Introduction
Eternal Security of believers is the Biblical doctrine that a believer CANNOT lose salvation in Christ Jesus. I recently spoke with a Church of Christ minister who believed that Christians could LOSE their salvation by failing to maintain a “relationship” with God. Of course, that is a lie of the Devil.
DOWNLOAD THE ETERNAL SECURITY OF BELIEVER BOOKLET HERE
The Charismatics are also plagued with this false belief that a person can lose their salvation. Calvinists call this false doctrine, the “Perseverance of the Saints,” that is, they say that you must persevere in good works and continued faith to remain in a state of salvation. The Salvation Army teaches this heresy.
In sharp contrast to the heresies you’ve just learned about, the Bible teaches: “If Saved, Always Saved.” Salvation is not doing your best, it is having Christ’s best put to your account through receiving Him by faith. Christ died for our sins on the cross, He was buried and raised up bodily from the dead three days later. This is the Gospel (1st Corinthians 15:1-4). John 6:28-29, “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” Believe and the work is done, you are saved securely and eternally.
DOWNLOAD THE ETERNAL SECURITY OF BELIEVER BOOKLET HERE
Eternal security is not a separate doctrine from salvation. The great Bible teacher, Dr. Ray Stanford (1916-2012) said, “The moment you are saved, you become a member of the body of Christ. If you could ever become unsaved, part of Christ’s own body would go to hell” (source: “Handbook Of Personal Evangelism,” chapter two, “Eternal Security”).
Salvation is By Faith Alone in the Gospel
Since mankind has nothing to do with saving himself, then why would God require men to do something to maintain it? Salvation is of God, not men. Paul said to “work out your own salvation” in Philippians 2:12; the Bible doesn’t say to work out GOD’S SALVATION. God saves a person, pulling them out of the fires of Hell, but now that person needs to be recycled.
It is up to us whether we yield to the Holy Spirit or not in our daily life, to search and obey the Scriptures. However, salvation and discipleship are two separate things entirely. Whether or not a believer lives a holy life has nothing to do with the “free gift” (Romans 5:15) of salvation.
Those who say otherwise are adding works to grace, which the Bible condemns (Romans 11:6). Salvation cannot be by God’s grace AND man’s self-righteous works. Revelation 22:17 states: “…And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”
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