Why you can’t lose your Salvation- Sermon 5

Sermon 5 – Why you can’t lose your Salvation

Series Text: Hebrews 10:13–18 (KJV 1900)

(This introduction is covered in the slides)

14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

* Congregation you help me this morning-

* Jesus Christ offered himself for our sins on the cross of Calvary, And according to our text here in Hebrews 10:13, by His offering we are perfected.

How long are we perfected for?

… congregation “for ever!”

Repeat this question and answer again for emphasis…

15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,

16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

* Now congregation you help me again-

How long will God not remember our sins and iniquities for?

Congregation- “For Ever!”

* The plain message of our text this morning is:

Once perfected, always perfected!

Once forgiven, always forgiven!

Once saved, always saved!

Introduction:

* Here is the outline for the series:

I. We become righteous by covenant with God- an unconditional covenant and an everlasting covenant.

II. The illustration of our covenant with God.

III. The application of our covenant of salvation with God.

IV. The strange place to find assurance that you cannot lose your salvation.

* Here is where we have been so far:

I. We become righteous by covenant with God- an unconditional covenant and an everlasting covenant.

II. The illustration of our covenant with God.

* Today we are still looking at point number 3 of our outline…

III. The application of our covenant of salvation with God by the Apostles.

* Next Sunday we will look at:

IV. The strange place to find assurance that you cannot lose your salvation.

(After slides start Sermon here)

* Now this morning, as we look at the way the Apostles applied the biblical doctrine of Eternal Security, we will be looking at what the Apostle Paul taught concerning this great Bible Doctrine of eternal security.

* I would like to illustrate for you, by the scriptures that the teaching of the doctrine of the eternal security of the believer is consistently taught across the span of the entire Bible.

* Did you know that the entire book of Romans is a lengthy sermon on the doctrine of eternal security?

* We are going to take a little trip through the Apostle Paul’s sermon on 5 reasons you can never lose your salvation.

* Last week finished up our study of Paul’s first point in this very detailed sermon about how our salvation is secure in Christ-

(Go to slide for point number 1)

I. We cannot lose our salvation because we stand in the grace of God not in our own works.

With the mention in the book of Hebrews of the wonderful illustration that the Holy Spirit has given us of our eternal security in the picture of Noah and his family safe in the protection from the judgment of God in the arch of God.

* The word arch, meaning a “place of safe keeping” illustrates for us how when we are placed in the arch of Christ, our salvation is safe and secure.

* Now this morning we are going to move on to Pauls’ second point:

(Go to slide for point number 2)

II. We cannot lose our salvation because we have been loosed from the law that condemned us for our sin.

* First, the apostle Paul in his effort to prove that we can never lose our salvation he showed us in Romans chapter 4 that we cannot lose our salvation because our salvation does not depend on our works, but our salvation stands in the grace of God.

* Next, in Romans chapter 6 the apostle Paul proves that we cannot lose our salvation because we have been loosed from the condemnation of the law forever.

* In the Old Testament God said “the soul that sinneth it shall die!”

* Romans 6.23 says “For the wages of sin is death!”

* But now, after that we have been saved the apostle Paul says that we cannot sin and lose our salvation, because we have been made free from the condemnation of sin forever!

* Look with me if you will at Romans chapter 6 and verse 22:

Romans 6:22–7:6 (KJV 1900)

22 But now being made free from sin,

* Now I want to stop right here before we read the rest of this passage and draw insight from another passage of Scripture to help us understand what it means when the Bible says that we have been made free from sin.

* It literally means that after that we are saved, sin cannot touch us, sin can never touch our soul again because all our sins, even our future sins, have been covered by the blood of Jesus Christ!

* Listen to the words of the apostle John in I John chapter 3 and verses 8 and 9:

1 John 3:8–9 (KJV 1900)

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.

* Now back to our text in Romans chapter 6 and verse 22:

Romans 6:22–7:6 (KJV 1900)

22 But now being made free from sin,

and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

7 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? 2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. 3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.

4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. 5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.

