of life.

Introduction

Read slowly:

Tonight we will begin studying fifteen reasons why the Christian is eternally secure in their salvation.

On page 25, the author begins the chapter by saying this:

Read slowly:

“By accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour, we are saved now and forever!”

Listen: that statement contradicts the teaching of many churches and denominations that are represented in our region.

What we’re going to be studying in this chapter is not believed by everyone that label themselves a Christian. I’m not saying that to be ugly against those people, but I am saying this because you better know what the Bible says on this issue.

The following churches or denominations generally believe in conditional security (you must continue in practicing their form of Christianity):

United Methodist, Wesleyan Church, Nazarene

Assemblies of God, Church of God - Pentecostal / Charismatic 

Holiness churches

Roman Catholic Church

Eastern Orthodox Church

Some Anglican / Episcopal churches

Free Will Baptists

Churches of Christ (many, not all)

My point: not all churches are alike. Not all churches believe alike. Doctrine matters.

We need to study the Bible and know what it teaches about eternal security.

Continue reading highlights on page 25

Ask question: how many have experienced doubts about their salvation?

Read highlight: top of page 26. Note my comments.

Important Terms

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Question: What is death? Specifically, what is spiritual death?

Separation from God.

Remember that, because that helps us understand what eternal life is.

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Eternal life: everlasting life in God’s presence.

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If spiritual death/eternal death is separation from God, then spiritual life/eternal life is knowing God. (John 17:3)

John 17:3 KJV 1900

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Eternal life is not merely living forever. It is life in God’s presence. It is life knowing God, and it begins at the moment of salvation.

Key Bible Truths

Fifteen reasons why the Christian is eternally secure in their salvation:

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We have everlasting life in Heaven (that begins on earth!)

The book says, “Everlasting life is something you get when you receive Jesus.”

From the moment of salvation, the door is opened for you to know God personally and to build a deeper and deeper relationship with Him. That opportunity will never end. You will forever be with God in Heaven.

Read John 5:24

Once you are passed from death until life, you never again can pass from life unto death. You have everlasting life! You are eternally secure.

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We are kept by the power of God

Turn to and Read 1 Peter 1:3-5

Verse three: who has God begotten again unto a lively hope? Us

Verse four: Peter tells us what we have to look forward to: an inheritance in heaven

Verse five: what is the first word? Who

Notice the pronoun is a “who” not a “what.” Peter is talking about “us” again - the same people of verse three. In verse five he is saying that the people who are born again are kept by the power of God unto salvation. Jesus Christ did all the work of saving us and God the Father does all the work of keeping us. We put our faith in Christ because that’s what God says we must do.

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Kept: to guard, protect by a military guard

God the Father, by His power, guards our salvation. God is guarding people, not possessions - us, not the inheritance.

Notice Peter doesn’t say…

We are kept by attending church or by doing whatever your church says

We are kept by doing good works

We are kept by persevering in the faith

We are eternally secure because we are guarded by God’s power.

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We are in the grip of God’s grace

Turn to and read John 10:28

These are the verses that God used in my life when I was twelve years old that I was truly saved - not by my perseverance, but by the promises of God.

“and they shall never perish…”

God stamped that specific phrase onto my heart and I’ve never forgotten it.

My salvation was not tied to my perseverance as a Christian, which has been pretty horrible at times. Looking back, I believe I doubted my salvation as young person partly because the sin in my life was so great.

But I realized as a twelve year old boy that there was hope for me. God wasn’t going to cast me out because of the struggles I had. He wasn’t going to cancel my salvation because of my poor performance. My salvation was secure because God promised that I would never perish.

Conclusion

I’m going to close on this note: if you are doubting your salvation, take a good, hard look at yourself, and consider if it is because of some sin in your life. The presence of sin will result in the lack of the presence of God because the two cannot coexist. If you continue in that sin long enough, it will lead you to doubt if you even know God, in other words, if you are even saved.

If that’s you, you’re going to have to humble yourself. Talk to me. Let’s open the Bible and see what God has to say about it and about living in Christ’s victory over that sin.

Extra material to save:

“Biblical saving faith [is] not passive assent but actively staking one’s life on the claims of God.” - The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (Second Edition) 1:8–17: Paul’s Thanksgiving

Assign chapter five as next reading assignment