Eternal Security and the Bible Pastor Rex Deckard Know the Truth series I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 3 John 1:3

Assurance, eternal security, ‘once saved, always saved’ "final perseverance of the saints" What does the Bible teach about this doctrine? Remember, no specific doctrine will ever contradict the general teaching of the Word of God!

So we have some questions we must ask and answer from the Scriptures… Is there eternal security? Is it for the individual or the collective Body- the Church? Is it unconditional or conditional? How does Sin factor into this? What has predestination got to do with this?

Is there eternal security? Yes! For those who want to be saved, God will always make a way for them! God will never arbitrarily take away salvation- He wants us to make it more than we ourselves want! Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine, Oh What a foretaste or Glory Divine!

Jude says, "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling Jude says, "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling. . . ." "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?. . . Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us" (Romans 8:35-37).

But there are also false and dangerous teachings regarding this doctrine. Notice what Jude wrote: Dearly loved friends, I had been planning to write to you some thoughts about the salvation God has given us, but now I find I must write of something else instead, urging you to stoutly defend the truth which God gave, once for all, to is people to keep without change through the years.

I say this because some godless teachers have wormed their way in among you, saying that after we become Christians we can do just as we like without fear of God's punishment. The fate of such people was written long ago, for they have turned against our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. Jude 3,4 The Living Bible

Is Eternal Security conditional or unconditional? It is unconditional for the collective Body, or the Church It is conditional to the individual

Look at the General Teaching of the Bible Noah’s Ark was safe (God declared it would be), and so you would be safe if you were IN THE ARK, but not if you were OUTSIDE the Ark Israel, as a Nation, was declared God’s people, even after their grievous wanderings from God (see the Book of Hosea). But individuals within the Nation were only saved if they remained faithful.

Notice the Plural Pronoun used in every Scripture proof given concerning eternal security…. "My sheep (plural- a flock) hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give unto them eternal life;and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand." John 10:27-29

John 6:39- "And this is the will of Him that sent me, that I should loose none of all that He hath given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that every one who sees the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

Speaking to the Thessalonian congregation: 2nd Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you (plural), and keep you from evil.

In other words the Church- as a collective body- is eternally secure, just as the Nation of Israel was. God is going to have a Church, regardless of what individuals do within it! He has predestined the Church to victory. But individuals within the Church are only saved insofar as they remain faithful to the Church and God’s Word.

Before we go any farther in looking at the Bible, let’s look at where this ‘once saved always saved’ doctrine came from.

Five Points of Calvinism Total Depravity of Man –all are born sinners and free will was forfeited in the Garden of Eden Unconditional Election – God has already chosen who will go to Heaven and Hell Limited Atonement – Jesus died only to redeem those who were pre-chosen Irresistible Grace – Man is saved by the will of God without choice Perseverance of the Saints – Those predestined cannot be lost

This summarizes into 3 primary doctrines today: Imputed Righteousness Predestination Unconditional Eternal Security Plus a confusion of the Works of the Law of Moses and ‘Good works’ with simple obedient faith (believing, repenting, etc…, which are not works in this sense)

If you removed any one of these points, none of the others can stand alone. That is why we have to Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Colossians 2:8

But following to completion is essential: "And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" Luke 9:62

Jesus used words such as "lose his own soul," "cannot be my disciple," and not "fit for the kingdom of God" to describe both those who refused to begin and those who began but fail to continue following Him.

A common argument is that, if someone sins, they must have not truly been saved to begin with. But what about: Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron I Timothy 4:1,2 How can a man depart from a faith in which he never lived? How can a man lose the salvation he never possessed?

John, in his admonishment to the Ephesian Church, said: Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of this place, except thou repent. Revelation 2:4,5

Jesus, speaking in Matthew 24:13, said, "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." From these words, we can easily infer that the man who doesn't endure shall not be saved.

Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall. II Peter 1:4-10

Reading from Luke 11:23-26, we find: When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

Romans 11:21,22 Talking to believers… Romans 11:21,22 Talking to believers….. For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

Let’s look at another verse, John 15:2 & 6 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

2 Timothy 2:12 12 If we endure, We shall also reign with Him 2 Timothy 2:12 12 If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.

Briefly, let’s cover the area of predestination God foreknew everything that was going to happen in the the world. But He only predestined certain things, so as not to take away from free will.

God knows the end from the beginning because He is God God knows the end from the beginning because He is God. But He allows man to have free will. Without it, it would be impossible for people to serve God out of desire instead of being force to. God does not want forced love and service.

Notice WHAT God predestinated Notice WHAT God predestinated. That we should be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ! Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

If we are in the Church, there are things that God decided in the beginning that He would have in His Church. The Church is predestined to be His called out, glorious bride, and to receive all of His promises. As long as I choose to stay in the Church and live for God, He will do everything to make it possible for that to happen!

So we have both Free Will to serve Him out of love, and also the Assurance that if we want to be saved, there is nothing that can stand in our way.