safe & secure: the permanence of...

SAFE & SECUREThe Permanence Of Salvation

CCan we lose our salvation?Can the belief of “oncesaved always saved” be

biblically supported? Or is itmerely an easy out for thosewho want the benefits of eternallife without having to give up thetemporary pleasures of sin? Ifsalvation can’t be lost orforfeited once it has been freelygiven by God, is there anythinga disobedient Christian can lose?

These are importantquestions when we realize thatthe Bible offers many seriouswarnings about the danger oftaking salvation for granted. Weoffer this booklet to you with theprayer that it will do for youwhat the message of Scriptureshould always do—providecomfort to those who are securewithout giving false assurance tothose who are not.

Martin R. De Haan II

Managing Editor: David Sper Cover Photo: Liaison International/C.WestermanScripture quotations are from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by ThomasNelson, Inc. Used by permission.All rights reserved.© 1989,1998,2002 RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, Michigan Printed in USA

CONTENTS

A License To Sin? . . . . . . 2

Can You Lose Your Salvation? . . . . . . . . 4

The Case For A Permanent Security . . . . 5

The Basis For Security . . . . . . . . . . . 7

The Plan For Security. . . . . . . . . . 13

The Process Of Security . . . . . . . . . . 20

Some Specific Questions . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Checklist For Assurance And Security . . . . . . . . . 31

Three Kinds Of Security . . . . . . . . . . 32

A LICENSE TO SIN

BBen glared at his wife in disbelief. His fullbeard couldn’t hide

the quivering lip. “Howcould you be so gullible?”he said. “I can’t believeyou’d fall for this. Thatfriend of yours is poison.”Ben moved closer. “You’replaying the fool, Lucy. Whatyou’re talking about isnothing more than a licenseto sin. You know I’m right.You know the truth as wellas I do. If a man turns awayfrom the truth, he’s worseoff than if he had neverheard it in the first place.The idea of ‘once savedalways saved’ is a lie.”

Lucy cringed under theweight of his convictions.She loved Ben, but hescared her when he got like this. She had neverlearned to handle his anger.It always made her feel sosmall and inadequate.

Maybe she had fallen fora lie. She began to fear theworst. Maybe she had fallenfrom the grace she wantedso much to believe in.Maybe Ben’s anger wasnothing more than a mirrorof God Himself—a God whono longer saw her as beingworthy of eternal life.

Yet, it had all soundedright. Ever since a friend atwork started talking to herabout a salvation that could never be lost, she had actually begun lookingforward to going to work. Sheenjoyed those lunch hourswhere she had first heard theidea of eternal security. Thenwhen she started attendingthe Thursday night Biblestudy, things seemed to fallinto place. She had begun to think that the Bible really does promise a kind of special protection thatwould allow a Christian tolive without fear of eternalpunishment.

But now she was2 © RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.

confused. She wonderedwhat was happening to her.Why did she feel so empty?She knew she was tired. All three children had beensick. It had been a longweek at work. She knew she was physically andemotionally drained.

Fears and memoriesblurred together. She hadheard so many stories aboutpeople who had started wellin the faith, only to end upgoing back to their old wayswhen the going got rough.She had heard sermonswarning that salvation wasonly for those who enduredto the end (Mt. 24:13).

Maybe Ben was right.

She could see how the idea of “once saved alwayssaved” might be an easy outfor those who wanted theadvantages of Christ withouthaving to give up thepleasures of sin. She couldsee how it might let a personthink he could play gameswith God and win. Sheknew the Bible said thatGod could not be mockedand that we would reapwhat we sow (Gal. 6:7).

But she also rememberedthose words of Jesus that herfriend had repeated overand over:

My sheep hear My voice,and I know them, and theyfollow Me. And I give themeternal life, and they shallnever perish; neither shallanyone snatch them out ofMy hand. My Father, whohas given them to Me, isgreater than all; and noone is able to snatch themout of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one(Jn. 10:27-30).

© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved. 3

Could she havealready fallen from

the grace shewanted so much

to believe in?

CAN YOU LOSE YOURSALVATION?

