Eternal Security

[Whosoever]

When the Bible Speaks about possessing “life” it always refers to eternal life. Because eternal life can never coexist with eternal death, once one possesses eternal life, it forever nullifies the possibility of ever possessing eternal death. It's not that hard to understand.

This is why Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life” John 5:24

Think about it, if God had intended to convey the idea that a believer could be lost, He would never have spoken of eternal life as a present possession. But because we are now possessors of eternal life, Scripture tells us that we are present possessors of the future inheritance that will bring to fruition all that is involved in having eternal life now.

In him, according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 we who first hoped in Christ have been destined and appointed to live for the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 1:11–12

Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred which redeems them from the transgressions under the first covenant.
Hebrews 9:15

[Born anew] into an inheritance which is beyond the reach of change and decay [imperishable], unsullied and unfading, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are being guarded (garrisoned) by God’s power through [your] faith [till you fully inherit that final] salvation that is ready to be revealed [for you] in the last time.
1 Peter 1:4–5

 

[Redeemed]

When I discuss OSAS I like to bring up the doctrine of the new birth otherwise known as regeneration.

Regeneration is entirely the work of God and is linked to our union with Christ. By its very nature it has eternal results irrespective of human merit or performance because, by its nature, it imparts eternal life. Again, eternal life, by definition, cannot be destroyed or displaced.

God clearly knew the implications of using the concept of birth in describing what happens to a Christian at the moment of salvation.

Regeneration, like birth, 1) gives life, 2) is unrepeatable, 3) has God as its ultimate author, and 4) is decisive and permanent.

For example, once a person is physically born, it is impossible for him to be unborn; this is also so with spiritual birth. Nowhere does Scripture speak of a person being saved twice. The reason for this is obvious: once saved, always saved.

 

[Azriel]

There are several reasons why a person can be confident in their “eternal security.” First and foremost is the evidence of Scripture.

John 3:15-18 says about Christ: “The Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”

The salvation in Christ is not temporary, it is eternal.

 

[Obadiah]

There are several reasons why a person can be confident in their “eternal security.” First and foremost is the evidence of Scripture.

John 3:15-18 says about Christ: “The Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”

The salvation in Christ is not temporary, it is eternal.

A person who willingly, humbly, repents of sin and turns towards the cross, trusting Christ as their Savior, will be saved (Acts 16:31; John 6:37; John 14:6). That salvation is once and for all, eternal, and secure. Those who truly trust in Christ are saved once, and saved always.

 

[Hosanna]

Of course.



Mocking is not an argument.

Back at you

https://berean-apologetics.community.forum/threads/god-is-love.11/post-12829

 

[Azriel]

While the believer may gain assurance of his salvation and know that he has been saved, the question may arise concerning the permanence of his salvation. Once genuinely saved by trusting in the merit of Christ’s death on the cross for sin, can the believer lose his salvation? Is there anything we can do to lose our salvation? The answer is NO! Why? Because Scripture clearly affirms the fact we are protected by the power of God through faith. Faith brings us into a grace relationship with God as a gift of God through the merit of His beloved Son. We are saved by His record, not ours.

1.4. Assurance of Eternal Security | Bible.org

Introduction While the believer may gain assurance of his salvation and know that he has been saved, the question may arise concerning the permanence of his salvation. Once genuinely saved by trusting in the merit of Christ’s death on the cross for sin, can the believer lose his salvation? Is...

bible.org

 

[civic]

While the believer may gain assurance of his salvation and know that he has been saved, the question may arise concerning the permanence of his salvation. Once genuinely saved by trusting in the merit of Christ’s death on the cross for sin, can the believer lose his salvation? Is there anything we can do to lose our salvation? The answer is NO! Why? Because Scripture clearly affirms the fact we are protected by the power of God through faith. Faith brings us into a grace relationship with God as a gift of God through the merit of His beloved Son. We are saved by His record, not ours.

1.4. Assurance of Eternal Security | Bible.org

Introduction While the believer may gain assurance of his salvation and know that he has been saved, the question may arise concerning the permanence of his salvation. Once genuinely saved by trusting in the merit of Christ’s death on the cross for sin, can the believer lose his salvation? Is...

bible.org

one of the ladies in our small group asked about losing salvation so it turned into a 1/2 great discussion. The consensus was someone who is born again cannot become unborn. just as a baby who is born cannot become unborn is the physical world neither can one in the spiritual world.

 

[Doug Brents]

one of the ladies in our small group asked about losing salvation so it turned into a 1/2 great discussion. The consensus was someone who is born again cannot become unborn. just as a baby who is born cannot become unborn is the physical world neither can one in the spiritual world.

