Eternal Security / Assurance of Salvation

Exploring Prophetic Mysteries

With Daniel Speck 12.29.12

Eternal Security/Assurance of Salvation/Once Saved, Always Saved

I write this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. I John 5:13

The Bible clearly declares Eternal Security

A contradiction of terms

Having the gift of Salvation and then losing it is a contradiction of terms. Salvation by Biblical definition is something promised to every believer in Jesus Christ, the present possession of a future gift. If you can lose it, you never had it in the first place. If salvation could be lost it would be impossible for anyone to say that they are saved until after they die. Someone who lives an exemplary Christian life but then commits a bad sin just before they die would lose their salvation according to eternal security deniers. If they somehow became “unsaved” how could anyone say they were ever saved in the first place? It defies simple logic.

A can of worms

If salvation can be lost, we are left with the quandary of trying to determine exactly what would cause a believer to lose it. Would backsliding lose your salvation? How badly would you have to backslide? What particular sin would cause you to lose your salvation? How many sins would it take? Could you have lost your salvation and not even know it? Can you get it back? How many times can you lose and get back your salvation? How weak does a Christian’s faith have to get before they lose it? Can you lose your salvation a minute before you die? Can a Christian faithfully serve Christ their whole life , and lead others to the Lord, only to fall into some sin and lose their salvation? The absurdities of this false teaching go on and on.

Many Scriptures clearly declare Eternal Security

The Scriptures clearly state that no one will be taken out of Christ’s hand and we can know for sure that we are saved. If we can be taken out of Christ’s hand then either these Scriptures are wrong of eternal security deniers are wrong. Paul says nothing will ever separate us from the love of Christ. If we could somehow become unsaved and go to hell, we would certainly be separated from Christ’s love. The importance of the doctrine of Eternal Security cannot be overemphasized.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit seals us and guarantees our salvation

The Holy Spirit seals each born-again believer for all eternity. Born-again believers have the mind of Christ. Even though we may sin, we do not sin from the heart like unbelievers (Romans 7:21-25).

Denying the completed work of Christ on the Cross

Denying Eternal Security also denies the power of the Blood of Christ to completely atone for every sin. It means that the only sins that are atoned for are those not serious enough to lose your salvation over. It is really an ugly denial of the completed work that Jesus did on the Cross. In this regard it is an anti-Evangelical doctrine that smacks of false Christianity.

Eternal Security best shows the Love of Christ

Christ’s love is demonstrated best through Eternal Security and produces the Godly kind of love that He most desires to see in us. It cost Him dearly to give us this wonderful gift.

The good fruit of Eternal Security

Eternal Security inspires and frees believers to press on to follow Christ wherever He leads in the power of the Holy Spirit without fear if we are going to be saved or not. The question of being sure where they will spend eternity is settled for every born-again believer in Christ and is a real source of strength and inspiration. The deepest kind of love for God springs from the assurance of our salvation.

The bad fruit of denying Eternal Security

Rejection of Eternal Security inevitably, without exception leads to a sanctimonious, proud and legalistic attitude. This produces cold heartedness. Believers can be ruined by this. Watch your back around eternal security deniers as they can be heatless, extremely judgmental, vicious and abusive.

Sects and cults always deny Eternal Security

The carnal mind reacts fiercely against the doctrine of Eternal Security. There is not a single false Christian sect or cult that believes in eternal security. They all vociferously attack this truth. It is the one evangelical doctrine they seem to hate the most.

The red flag of Eternal Security denial

Denial of Eternal Security is a red flag that there is something seriously wrong with a person, ministry, or doctrinal stance. Scratch the surface of anyone who teaches this falsehood and you will invariably uncover other problems of unsound teachings, attitudes, and practices as well. Leaders of Eternal Security denying sects are usually very self important, vain glorious, authoritarian and even autocratic and usually control their congregations with a heavy hand. You will know them by their fruit. Most teach that if you leave their sect, you most certainly will lose your salvation and go to hell. It is wise to steer clear of any person or ministry who denies eternal security.

