~ A Summary Statement of
Eternal Security for the Believer ~
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).
Security: No Separation (from
God) ~ “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? Who shall bring a charge against
God’s elect? It is God who
justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also
risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for
us. 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 8:31-39).
Security: No Judgment (for
sin) ~ “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” (Romans 8:1-4a).
Security: Inheritance (eternal blessings) ~ First,
if you are born into a family you can never be unborn from the family. Second, If you receive a large inheritance it
is yours even if it is kept safely in the Trust Department of a financial
institution for later distribution. Third, once delivered to the Trust Department
your inheritance is guaranteed. In like
manner once spiritually born you can never be unborn and a guaranteed
inheritance is yours even if it is to be distributed at a later date.
“In Him also we have obtained an inheritance,
being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according
to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to
the praise of His glory. In Him you also
trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in
whom also, having believed, you were
sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance
until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His
glory” (Ephesians 1:11-14).
“Being enlightened; that you may know
what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is
the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the
working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from
the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all
principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named,
not only in this age but also in that which is to come” (Ephesians 1:18-21).
“In Him you also trusted,
after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also,
having believed, you were sealed with the
Holy Spirit of promise, Who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the
redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory” (Ephesians
1:13-14).
“The eyes of your
understanding being enlightened; that you
may know what is the hope of His
calling, what are the riches of the glory
of His inheritance in the saints” (Ephesians 1:18).
Conclusion ~ The believer can sing the grand hymn “Blessed
Assurance” (by Fanny Crosby) with absolute confidence.
Blessed
assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
Perfect
submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels, descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
Perfect
submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
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