From the book "BASIC BIBLE DOCTRINES" by Donald Webb.Chapter 6Eternal Security………………………………………………….………………………….………………The Bible teaches that all the saved are eternally secure in Christ!Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ... until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory. (Romans 5:1; Ephesians 1:14).Eternal security is really a continuance of the subject of salvation. When we say eternal security, we are really saying eternal salvation; and we are, of course, speaking of soul salvation.We specifically choose to use these terms eternal salvation and eternal security over such terms as once saved, always saved or the perseverance of the saints because of the implications of these latter two.To say once saved, always saved rightly expresses the thought of salvation being forever; but at the same time, it can imply a disregard for the present aspect of salvation from sin's power. It matters a great deal to God that we walk in victory over sin's power. This victory was given us in Christ the moment we were saved.When we speak to others, we want to be careful that we do not use terminology that will imply some wrong thought. The term perseverance of the saints can imply the thought that we will persevere or continue to do the right works in order to keep our salvation; this would be completely in error. That is not how God saves men, and the continuance and security of our salvation would be hopeless indeed if it were based for even an instant upon our performance. How much better to say that we believe that all the saved are eternally secure or that we believe in eternal salvation! Indeed, when salvation is by grace through faith, there is no other kind of salvation but eternal! The word eternal is the way the Bible refers to soul salvation. John 3:16 and 36 both say that he that believes on the Son has "everlasting life." Romans says it this way:For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord (Romans 6:23).1 Timothy 1:16 says that those who believe on Him have "life everlasting." Some would object that the word everlasting does not mean without end but only applies to a specific age of time. To these we would say that the same words translated everlasting and eternal are also used over and over of God to describe His eternal Person, power, and glory. The simple truth is that to understand salvation is to understand eternal security.For people to believe they can be saved and then lost is to have an inadequate view of what was accomplished in salvation. Others believe you cannot know if you are truly saved until the end (death). This is also an inadequate view of what salvation is and how it is received. The subject of knowing now that you are saved is really called the assurance of salvation. The assurance (security) of salvation will be clear if we understand the following points.SALVATION'S MAIN POINTSBy Works or by GraceSalvation in this dispensation really comes down to one of two basic issues: Either it is by works, or it is by grace.The law of works is mentioned in Romans 3:27 and expounded in Romans 2:6-8, There, briefly, it states that if a man can live a perfect, righteous life, God will give him eternal life. But on the other hand, if he cannot - that is, if a man is evil and sins even once - then he will receive indignation and wrath from God.The Scriptures declare every man to be sold under sin (see chapter 4: Depravity). The only answer to this dilemma (that salvation cannot be earned no matter how much time is involved) is that salvation must be given freely as a gift. It must be given without merit for man can never merit or deserve it. Furthermore, because of the sinful, lost, and alienated condition of every man, salvation must be the product of the redemption of a righteous Savior.God's Word plainly states that salvation is by grace through faith and based upon the finished work of Christ alone: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 (Ephesians 2:8,9).Concerning works and grace, we want to note that there can be no mixing of these two principles:And if by grace, then is it no more of works; otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace; otherwise work is no more work (Romans 11:6).The logic of this verse is very simple and conclusive. It must be either one or the other! Either salvation is earned, or it is a gift of God's grace. Since we know that it cannot be earned, then grace is all that remains: Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law (Romans 3:28).Romans also expressly states:But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness (Romans 4:5).We quote again from Ephesians: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 (Ephesians 2:8,9).We could add many more verses that say the same thing: Salvation can only be received by the gift of God through faith.An EventSalvation is an event, not a process. Salvation takes place in an instant of time (the moment that a person trusts Christ as Savior) and is of eternal duration. A person is not required to repent and show a changed life to be saved. He is not required to maintain some period of good works to be saved. Though both a changed life and good works would be the result of salvation, they are not required to be saved. There is no probationary period of any kind connected with salvation.Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5).Note that this is past tense: "He saved us." Again we read:Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved... (Acts 16:31). We read in Ephesians:In whom ye also trusted, after ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also after ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise (Ephesians 1:13).All these verses emphatically teach the truth that upon believing the gospel, God does the saving and the securing.For by one Spirit were we all baptized into one body... (1 Corinthians 12:13).This verse involves our salvation - not a ceremony - and tells us that the Holy Spirit places us (baptizes us) into the Body of Christ the moment we believe! Therefore, salvation involves the complete identification of every believer with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.Romans 6:3-5 refers to this baptism into Christ and verifies that it involves being placed into His death (also His burial and resurrection). Death is the end - the judgment for sin, and in Christ we have died the death that the law said we must. The law said, "The soul that sinneth it shall die," and this means not only physical death but spiritual death as well!Christ suffered both of these deaths for us, and having been identified with Him at Calvary, we were gloriously raised and seated with Him in the heavenlies (Ephesians 2:5,6). We must not forget that the result of this act was justification, which means that we are declared righteous (given the righteousness of Christ). Colossians 2:10-12 teaches that based upon our death, burial, and resurrection with Christ we are complete in Him.Colossians says: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. