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FAQ # 90
QUESTION 90 : What does the bible saith about
eternal security [or often called perseverance of the saints]? I'm a little
confuse? Do the Church believe in eternal security? When some of the Bishops
speak on this subject what is the understanding of Eternal Security? Is
this just some of the Bishops’ belief (personal belief)? (Mon, 12 Jan
2004, G.G, pawsaint@…)
What people call eternal security is also called "perseverance of
the saints", "preservation of the saints", "security-in-sin-gospel"
and "once save always save doctrine." All extra biblical terminologies
that many even argue are different. However, Charles Ryrie said, "...
eternal security, preservation, and perseverance in reality all teach
the same bottom line conclusion (namely, that the true believer will not
lose his salvation)." I've not opt to use these terms in this book
and even some of the notions surrounding some of these teachers on the
subject. I prefer the biblical term Justification, an exhaustive doctrine
implicitly and explicitly taught throughout the scriptures, and the essence
of salvation. It's far more than just not loosing salvation, but encompasses
more things that you never thought about yourself as a born again believer.
Re-read through chapter 5 on "What does Justification means"
and you'll definitely see it's more than what scoffers claim it to be
- once save, always save doctrine. Some of the teachings and benefits
of Justification are as follows:
- Breast plate of righteousness
- Must be had if you are to remain saved and be biblical optimistic,
"Stand therefore…having on the breastplate of righteousness "
(Eph 6:14).
- No more works - You need not perform periodical religious sacrileges
to God for purging of sins or retention of salvation, "Who needeth
not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his
own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered
up himself " (Heb 7:27).
- We are purchased or owned by God
- You are owned by God and thus protected by him. A sure seal of victory,
honor, dominion and love. "They shall never perish, neither shall
any man pluck them out of my hand" (John 10:28).
- No condemnation - Even if…, no one can
condemn you for anything, being Justified; "No weapon that is formed
against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against
thee in judgment thou shalt condemn" (Isa 54:17).
- Born-again believers are
higher than angels - Many don't even have a clue to what Christ have done for them,
he made them second to him, far above all principalities and all powers
that be; hence giving us the birthright of all his creation. “Of his
own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind
of firstfruits of his creatures” (James
1:18).
- You become perfect - The only thing in existence
that is perfect is God and through Christ he cause us to share in that,
making us perfect and forever holy. Our status and nature changes to
his. "For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them
that are sanctified" (Heb 10:14)
So it is evident that Justification, a section of it called "eternal
security" in your question, is a true biblical doctrine. On the other
hand, one person say those who teach eternal security teach the following:
A) Salvation begins in a moment’s time and is guaranteed
to continue.
Salvation begins when we become born again (John 3:5, Acts 2:38). By Christ
being in us, we continue to the end, clearly prophesied and already realized;
"I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in
my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them " (Eze 36:27).
Doesn't that sounds like a guarantee to you and not just any guarantee,
but by God, who said "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of
my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that
which I please" (Isa 55:11). It's either we believe this (bible)
or what this person alleges rhetorically.
B) There is no salvation maintenance on man’s part. God will keep you, hold
you and has already sealed you by His Spirit at the point of salvation
assuring an entrance into the kingdom of heaven.
From the scripture quotation (Eze 36:27) and rebuttal above, you see that
it already cover the phrase "no salvation maintenance on man’s part."
Because that was the problem when the prophecy was herald (Eze 36:27);
hence it is no more you, but "it is God which worketh in you both
to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Php 2:13). And yes, he already
sealed you, seeing that he's the one doing the works - "ye are sealed
unto the day of redemption" (Eph 4:30).
C) Sin can never bring a Christian to his spiritual death, regardless what
sin is committed or false doctrine is believed.
