Lucy and Linus, now famous little people in Charles Schulz’s cartoon Peanuts, are staring out the window. The rain is pouring down. Lucy speaks: “Boy, look at it rain . . . what if it floods the whole world?” Linus answers: “It will never do that. In the 9th chapter of Genesis, God promised Noah that would never happen again, and the sign of the promise is the rainbow.” Lucy is looking directly at him as he is speaking. She turns back toward the window, smiles big, and announces: “You’ve taken a great load off my mind.” To which Linus responds: “Sound theology has a way of doing that.”
Allegedly, in 1789, Ben Franklin said, “Nothing is certain but death and taxes.”
Let’s add one more certainty: the eternal security of every child of God. Like Linus, this should take a great load off your mind. People still carrying this load have lots of questions.
Is once saved always saved biblically true?
Is the person who made a profession but only came to church briefly really saved?
Does God kept us saved without our co-operation?
Do we have any responsibility in the matter of eternal security?
Which of the following statements by leading theologians would you say is true.
Baptist theologian A. H. Strong’s belief about perseverance
“Every believer, has a charge to keep; and the keeping of ourselves is as important a point of Christian doctrine as is the keeping of God” (A. H. Strong, Systematic Theology, Valley Forge: Judson Press, 1907, p.882).
Baptist theologian Millard Erickson’s belief’s about perseverance
While Hebrews 6 indicates that genuine believers can fall away, John 10 teaches that they will not. There is a logical possibility of apostasy, but it will not come to pass in the case of believers. Although they could abandon their faith and consequently come to the fate described in Hebrews 6, the grace of God prevents them from apostasizing . . . Consider as an analogy the case of parents who fear that their young child may run out into the street and be struck by a car. One way the parents can prevent that from happening is to build a fence around the yard. That would prevent the child from leaving the yard, but would also remove the child’s freedom. Try as he or she might, the child could not possibly get out of the yard. That is the idea some persons have of what perseverance is. Another possibility is for the parents to teach and train the child regarding the danger of going into the street and the importance of being careful.
This is the nature of the security which we are discussing. It is not that God renders apostasy impossible by removing the very option. Rather, he uses every possible means of grace, including the warnings contained in Scripture, to motivate us to remain committed to him. Because he enables us to persevere in our faith, the term perseverance is preferable to preservation (Millard Erickson, Christian Theology, Grand Rapids: Baker,1985, p.994).
Calvinism’s belief about perseverance
Calvinism’s position is represented by the Synod of Dort’s statement.
The Synod of Dort’s statement on perseverance of the saints in Dec. 17, 1618:
By reason of these remains of indwelling of sin, and also because of the temptations of the world and of Satan, those who are converted could not persevere in that grace if left to their own strength. But God is faithful, who, having conferred grace, mercifully confirms and powerfully preserves them therein, even to the end (Peter Y. De Jong, editor, Crisis in the Reformed Churches, Grand Rapids: Reformed Fellowship, 1968, p.254).
Also representing the Calvinistic doctrine of the perseverance of the saints is the Westminster Confession of Faith (1643-46).
Chapter 17: Of The Perseverance Of The Saints
1. They, whom God hath accepted in his Beloved, effectually called, and sanctified by his Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved (Grudem, p.1187, 1188).
Arminianism’s belief about perseverance
The Synod of Dort’s statement was in response to the Arminian Remonstrant’s position against perseverance also presented at that meeting as follows:
“True believers are able to fall through their own fault into shameful and atrocious deeds, to persevere and to die in them; and therefore finally to fall and to perish” (Jong, p.228).
Roman Catholicism’s belief about perseverance in opposition to the Reformation is stated in the Council of Trent in 1545-1563
“If anyone maintain that a man once justified cannot lose grace, let him be accursed”
1. THE DOCTRINE OF THE SECURITY OF THE BELIEVER IS TRUE BECAUSE
A. The Doctrine of the Security of the Believer is True Because “We are Kept by the Power of God” (1 Pet. 1:3-5).
Dr. Robert Lightner sees a double security in verses 4 and 5.
Such is the heavenly possession of every believer. Peter added that it is “reserved in heaven for you.” “Reserved” means “closely guarded” or “preserved.” There are no conditions attached to this promise, no “ifs” or “buts” about it. Personal faith in Jesus Christ as personal Savior guarantees the recipient of God’s grace a secure inheritance. An inheritance reserved for the heirs and the heirs kept for the inheritance mean double security. Concerning those possessing the inheritance described in verse 4, Peter said, “who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (v.5). The word “kept” is a military term in the original . . . Since it appears in 1 Peter 1:5 in the present tense, the emphasis is upon the continual process of being garnished or guarded. How the child of God needs this protection! What assurance it brings to know each saint has it (Robert Lightner, Sin, The Savior, and Salvation, Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991, pages 236, 237).
How does God guard and protect believers by his power? “. . . through faith.” God energizes and sustains our faith.
