ETERNAL SECURITY: A FEW MORE VERSES
The Doctrine of Eternal Security Part 11
by Dennis Rokser
I read of a man who was dining in a fancy restaurant and there was a gorgeous redhead at the next table. He had been checking her out since he sat down, but he lacked the nerve to talk to her. Suddenly she sneezes and her glass eye comes flying out of its socket right towards the man. He reflexively reaches out , grabs it out of the air and hands it back. “Oh my, I am sooo sorry,” the woman says as she pops her eye back in place. “Let me buy your dinner to make it up to you,” she says. They enjoyed a wonderful dinner together and afterwards the woman invites him to the theater. So they proceed to enjoy a movie together. The evening ended with the redhead inviting him over for dinner the next day. To which, he agrees. The next day, she cooks a tremendous gourmet meal with all the trimmings. The guy is amazed! Everything had been incredible! “You know,” he said, “you are the perfect woman. Are you this nice to every guy you meet?” “No,” she replies, “but you caught my eye.”
As we further consider the wonderful truth of eternal security, it is amazing how many verses in the New Testament “catch your eyes” regarding the keeping power and grace of God in the believer’s life. Thus, we have previously considered numerous passages that teach us the biblical doctrine of…
A. ETERNAL
SECURITY BY GOD THE FATHER…
B.
ETERNAL
SECURITY BY GOD THE SON and…
C. ETERNAL
SECURITY BY GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT.
In this article we want to complete this section of
our study by analyzing several other verses that clearly teach the eternal
security of the believer in Christ.
1. Every
believer in Christ is eternally secure because SALVATION IS A GIFT FROM GOD and
is IRREVOCABLE.
For
the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through
Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
Though “death”
(separation from God) is what every sinner has earned (“wages”) due to
Adam’s sin and his own, God has provided by His grace the gift of eternal life
for you and me. God alone is the
giver of this gift (2 Corinthians 9:15).
Jesus Christ alone shed His blood and died for your sins to pay
for the gift of salvation (Romans 5:6-10).
God now offers the gift of eternal life to you because of His
unconditional love (John 3:16) and amazing grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). Yet like any gift, it is of no personal
value to you until it is received.
Faith alone in Christ alone is the hand that receives God’s gift of His
forgiveness (Acts 10:43; 13:38-39; 16:31).
But can a believer ever lose or forfeit eternal life because of his
sin(s), unfaithfulness, backsliding, etc.?
Must God ever be required to take back the gift of salvation that He has
faithfully promised, offered, and given?
For
the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
(Romans 11:29)
The phrase “without repentance” means that
God does not change His mind.
This is why the New American Standard Bible translates it like this…
For
the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
(Romans 11:29, NASB)
In the context of
Romans 11, God is addressing Israel’s past election and the faithfulness of God
in keeping His covenant promises in spite of the Jews’ past failures. The same biblical principle is true
regarding the “gift” and “calling” involved in salvation.
For
ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the
flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things
of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things
of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath
God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that
are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of
God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and
redemption: (1 Corinthians 1:26-30)
But
we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord,
because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through
sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of
the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thess. 2:13-14)
Who
hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but
according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus
before the world began. (2 Timothy 1:9)
The
believer is not on probation; nor is God a “promise-breaker.” If salvation is a free gift of God’s grace
to undeserving sinners who trust in Christ alone, and His “gifts and calling
are irrevocable,” how could you ever lose your salvation or forfeit your
calling? You can’t; and that’s eternal
security! No wonder Paul ends Romans 11
with great adoration and exaltation to the God of all grace.
O
the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how
unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or
who hath been his counselor? Or who
hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are
all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. (Romans
11:33-36)
2.
The
believer in Christ is eternally secure because SALVATION IS A PERMANENT REALITY
WHICH IS NOT OBTAINED OR MAINTAINED BY A HOLY LIFE OR GOOD WORKS.
For
by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift
of God: Not of works, lest any man
should boast. (Eph. 2:8-9)
The
phrase “are ye saved” is especially pregnant with meaning in the Greek
text. It contains the present tense
verb “este” (translated “are ye”) and the perfect participle
“sesosmenoi” (translated “saved”).
