I was shocked to recently read the tape transcript of a presentation given last year by a hyper-Calvinist who announced to his audience,

“I was asked the question about a year ago by a group of pastors in Pennsylvania… ‘what do you think is the one doctrine that is the most destructive in the life of the church practically in America today?’ And I said, “the doctrine of eternal security.”¹

This Reformed theologian rejected the biblical doctrine of “eternal security” in favor of the “perseverance of the saints.” In other words, he believed that if you have been truly saved by God’s grace, your faith will persevere or endure to the end.² A failure to persevere and to “die in faith” means that you were never elected by God, i.e. never saved. The consistent and logical outcome of this erroneous theology is that a person cannot possess absolute assurance of their eternal salvation until they die. Why? For though he may claim to trust in Christ alone for his salvation, any lapse of faith or failure to endure in faith to the end would prove his claim to be superficial, unfounded, and fictitious. And since he is minus all the facts, he honestly does not know with certainty that he will “keep on believing” five years from now. The result? NO ABSOLUTE ASSURANCE OF HIS SALVATION!

Perhaps you are thinking, “Hypothetically that assessment may be true, but that dilemma does not actually happen practically among consistent Calvinist’s does it?” Unfortunately it does as Bob Wilkin recently reports,

“During the first message presented at Ligonier’s Conference in Orlando last June, Dr. R. C. Sproul indicated that Dr. James Boice, a scheduled speaker at the conference, was dying in faith that very night. Then at the end of the message he asked all 5,000 of us present to pray that Jim dies in faith. This struck me as sad. Here was a great pastor, theologian, teacher, and author. Yet Sproul was not sure that he was regenerate. (In Reformed thought, if a person fails to die in faith, he proved he was never saved in the first place.) I was reminded of R.T. Kendall’s remark that nearly to a man the Puritan divines died doubting whether they were saved and fearing they were going to hell. Dr. Boice died that very night, June 15th.”³

Dear reader, do not think for a moment that what you believe does not affect how you live (and die). It does! And while they appear to be on opposite extremes of the theological spectrum, the consistent Calvinist (who believes in the ‘perseverance of the saints’) and the absolute Arminian (who believes that you can lose your salvation) ironically arrive at the same practical and personal conclusion in the end – NO CERTAIN ASSURANCE OF GOING TO HEAVEN UNTIL YOU DIE! Is this what the Scriptures teach? Or can you know for sure before you die that you are absolutely saved by God’s grace and certain of going to Heaven? And have you ever known someone who professed to trust Jesus Christ as personal Saviour (perhaps as a child or teenager) but later in his life struggled greatly with doubts about his salvation? They may mentally and emotionally torture themselves with such questions as…

· “Am I really saved?”

· “Have I truly believed in Jesus Christ?”

· “Is all this Bible stuff actually true?”

Maybe you have known someone with these vexing queries. Or perhaps that person is you. Are there any scriptural solutions for these perplexing problems? Praise God there are clear-cut answers for you and me in the timeless pages of the written Word of God. And these biblical rejoinders are inextricably connected to our on-going series regarding the biblical doctrine of eternal security. Thus far in this series we have been involved with…

I. INTRODUCING THE ISSUES… Is Salvation Forever or Can It Be Lost?

II. DEFINING OUR TERMS…

“Eternal Security means that one who has been genuinely saved by God’s grace through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone shall never be in danger of God’s condemnation or loss of his salvation, but are kept forever saved and secure by God’s grace and power.”