Denial of Eternal Security is nothing less than legalism

Denial of Eternal Security is legalism, salvation by works, pure and simple. It eventually all comes to down to denying that faith in the Blood of Jesus is sufficient to save, denying the Holy Spirit regenerates and seals every believer, denying true Grace, and rejecting clear New Testament doctrine. Sects that deny eternal security usually have all kinds of legalistic works: baptism, tithing, attendance, proselytizing, service, rituals, loyalty, etc, that must be scrupulously performed in order stay in good standing with the organization and there by staying “saved.”

Denying Eternal Security says that God cannot be trusted

Denying this doctrine is an attack on the veracity of God and God’s Word. He clearly tells us in His Word that we can know that we have eternal life and that our salvation is sealed and guaranteed by the Holy Spirit. Contradicting this by insisting that we can lose salvation is like saying that God cannot be trusted to do what He has promised.

Eternal Security Deniers just don’t understand Grace

Grace is undeserved merit, God giving us something we don’t deserve. Deniers just cannot get their minds around the concept of Grace, but always insist that we have to be deserving of salvation by living a certain way, doing certain things and refraining from doing other things.

Confusion about Eternal Security can stunt the growth of new Christians

Until this question is settled, guilt, fear, and ignorance of the real nature of God’s grace can rob a Christian of the joy and confidence they should be experiencing in their relationship with Christ.

Even weak Christians will be saved

Paul tells us what happens to Christians who do not produce good works: “If any man’s work is burned up he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved.” He clearly states that unfruitful believers will be saved even though they do not produce works that can stand the test.

People who “leave” the faith were never believers to begin with

There are phony Christians in almost every church. Some who claim to have been born-again then “lost” their faith and left to become atheists or follow some other religion were never true believers to begin with. The Apostle John makes it clear that those who abandon the faith “were not of us.”

If you do not have assurance of salvation, you need to receive Christ and be born again

You need to settle the question of your salvation once and for all by receiving Christ through faith and being born again, then believing exactly what He says in His Word about being sure about your salvation.

The Gospel is not the Gospel without Eternal Security

Without assurance of salvation being preached, the Gospel has not been preached. A “salvation” that can be lost at any time is not salvation, and not good news. The Gospel is Christ saving us and keeping us saved, not we saving ourselves and keeping ourselves saved.

The weight of New Testament Scripture clearly teaches once saved, always saved

The vast weight of New Testament Scripture is solidly on the side of the doctrine of Once Saved, Always Saved. The few verses used by deniers to suggest salvation can be lost are usually taken out of context or not specifically talking about the salvation of believers, but about unbelievers. You cannot hold a few misunderstood verses against the many, many Scriptures that firmly, straightforwardly proclaim the doctrine of Eternal Security.

Some of the many Scriptures that declare Eternal Security

We can know without a doubt that we have eternal life

And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. I John 5:11-13

“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand.” John 10:28

Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Romans 10:13

The baptism of the Holy Spirit seals and guarantees our salvation

You...have been sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance. Ephesians 1:13-14

...the Holy Spirit, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30

The gifts of God are irrevocable

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Romans 11:29

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

Our salvation is imperishable, undefiled, unending, reserved and protected

...according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not pass away, reserved in heaven for you who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. I Peter 1:3-5

For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. Hebrews 10:14

We have been saved, not maybe we will be if we don’ lose it

He saved us, not on the basis of deed that we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing by the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” John 5:24

We have been saved through faith, not by works

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

Believers were predestined to be saved before the world was created

He has chosen us in Him before the world was founded to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love He predestined us through Jesus Christ to be His adopted sons... Ephesians 1:4-5

God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation... II Thessalonians 2:13

Summary

The Doctrine of Eternal Security is clearly declared in the Word of God by an overwhelming number of Scriptures. It is an inseparable part of the Gospel message. There is no sin that Jesus Christ did not pay for on the Cross. He guarantees the salvation of every believer through the promise of His Word, the seal of the Holy Spirit and the power of God. The born-again believer’s salvation is promised, sealed, protected, reserved imperishable, irrevocable, guaranteed, predestined and fully paid for. Eternal Security deniers are legalists who don’t understand Grace, salvation by faith, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, or the power of God. Denial of assurance of salvation is a red flag that there is something seriously wrong with a person’s or ministry’s doctrines.