Is Eternal Security Secure?

By Frank Hilton • ©Word-Spirit • All Rights Reserved.

Introduction

In today's world, people are looking for something that they can believe in: something that is sure, steadfast and unmovable. Many people turn to faith in God for hope and stability, and rightfully so. For God is the only stable endeavor that a person can get involved in.

Though it is true that God is the only perfect and stable one, unfortunately people who claim to be followers of God are not always stable in their teachings. Many "religious" people make up doctrines that only appeal to man's tradition and philosophy. The danger with that is that people's faith is founded in un-truths, which can jeopardize a person's eternal destination. Thus the topic of eternal security becomes a major concern.

There are only three major views on the subject of eternal security we want to look at. One; when a person believes on the Lord they have eternal life and can never lose it, even if they die with sin in their life. Two; a person is never secure and can be lost altogether. Three; a person receives the promise of "eternal security" when they are saved, but they can fall from grace and lose out on that chance for "eternal life" in the future.

With the above (#3) in mind, let's look to see how secure the teaching of "eternal security" really is. Because it is really that important!

What is Eternal Life?

The Greek word for "eternal life" (ahee-o'-nee-os) in the scripture below, means perpetual (also used of past time, or past and future as well): - eternal, forever, everlasting. The word denotes a state or realm that goes on forever and ever.

Now let's look at the promise, for we read…

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:15-16)

The above scripture is the most popular text used for the doctrine of "eternal security." This scripture is absolutely true when it comes to everlasting life. When a person believes in Jesus, and obeys the biblical plan of salvation, then they are promised eternal life now and for the future.

The declaration of Jesus in the previous scripture is spoken in a broad sense of promise. Many use this scripture as the plan of salvation in of itself. It is true that we have to believe on the Lord to have eternal life, but we will see later that Jesus taught more then just "believing on the Lord" as the only way to be saved.

How Do We Get Eternal Life?

Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. (John 5:39-40)

Jesus is instructing us to search the scriptures when it comes to eternal life and who He is. Most everyone agrees that eternal life is in Jesus Christ, but Jesus is telling us that salvation is in Him and that there is more to eternal life then man's philosophy. Therefore, because eternal life is in Jesus, then we must hear what He has to say about salvation.

Jesus taught repentance and remission of sins as part of our salvation. Repentance is when a person turns from sin unto God. Remission of sins means to wash away. For we read…

And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Luk 24:47)

In John 3, Jesus talks about being born again. For we read…

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5)

Notice what Jesus says, that for a person to EVEN ENTER the kingdom of God, they MUST BE BORN of the WATER and BORN of the SPIRIT. The water in this scripture is water baptism and Spirit is the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Jesus commanded baptism as a requirement to be saved. For we read…

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (Mar 16:16)

Jesus also linked "believing on the Lord" with the baptism of the Holy Ghost. For we read…

He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (John 7:38-39)

We could say a whole lot about the salvation plan, but suffice to say that the salvation plan is stated in one verse of the bible. For we read…

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Act 2:38)

For a person to receive eternal life. They must believe on the Lord by repenting of their sins, be water baptized in Jesus name (for the remission of sins) and be filled with the baptism of the Holy Ghost, speaking in other tongues (Mark 16:17, Acts 2:1-4) as the spirit gives the utterance.

When someone is "saved" (Acts 2:38) they are promised the right to "eternal life" now and for the future. And if a person dies while he is still “saved” then he will enjoy future eternity with God in heaven. Eternal security is something we are promised now and for the future. We are still mortal and can not live in this eternal realm until time ends, therefore it is a promise from God to us for the future.

Shall We Continue In Sin?

The controversy that arises over this subject is the question, "Can a person continue sinning and still be saved because they have a promise of eternal life?" Some even teach that a person can be saved regardless of what they do (sin) on this earth. They say, "Once saved, always saved." When they make these claims, they are saying that they can just sin and live anyway they want to. They say, "When we get to heaven, God will just forgive our trespasses because we believe in Him." We then must read...

