Eternal Security - A Guide for Perplexed Christians

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Eternal Security:A Guide for Perplexed Christians

by Jeremy JamesCONTENTS

1. Introduction22. Paper by Dr Chuck Missler53. Paper by Dr H A Ironside104. Biblical texts36

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Introduction

The doctrine of EternalSecuritymay be summed up in the simple phrase, ‘Oncesaved, always saved.’ It is sometimes called the doctrine of UnconditionalAssurance.After a short introduction, we have an excellent short paper by Dr Chuck Missler onEternal Security,followed by a superb and more detailed analysis of the issue by Dr HA Ironside. The latter includes a careful examination of many questions that arefrequently asked by confused Christians and the Scriptural answer to each of them.The final section gives a list of over 40 passages from Scripture which shedconsiderable light on the doctrine.The concept of Eternal Security has been the subject of heated debate for centuries.Even todaymany Born-Again Christians have difficulty arriving at a clear Scripturalunderstanding of this key doctrine and what it means for them in their daily walk withChrist. It is very important that all Born-Again Christians be in no doubt about thetrue nature of their salvation. The eternal security of salvation is central to all thatChrist achieved for us through the Cross.This is not a dogmatic paper. Both Dr Missler and Dr Ironside give very heartfeltaccounts of what theysee as the Scripturalbasis for this doctrine, drawing on their considerable experience over several decades as both preachers and authors. If youhave difficulty accepting the doctrine of eternal security with your whole heart, thenyou will almost certainly find benefit in their commentaries.Here is a concise summary of what appears to be the main ‘proof’ of the doctrine:

Salvation is the gift of everlasting life in Christ1

. God’s promise of salvation is unconditional. It is only necessary to recognise our fallennessand believe in Christ –to accept him as our saviour –to receive thisincredible gift:For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, thatwhosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.(John 3:16)

Salvation changes the individual both fundamentally and irrevocably2.

Byreceiving the gift we are changed fundamentally and irrevocably. There isnothing we can do to go back to where we were before we received the gift:Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth onhim that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come intocondemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passedaway; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

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Salvation is based on an everlasting covenant3.

Godthe Father made an everlasting covenant with God the Son, that through hisdeath and resurrection he would receive all who accepted the gift of salvation:All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me Iwill in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)

Through salvation we are eternally the adopted children of Christ4.

Once we are born again through salvation, we are thereafter, eternally, the adoptedchildren of Christ:Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ tohimself, according to the good pleasure of his will(Ephesians 1:5)For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye havereceived the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.(Romans8:15)

The adoption achieved through salvation is irreversible5.

Once saved, no Christian can thereafter be wrenched away from Christ by anyoutside agency since he is held firmly in the hand of both the Father and the Son:Mysheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I giveunto themeternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck themout ofmyhand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater thanall; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.(John 10:27-29)

Satan has no power whatever to undo our adoption through salvation6.

Not even Satan and all his angelic hoards [principalities and powers] canseparate the born-again Christian from Christ:Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress,or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? …For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be ableto separate us from the love of God, whichis in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-39)

Salvation cannot be lost through subsequent sin7.

While a born-again Christian may slide backward (fall into sin), and will be heldaccountablein heaven(“as by fire”) for such transgressions, he cannot lose hissalvation:If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (1 Corinthians 3:15)If we believe not, yet he [Christ]abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.(2 Timothy2:13)