~ Eternal Security in Romans 8 ~
The doctrine of “eternal
security” (sometimes described as “once saved—always saved”) is widely accepted
with Christianity. There are however
some who deny this important teaching of Scripture—by pulling verses out of
their context to make them say something other than intended. In this series we look at what the Word of
God has to say about the subject. “Him
who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the
presence of His glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24).
The
believer is eternally and perfectly secure because of Christ’s work in the
past, the Holy Spirit’s work in the present, and God-the-Father’s work in the
future.
Christ’s Work (past) ~ “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in
Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the
Spirit. For the
law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus
has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what
the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending
His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He
condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be
fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the
Spirit” (Romans 8:1-4).
The Holy Spirit’s Work (present) ~ “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to
live according to the flesh. For if you
live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will
live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage
again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out,
‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are
children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with
Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together”
(Romans 8:12-17).
“Likewise the Spirit
also helps in our weaknesses. For we
do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which
cannot be uttered. Now He who
searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints
according to the will of God” (Romans 8:26-27).
God’s Work (future) ~ “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are
not worthy to be compared with the glory
which shall be revealed in us. For
the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the
sons of God. For the creation was
subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in
hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of
the children of God. For we know
that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until
now. Not only that, but we also who have
the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves,
eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that
is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we
eagerly wait for it with perseverance” (Romans 8:18-25).
“And we know that all
things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the
called according to His purpose. For
whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son,
that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also
called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God
is for us, who can be against us? He
who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give
us all things?” (Romans 8:28-31).
The Result of The Trinity’s Work
~ “Who
shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall tribulation, or
distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: ‘For Your sake we are
killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.’ Yet in all these things we are more than
conquerors through Him who loved us.
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
created thing, shall be able to separate
us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans
8:35-39).
Summary
~ The believer’s security
includes the impossibility of being separated from
the love of God. Salvation
through the Son of God saves us from the penalty (past), power (present), and
presence (future) of sin. In other words
if you are His child you have been saved,
you are being saved, and you will be saved!
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
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