What is the difference between eternal security, once saved always saved, and perseverance of the saints?

[mailmandan]

Perfect love casts out fear

I serve and obey God out of love not fear. When I was a young believer it was fear driven.

Prior to my conversion several years ago while still attending the Roman Catholic church, I basically saw God as a tyrant who couldn't wait to punish me every time I messed up and throw me into hell for not being "good enough." That is an unhealthy fear which is not from above!

As a born again Christian, I now have
a healthy fear of offending God through disobedience and a righteous awe and respect or reverence for Him. (Proverbs 1:7; Psalm 2:11; Psalm 34:9; Isaiah 66:2) In Philippians 2:12, we are told to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.

Paul uses the same phrase "fear and trembling" in 2 Corinthians 7:15 in which he refers to Titus as being encouraged by the reception of him by the Corinthians "with fear and trembling," that is, with humility and respect for his position as a minister of Jesus Christ.

In 1 Corinthians 2:3, we see that Paul himself came to the Corinthian church in "weakness and fear, and with much trembling" in regard to the huge responsibility and critical importance of the work in which he was engaged.

 

[civic]

1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love - Love is not an affection which produces fear. In the love which we have for a parent, a child, a friend, there is no fear. If a man had perfect love to God, he would have no fear of anything - for what would he have to dread? He would have no fear of death, for he would have nothing to dread beyond the grave. It is guilt that makes people fear what is to come; but he whose sins are pardoned, and whose heart is filled with the love of God, has nothing to dread in this world or the world to come. The angels in heaven, who have always loved God and one another, have no fear, for they have nothing to dread in the future; the redeemed in heaven, rescued from all danger, and filled with the love of God, have nothing to dread; and as far as that same loves operates on earth, it delivers the soul now from all apprehension of what is to come.
But perfect love casteth out fear - That is, love that is complete, or that is allowed to exert its proper influence on the soul. As far as it exists, its tendency is to deliver the mind from alarms. If it should exist in any soul in an absolutely perfect state, that soul would be entirely free from all dread in regard to the future.

Because fear hath torment - It is a painful and distressing emotion. Thus men suffer from the fear of poverty, of losses, of bereavement, of sickness, of death, and of future woe. From all these distressing apprehensions, that love of God which furnishes an evidence of true piety delivers us.

He that feareth, is not made perfect in love - He about whose mind there lingers the apprehension of future wrath, shows that love in his soul has not accomplished its full work. Perhaps it never will on any soul until we reach the heavenly world, though there are many minds so full of love to God, as to be prevailingly delivered from fear.barnes

cross references

Romans 8:15
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption to sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.

John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.

Philippians 4:6-7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. / And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

hope this helps !!!

 

[Bob Carabbio]

What is the difference between eternal security, once saved always saved, and perseverance of the saints?​

No difference in the practical sense. Nothing more that 3 different denominational "theological opinions" about the exact same thing.

And the Theology is all flawed, since the Bible WARNS of "Falling away". My EXPERIENCE is that God DOES SEND "WAKE UP CALLS" when a Christian gets too close to the edge.

 

[Blessed]

The security we enjoy in Christ doss not mean the absence of danger. A false security, denying the existence of danger, is the worst possible position to be in. Real security can exist only when there is an awareness of possible danger, and of the availability of resources to meet it. It is the one who “thinketh he standeth” who is in real danger of falling 1 Cor 10:12

There is real security for every believer in Christ. It is not in some fanciful misreading of the doctrine of grace, but in a vital, living relationship with God. The born again “child of God” no more fears being lost than he fears that he may deliberately commit suicide. He knows that he can, but he does not fear that he will.

THE ONLY POSSIBLE BASIS FOR A LACK OF CHRISTIAN ASSURANCE IS CONDEMNATION FOR SIN! And for such condemnation, God has provided an instant and complete remedy:

“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” John 2:1-2

 

[Tothalordbeallglory]

What is the difference between eternal security, once saved always saved, and perseverance of the saints?​

No difference in the practical sense. Nothing more that 3 different denominational "theological opinions" about the exact same thing.

And the Theology is all flawed, since the Bible WARNS of "Falling away". My EXPERIENCE is that God DOES SEND "WAKE UP CALLS" when a Christian gets too close to the edge.

For if ye do these things you shall never fall .
Let us be diligent , continue to stir one another up by pure way of remembrance .
Exhort one another daily
stay in prayer and in the scriptures and diligent in the things of the LORD .
Tis why the true apostels were big on daily exhortation . Reminding them of what is good
and to abstain from all appearance of evil .
Reminding them to keep the hope FIRM TO THE END .
Reminding them of what JESUS himself had said , IF a man continues not in ME he is cast out .
Yet many have left off to heed the reminders . THE HOLY SPIRIT can indeed keep one safe
And the HOLY SPIRIT unctions we ourselves daily TO CONTINUE , to abstain
from evil , and we by the SPIRIT would have done the same to others .
GOD , CHRIST , CAN SURELY KEEP us safe . But when folks omit certain scriptures or twist them
to fit an acroynm or whatever else , THEY are doing damage to themselves and to the church .
SO let us live by the SPIRIT and let us live by the Words of the LORD and later of the apostels .
THEY SURELY KNEW HOW to KEEP the church safe . AND if we deviate from that pattern
we make ourselves prey TO FALL . many do not understand this simple truth .
But what i say to one i say to all , LET us love the TRUTH and not rather twist the truth to suit
what we desire it to say or mean .