How long will God energize and sustain our faith? “. . . unto salvation ready (prepared) to be revealed in the last time.” God will energize and sustain our faith until the final phase of our salvation, that is, our future glorification and all that is included in our future inheritance.
This is the answer to the Arminian objection that eternal life or the perseverance of the saints is dependent on the believer’s continued belief in Christ: God is the reason we continue to believe. “Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief” is our constant cry to which God continually answers.
B. The Doctrine of the Security of the Believer is True Because We are Kept by God’s Love (Rom. 8:31-39).
C. The Doctrine of the Security of the Believer is True Because We are Kept by God’s Obligation to Complete our Salvation (John 6:40).
“And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which sees the Son, and believes on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
“It seems hard to avoid the conclusion that everyone who truly believes in Christ will remain a Christian up to the day of final resurrection into the blessings of life in the presence of God” (Wayne Grudem, page 789). The Arminian response to this promise is voiced by Grant R. Osborne in Exegetical Notes on Calvinist Texts. Osborne states that John 6:35 conditions eternal life on the present tense of believing not just the initial act of believing for salvation (p.171).
Wayne Grudem answers this charge. While it is true that Jesus here speaks not just of initial saving faith but of a faith that continues over time, the verse does not go so far as to specify that ‘everyone who believes continuously until his or her death will have eternal life,’ but rather simply says that ‘everyone who is presently in a state of believing in Christ’ will have eternal life and Jesus will raise him up at the last day. The verse speaks about all who presently are in a state of believing in Christ, and it says that all of them will be raised up by Christ at the last day (Wayne Grudem, p. 789).
D. The Doctrine of the Security of the Believer is True Because We are Kept by God’s Answer to His Son’s Prayer (Heb. 7:25).
Does God the Father answer his Son’s prayers? Jesus in John 11:41 and 42 answers that question.
E. The Doctrine of the Security of the Believer is True Because We are Kept by God’s Promise for Trials and Temptations (1 Cor. 10:13).
F. The Doctrine of the Security of the Believer is True Because We are Kept by Christ’s Promise (John 10:28).
“I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” Nor can we pluck ourselves out of God’s hands or this promise is not foolproof. God knows that we are our greatest enemy.
G. The Doctrine of the Security of the Believer is True Because We are Kept by the Seal of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13, 14; 4:30).
The Holy Spirit is God’s “earnest” or down payment by which God commits himself to fulfill by giving us the rest of the inheritance in heaven. The God who said, “Owe no anything” (Rom. 13:8) will pay his debts.
H. The Doctrine of the Security of the Believer is True Because We are Kept by God in Order to Enjoy Assurance (1 John 5:13).
In Part 2, I will answer objections to the doctrine of the security of believers.
I do like the post and I like the fact that it came after the hard questions of election. The greatest testimony to me of security for believers is the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 1:13-14 “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”
These verses are great comfort to God’s children. At salvation we recieved the Holy Spirit as our guarantee of the eternal life to come. We were sealed by the Spirit which surely sounds pretty firm to me. This was accomplished at the point of belief. It also seems that the point of belief was a singular point in time and not a continual process of believing. It also seems pretty straight forward that the testimony of the Holy Spirit within us reveals that we are children with an inheritance that is guarded by God until we reach heaven. The conversations of election also play greatly into this thought as well, when we realize that the gift of the Holy Spirit would imply that we are part of the elect. Logically then God would have to go back on our election for us not to recieve the inheritance of heaven and all its pleasures. The bottom line is that we depend on God for everything including our inheritance, and our comfort is based on how we view God.
Mike,
It is so encouraging that our salvation does not depend on anything that we have done or will do, but depends on the unchanging character of the Almighty God! God will not fail His elect even when we cease to have confidence in Him, for to cease in faithfulness is a denial of God’s very Nature (2 Timothy 2:13).
I appreciate how you included Ephesians 1:13-14 in your post. When one reads that “you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory,” it is extremely difficult to deny the security of the believer. Good post!
While reading this post, 2 Timothy 2:12-14 came into my mind. It says, “If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers.”
What this passage is saying is that even if believers cease to remain faithful to God, He will remain faithful to us, for to do otherwise is a denial of His very Being. God is not a liar nor is He a quitter, and even if we fail Him, He will never fail us.
In previous posts it was determined that the elect were chosen before the foundations of the world were laid, and that only the elect can respond to the efficacious call of the Holy Spirit. Why is it then that the Savior would come to the earth to suffer and die if the salvation He offered was not absolute and secure? Why would God choose from among the race of men a special group of people if, at any moment, any one of them could fall away?