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. (Mat 7:21-23)

We must be careful what we believe. For we will find in the scripture above that Jesus will not let sin (iniquity) into heaven no matter what we have done for Him. We can see by the statements of Jesus, that anyone who believes on the Lord, and works iniquity, will be cast away in that day (judgement day).

So shall we continue in sin??

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (Rom 6:1-2)

If anyone thinks that they can continue in sin so that grace may abound is not practicing truth. When God saves us, he saves us FROM our sins, NOT IN our sins. Christians are not supposed to continue sinning. For we read…

Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. (1 John 3:9)

What John is saying, is that when a person is saved (according to Acts 2:38) he has been given a seed (salvation-spirit of God) in him that helps him live above sin, he does not willfully practice sin anymore.

Now we must also be truthful here; everyone sins once and awhile. There is a big difference between "willful sinning" and sinning from ignorance. Making a mistake while trying to do right is just being human. John even stated it this way….

For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. (Heb 10:26-27)

We must also understand, that if we sin we can ask God to forgive us. For we read…

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: (1 John 2:1)

So we can conclude, that a person is not to sin willfully, especially if he knows it to be wrong. We do not practice or continue sinning when we know better. But if someone does sin because of ignorance, God will supply the grace they need to repent so they can also be forgiven.

Now we are brought to our next question. “Can a person sin and lose his chance at eternal life?” This next chapter is very important because we must understand that what we believe concerning the subject of "eternal security" could cause us to be saved or lost forever.

Can We Lose Eternal Life?

From our previous discussions, we have concluded that a person does receive the promise of eternal life when they repent, are water baptized in Jesus name and filled with the Holy Ghost. This promise abides with a believer all the way up to judgement day and beyond the end of time if they die saved.

However, it is very possible for a believer to backslide and become an "unbeliever" or die with sin in their life, thus losing their chance at eternal life. Let's research this a little deeper.

But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die. (Eze 18:21-24)

The above scripture is about sinning and dying in those sins. We want to key on the righteous person who turns from righteousness unto sin. What Ezekiel is saying is that when a person sins and never repents of that sin, then his past righteousness does not count. He will die in those sins and be lost for eternity and forfeit eternal life with God in heaven.

So, does a person lose eternal life each time they sin? When a "saved" (righteous) person commits sin, have they lost the grace of God and eternal life right at that point? No!

But, God keeps trying to convict a person of their sins as long as that person is alive. He is very longsuffering and patient. If a person chooses not to repent of their sins will be on their account until they die. And if they physically die with sin in their life, then they will forfeit the promise of eternal life. Then, when judgement day comes they will end up in the lake of fire forever and ever. So, what is the difference between a backslider and a reprobate? Paul spoke of it this way…

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. (Heb 6:4-6)

Paul is saying that it is impossible for someone who was once a "believer" (and partaker of the Holy Ghost) to be saved or renewed in God if they fall away from God. Before anyone panics though, you must understand that Paul is not saying a person that backslides can not be renewed and forgiven by God. Instead he is referring to someone who becomes a reprobate and refuses to repent of his sins. There is a difference between a backslider and a reprobate.

A backslider is someone who sins and strays from God, yet they can be forgiven and brought back to God. A reprobate is someone whose conscience is seared and they can not be convicted of their sins anymore. A reprobate refuses the truth and sometimes even blasphemes the Holy Ghost. They are rejected by God and therefore can never be forgiven. (Mark 3:29)

Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. (2 Pet 3:17)

Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2Pe 1:10-11)

Peter also writes that we are not to follow the error of the wicked. We are to be diligent and to make our walk with God secure, unless we become unstable and fall from grace.

We can conclude that a "believer" may sin and even backslide and God can still forgive them. But if he does not repent of those sins he will die lost for eternity. And we must also note that in Heb 6:4-6, 10:26-27 (see previous scriptures) that if we sin willfully and do not repent, then there is no more provision of grace and eternal life because we have refused Jesus Christ. This is where a person could possibly become a reprobate.

Here are the conditions when a "believer" loses his promise of eternal life. ONE: A person becomes a reprobate and can never be saved. TWO: A persons dies with un-repented sin in his life. The promise of eternal life ceases when he physically dies.

