Eternal Security

Eternal security is defined as an unbreakable relationship with the integrity of God and depends on the integrity of God. It is an unbreakable relationship because God will not break the relationship regardless of what we do or fail to do. Neither God nor man nor angel can cancel or destroy this unbreakable relationship with God.

The instant you believed in the substitutionary spiritual death of Jesus Christ for all of your sins, the Holy Spirit entered you into union with the Lord Jesus Christ. This is called the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is a permanent position in Christ and there can be no condemnation for any believer placed into union with Jesus Christ. This means that you have a standing before God which is exactly the same as the Lord Jesus Christ.

In our relationship with Jesus Christ, we share everything the Lord Jesus has at the right hand of God the Father. We share His absolute righteousness, His eternal life, His priesthood, His election, His destiny, and His heirship. No one is able to change that relationship – not you, not even God. This happens at the moment of salvation or the moment we accept Christ as our Savior. Salvation is the first phase of God’s plan for our life.

In John 10:28-30, the “hand of God” is an anthropomorphism that illustrates eternal security. An anthropomorphism assigns a human characteristic or a part of the human body to God which God does not have. It is used to explain God’s policy to the human race in terms we can easily understand. We as believers are the possession of Jesus Christ and He will not let any one of us be removed from His hand.

" and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. "I and the Father are one." " (John 10:28-30, NASB)

In John 10:28-30, “never” is a double negative in the Greek and means never, no not ever. Now, that is eternal security. Remember, a double negative in the Greek is different than in the English and provides much more emphasis on the negative when used. This passage goes on to say that no one is able to take them out of the hands of either Jesus Christ or the Father. This means that both the Father and the Son hold us in their hands. This is a sure-fire and eternal grip. Psalms 37:23-24.

"The steps of a man are established by the LORD, And He delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand." (Psalms 37:23-24, NASB)

Acts 16:31 says that all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved as well as anyone else in their household who also believes. This does not mean your children will automatically be saved because you accepted Christ as Savior, but that you will be saved by believing in Christ and your children will be saved by believing in Christ. There is no such thing as salvation by proxy. This is one of the most familiar Gospel passages in Scripture. Believing means the absence of works or any merit you may have. You do not need to add anything to it – just believe. We know, however, that when a child has not reached the age of accountability, or when any individual has a mental handicap to the extent they cannot understand the Gospel and dies, they are automatically saved. This is God’s grace.

“They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”“ (Acts 16:31, NASB)

In Acts 16:31, “believe” is the constantive aorist of πιστεύω (pisteuō) and means to believe in a point of time which is perpetuated throughout eternity and you shall be saved forever. This is referring to an instant of faith, and it means once and forever you are saved. “Lord” is κύριος (kurios) and means supreme in authority or God. He is true and sinless humanity. “Jesus” is Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous) and means Jehovah is salvation.

Daniel 7:9-10 says that He would be the Ancient of Days, being God incarnate.

""I kept looking Until thrones were set up, And the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow And the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, Its wheels were a burning fire. "A river of fire was flowing And coming out from before Him; Thousands upon thousands were attending Him, And myriads upon myriads were standing before Him; The court sat, And the books were opened." (Daniel 7:9-10, NASB)

He is the one sent by God to bring salvation. 1 John 4:14-15.

"We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God." (1 John 4:14-15, NASB)

There is no other name under heaven whereby one can be saved. Our Lord’s commission was to go to the Cross and to die spiritually for the sins of the entire human race. This was His first coming. His second coming will be to establish the perfect environment of the Millennium and rule on earth for the 1,000 years. Acts 4:12.

""And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved."" (Acts 4:12, NASB)

At the moment of salvation, we also enter a second phase of God’s plan for our lives - the filling of the Holy Spirit which enters us into the fellowship with God. We regain our filling of the Holy Spirit when we confess our known sins to God the Father when needed. 1 John 1:9.

