6 3 Eternal Security 3

Hebrews Series- Fellowship Baptist Church

Passage:           Hebrews 5:11-6:12 (Part 6)

Theme: The State of the Dull and the Diligent

Proposition:      Salvation Cannot Be Lost

Please open your Bibles to John 10

We have been considering the issue of eternal security. I said last week, that it is important for us to understand how a person comes to faith because those who argue against eternal security believe that one may abandoned the faith in the same fashion that they exercised the faith in the first place.  If I chose to believe, then I can choose not to believe.  Salvation was because of my action in the first place and loss of it is because of my action in end.

So, Last week we spent our time looking at what the Bible has to say about how a person comes to the point of faith in Christ.  In the process, I showed you the three major obstacles that prevent humans from ever accepting the truth of scripture without God’s intervention.  These obstacles were that man is completely evil, that every human naturally rejects God’s ways and plans and that finally, mankind is unable to understand spiritual truth on its own.

So the question was raised:

Considering the awful state of humans, how does one ever come to the point of placing faith in the truth of who God is, what Christ has done, and a personal need of salvation?

We found the answer to this question to be the grace of God, overcoming our rejection, opening our spiritually blind eyes, and allowing us to understand His truth.

Therefore we saw that salvation ultimately is not because of what I did, but rather what God did to produce my actions or choices.    Hopefully, you are beginning to understand how this truth (the interaction of God’s grace and our resulting faith) affects the issue of eternal security. 

At the end of last week I left you with another question—is it possible to lose God’s salvation?  Let me put it another way—if my belief, “faith,” is a product of God’s grace in the first place, what would have to happen for my belief to end or be abandoned (to return to my natural state?)?

For example, let’s consider a verse that seems to communicate that salvation cannot be lost:

John 10:22-30"At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”"

To those who accept the doctrine of eternal security, this is an obvious, clear statement that eternal life cannot be lost.  However, in discussing this verse with those who reject eternal security, I have repeatedly heard this response—“yes, but it doesn’t say that I can’t walk away and out of His hand.”

So the scenario that is created is this:  sheep that once heard and followed his voice now choose to go their own way—away from the shepherd, not part of his flock. 

What has to happen for sheep that seek their own way to begin seeking God’s way?  The intervention of God’s grace

So, if these sheep are now seeking their own way again, what has to have happened?  The removal of God’s grace

This brings us to today’s question—is it possible for me to do something that would cause God to remove His saving grace from my life and return me to a pre-salvation state?  Would God abandon His work of grace in my life?  Would He allow my faith to cease?

The Bible is clear that not only is salvation a work of God’s grace, but that the continuance of my faith and completion of that work of salvation after this life is also a work of God’s grace that will never be ended.  Let’s look at a few key passages that address this truth.

1. My faith is secure because there is nothing that can interrupt or eliminate the relationship that God has established with His children.  Romans 8

Salvation theme

No condemnation to those in Christ Jesus

Change in behavior-walk after spirit not after flesh

Spirit of God dwells in you

Fear of law’s condemnation removed

Spirit of God witnesses in us that we are His children

Fellow-heirs with Christ

Suffering theme

We share in the sufferings of Christ

Now our bodies suffer but God’s children look forward to the redemption of the body

We know that this suffering is part of God’s good work in us—conform us to the image of Christ

Assurance of salvation in suffering

     Called us according to His purpose

     He foreknew that He would call us – plan from eternity past

     Predestined us to be conform us to Christ image – plan from eternity past

     So those predestined were called, those called were justified, those justified were glorified.  It is a done deal.

So what are the results?

     God is on our side in spite of any who would seek to change that relationship.

     No charge can be brought before against us God because our account has been cleared (justification)

     There is no one who can condemn us before God because Christ intercedes on our behalf against accusers.

     There is absolutely no one or nothing that can end the relationship that I enjoy with God the Father.  There is nothing that would cause Him to remove His grace—therefore my faith is secure.

1. My faith is secure because God Himself has taken responsibility to complete the work of salvation in me.           Philippians 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24

Phil-the point of Paul’s thankfulness is that they are saints who are participating in the same grace he has received.  He states that God began the work in them and God will complete it.

Thess-

   Now, Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you—your spirit and soul and body, completely and entirely, blameless—guarded until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God is at work in believers to conformed them to the image of Christ—sanctifying them on a continuing basis.

God is the one who calls us (to salvation and sanctification) and He will do or perform this process. 

The message of both is this: that the grace which began in the act of salvation will complete the process of sanctification.  It will not stop until we are fully sanctified (glorified)

God began the process with His grace which produced faith.  God has personally taken responsibility to finish the process and He is faithful to complete whatever He begins, therefore my faith is secure.

1. My faith is secure because God’s purposes in salvation will be accomplished.  Ephesians 1:3-10

1. My faith is secure because God personally guarantees the transaction of redemption will be completed.  Ephesians 1:11-14, 4:30; 2 Corinthians 1:22