The combination of this present tense verb and perfect participle is
technically called a “perfect periphrastic construction.” The King James translators gave a more
superior rendering than many modern translations when they translated this “for
by grace are ye saved.” On the
basis of God’s grace (“for by grace”), these Ephesian believers had been
saved from Hell by God (passive voice) when they trusted Christ in the past,
with the result that they remained saved in the present (perfect tense). The addition of the present tense verb
translated “are” doubly reinforces the permanency and present possession
of their salvation. Again we see the
inspired text of the New Testament emphatically and dogmatically teaching the
ETERNAL SECURITY OF SALVATION.
Furthermore,
your salvation is “not of works lest any man should boast” (Ephesians
2:9). Those who deny eternal security
inevitably require the believer to maintain his salvation via good works, a
holy life, not sinning whopper sins, etc.
This is a faith in Christ PLUS “hope-so” salvation, not a faith in Christ
PERIOD “know-so” salvation. Thus, if
you were required to obtain or maintain your salvation, you would then have a
basis to boast or brag about what YOU HAVE DONE instead of what CHRIST HAS DONE
FOR YOU! God’s grace smashes human
pride so…
That,
according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
(1 Corinthians 1:31)
3.
The
believer in Christ is eternally secure because “YE HAVE DIED AND YOUR LIFE IS
HID WITH CHRIST IN GOD.” (Colossians
3:3-4)
Before coming to faith in Christ, they also were spiritually “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1) and lived under the reigning power of Satan and their sin natures. But through the new birth, they became a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) and were co-crucified, co-buried, and co-raised in union with Christ and freed positionally from the power of the indwelling sin nature.
Knowing
this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be
destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.
(Romans 6:6-7)
God wants every believer to “know” (Romans 6:3, 6, 9) and to daily faith-rest (“reckon”) in these tremendous truths.
Likewise
reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God
through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:11)
Furthermore, every
believer is “complete” in Christ with all spiritual blessings.
And
ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
(Colossians 2:10)
Blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all
spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
(Ephesians 1:3)
According
as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and
godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and
virtue: Whereby are given unto us
exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of
the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through
lust. (2 Pt. 1:3-4)
Miles Stanford writes…
Our
position, the source of our Christian life, is perfect. It is eternally established in the Father's
presence. When we received the Lord Jesus as our personal Savior, the Holy
Spirit caused us to be born into Him.
He created us in the position that was established through His work at
Calvary. "Therefore if any man be
in Christ. he is a new creature [creation]" (2 Cor. 5: 17). This is the eternal position in which every
believer has been placed, whether he is aware of it or not. The Christian who comes to see his position
in the Lord Jesus begins to experience the benefit of all that he is in
Him. His daily state is developed from
the source of his eternal standing.
Our condition
is what we are in our Christian walk, in which we develop from infancy to
maturity. Although our position remains
immutable, our condition is variable.
Through the exercise of faith, our eternal position (source) affects our
daily condition, but in no way does our condition affect that heavenly
position.1
This position in, or
identity with, Jesus Christ forms the basis for each believer’s walk with
Christ.
If
ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on
the right hand of God. Set your
affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
(Colossians 3:1-2)
Colossians
3:3-4 appropriately follows to provide the reasons and motivations for true
spirituality. Regarding their
past, “for ye are dead” (literally, “have died” – aorist
indicative): every believer has died
with Christ positionally. Their history
“in Adam” ended at the cross. This is
God’s perspective of the believer in Christ.
This truth reminds me
of two girls who loved the party scene.
But as a result of putting their trust in Christ as Saviour, they
responded to a party invitation with the written reply,
“We
regret that we cannot attend for we recently died.”
The
second reason or motivation to live a life that honors the Lord pertained to
these believer’s present position.
…and
your life is hid with Christ in God.
(Colossians 3:3b)
Underscoring the
eternal and secure position of these Colossian Christians, God emphatically
declares as an established fact (indicative mood) their “life” to be
permanently “hid” since the day of their salvation (perfect tense) by
God Himself (passive voice). Where now
is their life and why is it so secure?