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9, NASB)

In Ephesians 5:18 “filled” is πληρόω (plēroō) and means to be filled, to cause to abound, to furnish or supply liberally, which was used by the Greeks for the afterlife. It is used for the influence of Bible doctrine and its subsequent application and obedience in our daily lives as advancing Christians.

"Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit," (Ephesians 5:15-18, NASB)

It is also referred to as the mind of the Lord Jesus Christ in 1 Corinthians 2:16.

"For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ." (1 Corinthians 2:16, NASB)

All of the good things you do should be the fruit of the Spirit or that inward spiritual production because of being filled with the Spirit. These are the things which glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. Gal. 5:22-23.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23, NASB)

The Scripture contains all the instruction that mankind requires as far as in God’s plan for each and every one of us. God also provided a teaching mechanism through the Holy Spirit and pastor-teachers so that we can learn of His perfect plan for us. The written Scripture tells us that it is “inspired by God” or God-breathed and that every believer is to learn it, believe it, and use it to advance in the spiritual life and to thereby do divine good or “every good work.” 2 Tim. 3:16-17.

"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NASB)

There are three phases in God’s plan for our lives. The first phase is salvation, the second phase is the believer’s life here on earth, and the third phase is the believer in eternity. At the instant of physical death, we are promised that there will be no more tears, no more death, no more mourning, crying, or pain. Rev. 21:3-4.

"And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."" (Revelation 21:3-4, NASB)

Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:8 that we are to be encouraged by the fact that one day we all will be absent from our physical bodies and be at home in heaven or face-to-face with the Lord.

"we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord." (2 Corinthians 5:8, NASB)

During our time here on earth, our bodies are really not ours. We are just pilgrims in this life. We just cannot imagine how wonderful heaven will be. We cannot imagine having total and perfect joy forever and ever. The doctrine of eternal security applies to both salvation and to our time here on earth as believers.

There are many reasons for the believer to have absolute confidence in their eternal security. You must have a basis for everything you believe. The Bible teaches that once you are saved, you are always saved.

The Sealing of the Holy Spirit is Our Guarantee

The sealing of the Holy Spirit is God’s guarantee of eternal salvation at the moment of faith in Christ. It is God’s promise that He will take each and every believer from the moment of salvation here on earth to eternity and our everlasting home in the third heaven.

God gives us 40 things at the moment of salvation. One of these is the sealing of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit permanently indwells our body from the point of salvation onward. In contrast, our soul is controlled by the Spirit whenever we have confessed known sins to God the Father. The very fact that there is the universal indwelling of the Spirit there is the universal possibility of the filling of the Spirit. The sealing of the Holy Spirit is a pledge from God that we have the indwelling of the Spirit. The seal refers to the signet ring of a ruler. In the ancient world, this seal verified the authenticity of both the document and that of the sender. 2 Cor. 1:21-22.

"Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge." (2 Corinthians 1:21-22, NASB)

Ephesians 1:13-14 refers to the seal as God’s pledge to us that our eternal inheritance cannot be broken. This is like God signing a promise for us, guaranteeing us all the assets He has laid up for us which relate to the Christian way of life. These blessings are waiting for us whether we use them or not. The seal is there and it cannot be broken by Satan, by an unbeliever, or by our very own volition. God has reserved this for us forever.

“In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.” (Ephesians 1:13-14, NASB)

God desires that every believer stay in fellowship with the Holy Spirit and grow to spiritual maturity. It also states that we are all sealed in our redemption from the penalty of sin through the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. Eph. 4:30; 2 Tim. 2:19.

“Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30, NASB)

“Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.”“ (2 Timothy 2:19, NASB)

Sealing was a sign of possession. A seal attached to something signified ownership. No matter what happens after salvation, God owns us and will deliver us at the point of ultimate sanctification (i.e., the Rapture of the Church). Anything to which God attaches His seal belongs to God forever. Through the function of the integrity of God, we are permanently owned by God. Therefore, the sealing of the Holy Spirit at salvation is a challenge to every believer to avoid carnality and maintain their progress towards spiritual maturity, no matter how many times they may fail along the way.

