Eternal Security

by John Kerr, Barrhead, Scotland | Category: A Centenary Review Of Major Themes | Apr 1988

Eternal security is the expression used to describe the present unassailable possession of eternal life. The possessors are guaranteed that after death their souls will not come into divine punishment, but will be for ever with the Lord (John 5:24; 1 Thes. 4:17). The possession and guarantee are secured to the believer at the point of conversion (Eph. 1:13).

This article recalls some previous approaches to the subject keeping two points before us. Firstly, the fact that several scriptures may have been the subject of varying interpretations by readers and secondly. the fact that these interpretations may be opposed to each other.

Echoes of the past

Many years ago a former contributor to this publication, F. McCormick, wrote, "Some believers confuse their state with their standing, their spiritual condition with their eternal position in Christ" (1957, p. 160). When he wrote this he was identifying the two streams of thought which are well known to Bible students. Some teach that eternal life can be lost after being received; they contend that it is possible to have the present assurance of being saved from eternal punishment and then end up receiving that punishment, having lost salvation. Others, like the churches of God which publish this magazine.

teach that once a person receives the gift of eternal life no circumstances can arise which cause the loss of that gift. This applies even when a person, having truly believed and having received the gift, commits serious sin or ceases to have faith in God or in the Lord Jesus Christ. That eternal life is a gift is clearly stated in Paul's letter to the Romans: "The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 6:23).

The case for the former view rests on the fact that many scriptures speak of believers failing in their Christian life to such an extent that, for example:

they are cast off (John 15:6), they cannot be renewed unto repentance (Heb. 6:6), there is no more sacrifice for sin (11eb. 10: 26,31), they are severed from Christ (Gal. 5:49), they can be rejected (1 Cor. 9:27), they can fall away from the living God (Heb. 3:12).

On the other hand those who take the latter view recognize that Scripture indeed speaks of such failings, but contend it is the Christians' life of fruitfulness and service which is lost as a result; not his eternal salvation.

The work of God in salvation To show from Scripture that the gift of eternal life, once received, cannot be lost, we shall examine one aspect in particular to support our view - the irrevocable nature of God's work in salvation when gifted to the sinner, which cannot be undone. That work of God to which we refer took place at conversion and includes the following:

Born anew

The new birth birth from above, (John 3:3 RVM) brings us into a

completely new relationship with God (2 Cor. 5:17). We are now children of

God (John 1:12).

Translated

We are translated out of the power of darkness into the kingdom of the Son of His love. This word "translated" carries with it the thought of "removed". Thus the believer at conversion is taken out of Satan's power and moved into a new sphere called "the kingdom of the Son of His love" (Col. 1:13).

Forgiven

We receive the forgiveness of sins. Redemption and forgiveness are clearly experienced together ~ph. 1:17). The use of the present tense shows that the

forgiven person is in a state of forgiveness. In this aspect of forgiveness, past. present and future sins must therefore be covered.

Made righteous

We are placed in Christ. God sees us as He sees His beloved Son righteous (1 Cor. 1:30; 2 Cor. 5:21).

New life

We pass out of death into life (John 5:24). This change of state ties in with the above points. It is clear that our standing before God is in view; natural death cannot be meant, for believers still die.

Uncondemned

We receive the promise of being saved 'from future judgement. We know that the punishment which our sins deserve would place us in hell, but since our conversion we can say that we shall not come into judgement (John 5:24).

Indwelt

We receive the Holy Spirit, who immediately indwells us. When He indwells an individual He is there until death. Of course we may vary our response to His presence and power. Sometimes we even grieve Him and suppress Him ~ph. 1:13; 4:30; Thes. 5:19).

Justified

We are justified. Justification declares the individual guiltless (Rom.

8:33).

Sanctified

We are sanctified. Sanctification declares the individual to be holy or set apart (1 Cor. 6:11).

An act of faith or continuing faith

There is no doubt that the blessings of God referred to above are received by one act of faith, but are they maintained by or dependent on continuing faith? In Paul's letter to the Ephesians we read,

To the end that we should be unto the praise of His glory, we who had before hoped in Christ: in whom ye also, having heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, - in whom, having also believed ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is an earnest of our inheritance, unto the redemption of God's own possession unto the praise of His glory (Eph. 1:13,14). We see therefore that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit at conversion through an act of faith "having also believed". That selfsame Holy Spirit is the guarantee or pledge of our inheritance. He indwells us until death. We must conclude that this divine provision is secure and cannot vary even if our faith diminishes.

Works before and after conversion

Did salvation come through works? No, because, "By grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, that no man should glory" (Eph. 2:8,9). This also shows that salvation is a gift, not a reward for works.

If works did not bring the salvation of our souls, they certainly will not be used to maintain this salvation. Even "works done in righteousness" cannot save us, as Paul says to Titus (3:5). Neither can "works of the law" save us as we find in the letter to the Romans (3:23). Have the believer's works no value we may then ask? Of course they have. In the first letter to the Corinthians we read:

Each man's work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire shall prove each man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work shall abide which he built thereon he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire (1 Cor. 3:13-15).

So the approved works of the believer will bring great reward, but even if our works, as assessed by God, are of no value to him then at least the person is saved "so as by fire".

Salvation from sin's penalty and power

While on the subject of works let us turn our attention to such a verse as "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Phil. 2:12). Some

scriptures refer to salvation from the penalty of sin, for example, 1 Peter 1:9, whereas the Philippian scripture, like many others such as 2 Corinthians 7:10 and 1 Timothy 4:16, refers to salvation from the power of sin in our daily lives. This is something that we work at all the time in our lives and with God's help attain to as we apply ourselves to holiness in our daily sanctification.

How is salvation maintained?

A life of faith and a life of works do not maintain the salvation of our souls, as we have already seen. Clearly, however, it must be maintained somehow. Yes! solely by the grace and mercy of God. Grace providing for us what we do not deserve and mercy withholding from us what we do deserve. All this rests on the work of God in Christ. Paul's letter to the Romans is again of considerable help:

Who is he that shall condemn? It is Christ Jesus that died, yea rather that was raised from the dead, who is on the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? (Rom. 8:34,35).

More Echoes from the past

Down through the years of our magazine's history, support for the view expressed above has been given in many ways and on many occasions. Some authors tackled the subject on the basis of John 10 and the Lord's words "I give unto My sheep eternal life and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of My hand" (1907, pp.137,140). Others used as a base the subject of forgiveness of sins - past, present and future (F. McCormick, 1957, pp.175,176). In more recent times yet another writer (R. Darke, 1971, p.98) helpfully presented the case based on the association in Scripture of three terms:

There are three expressions in Scripture that are inseparable; they are eternal life, salvation, and children of God. Eternal life is a gift from God which we receive and enjoy on the basis of faith (Rom. 6:23), and there is nothing in Scripture to indicate that this gift is ever withdrawn from the believer in any circumstances. Children of God are born of God (John 1:12,13), and they must essentially have eternal life because God is eternal (Deut. 33:27). It is impossible for a child of God not to have eternal life, or for that eternal life to cease, for this would be a contradiction of terms.

In the light of these plain statements of Scripture, which is our only sure and safe guide in this important matter, let every doubt be banished and let us know joy and peace in believing.

John Kerr, Barrhead, Scotland | Apr 1988
A Centenary Review Of Major Themes