The Doctrine of Eternal Security Pt. 4

This wonderful truth is explained by three verses in Romans chapter 8 that highlight what God is determined to accomplish in every believer’s life.

This has been called a "soft pillow for a troubled heart." This verse promises that God, without violating your human volition and without negating negative consequences to bad choices, is determined to work all things together for your

spiritual good and to His own glory.

The conjunction "for" connects verses 28 and 29 together. "Whom" refers back to believers in Christ as described in the preceding verse. "Foreknow" (proginosko) literally means "to know beforehand," which W.E. Vine sets forth as part of God’s omniscience. "He also did predestinate" (pro- orizo) carries the idea "to mark out beforehand; to set a boundary; to determine beforehand." It is important to note that this predestination is not to salvation from sin’s penalty, but is designed for believers "to be conformed to the image of His Son." And why does God do this? "That He (Jesus Christ) might be the first born among many brethren." God’s purpose from eternity past is to bring believers to full spiritual maturity in order that the Lord Jesus Christ would have the preeminence and glory.

3. God’s PLAN for us. (Romans 8:30)

This verse communicates to us an understanding of 5 links in God’s unbroken chain for the believer from eternity past to eternity future.

If you notice carefully you will observe that the "Whom" and "them" always refer to the same group. The same individuals whom God foreknew He predestinated, called, justified, and glorified. This allows for no drop-outs along the way. 100% of those whom God did foreknow (believers) are predestinated; 100% of those whom God predestinated are called; 100% of those called are justified; and 100% of those who have been justified are glorified.

What part does man fulfill in this? Nothing except…

Also, observe that there are no "ifs" in God’s plan. Thus, it is guaranteed from beginning to end.

What is not mentioned in this verse? Usually between justification and glorification you would expect to find "sanctification." Why is this missing? Because progressive sanctification is not absolutely guaranteed in time (though it is desired by God) for the believer due to carnality, worldliness, the sin unto death, etc.

This verse clearly explains to us that there is no slippage in God’s plan for the believer in Christ. Our Lord will not be counting His sheep in heaven saying… "94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 99? 99? Where is that Rokser, anyway?" with Michael the Archangel’s replying, "Sorry, Lord, but he lost his salvation." If God foreknew that you would lose your salvation (if this was possible) along the way due to sin, unfaithfulness, carnality, etc. why would He design His plan like this?

And like a maraschino cherry on top of a hot fudge sundae, please notice the word "glorified." This Greek verb indicates a completed action (aorist tense) which God does and you receive (active voice) that is a fact or reality (indicative mood) for every believer. Now keep in mind that the believer’s glorification is a future reality. You will not be fully glorified till you are with the Lord in Heaven with a new, resurrected body. Yet it is translated in our Bibles in the past tense. Why? This is called theologically a "prophetic past." The reason Paul could pen this as if your glorification has already occurred is because in God’s mind, your future destiny is absolutely certain and guaranteed. As far as God is concerned, every believer is sure to be glorified. Isn’t that great?

For any to be lost who were once justified by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone demands a failure in God’s plan and purpose of glorifying the believer. Why would He record for us in no uncertain terms that we will without a doubt be glorified if this is not absolutely guaranteed? Would this not then be inaccurate and misleading, perhaps even deceptive? What God starts, He finishes – praise the Lord! Because of this, there should be no room for past guilt but plenty of filled space with present gratitude in the heart of every believer.

2. Every believer in Christ is eternally secure because of the PROVISION of God the Father.

On the heels of Romans 8:28-30, we have a series of five questions that solidify the truth of eternal security even more.

1. "What shall we say to these things?"

What things? The truths of God's promise, God's purpose, and God's plan in verses 28-30. How about replying "amen" and "hallelujah"?

2. "If God be for us, who can be against us?"

The word "if" (first-class condition) assumes a reality from the standpoint of the writer. "If God be for us" (and He is!) "who can be (prevail) against us?" The anticipated answer is NO ONE! Why?

3. "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?"