Our Position in Christ

The believer has a permanent position in union with Jesus Christ. Rom. 8:1; Eph. 1:3-6; Jude 1:1; Col. 2:6-12.

“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1, NASB)

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.” (Ephesians 1:3-6, NASB)

“Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ:” (Jude 1:1, NASB)

In Romans 8:1 “condemnation” is κατάκριμα (katakrima) and means damnatory sentence or condemnation. Condemnation is for the unrepentant unbeliever, not the believer out of fellowship. If the person continues out of fellowship for long enough, they may die the sin unto death as did King Saul. They will lose out on all the rewards of eternity, but will not lose their salvation. To say a Christian can lose their salvation is erroneous and is arrogance. This arrogance implies wrongly that there is some sin you can commit which is greater than the provision of Jesus Christ’s atoning work on the Cross for all sins of mankind.

There will be divine discipline at some points in every believer’s life as God’s way of trying to get you to confess your sins and get back with the Word of God. There is never judgment. The Greek verb “are” in Romans 8:1 is eime and means the absolute status quo existence, referring to those who always keep on being in Christ Jesus. If there was a chance you could lose your salvation, it would not say “to those who always keep on being in Christ Jesus.” We have an eternal union with Christ Jesus.

Through the Baptism of the Spirit at the point of faith in Christ for salvation, every believer in the Church Age is entered into union with Jesus Christ. This is called Positional Sanctification and nothing or no one can remove this position we have in Christ. Rom. 8:38-39.

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39, NASB)

Every believer in the Church Age shares who and what Christ is. The last phrase “in Christ Jesus our Lord,” means this is our union with Christ by the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Because we are in union with Christ, nothing can separate us from our eternal salvation. We can never get out of union with Christ. Being in union with Him means we share His life and His divine righteousness. 1 John 5:11-13; 2 Cor. 5:21.

"And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life." (1 John 5:11-13, NASB)

"He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:21, NASB)

We share the heirship and destiny of Christ. We are accepted in Christ forever. We can never lose this fantastic position in Christ. Eph. 1:4-5; Eph. 1:6.

"just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will," (Ephesians 1:4-5, NASB)

"to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved." (Ephesians 1:6, NASB)

We are Members of the Body of Christ

All Church Age believers being members of the Body of Christ is another reason to believe in eternal security. The Holy Spirit has baptized all of us into one body. This makes us forever members of the invisible Body of Christ, Christ being the head of the Body. This means that once you are baptized, or identified, with Christ, you cannot be unbaptized. Therefore, we are forever a part of the Body of Christ whether Jew or Gentile, slaves or free. Our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. 1 Cor. 12:13-14.

“For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.” (1 Corinthians 12:13-14, NASB)

The Shekinah Glory in the temple of the Jews was a sign of His blessing to them in Old Testament times. We know today that we are under His blessing with the indwelling and filling of the Holy Spirit. This indwelling is parlayed into the filling of the Spirit when we are under the full influence of the Spirit. This Holy Spirit controlling the believer’s soul in called the filling of the Holy Spirit. Without this filling of the Spirit, there is no Christian way of life. We regain the full influence of the Holy Spirit over the soul through confession of our sins to God the Father. In one passage, we have both the baptism and the indwelling of the Spirit, so as to emphasize the importance of every member of the body.

1 Corinthians 12:18 goes on to say that Jesus Christ has designated each believer’s function in the Body of Christ, so you should not have a superiority complex or an inferiority complex. Every member of the Body of Christ is equally important for the purpose that God has for us in the function of our spiritual gifts. Christ makes it very clear in 1 Corinthians 12:21 that He can never tell them He has no use for them. Every member and part of the Body is important to Him. At the Rapture of the Church, our body will be a perfect resurrection body, and will be absolutely perfect, just as His is perfect.