 

[civic]

What is the difference between eternal security, once saved always saved, and perseverance of the saints?​

No difference in the practical sense. Nothing more that 3 different denominational "theological opinions" about the exact same thing.

And the Theology is all flawed, since the Bible WARNS of "Falling away". My EXPERIENCE is that God DOES SEND "WAKE UP CALLS" when a Christian gets too close to the edge.

Yep

 

[Complete]

'In Whom ye also trusted,
after that ye heard the word of truth,
the gospel of your salvation:
in Whom also after that ye believed,
ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Which is the earnest of our inheritance
until the redemption of the purchased possession,
unto the praise of His glory.'
(Eph 1:13-14)

"Thank you, Lord."

 

[Complete]

The three different terms (eternal security, once saved always saved, and perseverance of the saints) are often used interchangeably. However, there are subtle differences between them even though they basically mean the same thing – that a person cannot lose his salvation. Critics of eternal security in Christ often assert various challenges to the position, including misrepresentations and incomplete representation of the position. Nevertheless, though I cannot find any “official” definition for each of the three terms, by looking through theological dictionaries, various websites, writings, etc., I’ve come up with the following information.

1. Eternal Security is the teaching that all who are Christians and are truly regenerated are eternally secure in their salvation and will never fall away because their salvation is dependent on Christ’s faithfulness and work. It was Jesus who completely redeemed them of all their sins and their actions, and goodness does not maintain their salvation. It is God who secures the believer. But, this does not mean those thus saved will not fall into sin. Instead, though they may backslide, they will never fully turn from God and fall out of the state of his grace. Furthermore, it means God will work in the conviction and discipline of the believer who backslides.
2. Perseverance of the Saints is often equated with eternal security. It means that once a person is truly born again, God will work through the person so that the person will persevere throughout his life and not lose his salvation. It emphasizes God’s work and ability to perfect the Christian (Philippians 1:6) and that Christians are sealed permanently with Him (Ephesians 1:13-14).
3. Once Saved Always Saved (OSAS) is the position that no matter what a person does he will remain saved. He is always saved once he is saved. This position also includes the reality of regeneration since anyone who is truly saved is also truly regenerated. Regeneration produces in the person a desire to serve God and avoid sin (Romans 7:18-25). However, like eternal security, those who adhere to once saved always saved acknowledge that Christians can backslide.

Critics of eternal security often cite various verses in an attempt to show that a Christian can lose his salvation. The logic is that a Christian can turn his back on God and stop believing, or do enough bad things to disqualify him from being saved. These verses are addressed in the CARM section dealing with eternal security. Furthermore, these same critics often state that if a person believes he cannot lose his salvation, then it is a license to sin. This is not the position of those who hold to eternal security. We are regenerated; and because of regeneration from God, we war against our sin (Romans 7:18-25). We do not consider it a license to sin because we are new creatures (2 Cor. 5:17). Furthermore, anyone who claims to be a Christian and purposely uses God’s grace in order to sin is demonstrating that he is not regenerate because he is acting in a manner that contradicts regeneration (1 John 2:4).

Matt Slick

Hello @Hosanna,

All of those definitions are man made aren't they? Man's understanding, which is flawed.
Praise God! For His Word, both Living and written.

Within the love of Christ our Saviour
our Lord and Head.
now risen and glorified
Chris

 

[Hosanna]

Hello @Hosanna,

All of those definitions are man made aren't they? Man's understanding, which is flawed.
Praise God! For His Word, both Living and written.

Within the love of Christ our Saviour
our Lord and Head.
now risen and glorified
Chris

Everything we talk about here at BAM comes from Man's understanding of God word. Some maybe flawed some maybe spot on.

Here is just a taste of the Bible that is divinely inspired and therefore perfect and unchanging

We have eternal security of our salvation if we belong to Jesus:

12 He who possesses the Son has that life; he who does not possess the Son of God does not have that life.
13 I write this to you who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) the name of the Son of God [in the peculiar services and blessings conferred by Him on men], so that you may know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that you [already] have life, yes, eternal life.
1 John 5:12–13

16 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.
John 3:16

36 And he who believes in (has faith in, clings to, relies on) the Son has (now possesses) eternal life. But whoever disobeys (is unbelieving toward, refuses to trust in, disregards, is not subject to) the Son will never see (experience) life, but [instead] the wrath of God abides on him. [God’s displeasure remains on him; His indignation hangs over him continually.]
John 3:36

24 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, the person whose ears are open to My words [who listens to My message] and believes and trusts in and clings to and relies on Him Who sent Me has (possesses now) eternal life. And he does not come into judgment [does not incur sentence of judgment, will not come under condemnation], but he has already passed over out of death into life.
John 5:24