III. CLARIFYING THE CONFUSION… by noting that…

A. Eternal security does not mean that all who profess Christ actually possess eternal salvation. (Matthew 7:21-23)

B. Eternal security does not mean that all who trust Christ plus their good works are eternally secure. (Titus 3:5; Romans 4:4-5, 11:6; Ephesians 2:8-9)

C. Eternal security does not mean that knowing for sure that you are saved forever should be a license to sin, but rather grants you liberty to serve Christ. (Romans 6:1-2)

IV. SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES… to discover…

A. Eternal Security Provided By God THE FATHER.

Every believer in Christ is eternally secure because of…

1. the PURPOSE of the Father… which is to glorify His children. (Rom. 8:28-30)

2. the PROVISION of the Father… which involves the death, resurrection, ascension, and intercession of Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:31-34)

3. the PERPETUAL LOVE of the Father… from which no one and nothing can separate the believer. (Romans 8:35-39)

4. the POWER of the Father… who keeps eternally safe the believer’s inheritance in heaven, along with keeping presently secure all the inheritors – every believer in Christ. (1 Peter 1:3-5)

5. the PROMISES of the Father… which guarantees every believer’s future salvation. (Romans 5:9-10)

B. Eternal Security Provided by GOD THE SON.

Every believer in Christ is eternally secure because of…

1. the PROPITIATORY SACRIFICE of Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 10:10-14; 1 John 2:2, 4:9-10)

2. the guaranteed PROMISES of Jesus Christ. (John 3:16-18, 3:36, 4:13-14, 5:24, 6:35-40)

3. the divine PROTECTION of Jesus Christ. (John 10:27-30)

C. Eternal Security Provided by GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Every believer in Christ is eternally secure because of…

1. the PERPETUAL PRESENCE of the Holy Spirit… who abides with the believer forever. (John 14:16; Romans 8:9)

2. the PERMANENT INDWELLING of the Holy Spirit… who indwells and seals the believer unto the day of redemption. (John 7:37-39; Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:30)

3. the POSITIONAL BAPTIZING of the Holy Spirit… which places the believer into union with Jesus Christ forever. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 1:6, 2:4-6; Colossians 2:9-10; 1 John 5:12)

In addition to all these emphatic verses, we added to the stock pile a few other passages that further support the truth of eternal security such as Romans 6:23, 11:29; Ephesians 2:8-9; Colossians 3:3-4; Philippians 3:20-21; and Hebrews 13:5.

But perhaps you are thinking, “While the Bible repeatedly declares that the believer in Christ cannot lose the possession and security of his salvation, however, can a person lose the assurance of it? And if so, how?” At this point in our series it may be helpful for you to have clarified the differences between the objective truth of the security of salvation (salvation is eternal and secure by God’s grace and power) and the subjective assurance of salvation (“I know I’m saved forever by God’s grace and power”). In distinguishing these related siblings of doctrine, we will first need to answer the question…

WHAT IS THE BASIS FOR A BELIEVER’S ASSURANCE OF ETERNAL SECURITY?

1. The absolute assurance of eternal salvation is based on the finished work of JESUS CHRIST.

Some seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit inspired the writing of the prophet Isaiah to predict with concise and perfect accuracy the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ on the cross.

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. (Isaiah 53:3-9)

Why was our Lord “wounded?” It was “for our transgressions” (vs. 5a). Why was Jesus Christ “bruised?” It was “for our iniquities” (vs. 5b). Was all this really necessary? Yes, for “all we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way” (vs. 6a). Dear reader, is this not a description of you and me as helpless, hopeless, hellbound sinners in vivid color? But, instead of dropping the gavel of justice upon us, God in His wonderful love sacrificed His Son in our place as “the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” (vs. 6b)

Do you realize what all of this means? It indicates that…

· God’s holy punishment for our sins has been fully paid for by our Substitute, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. (Isaiah 53:10)

· God’s righteous and just demands against our transgression have been satisfactorily met so that He has been propitiated.

He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53:11)

· though all sinners are worthy of God’s judgment, all people are now offered salvation from Hell.

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live… (Isaiah 55:1-3)

· Satan’s bondage of fear has been broken.

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. (Hebrews 2:9)

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Hebrews 2:14-15)

· the deception and futile efforts of religion to atone for man’s sin and act as a mediator to God has been exposed.

Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. (1 Timothy 2:4-6)

No wonder the prophet Isaiah exploded the religious myth of salvation by good works or religious rituals a few chapters later when he wrote,

But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6)

Dear reader, if you seek the assurance of salvation based on your good works or religious rituals, you will never have assurance of eternal life for “how good is good enough?” And how do you know when you have attained it?

I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. (Galatians 2:21)

2. The absolute assurance of eternal salvation is based on the unfailing and sure PROMISES OF GOD.

Between illustrating via Abraham that justification is by faith alone (Romans 4:1-3) and then via David (Romans 4:6-8), the apostle Paul emphatically states…

Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 4:4-5)

The great apostle to the Gentiles then explains that to be declared righteous before God (justification) is apart from any religious ritual (Romans 4:9-12) and law-keeping (Romans 4:13-15). What then is the conclusion of the matter?

Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all. (Romans 4:16)

It is important to underscore three key words in this verse – “faith,” “grace,” and “sure.” If justification before God is received through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone on the basis of God’s grace (and not religious ritual and law-keeping), then we can be absolutely SURE of our salvation as it does not depend on what we have done for God, but on what Christ has done for us. This explains why God emphatically guarantees believers in Christ His forgiveness and eternal life.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. (John 6:47)

I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. (1 John 2:12)

And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. (1 John 2:25)

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:1-2)

Is it presumptuous to KNOW that you have been saved? Is it arrogant to KNOW that you possess eternal life? Is it rash to KNOW that you are a child of God and will be going to heaven when you die? Not according to these wonderful promises, unless you are trusting in any way your good works to get you there. This is the believer’s warrant of God’s grace! It is not a matter of your perseverance, but of Christ’s perfect sacrifice and God’s unfailing promises.

And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:11-13)

Dear reader, do you “KNOW” that you have eternal life? Have you trusted in Christ alone to save you based on His death and resurrection? Or are you trusting to some degree on the filthy rags of your good works as well?

Not saved are we by trying;

From self can come no aid;

‘Tis on the blood relying,

Once for our ransom paid.

‘Tis looking unto Jesus,

The Holy One and Just;

‘Tis His great work that saves us–

It is not “try” but “trust”!

No deeds of ours are needed

To make Christ’s merit more:

No frames of mind or feelings

Can add to His great store;

‘Tis simply to receive Him,

The Holy One and Just;

‘Tis only to believe Him–

It is not “try” but “trust”!⁴

Because of Christ’s finished work on the cross and God’s unfailing promises, let’s join with grateful hearts in the chorus of old,

Enough for me that Jesus saves,

This ends my fear and doubt;

A sinful soul I came to Him,

He’ll never cast me out.

My heart is leaning on the Word,

The written Word of God;

Salvation by my Saviour’s name,

Salvation through His blood.

I need no other argument,

I need no other plea!

It is enough that Jesus died!

And that He died for me.⁵ ¢

Next time we will examine the secondary evidences of eternal salvation, along with biblical examples of believers who knew for sure that they had been saved and were going to heaven. Look for it.

Footnotes:

1. Transcript of a message by Dr. John Armstrong, “Reflections from Jonathan Edwards on the Current Debate Over Justification By Faith Alone,” given at Annapolis 2000.

2. This is the “P” in the Calvinistic acrostic called T-U-L-I-P (perhaps better titled, poison ivy).

· Total Depravity

· Unconditional Election

· Limited Atonement

· Irresistible Grace

· Perseverance of the Saints

3. E-mail from Bob Wilkin regarding his upcoming book review of “Whatever Happened to the Gospel of Grace: Recovering the Doctrines That Shook the World” by Dr. James Boice – to be reviewed in the Autumn issue of the Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society.

4. Author unknown.

5. “My Faith Has Found a Resting Place,” also titled “No Other Plea,” words by Lidie H. Edmunds and music arranged by William J. Kirkpatrick.