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory (Colossians 3:14).For the believer, death and judgment are past. Our sins are gone, just as if we had died (which we did in Christ), and that everlasting penalty has been paid for us. When the Bible says that our sins are forgiven and remitted, it is on the basis of this truth: the substitutionary death of Christ.We must emphasize that it means all of our sins (past, present, and future) because death takes into account all possible sin, and burial and resurrection seal the transaction. Remember, too, that all of our sins were future when Christ died for us.For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3,4).To sum up these points briefly: First, salvation cannot be by works but only by grace. Second, it happens as an event in time with eternal consequences and is not a process of time and works. Third, it involves the forgiveness of all our sins resulting in justification, based upon our death, burial, and resurrection with Christ.The above points also answer the possibility of receiving salvation by grace through faith but having to maintain and secure it by our works. This, of course, is impossible because in this body we are just as incapable of perfection now as before we were saved. The flesh is "sold under sin" (Romans 7: 14). Paul verified this in Galatians where he said:This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh (Galatians 3:2,3)?A salvation like this would not really be salvation at all because you do not have God's salvation (eternal life) if it is not eternal - right? Therefore, we conclude that salvation cannot be received, maintained, or secured by our works.The Purpose of the FatherWe again point out from Ephesians 1 that salvation is based upon the purpose of the Father, the work of the Son, and the regeneration or baptism and seal of the Spirit.In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will (Ephesians 1:11).Verse 10 already stated that God's purpose is to gather together in one all things in Christ. This is why it says that we should be to the praise of His glory in verse 12.Ephesians 1 opens with the statement that we have been blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies in Christ. To find out what all these spiritual blessings are, all we have to do is read verses 3 through 14. These blessings have to do with the purpose of God to eternally bless those who believe in Christ.For after that, in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe (1 Corinthians 1:21).Concerning this purpose of God, verse 4 says we were chosen in Him to be holy and without blame. Verse 5 says that we were predestinated to the adoption of sons. Verse 6 adds that we are accepted in the beloved one. Verse 7 says that we have redemption and the forgiveness of sins. Verse 11 says that we have obtained an inheritance, and verses 13 and 14 tell us that we have the indwelling Holy Spirit as the seal and earnest of our salvation. All of this God has worked out according to His purpose, which Scripture says cannot be thwarted or changed
eclaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure (Isaiah 46:10).In keeping with this, we read: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 (Romans 8:28).This verse is saying that God is working together all the circumstances in the believer's life for his ultimate spiritual good. The believers in this verse are those who love God, and they are the called according to His purpose. Reading on, it says:For whom He did foreknow , He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son... (Romans 8:29).1 Corinthians 1:21 says that God chose by the foolishness of preaching to save those that believe. The conclusion we draw from this verse is that God foreknew those who would believe in accordance with His purpose. These, it says, God predestinated to be conformed to the image of his Son. This is our glorious position in Christ. This is a reference to our salvation or our sonship that we received as an eternal inheritance by believing the gospel: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 (Romans 8:30).1 Peter 5:10 speaks of the God of all grace who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus. Thus, the saved are partakers of Jesus Christ has accomplished.This gives a clear look at the terms of salvation that the Father purposed. All this is the result of the believer's faith and the gift of the grace of God. The stage was set for the questions Paul asked in Romans 8 in direct defense of the eternal nature of salvation:Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? Shall God that justifieth (Romans 8:33)?Paul asked here, "Who will dare bring an official indictment of sin or imperfection against one that God has declared righteous?" If any part of salvation were based upon the performance of man, we could well understand charges being brought against an individual. But who is prepared to question the work of God? It is based upon His purpose and work that He makes the declaration of righteousness.Who is he that condemneth? Shall Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us (Romans 8:34)?Since justification is God's purpose and is accomplished by Christ's death and resurrection, who will dare to say that His death was not enough? God says concerning Christ:Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification (Romans 4:25).This means that God was satisfied with all Christ's work, and resurrection marked that the means of justification was now fully accomplished. Thus, we read: Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1).This peace is the peace of knowing that God has declared righteous the believer in Christ and that his sins will never again separate him from God because they are gone. We are now in Him and possess His eternal life.Now Paul's questions come into