“your life is hid with Christ in God.”
This is double eternal
security. It would be like putting
something valuable in a security box (“with Christ”) inside of a safe (“in
God”). Believers are not instructed
in this passage to seek the things above and to pursue a heavenly mindset
(3:1-2) in order to be saved or stay saved, but because they have been saved
and remain secure in Christ forever.
And relating to their
future, a third motivation or reason to fulfill the two commands of
verses 1 and 2 is given.
When
Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in
glory. (Colossians
3:4)
Jesus Christ is not
only the believer’s Saviour and Lord, but He is his LIFE!
He
that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
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. (1 John 5:12-13)
In typical, emphatic,
New Testament fashion without any hint of uncertainty, the believer’s guarantee
of glory is spelled out in the most assuring of terms.
When
Christ, who is our life, shall appear, THEN SHALL YE ALSO APPEAR WITH HIM IN
GLORY. (3:4)
“But Paul, what if these Christian’s backslide, sin, fall, or fail the Lord? What of their future then?” Notice that there are no qualifying statements attached to these tremendous divine guarantees. “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear,” God promises that “ye” (plural – all these believers, no exceptions) “shall… appear” (future tense, indicative mood – it’s a fact) “with Him” (identification with Christ) “in glory.” That is God’s ironclad promise and that’s eternal security!
4.
The
believer in Christ is eternally secure because GOD ALREADY SEES THE BELIEVER AS
A CITIZEN OF HEAVEN.
For
our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus
Christ: Who shall change our vile body,
that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working
whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Phil. 3:20-21)
The KJV translation
“conversation” (politeuma)
refers to a place of citizenship (see NASB).
This word had great significance in Philippi as these residents were
actually citizens of Rome as a Roman colony, though living in Macedonia. In the same way, every believer in Christ is
already a citizen of heaven though living on planet earth. Because of this certain citizenship in
heaven, it can be unquestionably stated…
…from
whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it
may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working
whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
(Phil. 3:20-21)
Does this citizenship
in heaven or future bodily transformation sound conditional, iffy, or
uncertain? Not at all. This passage again teaches the ETERNAL
SECURITY of the believer by God’s grace and power!
5.
The
believer in Christ is eternally secure because CHRIST WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU, NOR
FORSAKE YOU.
Let
your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as
ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Hebrews 13:5)
In a previous article
in this series we discussed the Greek “ou” “me” double negative
construction. The writer of Hebrews is
even more dogmatic adding a third negative in this verse. In the Greek text it looks this way.
ou
me se ano
not not
you shall I desert
oud
ou me se egkataleipo
not not
not you shall I forsake
Dear believer, Christ
was forsaken by God on the cross when He died for your sins (Matthew 27:46), so
that you will never ever be forsaken or deserted by God. What good news! However, if your salvation could be lost, forfeited, forsaken, or
given back, Christ would have to leave you and forsake you, as He cannot go to
Hell with you. Since this is impossible
according to this precious divine promise, it also stands to reason that your
salvation is eternal and secure. That’s
again eternal security! No wonder the
writer of Hebrews can confidently add,
So
that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man
shall do unto me. (Hebrews 13:6)
How do these verses
“catch your eye?” Aren’t they
great? May these passages pass through
your eyes to your heart and cause you to drop to your knees with great
humility, and open your mouth with great praise to the God of all grace as you
sing with the song writer of old…
Come, thou Fount of ev’ry blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of God’s unchanging love.
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let that grace, now like a fetter,
Bind my yielded heart to Thee.
Let me know Thee in Thy fullness;
Guide me by Thy mighty hand
Till, transformed, in Thine own image,
In Thy presence I shall stand. ¢
Footnote:
1 Miles, Stanford, The Complete
Green Letters, (Zondervan Publishing House), pg. 71.
Next time we will begin to answer the question, “Why are
these objections to the scriptural truth of eternal security?” So look for it!
Dennis Rokser has been involved
with the Duluth Bible Church for the past 19 years, serving as pastor-teacher
for the last sixteen years.