| 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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The Regeneration of The Holy Spirit,
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Eternal Life
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Regeneration
A believer cannot lose his salvation because regeneration is an irreversable process. It cannot be un-regenerated.
"Whomsoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed (sperma) remaineth in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." 1st John 3:9
The regeneration is done by the "sperma" of God. When a child is begotten, he receives 23 chromosomes from his father, and 23 chromosomes from his mother. However, that which partakes of his father's seed is not the father, but a new person, separate from the father, and distinct from the mother as well. He is a new person. It would be impossible for the father to "take back" his genetic input, for the father no longer exists as an separate entity within the child. Only the new person exists. To suggest that a father could withdraw his life from a child would be to ask one to take a microscopic tweaser and pluck from the DNA the genes or base pairs which the father contributed. A human child, once born, may be killed, but it cannot be "un-personed." The begetting of a child from the seed of his father is in irreversable process. Similarly, one who is begotten of the "sperma" of God cannot be "un-personed." The act of begetting is an irreversable process.
Therefore, a denial of the doctrine of eternal security demonstrates an utter failure to apprehend, even on the most rudimentary level, nature of the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit.
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Eternal Life
A believer cannot lose his salvation because he has received the gift of eternal life as a result of the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. That the eternal life formed during regeneration is infused with divine life from the very "sperma" of God (1st John 3:9; 1st Peter 1:23), thereby divinely imparting unto a lost man, a regenerate nature, having the same imperishable nature as the life that God himself possesses, which is not even subject to death.
"Whomsoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." 1st John 3:9
"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." 1st Peter 1:23
Just as a child receives some of the genetic nature of his father, so the regenerate man receives some of the "genetic" nature of God Himself! We do not receive God's omniscience. The regenerate man is not all knowing. Nor do we receive God's omnipotence. The regenerate man is not all powerful. But he does receive God's LIFE. And God's life is inextinguishable. If the regenerate nature implanted by the Holy Spirit could somehow die or be extinguished in punishment for sin, this would necessarily mean that that the life of God Himself is not eternal or incorruptible, but subject to death.
Therefore, a denial of the doctrine of eternal security demonstrates an utter failure to grasp, even on the most rudimentary level, the inextinguishable nature of God's life which is imparted to the believer in the regeneration.
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Occasionally, one meets a Christian who agrees that sin is not ground for losing one's salvation because our sins have been paid for by Christ. But they nevertheless believe that one can lose their salvation by rejecting Christ and abandoning their Christian faith.
Because such a belief teaches salvation by faith alone, and not teaching salvation by works, it is not a denial of the gospel. However, it does fail to understand the irreversable nature of regeneration and eternal life. The regeneration of the Holy Spirit is an irreversable event, imparting to the believer the same incorruptable life as possessed by God Himself.
In addition to the above two argumens, it should also be observed that a believer cannot lose his salvation because he is given regenerate nature which is not capable of sin and therefore, not subject to the punishment for sin.
It is absurd to think that God will one day punish the sinless regenerate man after the body of sin and death has been put off. (Romans 7:23-24)
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Regeneration and Eternal Life |
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