To sum this chapter up, we must understand that there is a process God uses on a person called grace. This grace is not a free pass to just sin anytime we want. But rather it is God’s Spirit trying to convict us of our sins and it’s His grace that helps us find forgiveness. That is how we are saved by grace, it is a continual process. But when someone refuses to repent of his or her sins. They will either become a reprobate or die in their sins.

The Two "Eternal Life's"

The above discussion is very serious, but we must understand that the mind-set, "We can sin a little each day so that God's grace can abound" is walking on very dangerous ground. God is holy and no sin is going to enter into heaven. If a person has sin in his life when he dies, he will not be going to heaven. There is no second chance on judgement day. It all depends on which state that a person dies in whether he is saved or not.

The scripture teaches that there is two eternal life's. One is eternal life with Jesus in heaven and the other is eternal damnation in the lake of fire. They both are eternal, but they are two different places that will last forever-and ever, and ever and ever.

Conclusion

In review, the “once saved always saved” doctrine doesn’t make sense when compared to the things Jesus taught. Many think that God’s grace is a free ticket to heaven, but seeing God will not let sin into heaven, then He must convict us of sin. Therefore we are going to review the process in order that God uses to deal with us.

• God draws a person to Himself and the person believes in God and repents of their sins.
• The person obeys the gospel and is baptized in Jesus name and filled with the Holy Ghost.
• The grace of God and eternal life is applied to a person's life when they have obeyed the salvation plan.
• Let's say the person commits a sin. The grace of God has not departed yet. The grace of God tries to convict him of his sin. If he repents of the sin, then all is fine between him and God.
• If he refuses to repent, then that person is considered backslider. God will keep trying to reach him with his grace.
• If he becomes a reprobate (or blasphemes the Holy Ghost), he can never be saved. So, the grace of God and eternal life is withdrawn from that person. He then is consider “rejected” by God.
• If a back-slidden Christian still has not repented of his sins, and he has not become a reprobate, and then he dies with sin in his life. Then the grace of God and eternal life is withdrawn from him when that person has physically died.
• When judgement day arrives, all sinners (even un-repented Christians) will go to the lake of fire forever.
• Christians who died in the Lord with no sin in their life will enjoy the promise of eternal life with Jesus forever. Very sobering isn't it?
  

Now we can see why the subject of eternal security is so important. It is a matter of life and death to a Christian. We can not be-bop along in this world thinking that we can live anyway we choose and "sin a little each day" just to feel the grace of God.

God has given every believer the power of the Holy Ghost to live a life above sin. God's grace is not a license for us to sin, but rather the grace of God is the element that convicts us of our sins.

If we die with sin in our life, we will not enjoy eternal life with Jesus, because sin can not enter into heaven. It doesn't matter if we were holy for forty years and then we fell back into sin in our forty-first year. If we die in our forty-first year, then we will die lost, without God.

God has promised us that we which are saved will escape death, hell and the grave; we will not perish and see death. (1 Corth 15:54-58). That is the hope of a born again believer. To be resurrected at the last day and go to heaven bypassing the second death, eternal damnation in the lake of fire!

So we can see that in a sense we do inherit eternal security knowing that if we live for God all our days and stay repented before Him, then we will automatically enter that place in eternity. It is a secure feeling knowing that as long as we repent of every sin we commit, then when we die, we will be spend eternal life with Jesus!

The conclusion of the whole matter is this… Is eternal security a biblical doctrine? Yes and No!
We could answer "Yes," only if a person dies without sin in his or her life. Then they have the assurance that they are truly saved and will be with Jesus forever and ever!

But No, if a person has un-repented sin in their life or they become a reprobate or blaspheme the Holy Ghost. The doctrine of "eternal security" is not a biblical term if we base it on the notion that, "It doesn't matter what we have done, God will just forgive us anyway even if we don’t repent." Some denominations teach “eternal security” like it was a free ticket to heaven regardless of what we have done, but that teaching makes no sense at all.

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid!!