Christian Believers are Eternally Saved From Condemnation
That controversial statement, expressed in many ways, can be traced back to New Testament times. It was mentioned by
1. Jesus in John 10:27-30
2. The Apostle Paul in Rom. 8:1, 35-39
3. The Apostle Peter in 1 Pet. 1:5-9
4. Jude, Jesus’ brother, in Jude 24
Many believers like to use the simple expression, “Once save, always saved.” While that’s not the language used in Scripture, it is nevertheless true.
However, the statement is controversial because there are those who don’t believe Christians are eternally saved and can lose their salvation or fall from grace. They support their belief with passages such as
A. Gal. 5.4
B. 1 Tim. 1:18-20
C. Heb. 6:4-6
D. 2 Pet. 2:20-21
Ironically, both sides use passages from the writings of the Apostles Paul and Peter which implies that these men contradict themselves. That’s not possible since all writers of Scripture were superintended by the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. 1:21). Those who argue for eternal security say the passages used by those who oppose their view refer to people who were never saved in the first place, using 1 John 2:19.
The opponents argue that believers who abandon Christ by denying His deity, death for sins, and resurrection from the dead and/or surrender to an immoral and wicked lifestyle will lose their salvation.
I will explain the meaning of the passages used by the latter in another text.
Salvation from sin was first granted to Adam & Eve when God made “coats of skins, and clothed them” (Gen. 3:21). Their reception of the coats (coverings) indicated their faith in God, making them righteous. Their son, Abel, also exercised faith in God by which he too became righteous (Heb. 11:4). By faith righteousness was also granted to Enoch (Heb. 11:5), Noah (Heb. 11:7), and Abraham (Gen. 15:4-6; Rom. 4:3; Gal. 3:6; James 2:23). Faith in God’s promise resulted in righteousness not only for Abraham and his believing Jewish descendants but also for all believing nonJews/Gentiles (Rom. 4:13, 16; Gal. 3:6-9, 14). Salvation is eternal life (John 3:16) promised to believers in Jesus Christ (1 John 2:25). Therefore, if a Christian believer can lose his salvation, then he really doesn’t have eternal life, and God breaks His promise. I.e., God lies. This is strongly repudiated by Scripture
(Titus 1:2; Heb. 6:17-18).
In conclusion, salvation is based on an unbreakable promise made by God. It is by grace through faith minus works (Eph. 2:8-9). It is eternal life which, if it can be lost, is not eternal. Jude, the brother of Jesus, wrote, “ Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy” (Jude.1.24 KJV). Therefore, eternal security is biblically true.
Blessings!
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