LESSON #2 – ETERNAL SECURITY

“Now That I Am Saved, Can I Ever Lose My Salvation?”

Once an individual has settled the question of salvation as the Bible declares it

- by grace through faith in Jesus Christ

- it is imperative that he understands how that decision has affected his entire life.

In lesson one, we learned that there are only two spiritual families on this earth

– God’s and the devil’s.

We learned that we were born into the Lord’s family when we received Jesus Christ as our Saviour (John 1:12-13).

John 1:12–13 KJV 1900

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

In this lesson we will discuss the state of the new believer in God’s family, and from Biblical facts we will settle the question of the eternal security of the Christian.

I. The testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself on this subject.

A. Jesus Christ promises that, “...him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”

(John 6:37) God will not cast you out of His family under any circumstances.

John 6:37 KJV 1900

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

B. John 10:27-29 makes it clear that no man can cause you to lose your salvation because God your Father is greater than all men; therefore, no man is able to pluck you out of His hand.

John 10:27–29 KJV 1900

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.

II. Can I do something to lose my salvation?

A. Salvation is by grace through faith and not by works.

It is a GIFT from God. No man can lose his salvation of his own doing because no man has earned his salvation of his own doing.

Ephesians 2:8-9

Ephesians 2:8–9 KJV 1900

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

B. Galatians 3:10 and James 2:10 tell us if we had to do anything to earn or keep salvation, we would lose it easily.

Galatians 3:10 KJV 1900

10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

James 2:10 KJV 1900

10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Yet, II Timothy 1:12 assures us it is Jesus Christ who keeps us — not ourselves.

2 Timothy 1:12 KJV 1900

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.

C. Galatians 2:21 states clearly that if we could become righteous by anything we do then Jesus Christ’s death was a waste.

Galatians 2:21 KJV 1900

21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

III. Is there anything else that can cause me to lose my salvation?

NO! Romans 8:38-39 says, “for I am persuaded that neither.”

Romans 8:38–39 KJV 1900

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.

A. “Death” - you cannot lose it when you die.

B. “Life” - you cannot lose it while you are alive.

C. “Angels” - they cannot take it from you.

D. “Principalities” - the government cannot take it from you.

E. “Powers” - the devil cannot cause you to lose it.

F. “Things present” - nothing happening right now can take it away.

G. “Things to come” - nothing in the future can make you lose it.

H. “Height” - nothing above you. I. “Depth” - nothing below you.

J. “NOR ANY OTHER CREATURE, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

IV. Why is this?

A. Because your relationship with God is now a father/son relationship by birth.

John 1:12-13. No matter what I may do I am my parent’s child!

John 1:12–13 KJV 1900

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

B. When you were born physically, there was a record made of your birth called a birth certificate.

When you were born again a record was made in heaven. I John 5:11-13

1 John 5:11–13 KJV 1900

11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

C. Your birth certificate was marked with a seal. Your spiritual birth is sealed by the Holy Spirit of God. Ephesians 1:13; 4:30

Ephesians 1:13 KJV 1900

13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Ephesians 4:30 KJV 1900

30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

D. You will be your father’s son for eternity because you were born of his seed. You could leave the country, disown each other, change your name and never see him, hear from him or even think about him for the rest of your life, but you will never change the fact that he is your father.

You can die, but you can never be unborn.

Your birth is fixed forever both physically and spiritually, and even God Himself will not change that fact.

V. Common Questions

A. How can I know for sure that I am saved? The Epistle of I John is written for this purpose. I John 5:13 says, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may KNOW that ye have eternal life,...” As a new Christian, I John should be a primary focal point to help you grow and to settle this issue.

1 John 5:13 KJV 1900

13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

B. What if I do not feel saved?

1. Your salvation is not based on feelings. It is based upon the truth of the Word of God.

a. I John 3:20 says, “For if our heart condemn us (we think or feel unsaved), God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.” God knows if you are saved even if you do not know.

