ETERNAL SECURITY
The two words “eternal security” are not found in the Bible. The words eternal salvation and eternal life are the words that are found in the Bible. What do we mean when we say eternal life, eternal salvation and eternal security? We mean that once a person is TRULY SAVED they cannot lose their salvation. Eternal security means that a person does not work to get their salvation and they cannot work to keep their salvation.
THE FIRST OBJECTION
They say, “Well then, if I am saved eternally then I can do what I want to because I cannot lose my salvation.” This shows a total ignorance of the Word of God.
1 John 3:6-9 NLT
[6] Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is. [7] Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. [8] But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. [9] Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God.
Not only that, but Hebrews tells us because we are saved does not give us the right to sin, because if we are really saved and we sin, God will chastise us and correct us.
Hebrews 12:6-8 NLT
[6] For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.” [7] As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? [8] If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all.
THE SECOND OBJECTION
“Well, Judas was one of the apostles and he lost his salvation.” Let me say that you cannot find anyone in the Bible who was ever truly saved that lost their salvation. Let’s look at Judas.
John 13:10 NLT
[10] Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.”
John 6:64 NLT
[64] But some of you do not believe me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him.)
Jesus said that Judas was not a believer; he did not believe.
John 6:70-71 NLT
[70] Then Jesus said, “I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil.” [71] He was speaking of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, one of the Twelve, who would later betray him.
John 17:12 NLT
[12] During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold.
Judas was never saved. Because somebody serves God and goes into the temple or church and becomes a preacher or deacon, doesn’t mean they are saved. Nowhere in the Bible do you find anybody truly saved that ever lost their salvation.
WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT ETERNAL SALVATION
John 5:24 NLT
[24] “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.
John 6:39 NLT
[39] And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day.
John 6:37 NLT
[37] However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them.
Romans 8:1 NLT
[1] So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
John 10:27-30 NLT
[27] My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. [28] I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, [29] for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. [30] The Father and I are one.”
Look at the words “never or will not” in relationship to eternal salvation.
John 3:16 NLT
[16] “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
Matthew 7:23 NLT
[23] But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’
John 4:14 NLT
[1] But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”
John 6:35 NLT
[35] Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE WHO WERE SAVED AND SINNED AND DID NOT LOSE THEIR SALVATION
David committed adultery with Bathsheba, murdered her husband, lied and deceived, and yet he did not lose his salvation. In Psalm 51 we read that after David had committed these terrible sins he prayed to God and confessed his sin.
Psalm 51:1-11 NLT
[1] Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. [2] Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. [3] For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. [4] Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just. [5] For I was born a sinner- yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. [6] But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there. [7] Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. [8] Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me- now let me rejoice. [9] Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. [10] Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. [11] Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.
Psalm 51:12 NLT
[12] Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.
David does not say restore my salvation, but restore the joy of my salvation. He hadn’t lost his salvation, he had lost his fellowship with God.
In 1 Corinthians 5, we have a terrible sin in the Church of Corinth where a man was committing adultery with his mother, or at least his stepmother. What does Paul say about his man?
1 Corinthians 5:4-5 NLT
[4] In the name of the Lord Jesus. You must call a meeting of the church. I will be present with you in spirit, and so will the power of our Lord Jesus. [5] Then you must throw this man out and hand him over to Satan so that his sinful nature will be destroyed and he himself will be saved on the day the Lord returns.
WHAT SHOULD A BELIEVER DO WHEN THEY HAVE SINNED
[One] They should recognize it.
Psalm 51:3 NLT
[3] For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night.
[Two] They should confess it.
1 John 1:9 NLT
[9] But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
[Three] They should forsake it.
Isaiah 55:7 NLT
[7] Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the LORD that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.
[Four] They should seek to be restored.
Psalm 51:12 NLT
[12] Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.
Psalm 23:3 NLT
[3] He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RELATIONSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP
Relationship is that which is formed by blood, by birth and nothing in the entire world can break relationship, and when you are born again and receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, you become a child of God.
John 1:12 NLT
[12] But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
Fellowship is formed by obedience and it depends upon obedience. Your fellowship with God can be broken with the slightest sin.
Isaiah 59:2 NLT
[2] It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.
Fellowship is something that depends not upon God, but upon you. You need to constantly, day by day, day by day confess your sins, read the Word of God and stay close to God and keep your fellowship with God intact.
Your salvation didn’t depend upon you to get it, and it does not depend upon you to keep it. It is all of God once you come and receive Jesus Christ as Savior.
Your fellowship however depends entirely upon you. You must seek the Lord, you must read His Word, you must confess your sin and when you sin you do not lose your salvation. Like David in Psalm 51, you lose the joy of your salvation, you lose the joy of fellowship with God and walking with God. If you are truly saved, you are eternally saved, you can never ever lose your salvation and this is something that should not cause you to be carnal or worldly or not care how you live; it should be something that should cause you to live Godly every single day of your life!
Remember, dear friend, Jesus Christ, and He alone is able to save you and to keep you.
Jude 1:24 NLT
[24] Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.
2 Timothy 1:12 NLT
[12] That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.
Written by E. Robert Jordan