Then your discussion got it wrong. It is entirely possible for someone to lose their salvation if they cease walking in the Light; if we turn back to unrepentant sin then we will not enter Heaven because we have not endured to the end.

 

[civic]

Then your discussion got it wrong. It is entirely possible for someone to lose their salvation if they cease walking in the Light; if we turn back to unrepentant sin then we will not enter Heaven because we have not endured to the end.

You didn't address the spiritual birth which was the point I was making.

 

[Doug Brents]

You didn't address the spiritual birth which was the point I was making.

Is it not possible for the baby that was born to die? Yes. In the same way, it is possible for the newly spiritually reborn to die again. Look at the seed that fell on the rocky ground. It received the Word readily, but because it did not have a good root, when it was tested it withered and died. I believe that is indicative of that soul having been saved, and then falling away.

 

[Lily]

They received the word. It sounded good to them, it made sense to them, but it didn't take root in their heart. It never made that 18 inch journey From their mind to their heart. In other words they were never really saved. Faith has to take root in your heart.

Eternal Security: Its Meaning​

When we speak of the eternal security of the believer, what do we mean? We mean that once a poor sinner has been regenerated by the Word and the Spirit of God, once he has received a new life and a new nature and has been made partaker of the divine nature, once he has been justified from every charge before the throne of God, it is absolutely impossible that that man should ever again be a lost soul.

Having said that, let me say what we do not mean when we speak of the eternal security of the believer. We do not mean that it necessarily follows that if one professes to be saved, if he comes out to the front in a meeting, shakes the preacher’s hand, and says he accepts the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior, that that person is eternally safe. It does not mean that if one joins a church or makes a profession of faith, is baptized, becomes a communicant, and takes an interest in Christian work, that that person is forever secure. It does not mean that because one manifests certain gifts and exercises these gifts in Christian testimony, that that person is necessarily eternally secure.

Our Lord Jesus Christ said to the people of His day, as recorded in Matthew 7:21-23: “Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? And in Thy name have cast out devils? And in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.”

Such people then may have been very active in what is called Christian work–they have preached, they have cast out demons, that is, their influence has been such that men and women have found deliverance from satanic power through their ministrations in the name of Jesus, they have professed with their lips, they have accomplished many wonderful works, but they are found in that day among the lost, and when they plead their great activity and their earnestness in Christian testimony, the Lord says to them, “I never knew you.” Notice, He does not say to them, “I used to know you, but you have forfeited My favor and I do not know you any longer.” He says, “I never knew you.”

H. A. IRONSIDE

​

 

[Doug Brents]

They received the word. It sounded good to them, it made sense to them, but it didn't take root in their heart. It never made that 18 inch journey From their mind to their heart. In other words they were never really saved. Faith has to take root in your heart.

Eternal Security: Its Meaning​

When we speak of the eternal security of the believer, what do we mean? We mean that once a poor sinner has been regenerated by the Word and the Spirit of God, once he has received a new life and a new nature and has been made partaker of the divine nature, once he has been justified from every charge before the throne of God, it is absolutely impossible that that man should ever again be a lost soul.​

That last sentence is in direct contradiction of Heb 6:4-6.

Having said that, let me say what we do not mean when we speak of the eternal security of the believer. We do not mean that it necessarily follows that if one professes to be saved, if he comes out to the front in a meeting, shakes the preacher’s hand, and says he accepts the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior, that that person is eternally safe. It does not mean that if one joins a church or makes a profession of faith, is baptized, becomes a communicant, and takes an interest in Christian work, that that person is forever secure. It does not mean that because one manifests certain gifts and exercises these gifts in Christian testimony, that that person is necessarily eternally secure.

Our Lord Jesus Christ said to the people of His day, as recorded in Matthew 7:21-23: “Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? And in Thy name have cast out devils? And in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.”

Such people then may have been very active in what is called Christian work–they have preached, they have cast out demons, that is, their influence has been such that men and women have found deliverance from satanic power through their ministrations in the name of Jesus, they have professed with their lips, they have accomplished many wonderful works, but they are found in that day among the lost, and when they plead their great activity and their earnestness in Christian testimony, the Lord says to them, “I never knew you.” Notice, He does not say to them, “I used to know you, but you have forfeited My favor and I do not know you any longer.” He says, “I never knew you.”

H. A. IRONSIDE​

This is true. There are many, many people who claim to be saved, but God has never known them. But as noted above, this does not preclude the fact that there will be some who did receive salvation, did become partakers in the divine nature, did receive new life, and were justified, but they turn back to unrepentant sins and are overcome and lost (James 5:19-20).

 

[Azriel]

That last sentence is in direct contradiction of Heb 6:4-6.