6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

* Now, let’s keep reading right into the next chapter:

Romans 8:1–2 (KJV 1900)

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

* What the apostle Paul is saying here is that our salvation is secure because we have been set free from the condemnation of the law, and because of this there is no more condemnation!

* Paul is saying that we cannot lose our salvation because there is no more law to make us guilty!

* We have already been judged for our sins, the penalty of death was laid in Jesus Christ who paid the punishment of death, and now we have been set free! Never to be condemned ever again!

* And Paul is saying here that my friend is why you’re salvation is secure! You salvation was already paid for by Jesus Christ!

* While hanging on the cross Jesus said to the Father “It is finished!”

* That is why in the book of Revelation at the End, at the Great White Throne Judgment, there are no saved people there- our sins will never be judged again- ever! We are free! Free! Thank God I am free!

John 8:31–36 (KJV 1900)

31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin….

36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

* This truth reminds me of the story my dad used to tell about a school teacher in an old one room school house.

* There was a new teacher come to town for the little school house, and on the first day the teacher, an old stern-faced man, told the children as long as he was their teacher there was going to be some rules, and the rules would be enforced by a switch to the back.

* The teacher allowed the children to make the rules and determine the punishment.

* So the rules were set up, and the punishment decided.

* Not many days after someone broke a rule, and the punishment that the class had determined would have to be carried out.

* Someone had stolen Big Jim’s sack lunch.

* When the teacher asked who had took big Jim’s lunch, a little quiet red haired boy, raised his hand and confessed that he had taken big Jim’s lunch.

* The small red haired boy was brought by the teacher to the front of the class and told to take off his shirt for the switching.

* As the little boy took off his shirt it was immediately apparent that this little boy had not had hardly anything to eat for a long time.

* His little arms were bony, and his ribs stuck out from hunger.

* At this point Big Jim was filled with compassion for the little boy and he cried out “I don’t care about the lunch anymore just let him go! Look at him- he can’t take that whippin!”

* The schoolmaster explained that those were the rules, and the punishment had already been determined, it must be carried out.

* The schoolmaster raised this switch to strike the boy, and Big Jim cried out stop!

* Is there anything in the rules against someone taking the whippin for him?

* The schoolmaster replied no there isn’t. Big Jim said I want to take his whippin for him!

* And so, even though Big Jim was the one who the crime had been committed against, is his compassion, Big Jim took the whippin for him.

* And that’s just what Jesus did for you my friend- he took your punishment for you so you could go free! You salvation will never run out- it’s all paid for for all eternity.

* You can’t lose your salvation, because you have been loosed from the law that condemned you for your sin by Jesus who took your place.

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(Go to slide for point number 3)

I. We cannot lose our salvation because we stand in the grace of God not in our own works.

II. We cannot lose our salvation because we have been loosed from the law that condemned us for our sin.

III. We cannot lose our salvation because we have been sealed by the Holy Spirit.

IV. We cannot lose our salvation because we have been predestined by God to be called, justified, and glorified.

V. We cannot lose salvation because once joined to Christ, nothing can ever separate us from God’s love.

III. We cannot lose our salvation because we have been sealed by the Holy Spirit.

* First, the apostle Paul, in his effort to prove that we can never lose our salvation, showed us in Romans chapter 4 that we cannot lose our salvation because our salvation does not depend on our works, but our salvation stands in the grace of God.

* Next, in Romans chapter 6 the apostle Paul proves that we cannot lose our salvation because we have been loosed from the condemnation of the law forever.

* And now thirdly, the apostle Paul proves that we cannot lose our salvation because we have been sealed by the Holy Spirit.

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

* Now, I used to think that this meant that we were sealed up, protected, from the effects of the sins of the body, and that sin could no longer touch us- and that is very true, but that is not the picture that the apostle Paul is intending to paint in our minds.

* Here is what he really means.

* In the days of the Bible, when a king wanted to mark something to show that it belonged to the king, he would place either a wax seal, or a plaque with his individual mark, or seal on it to show that this belonged to the king.

* In the example of the book of Revelation we see a scroll with seven seals that marks the ownership of the earth and it’s nations given by God the father to God the Son.

