One of the most disputed doctrines taught in the Bible is that of eternal security. The question many has is, if one is saved, can that salvation be lost? I believe the Bible clearly teaches that once we are truly saved, we will always be saved.

After we're saved, we will still sin. The soul is saved from hell, but we still have the same old flesh we were born with, and it will do wrong if we don't keep it in submission. Our sin grieves the Holy Spirit until we ask the Lord to forgive our trespasses against Him. It does not mean we lost our salvation. We're still sinners, but we're forgiven.

To say, "Well, since I'm saved and I cannot loose it, I'll do anything I want," is ridiculous and unbiblical." When one gets saved, the Holy Spirit dwells inside. A person will be most miserable if they continue in sin. They will grieve the Spirit of God and will lose their joy and the Holy Spirit will not work in their life. If they were really saved, they wouldn't want to to do anything they want, but what pleases their new spiritual Father.

Perhaps many that claim to be saved, but live ungodly lives, have reached that point where they are no longer hearing the convicting voice of the Spirit and then wonder why their lives are without joy and peace.God may give them over to the consequences of their sin (Romans 1:21-32), since they don't heed his commandments. Saved for sure is not a license to sin.

Here are a few principles the Bible teaches about eternal security:

SAVED BECAUSE IT WAS GIVEN AND NOT EARNED. You did not do anything to get salvation, other then except Christ's finished work on the cross for your salvation, so you can’t do anything to loose it! If you accept Christ as your payment for sin, you can know that you have eternal life — not: "I hope so", "I think so" or "maybe".
1 John 5:11 "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 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."

John 3:16 "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."

Romans 5:14 "Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)"

SAVED BY BELIEF! If you don’t believe that Jesus really paid the price for all your sins any more, then you didn't’t believe in the first place. People don't loose a true belief. If they change a belief, they usually admit, "Well, I didn't really understand before", or something similar.
John 3:15 "That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 "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. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

Acts 10:43 "To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins."

1John 5:10 "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son."

SAVED BY HIS WORKS, NOT OURS!
Not of works! Salvation is given because Christ's blood paid the price for our sins.
Ephesisans. 2: 8 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works , lest any man should boast."

Titus 3:3 "For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;"

2Timothy 1:8 "Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:"

SAVED AND SAFE!
When we are saved, we are safely in His grasp and no one can take His gift to us out of His hand!
John 10: 27 "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand."

John 6:37 "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and" him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

John17:11 "And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled."

SAVED AND BORN INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD
Another terminology for being "saved", is being "born again". We are born again and have a soul that is alive unto Christ and we are born into the family of God. Once a family member, although certainly undeserving,we are always a family member! I can be disobedient and perhaps rebellious to my parents, but I am still their son no matter what I do.

John 3:3 "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Roman 8:13 "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together." Remeber, only a true child of God can is indwelled by the Spirit of God and is led by Him.

October 14, 2000