I am planning on doing a series of articles on the teaching of Eternal Security over the next several months. Personally, I was a strong believer on the teaching of Eternal Security when I first became a believer back in 1982.
After I embraced the teaching of Holiness and that Christ has the power to keep us free from sin, I rejected the teaching of Eternal Security.
Each article in this series will deal with a different thread of truth from the Bible that I feel makes it clear that Eternal Security is not a Biblical teaching. This teaching holds that once you are truly born again by grace through faith it is impossible to loose your right standing with God and be lost in the end.
There are a number of different terms to describe this teaching and the teaching is understood differently by a number of different groups.
Eternal Security (ES) is some times called Unconditional Eternal Security (mostly by those that don’t agree with the teaching), and it is also referred to as Once Saved Always Saved (OSAS). The other term that is used to describe this teaching is called Perseverance of the Saints which is the 5th point of Calvinism.
The terms ES (Eternal Security) and OSAS (Once Saved Always Saved) themselves don’t denote any difference in the teaching, but the term Perseverance of the Saints does. Perseverance of the Saints denotes that if you are a saint (if you have been born again), you will persevere to the end. Most that use this term hold that while it is possible that you may apostatize from the faith for a time and go into a life of sin and even deep sin, if you were truly born again you will come back to the Lord and will be in the faith when you die.
In the next article, I will be dealing two important issues that need to be prayerfully considered. The first is what kind of a practical effect does this teaching have on a Christian’s personal walk with Christ. The second is if this teaching is wrong and we teach it to others what effect can it have on those that we teach and can it have an effect on our standing before the Lord for teaching it?
I also will be providing quotes from some of the best known teachers of Eternal Security so we can hear from them what they are teaching.
In this opening article I want you to prayerfully consider the following 10 IF scriptures. As you read each of the following scriptures, ask God to give you understanding.
– IF you forgive you will be forgive.
Mat 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you
– IF you continue in the Word then you are a disciple.
Joh 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed”;
– IF you don’t abide in Christ you will be cast forth as a branch.
Joh 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
– IF you don’t continue in his goodness you will be cut off.
Rom 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
– IF you continue in the faith you will be presented holy in his sight.
Col 1:21-23 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblamable and unreprovable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
– IF you hold fast unto the end you are Christ’s house.
Heb 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
– IF you hold your confidence steadfast unto the end you are a partaker of Christ.
Heb 3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end;
– IF after you are saved you sin willfully there remains no sacrifice for your sins.
Heb 10:26 For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
– IF you keep his commandments you know Christ.
1Jn 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
– IF what you have heard remains in you, ye will continue in the Son.
1Jn 2:24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
January 30th, 2009 at 10:29 am
Did you ever do the follow-ups to these? Curious.
February 4th, 2009 at 1:15 am
Hi David; No I have not written any articles on Eternal Security besides this one. I was thinking about this series last week and when I find more time I plan on writing a number of follow up articles.
September 20th, 2009 at 9:46 am
Thought any more about follow up articles?
September 22nd, 2009 at 10:33 am
Hi Greg,
I have considered writting more on this subject but for right now I don’t plan on.
Thanks!
Bob
October 11th, 2010 at 8:00 am
There is no evidence whatsoever for a belief in any religion. None whatsoever has ever been presented.
Rational people don’t form beliefs based on books of myths from 2000 years ago. They form beliefs based on observation of evidence.
Christianity belongs in the dark ages.
July 6th, 2011 at 6:23 am
Hi Bob,
On ES, the “BIG IF” is always talked about in our home. Great article! Although you per say have not written any more articles following up this one, the other articles about sin are all relative to the topic. “If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. 17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. 18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.” 1 John 5:16-18 KJV ALSO, “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” James 5:19-20 KJV Couldn’t be clearer here. Scrip tells us that a “brethren” who errs from truth is abiding in death, and can still be converted out of death by correcting his ways! This ES doctrine is the most destructive doctrine in the church. It MUST be spoken against. “For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake. 12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. 13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; 14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.” Titus 1:10-14 KJV Recently my husband and myself have become aware of God’s serious admonission to us concerning fellowship with those believers who hold to the ES doctrine. It is a serious command, and hard to swallow, considering the love we have for friends who hold this false belief. But I would rather deny the whole world and obey Christ: “Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. 9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” 2 John 1:8-12 KJV We see here that God is saying that who ever does not abide or “stay” in the doctrine of Christ doesnt have God. What does it mean to not have God when ES doctrine proports bodly the exact opposite. It claims that no matter what sin is committed, that person has a gaurentee with God and God Himself can not even part from the person. Truth is that the sinner doesnt “have God”. What was eye opening to my husband and myself was that this ES doctrine is adressesed so particularly here, and that God commands us to depart form anyone who does not hold this doctrine, being the very teaching that leaving Christs doctrine means means that person doesnt have God. So, therefore, my husband mand myself are spurned on to either depart from our friends who defend ES or to have courage enough to lovingly confront them bringing these particular scriptures and asking them where they stand concerning them. Then based on their response, be ready to seperate from their company permanently. What a blessing to see others who can expound the Word of God in wholesome soundness. The ES doctrine has been doing “despite to the grace of God” and damaging souls for so long. I have personally seen so many believers who have been crippled by believing this false teaching. Their walk is hindered, they are weak to temptaion and can not be delivered from sin. This false teaching is so destructive becasue it in essence removes the FEAR OF GOD from scripture. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Keep up the faith brother, and I PRAISE GOD for your zeal and faithfulness!!!!!!!!