Eternal Security

by McCormick, F. | Category: Eternal Security | Dec 1957

Difficult Scriptures

A short while ago I received a booklet entitled "Eternal Security-Conditional or Unconditional?" in which reference was made to the scripture in 1 John 3.15, to prove that it is possible to lose eternal life.

"Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer; and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him."

This does not say that no murderer hath eternal life; it is a known fact that some condemned to die for murder have been saved in the eleventh hour through faith in Christ. So long as men are alive in this world the grace of God may reach them, as was true of the thief on the cross. The subject of this portion is love of the brethren, and this characteristic should be manifest as an evidence that eternal life abides in them. There is a wide difference of meaning between being "in Christ" and abiding in Him, so also is there between having the gift of eternal life, and for eternal life to be abiding or dwelling in the believer.

Alas, love is not always seen in those who belong to Christ, and it is said that "He that loveth not abideth in death." Such are in a state of spiritual death as believers (see 1 Timothy 5.6). The great example of how we ought to love is seen in verse 16, but " Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer." The motive to destroy is in the heart, and eternal life, the possession of believers, is not an abiding power in their life day by day in their relationship with their brethren. Possession of eternal life, and the manifestation of it practically, should go hand in hand.

"This is His commandment, that we should believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another" (verse 23).

Young believers should note that there is a vast difference between our standing in Christ and our abiding in Christ; 2 Corinthians 5.17 with John 15.4-7: between "Christ in you the hope of glory" and "that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith"; see Colossians 1.27; Ephesians 3.17 ; John 14.28. There is also a difference between the gift of eternal life and laying hold on life eternal (Romans 6.23; 1 Timothy 6.12, 19) and of being saved, and working out your own salvation (Ephesians 2.5; Philippians 2.12).

Persons may have eternal life, but that life may be in small measure seen in manifestation, it would almost seem to be dormant in practice. The desire of the apostle was "that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh" (2 Corinthians 4.10, 11) and he furthermore declares, " For me to live is Christ."

We therefore conclude that even where it is evident that a brother hates his brother, it does not involve the forfeiting of eternal life received as a gift from God through Christ. It does reveal that such an one is not outwardly manifesting the power of that inward reality, the eternal life, which should show itself in love of the brethren.

Hebrews 6.6

"It is impossible to renew them again unto repentance ; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame."

This is often used to support the theory that believers can fall away and be lost, but like other portions of like kind this must be read in its proper setting. The epistle to the Hebrews was written to those who were not only believers, but who were also in the house of God (chapter 3.6; 10. 21). This was conditional upon their holding fast their boldness and the glorying of their hope firm unto the end. Not only so, but they were exhorted to press on unto perfection. They were highly privileged and instructed in the will of God as to their responsibilities in testimony and service, but instead of continuing to press on, there were those who fell away, not from their standing in Christ, but from their service and position in the house of God, and from the living God (Hebrews 3.12). They fell away from the path of obedience and faith, and publicly exposed the One who was their Saviour and Lord to an open shame by their manner of life. Their conduct now was a denial of the fact that they had been crucified with Christ, hence to themselves they had crucified the Son of God afresh and had cast off the restraining authority of God's word. Their sin was positive and wilful against revealed light and knowledge; involving guilt which could not be looked over by God; it was impossible to renew them again unto repentance. They were like those at Kadesh-barnea, referred to in chapter 3; they had turned away from God and the land He had promised, saying, "Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt" (Numbers 14.4). "Those men which have seen My glory and My signs," says God, "them that have despised Me," and the land rejected, their carcases shall fall in the wilderness. This was a decision involving them in an irrevocable judgement; it was impossible to renew them again unto repentance. There is no repentance for those in God's house who wilfully turn their backs upon His revealed will, and substitute their own. Their place and service for God in His house are lost. This is the message of Hebrews 6.6, and in the light of this sad possibility the word to us is, "Today, if ye shall hear His voice, harden not your hearts." Those who fall away from their position and service in God's house are like the land of verse 8, producing thorns and thistles; it is rejected and nigh unto a curse; whose end is to be burned.

This is in keeping with 1 Corinthians 3.15,

"If any man's works shall be burned, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved; yet so as through fire."

The judgement-seat of Christ is not a tribunal to decide whether persons are saved or lost according to the measure of their faithfulness, but is to assess the value of the lives and work of God's children, and the giving of the appropriate reward. Life in Christ is not because of the perfection of our own work but because of the perfection of the Saviour and His work at Calvary,

"For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified" (Hebrews 10. 14).

That which has been perfected for ever cannot be added to or improved. Our faithfulness or unfaithfulness neither adds to nor detracts from the perfect work of Christ. It is unaffected by any event in time or eternity. These glorious words "PERFECTED FOR EVER" are true of each believer from the moment lie puts faith in Christ.

McCormick, F. | Dec 1957
Eternal Security