Eternally Secured (Part 2)

TRUTH FOR TODAY

Jun Malazo

Today we are continuing the topic of eternal security.  The question at hand is, “Can a Christian lose his salvation?”  As a review, we can see, based upon clear Scriptural evidence, that the Bible teaches that all those that have placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation are kept by God’s power and are secured in Christ for eternity.  (see John 6:37-40; John 10:27-29; 1 Corinthians 1:8, Romans 8:, and 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10)

This a topic that many are passionate about and has caused many divisions amongst Christians and churches alike.  Please understand that we are all personally accountable to God for how we live our lives.  No one can be forced to believe and act a certain way. 

However, God commands us to live by what the Bible says.  Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to see what the Bible really says about any certain topic in question. How can we live exactly how God wants us to live if we do not clearly understand His commands?

There was a church mentioned in the book of Acts in a place called Berea.  It says in Acts 17:11, “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”  These Berean Christians knew of their personal responsibility to “search the scriptures daily.”  So I ask you, as readers, to search the scriptures with me. 

My aim is not to give you my own opinion but to let you see what the Bible really says about this important and sensitive topic.  My purpose is not to disrespect you or your leaders in any shape or form.  My purpose is to help you see both sides of the topic and help you make a final decision. 

Remember that teachers and leaders are fallible.  I and multitudes of others have the capacity to make mistakes.  This is why it so important to see if a teaching is clearly from the Bible and if it is interpreted properly.

In part one of this article I concluded with the mention of salvation and sanctification.  As mentioned, Christians often mix up the idea of these two important parts of a Christian’s life.   Salvation is given to those who, realizing the punishment of their sin is eternal damnation in a place called hell, place their faith in the finished work of Christ at the cross of Calvary.  Sanctification is the process whereby Christians grow spiritually to be more like Christ, producing the fruits of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-23). 

Salvation is an instantaneous event while sanctification is a daily process.  We are commanded in Scriptures to “…grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…” (2 Peter 3:18).  The word “grow" means to “increase or to enlarge.”  This is God’s plan for every believer.

"For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;"  (1 Thessalonians 4:3-4)

Why is it important to distinguish between salvation and sanctification?  It is important to understand the difference because sanctification is not a means to maintain salvation, but rather it is an evidence of salvation.  God commands us to live a holy life for spiritual growth not for the maintenance of our salvation.

When someone receives the gift of salvation he is eternally secured in Christ.  Just like anyone else, a Christian still has the capacity to sin but in no way possible loses his salvation.  In his writing, the Apostle John was addressing believers when he said in 1 John 2:1, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:"  Notice that he mentions, “My little children” which clearly indicates that he is addressing Christians. 

What is a Christian to do when he is confronted with his sin?  The same writer tells us in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  Again he is addressing Christians and even including himself with the pronoun “we.”  Notice that neither of these passages of Scripture says that sin is ground for a Christian to lose the gift of eternal life or that there is any possibility that salvation can be lost in any way.

A Christian is eternally secured in Christ even when he sins after salvation.  Does this mean that a Christian can willfully and freely sin because he is secured eternally?  This is an important question and God provides us a clear answer in the Bible.  Notice what the Apostle Paul says when he addressed this specific question:

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?"  (Romans 6:1-2)

"What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?"  (Romans 6:15-16)

Romans 6 is all about walking in newness of life.  When someone becomes a Christian his desires change.  He will have a desire to know God more and have a passion to live for Him.  However, these passages do not give any indication about maintaining good works in order not to lose salvation. 

The doctrine of eternal security has been objected to by many because they believe that it gives Christians license to sin.  Adhering to the doctrine of eternal security, when properly understood, actually gives the opposite.  Eternal security gives the Christian the guarantee of God’s love and knowing and understanding God’s love produces the opposite of giving license to sin.  How can anyone who knows the price the Jesus paid to secure salvation continually live in sin? 

Over a year ago, someone asked me at a gathering about the topic of eternal security.  This person believed that in order to keep our salvation we must continually live a life free from sin. He specifically asked, “If a person who professed to be a Christian leaves the church and continually lives a life of sin, would this person lose his salvation?” 

There are many dynamics involved as to why a Christian would willfully sin.  But to stay on topic, I answered that when a person willfully sins, the question should not be, “Will he lose his salvation?”  The question should be, “Has he truly experienced salvation through Jesus Christ in the first place?”

We also need to realize the truth that Christians can backslide.  The Apostle Peter did so when he denied the Lord three times (John 15:27).  John Mark did so as well when he left the work of the ministry (Acts 15:37-38).  Moses sinned (Numbers 20:12).  David had an inappropriate relationship with a woman, and he orchestrated the murder of someone’s husband (2 Samuel 11).  Yet, the Bible tells us that:

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand."  (Psalms 37:23-24)

Salvation is clearly taught in the Bible to be only through grace and faith alone in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ at the cross (see Ephesians 2:8-9).  The moment a person puts his trust in Christ, he is eternally secured in that salvation.  Christians across many denominational groups would readily attest to this teaching. 

However, it would be foolish and unbiblical to say that salvation is only by grace and faith alone, but then has to be maintained by good works.  We cannot earn salvation by good works, neither can we maintain it in the same way.  The Apostle Paul addresses this issue in Galatians 3:3 which says:

"Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?"  (Galatians 3:3)

The word “perfect” means to fulfill further.  The Apostle Paul is saying that we are foolish to think that our salvation is completed by the works of the flesh—meaning good works.  Because in Colossians 2:10, the same author says:

"And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:"  (Colossians 2:10)

The meaning of the word “complete” in this passage means perfect or fulfilled which has the same idea of the word “perfect” in Galatians 3:3.  The fact of the matter is that Christ paid the price for our sins and secured us for eternity.  We are complete in Christ.

You may say, “What about all the passages of Scriptures that I’ve been taught that support that I must do good works in order not to lose my salvation such as Matthew 7:21, James 2:20, Matthew 10:22, etc?”  I will discuss these challenging passages in the next article.  When we properly interpret these passages contextually, the truth will come to light.