“Is Salvation Forever”?
Ralph Arnold, Pastor
Introduction: While they appear to be on the opposite extremes of the
theological spectrum, the consistent Calvinist (who believes in the
perseverance of the saints - if you got it, you’ll live it; but if you don’t
live it, it’s because you never had it) and the absolute Armenian
(who believes you can lose your salvation) arrive at the same conclusion in the
end - NO CERTAIN ASSURANCE OF GOING TO HEAVEN UNTIL YOU DIE!
Eternal Security means that one who has been
genuinely saved by God’s grace through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone shall
never be in danger of God’s condemnation or loss of his salvation, but are kept
saved and secure by God’s grace and power.
1. Eternal Security does not mean that all who profess to trust Christ actually possess
Eternal Life. (Matthew 7:21-23)
2. Eternal Security does not mean that all who trust Christ plus their good works are
eternally secure.
a. Titus 3:5
b. Rom. 4:4-5, 11:6
c. Eph. 2:8,9
3. Eternal Security does not mean that knowing for sure that you are saved forever should
be a license to sin, but rather grants you liberty to serve Christ. (Rom. 6:1,2)
4. Eternal Security does not mean that a Christian can live as he pleases and get away
without chastisement. (Heb. 12:6)
The absolute assurance of eternal salvation is based on the unfailing
and sure PROMISES of GOD
In order to show the contrast between Grace and Work, Paul in Romans
states;
“Now to him that worketh
is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to
him that worketh not , but believeth on him that justifieth the
ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Rom.4:4-5
Therefore it is of faith, that it might be
by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but
to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, Rom 4:16
It is
important to underscore three key words in this verse -
“faith, grace, and sure”.
“faith, grace, and sure”.
“If you believe…You
will receive”
You
will notice from the following simple salvation verses the relationship between
the various forms of believing and having Eternal Life.
IF
YOU DO THIS YOU WILL GET THIS
John 3:16 “whosoever believeth"------------------------------------- "have
everlasting life"
John 3:36 “He that believeth" ------- ---------------------------- hath everlasting life"
John 4:10 “drink" ---------------------------------------------------------------- "living water"
John 4:14 “whosoever drinketh"----------------------------------------------- "well
of water"
John 5:24 “believeth on him" ----------------------------------------"hath everlasting life"
John 5:40 “come to me" --------------------------------------------- "that ye might have life"
John 6:35 “cometh to me "----------------------------------------------- "shall
never hunger"
John 6:35 “he that believeth"---------------------------------------------- "shall
never thirst"
John 6:37 “him that cometh to
me"------------------------------------- "in
no wise cast out"
John 6:39 “… he hath given me"------------------------------------ "I
should lose nothing"
John 6:40 “believeth on him"------------------------------------------ "have
everlasting life"
John 6:47 “He that believeth"----------------------------------------- "hath
everlasting life"
John 6:50 “man may eat"---------------------------------------------------------- "and
not die"
John 6:51 “… eat of this bread-------------------------------------------- "shall
live forever"
John 11:26 "....believeth in
me"--------------------------------------------- "shall
never die"
John 10:28 "I give unto them--------------------------------------------------- “Eternal
Life"
How do you know when you really believe on Christ?
When you can say, “I have Eternal Life”
If you can’t you, “I have Eternal Life”
It’s because, you don’t believe what Christ said or did.
(1Jn 5:10-13) 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.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.
(1Jn 5:20) And we know that the Son of God is
come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true,
and we are in him that is true, even
in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the
true God, and eternal life.