* As each seal is opened, the God the Son takes back what rightfully belongs to God, that was forfeited by Adam and Eve to the Devil.

* In the book of Revelation we see 144,000 Jews who receive the seal of God in their forehead, and the devil and the antichrist is unable to harm them because of the seal of God upon them.

* The Bible teaches that when we get saved, we become the property of God and that God has placed His seal upon us so that when the Judgment of this old world comes, we can never be harmed.

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (KJV 1900)

19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

1 Peter 1:18–19 (KJV 1900)

18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

* A seal shows ownership, and the seal of the Holy Spirit marks every believer showing God’s ownership on us.

* Just as those 144,000 Jews were safe because of the seal of God was upon them, even so everyone who has been redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, their salvation is safe and secure because they have God’s seal of ownership upon their soul, and they can never, ever, lose their salvation.

* Now, look a little further along in the book of Romans to Romans chapter 8 and lets’ start with verse 5 as the apostle Paul makes his third point in his sermon on the doctrine of eternal security.

Romans 8:5–11 (KJV 1900)

5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

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.

10 And if Christ be in you,

the body is dead because of sin;

but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

* I pulled the following comment from a sermon by John MacArthur:

* Ephesians 4:30 tells us that believers are "sealed for the day of redemption."

* If believers did not have eternal security, the sealing could not truly be unto the day of redemption, but only to the day of sinning, or the day of apostasy, or the day they no longer believe.

* John 3:15-16 tells us that whoever believes in Jesus Christ will "have eternal life." If a person were to be promised eternal life, but then have it taken away, it was never "eternal" to begin with.

* If the Biblical doctrine of eternal security is not true, the promises of eternal life in the Bible would be in error.

* The apostle Paul tells us that we cannot lose our salvation because we have been sealed by the mark of God’s ownership- the Holy Spirit.

(Go to slide for point number 4)

I. We cannot lose our salvation because we stand in the grace of God not in our own works.

II. We cannot lose our salvation because we have been loosed from the law that condemned us for our sin.

III. We cannot lose our salvation because we have been sealed by the Holy Spirit.

IV. We cannot lose our salvation because we have been predestined by God to be called, justified, and glorified.

V. We cannot lose salvation because once joined to Christ, nothing can ever separate us from God’s love.

IV. We cannot lose our salvation because we have been predestined by God to be called, justified, and glorified.

* Now drop down with me to Romans chapter 8 and verse 28:

* In his effort to prove to you that you cannot lose your salvation, the apostle Paul says:

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

* Stop here just a minute- Back in the Garden of Eden God made Adam and Eve in his image, but that image of God became marred because of sin, and so God began the redemptive process way back then in order to restore the image of the Gory of God to the human race.

* 2 Corinthians chapter 3 and verse 19 makes this very clear:

2 Corinthians 3:18 (KJV 1900)

. 18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

* Paul says that as we look upon our savior Jesus, the Holy Spirit is changing us so that we become like a mirror reflection of the image of God!-

* When we get saved we are made a new creation- created in the image of God and the Holy Spirit is ever about the business of conforming us, or changing us, into the reflection, or image of God.

* In order for God to restore His image to mankind, He had to completely get rid of sin.

* and that my friends, is what the Bible is talking about when it says that we will be glorified at the return of Jesus Christ!

*Once and for all the body will be purged from sin forever like our soul has been, but we all must walk through the door of death to enter in to that spiritual realm.

* Speaking of the final step of our salvation, listen to what the Bible says about our glorification in I Corinthians chapter 15 and verse 35:

1 Corinthians 15:35–57 (KJV 1900)

35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?

36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: 37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: 38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. 39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. 40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.

42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.

There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.

49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:1–8 (KJV 1900)

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

* Now let’s return back to Romans chapter 8 and verse 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.

* What the apostle Paul is saying here is that because of God’s foreknowledge of all things past, present, and future, God has determined ahead of time, according to the bible, before the foundations of the world were laid…

* God way back then, determined that He would call everyone who obeyed the Gospel by placing their faith in Jesus Christ to Himself.

* Not only did He determine that he would give grace to these people, but He also determined that He would justify them- forever!