1 John 3:20 KJV 1900

20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

b. Titus 1:2 says “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began:”

Titus 1:2 KJV 1900

2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

2. JUST BELIEVE WHAT GOD HAS SAID. I John 2:25

1 John 2:25 KJV 1900

25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

C. Why might I doubt my salvation?

1. Many people have a natural weakness in the areas of fear and doubt.

It is natural then that this would have an affect in the area of eternal security.

It is necessary for people in this group to work on these areas and to have victory through faith in the Word of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. Many people experience doubts concerning their salvation because of unconfessed sin in their life.

Sin affects our fellowship with God, but it does not affect our relationship with God.

When we keep unconfessed sin in our life, we no longer feel God’s presence in our life, and it is easy to misconstrue this as having lost our salvation.

God is still our Father, but He is displeased with our sin. Revelation 3:19 says that God chastens His children who continue in sin but they are still His children.

Revelation 3:19 KJV 1900

19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

We must keep our sin confessed to God and our heart right before Him to ensure having His peace in our heart concerning salvation.

D. Is salvation a license to sin?

ABSOLUTELY NOT!

Being secure in our salvation does not mean that we can sin if we want to.

The Apostle Paul answers this in Romans 6:1-2 “What shall we say then?

Romans 6:1–2 KJV 1900

1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”

Remember, when we are saved we receive a new nature (II Corinthians 5:17).

2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV 1900

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

It should not be our desire to sin but to serve the Lord with purity of heart.

E. Can I give my salvation back? Is there an amount of sin I can do to disqualify my salvation?

The answer to both of these is ... No! Our relationship with Christ is a “covenant relationship.”

It cannot be broken; it is a binding relationship.

If we say we can lose our salvation by the acts of sin then we as men set that standard and WE become the keepers of salvation.

That alone is GOD’S domain.

The truth of the matter is ... those who say they LOST their salvation, most likely were NEVER SAVED in the first place! We are saved by the work of Christ and KEPT until the day of redemption by the sealing of the Holy Ghost.

A seal that can be opened by NO ONE ... but God Himself.

If we are saved by God and kept by God, then we are the property of God. God’s not going to ... “Lose us,” and we won’t WANT to be lost from His keeping.... that’s just common sense.

ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS ABOUT ETERNAL SECURITY. LESSON #2

1. What is the promise we can claim in John 6:37?

John 6:37 KJV 1900

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

2. From John 10:27-29, you should understand that no man can cause you to lose your salvation. Why is this?

John 10:27–29 KJV 1900

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.

3. We cannot do anything that would cause us to lose our salvation. What can we learn from the following verses to support this?

A. Ephesians 2:8-9

Ephesians 2:8–9 KJV 1900

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

B. II Timothy 1:12

2 Timothy 1:12 KJV 1900

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.

C. Galatians 2:21

Galatians 2:21 KJV 1900

21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

4. Is there anything at all that can separate us from the love of God?

5. Is there anything we can do to dissolve our relationship as a child of God?

6. Briefly explain why your spiritual birth is like your physical birth.

A.

B.

C.

7. What Scripture reference promises that you can know that you have eternal life?

8. What do the following verses teach concerning the promise of eternal life?

A. I John 3:20

1 John 3:20 KJV 1900

20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

B. Titus 1:2

Titus 1:2 KJV 1900

2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

C. I John 2:25

1 John 2:25 KJV 1900

25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

9. List two reasons why one might doubt their salvation.

A.

B.

10. Why is salvation not a license to sin?

11. Briefly explain the primary purpose of this lesson.

Key Memory Verses:

Memorize at LEAST ONE of these verses. Ephesians 2:8-9; I John 2:25; I John 5:13

Ephesians 2:8–9 KJV 1900

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

1 John 2:25 KJV 1900

25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

1 John 5:13 KJV 1900

13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

NOTE: Can you see that some churches wrongly teach that:

1. We must work to keep our salvation.

2. If we sin after we are born again we can lose our salvation.

3. God punished His children according to His own whim and pleasure.

Write any questions you may have concerning the subjects in this lesson.

John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

John 10:28 KJV 1900

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

John 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

John 10:29 KJV 1900

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.

John 10:30 I and my Father are one.

John 10:30 KJV 1900

30 I and my Father are one.