How I Came To Believe In Eternal Security # 2
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In the last newsletter, I explained how I came to believe in eternal security of the believer. I would like to continue that same thought in this newsletter.

To refresh your memory, last time, I spoke about how I was saved at the age of 12, but never really grew in the Lord until I was in my early 20’s. When I began to study the Bible for myself, I found I did not know nearly as much as I should.

When I studied about eternal life, I found many scriptures that both excited me and confused me. Therefore, I began studying the Bible to find the truth.

I believe in eternal security because Jesus gives eternal life, not temporary life. John 3:16 states, "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." Everlasting means: eternal, forever, never ending, continuing without end.

I wonder, did Jesus really mean what he said? Is salvation really without end, or do my sins cause God to cast me away?

John 10:27-30 states, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and my Father are one." These verses help me understand that salvation is eternal, and that God will never cast me away, if I have truly been saved.

There are more scriptures that speak of eternal life:

John 3:36 – "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."

John 4:14 – "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."

John 5:24 – "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."

Those verses (and there are hundreds more) make it abundantly clear that salvation is for eternity; that we will never lose it.

Some people teach that Baptists believe saved people can continue in sin all their lives, then go to heaven when they die. That is not what the Bible, nor Baptists teach.

A person that says they are saved, yet continues in sin, and is not chastened by God, is in all likelihood not saved. Remember, there are many people who claim to be saved. The proof of their salvation is not in what they say, but in what they do. There is a reason a person does not want to live a Christian life; and there is a reason a person wants to live a Christian life. No saved person is perfect, but the saved person has a desire to be perfect, and will strive to be perfect. If there is no striving for perfection, there is likely no salvation.

Once I was listening to a popular (at the time) TV evangelist. He was answering questions sent to him by letter without rehearsing the answers beforehand. One question was, "The Bible says we have eternal life in Christ Jesus. Why do you teach we can lose our salvation?" The man looked a little stunned, and I got the feeling he was wishing he had not opened that letter. He hem-hawed around a while, then stated that we have eternal life until we sin, then we lose eternal life. The man did not understand that eternal means eternal – eternal does not mean temporary.

It is my opinion that a lot of people would like to believe in eternal life, but they do not know what to do with sin. Once I was speaking to an elderly man, who was not a Baptist, about eternal life. I asked him what the Bible meant when it stated we have eternal life. He did not want to answer my question, but after gently prodding him for an answer, he replied, "Preacher, I suppose when the Bible says eternal, it means eternal, but I hate to turn people loose in this world with them believing they are saved eternally, regardless of whether they sin or not. I am afraid they will go deeper and deeper into sin. If people believe they will lose their salvation if they sin, that will keep them on the straight and narrow."

I believe that man was honest in his evaluation, even though he was wrong in his conclusion. The truth is: saved people stay away from sin because they want to be close to Christ, not because they are afraid of losing their salvation. Saved people stay away from sin because they hate their former lifestyle. They have been saved from sin, not in order to sin.

I know there are a lot of people who believe they are saved, and that they can continue in sin and still be saved. Just as "the proof of the pudding is in the eating", so the proof of salvation is in the living. A person that declares they are saved, yet continues to enjoy sin and wickedness is probably not saved. I cannot tell whether any person is saved or not, but by looking at what they love to do, it is possible to tell what they love. If they love to sin, if sin is satisfying to them, it is likely they do not love God. If they love God, to be of service to God is very satisfying.

II Corinthians 5:14 states, "For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead." Saved people are constrained (held, or kept) from many willful sins by the love of God. Notice, it is the love of God that keeps the saved person from continually, willfully sinning. This is the work of God in the heart and life of the saved person.

Rahab, according to Joshua 2:1, was a harlot, or whore. That was her lifestyle, but what happened to her after she was saved? Did she continue in sin? No. She rejected her former lifestyle and was happy to serve her newly found Saviour. When the two spies came into Jericho, she hid them and saved their lives. When Jericho was taken by Israel, Rahab was kept safe by Israel and joined the nation of Israel. She later married Salmon, and was thereby included in the genealogy of Christ.

I Corinthians 6:9-11 states, "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." Paul wrote concerning the former lifestyles of some members of the church at Corinth. Some of them were terrible sinners: fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, boy prostitutes for homosexual men, homosexuals, thieves, drunkards, and some used political power to get their way. Did these people continue in their former lifestyle after they were saved? Of course not. They hated their former lives and stayed away from the sin and wickedness they were once involved in.

What about sin? Does a saved person sin? Yes, a saved person sins. The Bible is full of examples of saved people sinning, asking forgiveness and getting right with God once again.

I John 1:8-10 states, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."

These verses state that people sin: even after they are saved. If a person declares they do not sin; the Bible says they are deceiving themselves, the truth is not in them, and they are calling God a liar. That is a pretty strong statement about sin in the life of a believer.

Verses 9 and 10 go on to reveal what we should do about sin. We should confess our sins before God, and he will forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

I understand there is much confusion about salvation and sin. If I have not answered your question in this regard, please feel free to contact me with your question.

Independence Baptist Church is a happy church, a friendly church, which has a great desire to share God’s happiness, God’s joy and God’s friendship with you. If you are looking for a church home, please consider Independence Baptist Church. You are welcome in all of our services.