* Justification is a legal term. It means that anyone who would place their faith in Jesus Christ, would be declared no longer guilty of sin, but made righteous by applying the righteousness of Jesus to them.

* That means that in the eyes of God, you are as righteous before God as Jesus Christ is!

* You have been declared that way by the Holy and Righteous Judge of the universe.

* Not only did God predetermine that everyone who comes to Jesus by faith would be declared righteous forever, but according to the apostle Paul God has predetermined, guaranteed,

* that everyone who places their faith in Jesus Christ will, without a doubt, be glorified, and receive a glorified body to complete our salvation at the return of Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:28–30 (KJV 1900)

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

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.

* What Paul is saying here is that when you got saved, God set in motion his redemptive plan for you, and he will keep his plan of salvation in motion until He completely brings your salvation to pass!- all the way home to glory!

1 Corinthians 1:4–9 (KJV 1900)

4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; 5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;

6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: 7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Philippians 1:5–6 (KJV 1900)

5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; 6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Jude 24–25 (KJV 1900)

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, 25 to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

* Paul is proving to you that you cannot lose your salvation because you have been predestined by God to be called, justified, and glorified.

(Go to slide for point number 5)

I. We cannot lose our salvation because we stand in the grace of God not in our own works.

II. We cannot lose our salvation because we have been loosed from the law that condemned us for our sin.

III. We cannot lose our salvation because we have been sealed by the Holy Spirit.

IV. We cannot lose our salvation because we have been predestined by God to be called, justified, and glorified.

V. We cannot lose salvation because once joined to Christ, nothing can ever separate us from God’s love.

V. We cannot lose salvation because once joined to Christ, nothing can ever separate us from God’s love.

* Now there's only two possible ways hypothetically your salvation could be lost.

* It could only happen in two categories, or two areas...either it could be lost because of something done by a person or something done by a circumstance.

* That's all you can say, there's nothing more to say. Can some person or persons cause us to lose our salvation? Can some circumstance or circumstances cause us to lose our salvation?

* Those are the only two possibilities. So, in verses 31 to 34 of Romans chapter 8, Paul answers the question: can you lose your salvation by the influence of a person?

Romans 8:31–39 (KJV 1900)

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.

* And in verses 35 to 39 he answers the question: can you lose your salvation by the influence of circumstances? It's a very simple outline.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 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.

* I quote John Macarthur again:

* “I am convinced, without a shadow of a doubt, that it is the studied and prepared agenda of many professors and universities in this nation to do everything they can with impressionable young Christians to sever them from Christ.

* I'm sure the culture would like to do that.

* I'm pretty confident that all of those who are trying to indoctrinate us with this immoral, Godless approach to life would like to sever us from Christ.

* There is a sweeping movement in America to paint Christians as some kind of bizarre troublesome people who stand in the way of their liberties that are provided for in the Constitution.

* The legalists would like to separate us from Christ. The cults would like to separate us from Christ. False teachers would like to separate us from Christ! –unquote

* Paul says that everything in the Devil’s kingdom of darkness upon this sin-filled earth desires to separate God’s saved, redeemed, justified and soon to be glorified people, from the love of God-

* The Devil would love to convince you that you can lose your salvation, but the apostle Paul says it cannot be done!

* Nothing can ever separate God’s elect from his unconditional love- ever!

(Go to conclusion slides)

Conclusion:

* The bottom line then, we have to conclude that there isn't any human, including ourselves, that could ever interrupt the plan of salvation that God is performing in us.

* Because God is continuously working his plan of salvation in us, no person, and no circumstance can ever separate us from God and undo, reverse, or cancel our salvation.

* He's going to make sure He takes care of maintaining the salvation of every believer until they get all the way to glory!

* The theme of the entire book of Romans is that God will continue to see work of redemption in us all the way to the end.

* In order to do that He has to take the "all things" of life and make them work out for our good and our salvation.

* Paul is saying “if God works all together for the good of those that have been saved, then how could you possible lose your salvation?

* To deny the biblical doctrine of the Eternal Security of the believer is to misunderstand the work of redemption, and the love of God.