TThe issue Ben and his wife were arguingabout may be

described in a number of ways. Some refer to it as the doctrine of eternalsecurity. Some call it theperseverance of the saints.Some just refer to it as“once saved always saved.”

It’s a real issue.What if a Christian fallsinto serious sin? What if a good start in Christ endsbadly? What would it takefor God to disassociateHimself from a believer?The Scriptures do warnabout the dangers of falling away from Christ.

It’s an emotionalissue. Because of changingemotions, few Christiansfeel saved all of the time.Feelings change like theweather—only more often.Therefore, those who

depend on how they feel about their eternaldestiny will find themselveshounded by recurringfeelings that say, “I had it. I lost it. How can I find it again?”

It’s a specific issue.We’re not talking about the assurance of salvation.Certainly anyone who iswrestling with security may also be wrestling with assurance. But in these pages we will bedealing specifically with thequestion of whether or nota person who has receivedsalvation can forfeit thatwonderful treasure.

It’s a strategic issue.Those who say you can loseyour salvation believe that a holy uncertainty is animportant incentive to rightliving. Others believe thatonly when we are secure inour relationship with Godcan we live the kind ofgrateful existence theScriptures call for.

4 © RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.

THE CASE FOR A PERMANENTSECURITY

TThis booklet willpresent the case for asalvation that cannot

be lost. We will see thatwhen God saves a person,He permanently breaks thegrip of sin and death. Onceand for all He gives us anirrevocable relationship with a Savior who promisesto protect us by His ownpower all the way home. Onthe human side, this gift ismarked at the very least by:

• Conviction of sin (Lk. 18:9-14)

• Faith in the Lord JesusChrist (1 Jn. 5:1)

• A sense of correctionfor sin (Heb. 12:3-8)

When salvation is real, it should also result inoverflowing gratitude andenthusiastic obedience. Itshould be marked by:

• Radical commitment toChrist (Lk. 14:25-33)

• Loving relationships(Jn. 15:9-17)

However, the NewTestament shows thatChristians may slip intobehavior that seems to deny their claim of knowingChrist. Because of this, theScriptures contain manysevere warnings. Somecaution professing believersto make sure that their faithis real. Others sound thealarm that althoughdisobedient Christianscannot lose their salvation,there still is much to lose:

• Conscious fellowshipwith God

• The approval of God• Influence for God• Love, joy, peace,

patience, self-control• Reward• Everything else that

makes life meaningfulYet, in spite of the

possibility of major lossesfor the sinning Christian,the Bible makes it clear that God will, by His own

5© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.

power, preserve their faith and security. TrueChristians have a personal,God-given faith in Christthat will endure to the end(Phil. 1:6; 2 Tim. 1:12).They may not be acting on that faith the way theyshould, but it is still there.

When that is not thecase—when a personrepeatedly renounces Christand appeals to some otherbasis for salvation—wemust assume that such anindividual was never savedin the first place. Of thosewho ultimately turn againstChrist, the apostle Johnwrote:

They went out from us,but they were not of us; for

if they had been of us, they would have continuedwith us; but they went outthat they might be mademanifest, that none ofthem were of us. . . . Whois a liar but he who deniesthat Jesus is the Christ? (1 Jn. 2:19,22).

In His Sermon on theMount, our Lord issued asolemn warning to peoplewho mistakenly presumedupon their eternal security.He said:

Many will say to Me inthat day, “Lord, Lord,have we not prophesiedin Your name, cast outdemons in Your name,and done many wondersin Your name?” And thenI will declare to them, “I never knew you; departfrom Me, you whopractice lawlessness!”(Mt. 7:22-23). Notice that the Lord

said, “I never knew you.”These were not people wholost something they earlier

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They didn’t losetheir salvation;

they never had it in the first place.

© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.

possessed. They never hadit. Time merely proved theirinsincerity of heart.