“But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.” (1 Corinthians 12:18, NASB)

“And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”“ (1 Corinthians 12:21, NASB)

A Logical Argument for Eternal Security

A logical argument for eternal security is that God did the most for us when we were His enemies and logically will do much more for us as His sons. In Romans 8:31-32, Paul uses a logical argument to present God’s way of dealing with mankind. This passage says that if God did the greatest thing possible at salvation by not sparing His own Son, it follows logically that He can do less than the greatest thereafter by giving each of us eternal security. “Less than the greatest” is all that God provides for us in grace during our lifetime and forever in eternity. If the justice of God can provide the greater work at salvation, it follows logically that the justice of God can provide the lesser work for the believer.

"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:31-32, NASB)

Where there is knowledge of the Mosaic Law, we know what is sin and what is not. Where sin increases, grace abounds even more through the imputed righteousness of God at salvation. We as believers are not lost nor are we God’s enemies. Now, He can do more than the most for each of us through His grace policy. This refers also to the logic of the grace of God toward all believers. Rom. 5:20-21.

"The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5:20-21, NASB)

Nothing and no one else can hinder God from conveying blessings to us except our own negative volition. Eternal security is related to blessings from God. The believer’s capacity for understanding the purpose and source of God’s blessing includes total awareness of eternal security. No believer can attain spiritual maturity without thoroughly understanding the doctrine of eternal security. Eternal security is not a possibility for a believer - it is an absolute and permanent reality, whether you know it or not. Your eternal security was complete and locked from the moment of salvation onward through eternity.

We Are Members of God’s Family

Every believer becomes a part of God’s family as a son of God at salvation and therefore becomes a member of God’s royal family in the Church Age. Gal. 3:26; John 1:12.

“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:26, NASB)

"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name," (John 1:12, NASB)

The Greek verb “are” in Galatians 3:26 is eime which is an absolute status quo verb and means it will always be this way. The verb’s mood is of reality and means you always keep on being sons of God (i.e., eternal security). The Greek word here for “sons” is huios and means sons of God. This means both male and female persons are sons of God. This came from the Roman custom of adopting a son into their family. This was true of Nero. He was adopted into a Roman family.

In application to our spiritual way of life, when we expressed faith alone in Christ alone, we were brought into the family of God. We are adults positionally at the moment of salvation through faith only in Him and apart from any merit or works on our part. This is placing our complete reliance in God. We must believe that Jesus Christ is the one and only Savior to be saved. This is the family of God approach. We are born through regeneration into the royal family of God and we cannot be unborn out of it any more than we can be physically unborn.

Every one of us has a father and a mother. Once we are born into that family, we remain in that family no matter what we say or do in our life. Therefore, once we become part of the family of God, we forever remain in the family of God. Some believers or sons of God will turn out to be spiritually mature, but most will not due to their own decisions not to consistently follow God’s plan for their lives. All are given equal opportunity, but not all take God up on it. No matter what we do, however, none of us can leave God’s family. This is eternal security.

Our Inheritance in Jesus Christ

As members of God’s royal family, we all are joint heirs with Jesus Christ in that we share His destiny. We will always be an heir of God no matter how we succeed or how we may fail. Rom. 8:16-17; Titus 3:7; Gal. 4:7.

"The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. " (Romans 8:16-17, NASB)

"so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:7, NASB)

"Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God." (Galatians 4:7, NASB)

When we become born again through personal faith in the substitutionary spiritual death of Jesus Christ for our sins, we are also promised a resurrection body when we die, which is being reserved for us in heaven. We will each receive our perfect resurrection body at the Rapture of the Church. This is because Jesus Christ first received His resurrection body. 1 Peter 1:3-5.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Peter 1:3-5, NASB)

God is the author of this inheritance since God guards this inheritance with His perfect character, His perfect power, and His perfect immutability or inability to change from absolute perfection in every way. Therefore, we can have a wonderful confidence in relying on God’s power to keep us and we know we will always have this perfect inheritance and cannot lose it. Our eternal security is kept by God’s power, not our power. We are protected also by the power of God through faith unto our deliverance at the Rapture of the Church. Our eternal inheritance is kept by the power of God just as we are kept by the power of God forever.