The phrase "spared not" means "to spare or forego the infliction of that evil or retribution which was designed." While the penalty of our sin is death, God did not spare His Son this punishment when He died on Calvary as our substitute. Instead of refraining from this, God "delivered Him up for us all." The Greek verb translated "delivered…up" communicates a completed event (aorist tense) which God did (active voice) as a fact of history (indicative mood). And who did Christ do this for? … "for us all."

Since God did this for us, "how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" The prepositional phrase "with Him" underscores the believer’s positional identity with Jesus Christ. "Freely give" (charisetai) is derived from the root word for God’s "grace!" When you have Jesus Christ, you have all the grace-blessings that come with Him. Should not this make you love Him more and more?

4. "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect?"

Literally, who shall bring a charge or accusation or indictment in the future (future, active, indicative) against God’s elect (a description for a believer). Answer? "It is God that justifieth." "God" is emphatic in the Greek sentence structure. Who can point a bony finger at you in the future when you sin, fall, fail, etc. – since GOD is the one declaring you righteous (justified)? To charge you is to impeach the Judge who cleared you of every indictment and who declared you righteous in Christ.

But you may reply, "But what if I’m unfaithful?" The issue is not if, but when. In His mercy God will not condemn you for it is God that justifies you. "But what if I commit a terrible sin or a pattern of sins in the future?" While several practical consequences might occur should this happen, the fact still remains – it is God that justifies you. Your salvation remains secure not based on your innocence or guilt, but on the facts of what God has done for you!

5. "Who is he that condemneth?"

Who can presently (present tense) pass a sentence upon the believer? No angel, man, devil, or demon can successfully do so. Why? Four remarkable truths give us the reasons.

"It is Christ that died…."

"Christ" is emphatic. Who can pass a sentence upon the believer since it is Christ that voluntarily (active voice) died (aorist – completed action) as a payment for our sins. But Paul's explanation does not stop with Christ’s death.

"Yea rather, that is risen again…"

Jesus Christ was raised (passive voice) from the dead by God Himself as proof that He, God the Father, was propitiated. The resurrection of Christ serves as the canceled check that God accepted Christ’s full payment for our sins. But the reasons do not stop with Christ’s resurrection.

"Who is even at the right hand of God…"

This refers to our Lord’s ascension to the place of honor – the right hand of God. But Paul’s argu-ment does not cease with Christ’s death, resur-rection, and ascension.

"Who also maketh intercession for us."

Like the word "condemneth" (present tense), Jesus Christ "maketh intercession" (present tense) for us as He prays for believers and pleads their case as their defense attorney. Why is this needed?

What is God’s solution to these accusations of the Devil?

What could someone accuse you of in this present time? Certainly of some personal sins. But what did Christ die on the cross for? All of your sins – past, present, and future (Heb. 10:12). And what did God forgive us of because of Christ’s finished work? All of our sins – as far as the east is from the west (Ps. 103:12).

So what does this mean to the believer in Christ? If God is for you (and He is); if Christ died for all your sins and God raised Him from the dead as proof of His acceptance of Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice on your behalf (and He did); if God is declaring you righteous in Christ (and He is); and if no one can properly bring an accusation in the future or rightly condemn you in the meantime (and they can not), HOW COULD YOU EVER LOSE YOUR SALVATION? Impossible!!!

This means that every believer is guaranteed future glory. But is this guarantee of eternal salvation due to your walk or Christ’s work? (His work!) Is this eternal security based on your on-going faith-fulness or Christ’s once and for all finished work on the cross? (Christ’s work!)

Dear readers, if you have trusted Jesus Christ alone to save you, you are eternally secure because of the purpose of the Father to save, secure, and glorify you (Romans 8:28-30); and because of the provision of God the Father which includes the past death, past resurrection, past ascension, and present intercession of Jesus Christ for you. Do you believe this? Are you resting by faith in Christ alone? God is for you. Rejoice with the songwriter who penned,

In our next article in this series, we will continue to examine numerous verses that clearly teach the eternal security of every genuine believer in Christ.