"Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law." Psalms 119:18 (KJV)
Saved for Sure!
One of the most disputed doctrines taught in the Bible is that of eternal security. The question many have is, “If one is saved, can that salvation be lost?” 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 will still have the same old flesh we were born with; and it will do wrong, if we do not 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 have lost our salvation. We are still sinners, but are forgiven.
To say, "Well, since I'm saved, and I cannot lose it; I'll do anything I want," is ridiculous and unbiblical. When people get saved, the Holy Spirit dwells inside. They 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 lives. If they are really saved, they will not want to do anything they want, but only what pleases their new spiritual Father.
Perhaps many that claim to be saved, but live ungodly lives, have reached a point where they are no longer hearing the convicting voice of the Spirit. They 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 do not heed His commandments. Saved for sure is not a license to sin.
Here are a few principles the Bible teaches about the eternal security of one’s salvation:
Saved because it was given and not earned. No one did anything to get salvation, other than accept Christ's finished work on the cross for his salvation, so no one can do anything to lose 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”.
“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.” I John 5:11-13
“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 3:16 Also: Romans 5:14-17
Saved by belief! If you do not believe that Jesus really paid the price for all your sins any more, then you did not believe in the first place. People do not lose a true belief. If they change a belief, they usually admit, “Well, I didn't really understand before,” or something similar.
“That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. … 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.” John 3:15-18
“To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” Acts 10:43 Also: I John 5:10
Saved by His works, and not ours. Salvation is given because Christ's blood paid the price for our sins. Salvation is never gotten by anything we can do, except to receive the free gift. Those that think they “lost” their salvation usually believe there is something they did in the first place to have earned it. If not saved by faith alone, a person is not saved!
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2: 8-9
Titus 3:3 “… 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; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;” Titus 2:3-6 Also: II Timothy 1:8-10
Saved and safe! When we are saved, we are safely in His grasp and nothing can take His gift of salvation out of His hand, not even our mistakes!
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 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 10: 27-29
“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37 Also: John 17:11-12
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 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.
“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.” John 3:3
“… 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. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 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.” Romans 8:13-17
There is, unfortunately, a lot thought about salvation that is not taught in the Bible. Although none deserves a promise of eternity with God, the Bible says there is a way to have God’s promise of going there. If one believes and admits he is a sinner, and accepts Christ’s finished work on the cross as payment for his sin; anyone, no matter what sin they have committed, can be forgiven. None of us deserves such a wonderful gift as salvation from the wages of our sin, but God, with His love and grace, offers it to all that will receive it.
October 14, 2000
February 21, 2011