| Chapter 1: Introduction to Eternal Security | | Arminianism and Calvinism | | By Grace Through Faith Alone in Christ Alone | | Christ's Atoning Death for Our Justification | | Regeneration and Eternal Life | | Indwelling and Sealing of the Spirit | | Explicit Promises of Scripture | | Theological Significance, Part I | | Theological Significance, Part II | | Denial of Eternal Security: It's Always About Sex | | Tom's Page | | The "Problem Verses" |
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Salvation by Grace Through Faith Alone in Christ Alone
A Christian, having believed in Jesus Christ as Savior, is, from that moment in time, forever secure in his eternal relationship with God, in spite of human frailty or subsequent failure. The security of the believer is attested to in Scripture on multiple independent grounds, any of which would, by itself, be sufficient to establish the doctrine of security. These independent grounds, including verses supporting them, have been discussed in detail in previous chapters. Hyperlinks will direct to those specific chapters. Those independent grounds that necessarily demand that a believer is eternally secure include, at least,
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Faith Alone in Christ Alone
"We Conclude then that a man is justified by faith without the works of the law." Romans 3:28
A believer cannot lose his salvation because the Bible teaches that man is saved by faith alone in Christ alone.
Over 160 times, the Bible states that faith alone is the sole requirement to be justified through the blood of Christ and to receive the give of eternal life. Because one receives eternal life through faith alone, apart from the works of the law, it is incoherent to conclude that some particular sins will result in the loss of eternal life.
Therefore, a denial of the doctrine of eternal security demonstrates an utter failure to understand, even on a rudimentary level, the doctrine of salvation by faith alone in Christ alone.
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Salvation by Grace
"For by grace are you 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
Because salation is by grace, it is, by definition, totally apart from the works of the law. See also (Romans 3:28; 11:6-7; Ephesians 2:8-9).
Because salvation is not by the works of the law, it impossible that a believer should lose his salvation through sin and disobedience to the Ten Commandments.
Moreover, the believer is not even subject to the laws of Moses, but only to the law of Christ, which, though demanding holiness, nowhere includes the threat of eternal condemnation as a penalty for sin in the life of the believer. The believer is therefore jurisdictionally insulated from the penalties associated with the laws of Moses such as the Ten Commandments. (Galatians 3:10; 3:24-25; 4:21; Hebrews 5:5-6; 7:12; 7:18; 8:7-13; 10:1; 10:9).
To deny the doctrine of eternal security is to demonstrate an utter failure to grasp, even on a rudimentary level, the doctrine of salvation by grace.
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The relationship of the doctrine of eternal security to the doctrine of justification by grace through faith is of no small small significance. Belief in the gopel message requires that one believe that Christ alone saves, apart from the works of the law. Salvation by the works of the law therefore contravenes the very meaning of the word "grace," insulting the gracious nature of God Himself as the giver of eternal life, thereby constituting a rejection of his offer of eternal life. (Romans 11:6-7, Ephesians 2:8-9). One must accept Jesus' offer of forgiveness and eternal life as a free gift, nor not at all. As a consequence, any profession of saving faith must be viewed as suspect if the profession simultaneously holds that the believer can lose their salvation through sin.
Nevertheless, genuine believers may, and do fall into error or confusion regarding salvation and works after their conversion. This happened to the church of Galatia. (Galatians 1:6-7. 3:1). In spite of falling into such a grevious error, Paul still regarded the members of the church of Galatia as "brethren," (Galatians 1:3). Even falling into the heresy of salvation by works would not cause the brethren of Galatia to lose their salvation who had previously trused in Christ alone. (Galatians 3:1-3).
We note, however, that the authors of this grievous error in Galatia, who had never believed on Christ alone, having simply added Jesus Christ to a pre-existing confession of salvation by works (Acts 15:1) were regarded as "false brethren." (Galatians 2:4). For this reason, a lost sinner must, at some time in his life, trust in Christ alone, apart from the works of the law, for his salvation. If such a moment never occurs in the life of a churchman, there is no hope of salvation.
Whether someone embracing the Arminian doctrine is saved or lost often depends on when and how he was first exposed to Christianity. Those who heard the gospel message by Paul and fell into error were still saved. Those who first heard the message of the Judiazers, embracing salvation by the works of the law were unsaved, even though they too believed that Jesus was the promised Messiah. Jesus is not an "add-on" to eternal life. He is eternal life!
In a similar way, the more ardently and regularly a pastor or teacher holds forth the obedience to God's laws as a requirement for eternal salvation, the more firmly a pre-existing grid of salvation by works is fabricated in the hearts and minds of the congregants. If that congregant is lost, the pastor is enslaving lost sinners behind a veil of deception.
Jesus spoke of grave judgment for religious leaders who ardetnly teach salvation by the works of the law, trapping unwary "converts" into this damnable heresy, and securing for those converts the eternal condemnation of hell.
"Woe unto you, scribes and Pahaisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves." Matthew 23:15
This warning is no different today than it was then!
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By Grace Through Faith Alone in Christ Alone |
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