What does Scripture say about eternal security?

This is an excellent question and one that many people wrestle with at some point during their Christian walk. Many people like myself were raised in a home and a church that taught eternal security, and it is part of their belief system. However, at the same time many struggle with knowing what the Bible says about this doctrine. So let’s look at some of the basic scriptures that support the promise of eternal security.

Jesus Christ clearly expressed his heart in the most famous verse John 3:16.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Notice God is the one that is making an offer of a gift of eternal life. One of the key words is “eternal”, this word means never ending. Much of our confusion concerning eternal security actually begins with our concepts of salvation. Many people are under the impression that we have something to do with our salvation experience. The truth is salvation rests upon the completed work of Jesus Christ. It is His sacrifice that has made the way for all of men to be redeemed. (Ephesians 1:4-6, 10-12) When Jesus died on the cross his death fully satisfied the laws requirement for a payment for man’s sin. You must accept the reality that you had nothing to do with salvation it was purely a loving act of a merciful God. It is a gift of God not of any work that you have done or could ever do to earn. Therefore, since you had nothing to do with obtaining salvation you have nothing to do with losing salvation. Salvation rests in the hand of God. Jesus actually assured us that there is no safer place than God’s hand in John 10.

John 10:27-30

New International Version (NIV)

27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

Jesus gives us a beautiful picture of eternal security in these verses. Picture with me the hand of God, when you believed you were placed in the hand of God and he closed his hand around your life. Then around the fathers hand is Jesus hand. Now in this example who is holding on to whom? Notice God is holding on to you, you are not holding on to God. Many people picture their relationship with God to be them hanging on to God’s finger with all their might and if they are careless or sinful enough that they can let go and the relationship is severed. You see just the opposite is true God is holding on to you and he promises that he will let nothing separate you from his grip.

Romans 8:38-39

New International Version (NIV)

38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Notice the emphasis nothing in all of creation can separate you from Gods’ love, stop and consider that verse for a second there is only one person who is not created and that is God himself. He is telling us that nothing that has been created can remove you from his Hand.

To help us know that we are saved God has given us a witness concerning our salvation, the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 1:13-14

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

This passage tells us two very important truths that we need to know concerning the Holy Spirit. He is our seal-The word seal is a very unique word taken from History it was an official mark of Identification that was placed upon a letter, document or other important Item. The seal stated that whatever was sealed was now under the authority of the person to whom the signet ring belonged. Notice in this passage when you believed-the moment that you believed you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit’s seal guarantees certain things to the believer

a)            Security-The seal was a source of security that was to never be violated

b)            Authenticity-This seal means that we are a member of God’s family

c)             Ownership-We become God’s possession and entirely and eternally belong to God

This passage also says that the Holy Spirit is a deposit- a Down payment -The first installment. One of the best examples we have today is that of layaway. You put an item aside and make an initial payment with the intention of paying it off and redeeming it at the proper time. This payment was not the end but it was the beginning there are more payments to come. When the down payment is made there is only one question, “will the buyer have enough money to make the final payment”?

 Now in relation to the Spirit being the down payment for us many people think I cannot make the payments to complete my salvation, since when does the item on layaway pay for itself? So the only question is can God afford to redeem me? The good news is that the funds to redeem you have already been provided.  Do you remember Jesus final words on the cross “It is finished”. That phrase in Greek is “tetelasti” it is defined as “Paid in full”. Jesus paid the entire price on the cross to fully redeem you nothing else is owed. Your sin debt is paid in full. You have been redeemed the transaction is complete the Holy Spirit is the guarantee that your future is now secure in Christ.

If you have truly believed in Jesus Christ you can rest in the truth that you belong to Him and nothing can separate you.

For further information you can go to eagleheightschurch.net and listen to the January 8^th sermon entitled the “Security of the Spirit”.