clear focus. Who could possibly condemn any of what God has gloriously accomplished? Paul's last question in Romans 8 deals not with the judicial aspects of security-that has been adequately answered.What shall separate us from the love of Christ?... (Romans 8:35).The sin question is not the issue here. Justification is complete. But Paul now turns to the experiential, the circumstantial, by asking basically: Is there any thing, any circumstance, any power, any creature in the entire universe that could cause us to be separated from the love of Christ? Paul answers, "No - in tribulations, we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us."The source of these things (these persecutions and distresses) is really from a higher sphere - that of principalities, powers, and angelic hosts. Paul says that none of these things are able to harm our position in Christ, and verse 39 concludes:Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creation , shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord (Romans 8:39).THE BELIEVER AND SINBut what about when the believer sins? When a believer does sin, it is an issue between him and God his Father. It is a family issue; it involves service not salvation. Salvation is complete and secure. From that time the Christian life is a matter of an eternal loving relationship with the Father (of growth and tender care of grace and, yes, even discipline) "until the redemption of the purchased possession..." Will we have to answer for sins committed as believers? Yes. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:10 that we must answer for the things done in the body whether they be good or bad. But this involves rewards and loss of rewards, not salvation. We refer the reader to chapter 10, The Believer's Walk, for a further discussion of the believer and sin.(SNIP)
eclaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure (Isaiah 46:10).In keeping with this, we read: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 (Romans 8:28).This verse is saying that God is working together all the circumstances in the believer's life for his ultimate spiritual good. The believers in this verse are those who love God, and they are the called according to His purpose. Reading on, it says:For whom He did foreknow , He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son... (Romans 8:29).1 Corinthians 1:21 says that God chose by the foolishness of preaching to save those that believe. The conclusion we draw from this verse is that God foreknew those who would believe in accordance with His purpose. These, it says, God predestinated to be conformed to the image of his Son. This is our glorious position in Christ. This is a reference to our salvation or our sonship that we received as an eternal inheritance by believing the gospel: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 (Romans 8:30).1 Peter 5:10 speaks of the God of all grace who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus. Thus, the saved are partakers of Jesus Christ has accomplished.This gives a clear look at the terms of salvation that the Father purposed. All this is the result of the believer's faith and the gift of the grace of God. The stage was set for the questions Paul asked in Romans 8 in direct defense of the eternal nature of salvation:Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? Shall God that justifieth (Romans 8:33)?Paul asked here, "Who will dare bring an official indictment of sin or imperfection against one that God has declared righteous?" If any part of salvation were based upon the performance of man, we could well understand charges being brought against an individual. But who is prepared to question the work of God? It is based upon His purpose and work that He makes the declaration of righteousness.Who is he that condemneth? Shall Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us (Romans 8:34)?Since justification is God's purpose and is accomplished by Christ's death and resurrection, who will dare to say that His death was not enough? God says concerning Christ:Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification (Romans 4:25).This means that God was satisfied with all Christ's work, and resurrection marked that the means of justification was now fully accomplished. Thus, we read: Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1).This peace is the peace of knowing that God has declared righteous the believer in Christ and that his sins will never again separate him from God because they are gone. We are now in Him and possess His eternal life.Now Paul's questions come into clear focus. Who could possibly condemn any of what God has gloriously accomplished? Paul's last question in Romans 8 deals not with the judicial aspects of security-that has been adequately answered.What shall separate us from the love of Christ?... (Romans 8:35).The sin question is not the issue here. Justification is complete. But Paul now turns to the experiential, the circumstantial, by asking basically: Is there any thing, any circumstance, any power, any creature in the entire universe that could cause us to be separated from the love of Christ? Paul answers, "No - in tribulations, we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us."The source of these things (these persecutions and distresses) is really from a higher sphere - that of principalities, powers, and angelic hosts. Paul says that none of these things are able to harm our position in Christ, and verse 39 concludes:Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creation , shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord (Romans 8:39).THE BELIEVER AND SINBut what about when the believer sins? When a believer does sin, it is an issue between him and God his Father. It is a family issue; it involves service not salvation. Salvation is complete and secure. From that time the Christian life is a matter of an eternal loving relationship with the Father (of growth and tender care of grace and, yes, even discipline) "until the redemption of the purchased possession..." Will we have to answer for sins committed as believers? Yes. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:10 that we must answer for the things done in the body whether they be good or bad. But this involves rewards and loss of rewards, not salvation. We refer the reader to chapter 10, The Believer's Walk, for a further discussion of the believer and sin.(SNIP)