Paul encouraged the believer in Philippians 1:6 when he said, “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Abigail, I love the scripture that you included with your post. You have included many of the same thoughts that I have expressed previously. All through the OT, we see God accepting sacrificial animals to atone for sins, etc…but in the NT, there is a very different image. God sends His Son…endures the pain of watching Him suffer, watches mankind mock Him and hurt him and yet we are to believe that He did this for those that are already going to sit with Him at the feast one day in heaven? I fully believe that we can backslide, but not lose our salvation. 1 John 5:11-13 tells us, “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. The one who has the Son has this eternal life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have this eternal life. I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” Does this not tell us that those of us whom have accepted Him are guaranteed that gift? It tells us that He has given it to us…not the elect, not the few. All of us.
Assurance of the believer’s eternal salvation is comforting, especially since evangelization and proclamation of salvation in Christ to would lose its impetus if this gift of salvation could easily be lost. As suggested by Dr. Lightner, the saving faith of an individual is frequently strengthened, sustained, and energized by Christ. Ultimately, the journey of faith can be compared with climbing a mountain (placing faith in Christ) then riding down the mountain (Christ protecting that faith). In contrast, the Roman Catholic belief about self perseverance fails to include any biblical references but rather accurses anyone who refutes this doctrine.
When we trust in Jesus Christ, our eternal security in Christ becomes a spiritual reality whether we understand it or believe it. Ones belief in security in Christ does not make it true or false. If we have trusted in the person and work of Christ for personal salvation, security is a fact. There is a difference between salvation and assurance. Assurance is where most Christians lack.
Assurance is the confident realization of that security. It is the realization of what we have in Christ such as eternal life, forgiveness of sin, and being the object of God’s personal care as his children. Assurance has to do with our comprehension of the facts and provisions of salvation through faith in Christ. This is a crucial doctrine because, properly understood, it will touch the believer’s life in several areas. Not only does it give assurance of salvation, but with that also comes a greater assurance of God’s provision in all areas of life.
Romans 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
When people do not have assurance, we should always begin by sharing the gospel to be sure they have truly trusted in Christ. Once this is confirmed, then move on to the matters of assurance. Trust and faith must come first, I believe.
We should experience great comfort and assurance when we realize that our salvation is rooted in the attributes and the nature of God. Our own human nature tends to lead us away from God and sin, but fortunately our salvation is not based on our nature but God’s. I like Millard Erikson’s view on perseverence in that it does not absolve believers of their responsibility concerning sin and living a Christian life. True faith will lead to a genuine desire to life a Christian life. Though we will often fail, God will always welcome back His children when they repent.
Jason,
We should have great comfort in our salvation!
Our nature is what Satan loves and looks forward to using EVERY day and mock us when we mess up. Thank goodness salvation is a one time event and not a daily event. Yes, dying to self daily is, but God has already covered our sins.
Yes, I believe true faith will lead us to our desire to love and serve God. But, by God’s grace we all could fall in a pit. :/
The Security of Believers is true because we are kept by God!
I really like this phrase that the points that we are really kept safe and secure by God; by the Holy Spirit. I liked Christ’s promise, John 10:28, “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” Nor can we pluck ourselves out of God’s hands or this promise is not foolproof. God knows that we are our greatest enemy.” I do believe in the phrase “once saved always saved” and know one can pluck you out of God’s hand”. God keeps his children safe, this doesn’t mean that we will not have are bumps and bruises, these are experiences that every child has and will go through. God keeping us safe means that we have an eternal home to look forward to, and I Daddy that will hug and hold us close!
That was a very good point when you said “God knows that we are our greatest enemy.” If God expected us to be good on our own without his changing work it would be like demanding short people be tall.
I agree most closely with the Westminster Confession’s statement that “They, whom God hath accepted in his Beloved, effectually called, and sanctified by his Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved.” Hebrews 6:1-8 is used by some to deny this truth. They assume that verse 6 proves that a true believer, one who has “once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit”(6:4), can fall away in such a way that he can never repent. My contention is that verse one is critical to understanding verse 6. Verse one is speaking of what occurred at the moment of salvation, “repentance from dead works and…faith toward God.” A true believer cannot lay that foundation again, for he would in essence need to be saved again, thus in effect crucifying the Son of God again, as if His death was insufficient to save them at the first.
I used to be of the more calvinistic viewpoint on this subject. But I have since come to a more relaxed position on the issue. I still think that living for the glory of God is very important, if not essential. But the most important issue is Christ and Him crucified. It will not let us lose our salvation, but we will not necessarily stay faithful our whole lives.
I think that the issue of eternal security is actually a little less relevant to the church than some would like to think. Although it is definitely an important doctrine, and one that I believe, I also think that the doctrine of the election really supersedes the doctrine of eternal security, and almost makes it obsolete. If God has elected some for salvation, then God in his omnipotence will call those who he will save. He would never call an unelect person who would be justified, and then subsequently unjustified. One who is saved by the Holy Spirit’s efficacious calling (of which he only does for the special elect) is unable to lose his salvation; not only because of the eternal security of the believer, but also because the Holy Spirit only calls the elect. Those who would hypothetically be saved, and then lose salvation, would not be elected, and therefore would never have received the efficacious calling in the first place.