Salvation is The Perfect Gift of Grace

One of the most powerful passages in the Bible that presents the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the perfect non-meritorious gift of grace is Ephesians 2:8-9. This passage says that we were saved in the past through faith with the result that we keep on being saved forever. This act was not from ourselves, but was a perfect gift from God to an imperfect person - each of us. If we did nothing but believe, how can we boast?

"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, NASB)

The Greek tense in Ephesians 2:8-9 is composed of two verbs. They are the perfect passive participle of sozo which means to be saved and the present active indicative of eimi. This verb tense in the Greek was used to provide a more forceful expression. Nothing is more forceful than the expression of eternal security of the believer in this passage! In the Greek language, it is so strong that there is no way to possibly “interpret” this as anything other than what it is. Every believer is graciously given eternal life in the few seconds it takes to believe in Christ.

This passage indicates that at the moment of our faith in Jesus Christ, we were saved and will always be saved. This means we all have eternal security. The verb eimi presents a universal doctrine which is an absolute truth that will always exist because God will never change. You can never lose your salvation! Salvation is not relative. Salvation is an absolute. In the first few seconds when you first believed in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, you were given eternal life by God the Father. This verb tense in the Greek presents a completed action with eternal results - the doctrine of eternal security.

The perfect tense is also used in Colossians 2:6 and Romans 8:1 indicate that we were saved in the past with the result that you keep on being saved forever.

“Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,” (Colossians 2:6, NASB)

“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1, NASB)

Eternal Security Based on God’s Essence

God never goes back on His essence and character. Rom. 8:35; Rom. 8:38-39; Rom. 14:4.

“Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (Romans 8:35, NASB)

“Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.” (Romans 14:4, NASB)

God's Faithfulness

Our eternal security is based on God’s faithfulness. Although a believer may say they no longer believe in Jesus Christ, God remains faithful because He is immutable. When a believer denies Christ, they are out of fellowship and yet God keeps on abiding faithful. He cannot deny the unconditional quality of our salvation. The Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit indwell you and He cannot deny Himself. 1 Cor. 3:4-5; Rev. 19:11.

“For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not mere men? What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one.” (1 Corinthians 3:4-5, NASB)

“And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.” (Revelation 19:11, NASB)

The experience of a believer denying God is found in 2 Timothy 2:11-13. This passage means that if we died with Him or identified ourselves with Him on the Cross, so shall we live with Him. However, if we died with him, we also reject human good and evil. This is Retroactive Positional Truth. Water baptism is a sign of our rejection of anything produced by our old sin nature and for anything produced by our being filled with the Holy Spirit.

"It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself." (2 Timothy 2:11-13, NASB)

Baptism teaches past and present positional truth. 2 Timothy 2:11-13 also says that if we persevere, we shall also reign with him. This is a first class condition in the Greek which means that it is a true statement and refers to those Christians who grow up spiritually. Those who deny Him, He will also deny them, meaning denying them eternal rewards, but not denying them salvation. We can be faithless, but He cannot deny Himself, as He has promised us. He is always faithful. Some Christians deny God, but God is immutable and unchangeable, and therefore He remains faithful forever.

There is no greater promise than eternal security given by God to the human race. This is seen in Jude 1:24-25 where a doxology is used to close the message. Here, the message is very clear - God keeps every promise He has ever made.

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 1:24-25, NASB)

We do not keep ourselves from falling. God keeps on preventing us from falling and He does so by His grace. God has the infinite power to maintain the relationship that He started when we first expressed our faith belief in the salvation work of Jesus Christ. This is eternal security with great joy. This is ultimate sanctification with indescribable happiness. The word “Amen” means I believe it. God’s promises depend on His power, not our power. He has promised to keep us from stumbling and He always keeps His promises.

In 1 Peter 1:3-5, God says He will keep any promise He makes.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3-5, NASB)

God’s Immutability

God is immutable and cannot ever change from His absolute perfection. Therefore, He cannot cancel the salvation of any believer once He has given salvation as a grace gift to everyone who believes in Jesus Christ. God cannot cancel His grace gift to you no matter how bad or sinful you may become. James 1:17; Eph. 2:8-9.

"Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow." (James 1:17, NASB)

"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, NASB)

God’s Integrity

The perfect integrity of God cannot be canceled by the failure or renunciation of any believer living on earth. God is faithful to His Word. If we died with Him as we have as believers, then we will live with Him forever. If we endure suffering for blessing, we will rule with Him as mature believers. If we deny Him by refusing to grow spiritually, He will not be able to convey rewards and blessings that spiritual growth always brings. Even though we may be unfaithful, disbelieving, or faithless following our salvation, He remains faithful because He cannot deny Himself. 2 Tim. 2:11-13.

God’s Eternal Life

Eternal life means eternal security. When we were born physically, God imputed human life to our soul. When we believed in Christ, God the Holy Spirit created a human spirit, to which God the Father imputed eternal life. Eternal life is the basis for eternal security. Eternal life is life forever with God. Both eternal life and eternal security are guaranteed by the virtue or integrity of God.

God is perfect integrity, holiness, and virtue. He is immutable, and always has perfect integrity. Therefore, God always keeps His word. Whoever believes in Jesus Christ will be given eternal life. If you have had faith alone in Christ alone, you have been given God’s very own eternal life. John 3:15-16; John 3:36; Acts 13:48; John 5:24.

" so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. " (John 3:15-16, NASB)

""He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."" (John 3:36, NASB)

“When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.” (Acts 13:48, NASB)

““Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.” (John 5:24, NASB)

In pre-salvation grace, the Holy Spirit takes your faith belief in Jesus Christ and makes it effective for salvation. At that moment, every believer receives eternal life which cannot be canceled. This eternal life is in union with Christ. 1 John 5:11-13.

Eternal security is an unbreakable relationship because it depends entirely on who and what God is, never on who and what we are. Grace always depends on God’s divine policy in dealing with us as believers. Your weaknesses cannot cancel God's strength. Your failures cannot nullify or reduce in any way the integrity of God.

God’s Love

God loves the entire human race with a divine unconditional love. This absolute love is based on God’s own perfect characteristics and is motivated by His infinite love. This is the basis for salvation through the work of Jesus Christ. Christ died spiritually as a substitute for the entire human race. As believers, we all receive divine unconditional love because we each now have the very righteousness of God and we share it in union with the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, we have something that God loves, His righteousness and eternal life. We cannot earn the imputation of divine righteousness. Because we are now justified by means of His atoning work on the Cross, we have been delivered from the wrath of God and cannot lose our salvation. Rom. 5:8-10; Eph. 1:4.

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” (Romans 5:8-10, NASB)

“just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love” (Ephesians 1:4, NASB)

He loves every believer unconditionally. God also has a divine personal love for the few who fulfill God’s plan for them in the Christian way of life through positive volition to Bible truth. They grow up spiritually and God gives them blessings on that basis. These blessings are imputed to the righteousness which they have in their souls. Divine unconditional love also is given in eternity to all believers in heaven as they have perfect resurrection bodies. Additionally, God gives divine personal love to those in heaven who have matured spiritually while on earth. These are part of our eternal rewards for growing spiritually and living our lives as unto the Lord. John 3:16.

" "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. " (John 3:16, NASB)

These are the few who have taken the narrow road and have become the friends of God. There is no fear in agape love which is God’s perfect unconditional love for us. This casts out all fear including any fear of condemnation. Nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in union with Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 John 4:17-18.

"By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love." (1 John 4:17-18, NASB)

We, as believers, are God’s sons and He can show His personal love for us. By the transgression of Adam, we all are born spiritually dead. By the spiritual death of Christ, the grace of God can abound toward the many who accept this salvation work. Those who receive the abundance of grace in this life can also receive great spiritual blessing, the much more grace of God. Rom. 5:15-17.

“But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification. For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:15-17, NASB)

God’s Sovereignty

God does not desire unbelievers to be lost or perish. 2 Peter 3:9; Jude 1:24-25.