This is true. There are many, many people who claim to be saved, but God has never known them. But as noted above, this does not preclude the fact that there will be some who did receive salvation, did become partakers in the divine nature, did receive new life, and were justified, but they turn back to unrepentant sins and are overcome and lost (James 5:19-20).

Someone who rescues another from this kind of confusion helps him secure the eternal life he only thought he had, and covers all the sins of his life, including the sin of false teaching.

 

[Unmerited]

Andy Woods - 13 Reasons for Eternal Security (OSAS)

 

[Doug Brents]

Someone who rescues another from this kind of confusion helps him secure the eternal life he only thought he had, and covers all the sins of his life, including the sin of false teaching.

My how you twist Scripture to fit your preconception. Read it again!!
"My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you strays from the truth and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that the one who has turned a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins."

Who are the brothers and sisters? Those who, like James, are "in Christ".
If any of YOU. Who are YOU? The brothers and sisters; those who are "in Christ".
If they strayed from the truth, they are again a sinner back in the error of his way.
Yet someone who turns him back to the truth will save that soul from death. This means that the one who went back to sin, who used to be a brother in Christ, was bound for Hell until he was turned back.
This is the same as the unforgiving servant in Matt 18:21-35. Read verse 34-35 carefully.
"And his master, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he would repay all that was owed him. 35 My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart."
The servant was handed over to be tortured until he repaid he repaid all he owed. But wait, wasn't he forgiven all of his debt? Yes, but it was reinstated in full when he failed to pass on the forgiveness he had received. And the same will be done to each of us (including the Apostles to whom Jesus was speaking at this time) if we fail to pass on the forgiveness we have received (or fall back into any other sin in un-repentance).

 

[Azriel]

Apostasy or falling away doesn’t mean you once were in and have now fallen out of a saving relationship to Christ. It means you never were with Christ in the first place.

Hebrews 10:14 that “by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” Here we are told that for those who are now being sanctified (indwelt by the Holy Spirit, growing in holiness by faith) “the offering of Christ on the cross has perfected that person for all time. For all time!

In other words to become a beneficiary of the perfecting, justifying work of Christ on the cross is to be perfected in the sight of God forever. This suggests that Hebrews 6:6 does not mean that those who re-crucify Christ were once really justified by the blood of Jesus and were really being sanctified in an inward spiritual sense.”

 

[Doug Brents]

Apostasy or falling away doesn’t mean you once were in and have now fallen out of a saving relationship to Christ. It means you never were with Christ in the first place.

This may be the case for some. But it is very clear in Heb 6:4-6 that the ones who "have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit" are indeed saved. We do not partake in the indwelling of the Holy Spirit unless we are saved. And one who cannot be "restored" to repentance must have at one point repented, but then turned back from repentance.

Hebrews 10:14 that “by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” Here we are told that for those who are now being sanctified (indwelt by the Holy Spirit, growing in holiness by faith) “the offering of Christ on the cross has perfected that person for all time. For all time!

In other words to become a beneficiary of the perfecting, justifying work of Christ on the cross is to be perfected in the sight of God forever. This suggests that Hebrews 6:6 does not mean that those who re-crucify Christ were once really justified by the blood of Jesus and were really being sanctified in an inward spiritual sense.”

You are applying "for all time" in the wrong sense, I believe. "For all time" I believe refers to all mankind from Adam to Judgement, both OT and NT. And those who are being sanctified refers to a process, not a single even of purification. We are definitely cleansed at the moment of salvation, but we are then continually cleansed as long as we walk in the Light (1 John 1:7). What does that say for those who do not continually walk in the Light? They are NOT continually cleansed.

 

[civic]

Andy Woods - 13 Reasons for Eternal Security (OSAS)

Good points in the video.

 

[Azriel]

God will put in his people a new heart and cause them to walk in his ways and not turn away from doing them good.

And I will give them a heart to know (recognize, understand, and be acquainted with) Me, that I am the Lord; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart. Jeremiah 24:7

And I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will not turn away from following them to do them good, and I will put My [reverential] fear in their hearts, so that they will not depart from Me. Jeremiah 32:40.

And I will give them one heart [a new heart] and I will put a new spirit within them; and I will take the stony [unnaturally hardened] heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh [sensitive and responsive to the touch of their God], Ezekiel 11:19

And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you shall heed My ordinances and do them. Ezekiel 36:27.

This clearly tells us that perseverance in faith and in doing God’s will is ultimately the work of God in us. It is finally dependent not on us but on God. This is the way he fulfills his promise in the new covenant. But if some of God’s people fail to remain believers and to pursue holiness of life and thus apostatize from the faith, God will himself have failed to fulfill his promise to work in us what “is pleasing in his sight.”

 

[Diserner]

"What security can anyone truly have in salvation if ultimately it depends on our free will and not the holding of the Father?"