We can't die spiritual after being born again. That was the problem with
man, we kept dying spiritually; so the remedy or solution, was salvation
through Christ (Eze 36:27). Wherewith Christ said that "we will never
thirst again; "in essence, never die spiritually again, seeing we'll
never thirst again – the reason we go a sinning. Moreover, sin is what
causes us to die spiritually, any and all sins; so every time we sin we
would die. To show that all sins always lead to spiritual death, Paul
himself in 1 Cor 15:31 said that he "die daily" (falter or "sin"),
so to speak, because by God's spirit he is resurrected daily; making him
unable to die spiritually at any given time. So sin alone represents spiritual
death, which kept us from God, but with his spirit we are forever joined
to him. But this is not a license to sin, so Paul "patched it"
back up when he said, "for to morrow we die. [HOWEVER] Be not deceived:
evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and
sin not..." (1 Cor 15:32-34). Moreover, "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 5:18).
D) Eternal life is a gift that can’t be lost or returned and a present tense
possession for the Christian, guaranteeing an entrance into God’s kingdom.
This was already dealt with in refutation to "B," but here is
another scripture that dictates to us that "Eternal life is a gift
that can’t be lost or returned." "Now he which stablisheth us
with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed
us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts" (2 Cor 1:22).
And, "ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise" (Eph
1:13). Eternal suggest forever and this verse puts this seal quite nicely,
"For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that
are sanctified" (Heb 10:14). Isn't these verses "guaranteeing
an entrance into God’s kingdom" and can be readily realized by faith?
Obviously!
E) Reaching heaven for the Christian is absolutely certain just as though
he has already been in heaven for 10,000 years.
From the rebuttal of "D" you can see that this is so and a promise
by God himself. "Ye are sealed unto the day of REDEMPTION"
(Eph 4:30). Moreover, this is the kind of faith the Lord wants us to employ;
"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 able to separate us
from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom
8:38-39).
F) Some Christians are adulterers, drunkards, thieves, etc.
Never! You have the fake and the real thing. The scripture let us plainly
know, "Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath
not seen him, neither known him" (1 John 3:6). Moreover, "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 5:18). The word "sinneth" has the suffix "eth,"
which means a continuance. Though sometimes we falter, but never in continuance
to be called adulterers, drunkards, thieves, etc.
He also said:
The other position, hereafter referred to
as the moderate position, is disseminated by John MacArthur and others
who especially subscribe to the Westminster Confession. The moderate position
of OSAS states that a true, saving faith will last forever. In other words,
a true believer cannot become an unbeliever. The moderate position also
tends to deny the concept of carnal Christians which is embraced
by the extreme position of OSAS. More differences on these two positions
will unfold in the chapters to come (Dan Corner). [He also traced it to
Calvin and augustine of hippo (354-430)]
These are just extra-biblical terminologies to try and define the biblical
doctrine of Justification, the essence of the New Testament. As I previously
said, I don't ascribe to some who teach some of its tenets, for there
is nothing as a carnal Christian. How in heaven's name can there be a
carnal Christian when the very fact that a "carnal mind is enmity
against God" (Rom 8:7). This is simply trying to fit persons in church
that are not in church, to make up number or support an unbiblical doctrine.
Most who attest to this carnal Christian are denominations or preachers
that have congregations that aren't saved, having just said a faith statement
rather than becoming born again. Thinking they are save, they try to live
a godly life, but fail to do so because they don't have that needed mechanism
called the Holy Ghost. They are side stepped as carnal Christians. WRONG!
If you continue in a life of sin, you are not saved (1 John 3:6, 1 John
5:18), point blank!
God came and deliver us from uncertainty, which breeds fretting and uneasiness
and violates the peace of salvation that the assurance of salvation gives
(John 14:27). Not only that, but his spirit keeps us unspotted from continuance
in sinful acts. There is a work of salvation, being born again (Acts 2:38),
but after that be assured that you will make it. You are perfect, you
are pure, you are saved, you are seal unto the day of redemption, you
will persevere unto the day of redemption, you are holy, you are righteous,
you are JUSTIFIED!
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