“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9, NASB)

Those that perish do so willingly because they reject Christ as Savior. God never desires one of his own to perish, or lose their salvation, and since God is not willing for this to happen, it most certainly will not happen. It is His sovereign will. Once saved, always saved! John 3:36.

""He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."" (John 3:36, NASB)

God’s Righteousness

This is the double portion of sharing the righteousness of God and eternal life. The doctrine of imputation says that at the moment of salvation the righteousness of God is credited to our account. Each of us now have this perfect standing in heaven. Also at the moment of salvation, every believer received the eternal life of God. There are no exceptions. God’s eternal life is imputed to our human spirit which God the Holy Spirit also created for us at the moment of salvation. 2 Cor. 5:21.

"He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:21, NASB)

When we receive Christ as our Savior, God actually imputes to our soul His very own perfect righteousness. At that same moment, the Holy Spirit enters us into union with Christ called the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Here, we share His absolute righteousness. When we first shared His righteousness, the justice of God was immediately able to allow His omnipotence to impute His eternal life to our regenerated human spirit. He has given us His righteousness and His life, so that we are qualified to live with Him forever. Regeneration is everything that is represented by eternal life in the Christian soul. We can do nothing to make it happen or help make it happen - God does everything. Rom. 9:30-33; Rom. 3:22-28; Rom. 4:2-5.

"What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith; but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone, just as it is written, "BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."" (Romans 9:30-33, NASB)

"For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? "ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS." Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness," (Romans 4:2-5, NASB)

At that same moment of salvation, the Baptism of the Holy Spirit enters us into union with the Lord Jesus Christ, where we share His eternal life. The doctrine of the double portion says we have the double portion of God’s righteousness and the double portion of God’s eternal life. Imputation is a wonderful reason to have confidence in your eternal security. Wherever you study imputation in the Bible, it teaches that whatever is imputed by God stays imputed. When God imputes something, it is perfect and because He is immutable, He cannot change His mind and He cannot reverse His decision.

The imputation of divine righteousness is the only means of justification. Justification is an eternal relationship with God based on His integrity, not ours. It is based upon our possession of His righteousness. Rom. 5:1-2.

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God." (Romans 5:1-2, NASB)

The phrase “this grace in which we stand,” does not refer to our morality or self-righteousness, but the virtue of God. Our relationship with God does not depend on our integrity, morality, or virtue. It depends on His holiness and integrity. The spiritual life is not morality, but far above morality. Virtue is infinitely greater than morality, but virtue can only be produced by the filling of the Spirit and the intake and application of Bible doctrine. Morality can be produced by human self-determination and the energy of the flesh. This is why so many unbelievers have a morality greater than that of some believers.

The moment we believe in Jesus Christ, God gives us 40 things. Demons cannot cancel those 40 things. We cannot cancel them by renouncing God or our faith. Our relationship is based on grace - never on our merit. God always provides the grace and our eternal standing. If we stood based on our own strength, we would collapse. We stand in the grace of God.

You have to be arrogant to think you can commit a sin or renounce God such that it can cancel the work of God! There is nothing the believer can do to cancel the faith decision of believing in Christ. No one has the power or ability to cancel it, no matter how evil they become. In other words, God is greater than all of us. Still, some people are so arrogant that they think they are greater than God. The dumbest people around are those who think they can reject eternal security by attempting to cancel the grace of God. It cannot be done!

Man's failure does not abrogate the integrity of God. Man's weakness does not cancel God's strength. Lack of integrity in the believer cannot cancel the integrity of God. Failure to execute god’s plan for your life does not cancel your eternal salvation! Unfortunately, we seem to be far more impressed with our failures than with the integrity of God. That is our problem. We need to be more impressed with the integrity of God and less impressed with our failures. This is why many believers don't believe in eternal security.

Knowing the doctrine of eternal security shouldn’t cause you to go out and raise hell. Rather, it should motivate you to want to know more about this wonderful God who has permanently provided such fantastic things for you because of one non-meritorious decision you made in a few seconds.

