Is Eternal Security Biblical?

by Devis | 13 December 2019 08:46 pm12

Answer:
Eternal Security, also known as “Once saved, always saved,” is the belief that once a person is saved by faith in Jesus Christ, they can never lose their salvation, no matter what. It suggests that salvation is entirely God’s work, dependent on His grace, and not based on human actions. This belief holds that God will protect and keep the believer until the end of their life.

But is this idea supported by the Bible?

Yes, the Bible does confirm that once we are saved, we are promised eternal life with God. Scriptures like Ephesians 4:30, Romans 8:33-34, and Romans 8:38-39 tell us that once a person is saved, they are sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption. However, this promise of eternal security depends on continuing to live in God’s grace. If a person chooses to turn away from God, they can lose their salvation.

A good way to understand this is through an example: imagine holding a child’s hand and assuring them they won’t fall as long as they stay close to you. If the child decides to walk away from you and falls, can you be blamed? Similarly, while God promises to keep us, we must choose to remain in His grace. If we walk away from Him, we risk losing that security.

Spiritual Battles and the Need to Endure
Salvation is just the beginning of the Christian journey. Once we are saved, we enter into a spiritual battle. Satan will try to lead us away from our faith through trials, temptations, and struggles. If eternal security were guaranteed, there would be no need for Satan to fight against us. But because we have the free will to turn away, he works hard to make us fall.

The Apostle Paul, even though he was a servant of God and preached the gospel to many, feared that he could lose his salvation if he didn’t stay faithful:

1 Corinthians 9:26-27 – “I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”

Paul understood that even he could fall away from the faith if he didn’t stay focused. He knew that salvation required constant effort and endurance.

The Danger of Complacency in Faith
There are many Christians today, including pastors and leaders, who think they are eternally secure, even though they continue to live in sin. They believe they are safe because they were once saved by grace, but they live without repentance, ignoring God’s commands.

Take Judas Iscariot as an example. Judas was chosen by Jesus and walked with Him for three and a half years. Yet, he betrayed Jesus and ended up in eternal destruction. If Judas, who was so close to Jesus, could fall away, then we must be careful not to think we are immune to falling away.

If you have been saved by grace but are now living in sin, making excuses for sinful behavior, the “eternal security” you once believed in is no longer certain. You cannot continue living in sin and expect God’s protection to remain.

The Call to Endure and Protect Your Salvation
The Bible calls us to diligently guard our salvation and stay faithful to God:

2 Peter 1:10 – “Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble.”

In conclusion, eternal security doesn’t mean that once you are saved, you can live carelessly and still remain safe. You must value your salvation, live in God’s grace, and stay faithful to His will. If you do not remain in His grace, your salvation could be at risk. Let us all strive to remain steadfast in our faith and trust in God’s guidance. The good way to put that sentense is “once saved forever saved, but also once saved forever following”

Be blessed.

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