Featured Eternal security

The doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints (I prefer that to 'eternal security') is certainly Biblical, but somewhere along the way it got lost. To this very day the Church of Rome denies that anyone can know he is saved, so it is not surprising if its recovery did not come about until the Reformation.

 

Excellent perception on your part. 'Preservation of the saints', i.e. eternal security, is biblical.

 

From the 1689 Baptist Confession of faith

Chapter 17: Of The Perseverance of the Saints

1. Those whom God hath accepted in the beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, and given the precious faith of his elect unto, can neither totally nor finally fall from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved, seeing the gifts and callings of God are without repentance, whence he still begets and nourisheth in them faith, repentance, love, joy, hope, and all the graces of the Spirit unto immortality; and though many storms and floods arise and beat against them, yet they shall never be able to take them off that foundation and rock which by faith they are fastened upon; notwithstanding, through unbelief and the temptations of Satan, the sensible sight of the light and love of God may for a time be clouded and obscured from them, yet he is still the same, and they shall be sure to be kept by the power of God unto salvation, where they shall enjoy their purchased possession, they being engraven upon the palm of his hands, and their names having been written in the book of life from all eternity.
( John 10:28, 29; Philippians 1:6; 2 Timothy 2:19; 1 John 2:19; Psalms 89:31, 32; 1 Corinthians 11:32; Malachi 3:6 )

2. This perseverance of the saints depends not upon their own free will, but upon the immutability of the decree of election, flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father, upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ and union with him, the oath of God, the abiding of his Spirit, and the seed of God within them, and the nature of the covenant of grace; from all which ariseth also the certainty and infallibility thereof.
( Romans 8:30 Romans 9:11, 16; Romans 5:9, 10; John 14:19; Hebrews 6:17, 18; 1 John 3:9; Jeremiah 32:40 )

3. And though they may, through the temptation of Satan and of the world, the prevalency of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of means of their preservation, fall into grievous sins, and for a time continue therein, whereby they incur God's displeasure and grieve his Holy Spirit, come to have their graces and comforts impaired, have their hearts hardened, and their consciences wounded, hurt and scandalize others, and bring temporal judgments upon themselves, yet shall they renew their repentance and be preserved through faith in Christ Jesus to the end.
( Matthew 26:70, 72, 74; Isaiah 64:5, 9; Ephesians 4:30; Psalms 51:10, 12; Psalms 32:3, 4; 2 Samuel 12:14; Luke 22:32, 61, 62 )

I've posted this extract because there may be some confusion as to what the 'Perseverance of the saints' actually is. I'd also like to give two Scripture extracts for further discussion.

Acts 26:19-20. Therefore....I.....declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God and do works befitting repentance.' (cf. Luke 3:8).

Romans 6:16ff. 'Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves as slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves to sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered, and having been set free from sin you became slaves of righteousness.'

 

The part which came out of the Reformation is the unbiblical notion that Perseverance and Security are synonymous, interchangeable notions.

We are eternally secure - regardless of perseverance, regardless of works, regardless of failure, irrespective of our own efforts.

2Tim 2:12
If we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself.

 

Would you please explain exactly what you think this verse means? Particularly, how do you understand the word 'faithless' in the light of 'Salvation by Faith Alone'?

 

So what do you think we are taught in, say, John 14:15? 'If you love Me, keep My commandments.' Can we receive Christ without loving Him? In the light of the verse, can we claim to love Him if we make no effort to keep His commandments?

How do you think that understanding fits with Matt. 7:21-23 and 1 John 3:3?

If the Holy Spirit is 'the Spirit of holiness' (Rom. 1:4), and if 'Without [holiness] no one will see the Lord' (Heb. 12:14), why would someone living an unholy life think he was sealed by the Holy Spirit?

 

Many evangelicals believe this Biblical doctrine and is not limited to Baptists generally. I hear this often though, as you do, that in general people attribute this to Baptists almost exclusively.

It is not that the believer here is dependent upon some work of his efforts, but of the internal workings of God, Php. 2:13. Apostatizing from the faith simply means the person was not truly converted, 1 John 2:19, 1 Cor. 15:2, Col. 1:13.

The above is a basic explanation of the perseverance of the saints. Many read the phrase and believe it to be some effort solely dependent upon the effort of man, it is not, it is God's work in the believer, Php. 1:6. There is also the cooperation of sanctification which is evidence of salvation, Hebrews 12:14, but is wrought by the Spirits work in the truly converted, Ez. 36:27.

Yes, agreed, this is basic Scriptural teaching. The RCC does not want any person to believe in this Biblical doctrine as her power over them would be lost to truth.

 

Thanks for your reply, Thjplgvp. God has loved His people with an everlasting love (Jer. 31:3; Eph. 1:4), so there is no chance of us loving Him before He loved us. Is it really possible for someone to believe that Christ suffered and died for his sins, and to trust in Him for salvation without loving Him? Surely not!!

 

What the bible says about 'Salvation by Faith Alone':

Ye see that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith. Jas 2:24

 

6 For while we were yet weak, in due season Christ died for the ungodly.
8 But God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by his life; Ro 5
5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace have ye been saved), Eph 2

 

AHHHHH YES!... The comfort and peace of eternal security to enemies and sinners of God that deserved eternal damnation... For ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God... What an illustration at the cross of Jesus Christ... Brother Glen

Luke 23:39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

23:40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

23:41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

 

I'm sorry, but what you say isn't true my friend:

If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. 1 Corinthians 16:22

If what you said were true then these alleged believers better get to growing or they're going to face damnation.

 

Romans 1:4 declares the Holy Spirit to be 'the Spirit of holiness.' My question is whether one can be indwelt by the Spirit of holiness and still live an unholy life. I don't see that the context of the verse has any bearing here.
Again, Heb. 12:15 says what it says: without holiness no man will see the Lord. I think this is supported by verses like Gal. 5:21 and 1 Cor. 6:9-10.

I don't understand you at all. Where have I so much as hinted about anyone loving Christ before salvation? I ask you if you did not love Him when you trusted in Him for salvation. Is it possible for someone to see Christ's blood as shed for him, repent and trust in that blood for salvation and yet hate Him or be indifferent to Him? Really? Certainly it is possible for one's love for Christ to grow as one comes to a deeper understanding, and so it should, but I cannot see how one can be saved while indifferent to our Lord.