The possession of the righteousness of God forever eliminates the possibility of losing salvation by any failure on our part. Our righteousness breaks down because we have an old sin nature. In contrast, God’s righteousness will never let us down. We have it permanently. Therefore, we stand before God, not on the basis of our righteousness, but on the basis of His righteousness. It is the quintessence of human arrogance to assume we can do anything to cancel or abrogate our eternal salvation. The integrity of God is infinitely greater than any failure of man. The doctrine of eternal security is based on the fact that the integrity of God is at stake. God gives and does not withdraw. He does not and cannot take back anything He gives - ever.

Jesus Christ’s Work on the Cross

Denying eternal security is to deny the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ and reduces the sacrifice of Jesus Christ to the level of offering bulls and goats. The sacrifice of Christ abides. John 5:24; Heb. 10:14.

" "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. " (John 5:24, NASB)

“For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:14, NASB)

We are new creations in Christ. Col. 2:10; 2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 2:10.

“and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;” (Colossians 2:10, NASB)

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NASB)

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10, NASB)

We are elected. Church Age believers are elect, holy, and beloved. Col. 3:12.

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;” (Colossians 3:12, NASB)

We have an eternal relationship with God. Prov. 24:12-14; 1 Cor. 3:11; Psalms 37:24; Col. 2:6; John 5:36; Col. 2:13; John 5:24.

“If you say, “See, we did not know this,” Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts? And does He not know it who keeps your soul? And will He not render to man according to his work? My son, eat honey, for it is good, Yes, the honey from the comb is sweet to your taste; Know that wisdom is thus for your soul; If you find it, then there will be a future, And your hope will not be cut off.” (Proverbs 24:12-14, NASB)

“For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:11, NASB)

““Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.” (John 5:24, NASB)

God the Father has the power to set free, save, and keep. John 10:29; Rom. 4:21; Rom. 8:31; Rom. 8:38-39; Rom. 14:4; Eph. 1:19-21; Eph. 3:20-21; Phil. 3:21; 2 Tim. 1:12; Heb. 7:25; Jude 1:24-25; Psalms 37:28.

““My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” (John 10:29, NASB)

“and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.” (Romans 4:21, NASB)

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?” (Romans 8:31, NASB)

“For the LORD loves justice And does not forsake His godly ones; They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked will be cut off.” (Psalms 37:28, NASB)

The Son of God’s prayer influenced God the Father on our behalf. John 17:19-21.

““For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.” (John 17:19-21, NASB)

The Holy Spirit teaches the believer. 1 John 2:27

“As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.” (1 John 2:27, NASB)

Through regeneration, we gain a human spirit at salvation whereby we can understand spiritual things that cannot ever be removed. John 3:4-6; 1 Peter 1:23; 2 Peter 1:4.

“Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:4-6, NASB)

“for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.” (1 Peter 1:23, NASB)

“For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.” (2 Peter 1:4, NASB)

Holy Spirit indwells every Church Age believer. Rom. 8:15; 1 Cor. 2:12; 1 Cor. 6:19; 1 John 2:27.

“For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”“ (Romans 8:15, NASB)

“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,” (1 Corinthians 2:12, NASB)

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19, NASB)

God the Father cares. John 3:16-17.

““For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” (John 3:16-17, NASB)

God the Son cares. John 10:11; John 10:15; John 10:17.

““I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” (John 10:11, NASB)

“even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.” (John 10:15, NASB)

““For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again.” (John 10:17, NASB)

God the Holy Spirit cares. John 14:17-18; John 14:26; John 16:7-14.

“that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:17-18, NASB)

““But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” (John 14:26, NASB)

Unbelievers care. Even the unbeliever in hell had a great concern for his unbelieving brothers. Luke 16:26-31.

“‘And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.’ “And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, that you send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ “But Abraham *said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ “But he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!’ “But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’““ (Luke 16:26-31, NASB)

Angels care. Luke 15:7; Luke 15:10.

““I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” (Luke 15:7, NASB)

““In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”“ (Luke 15:10, NASB)