THE BASIS FOR SECURITYAccording to the NewTestament, there is only one basis on which anyonecan qualify for eternal refugefrom the judgment of God’slaw. That one hope issummed up in two verysimple words: in Christ.When I believe and trust in Christ, God sees me asbeing “in Him.” My life isthen “hidden with Christ inGod” (Col. 3:3). I have aprotection that begins andends with God. Of this

wonderful plan the apostlePaul wrote:

Blessed be the God andFather of our Lord JesusChrist, who has blessed us with every spiritualblessing in the heavenlyplaces in Christ, just as Hechose us in Him before thefoundation of the world,that we should be holyand without blame beforeHim in love, havingpredestined us to adoptionas sons by Jesus Christ toHimself, according to thegood pleasure of His will,to the praise of the glory ofHis grace, by which Hehas made us accepted inthe Beloved. In Him wehave redemption throughHis blood, the forgivenessof sins, according to theriches of His grace (Eph. 1:3-7).In light of this passage,

could I be “in Christ” todaybut lose that protection atsome point in the future?Could my faith or lack of

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faith determine whether Iam presently “in” or “out”of Christ?

The way we answer those questions may tell alot about whether we haveunderstood the wonderfulsalvation promises to thosein Christ. Unfortunately,many who considerthemselves Christians haveno clear idea of what itmeans to be in Christ, onceand for all, now and forever.

The New Testamentdoesn’t call us to uncertainty.It calls us to believe inChrist, and on that basis toassume a new identity, anew nature, a new power, anew Lord, a new Father, anew family, a new destiny. Itcalls us to experience thetruth that Paul wrote aboutin 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Ifanyone is in Christ, he is anew creation; old thingshave passed away; behold,all things have become new.”

The Past In Christ: Salvation

Accomplished. What if I told you that I knew myfuture was secure because I have already paid for all ofmy sins by being executedon a Roman cross? What if I told you I was buried andthen raised from the dead to enjoy immunity from theeternal punishment of God?According to Romans 6, I have been:

• co-crucified in Christ(v.3)

• co-buried in Christ (v.4)• co-resurrected in Christ

(vv.4-5)• freed from sin in Christ

(vv.6-7)This is the Christian’s

basis for security. In Christ,I have already paid for mycrimes against God. That’shistory. It’s past. It’s done.Paul said it so clearly. InChrist, I died to sin. InChrist, I am alive forever.My past in Him frees mefrom the terrible, eternaldeath penalty of sin!

But how do we know8 © RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.

we’re not just reading intoPaul’s words the kind ofsafety and security we wantto believe in? We knowbecause in Romans 6 Pauldealt with an objection thatwouldn’t make sense if hehadn’t been teachingsomething that some wouldinterpret as a license to sin:

What shall we say then?Shall we continue in sinthat grace may abound?Certainly not! How shallwe who died to sin liveany longer in it? . . .Therefore we were buriedwith Him . . . that just asChrist was raised from thedead by the glory of theFather, even so we alsoshould walk in newnessof life (Rom. 6:1-2,4).This wouldn’t make

sense if Paul hadn’t beenteaching something thatsome would interpret as alicense to sin.

Knowing this objectionwould be slow to die, Paulwent on to write:

What then? Shall we sinbecause we are not underlaw but under grace?Certainly not! Do you notknow that to whom youpresent yourselves slavesto obey, you are thatone’s slaves whom youobey, whether of sinleading to death, or of

obedience leading torighteousness? But Godbe thanked that thoughyou were slaves of sin, yetyou obeyed from the heartthat form of doctrine towhich you were delivered.And having been set free


This wouldn’t make sense if

Paul hadn’t beenteaching somethingthat some would

interpret as alicense to sin.

from sin, you becameslaves of righteousness(Rom. 6:15-18).It is only when we

realize that our salvationdepends on our confidencein what Christ has done, noton what we will do, that wetruly have reason to live alife of grateful praise.

The Present In Christ: SalvationProtected. This is thecurrent dimension of asecurity that doesn’t dependon what we do but on whatChrist has done for us. Itreminds us that our Saviorhas not only paid the pricefor our salvation, but He hasalso promised to intercedefor us in the present on thebasis of what He did for usin the past. That’s importantbecause no matter howmuch we despise the idea of looking at security as alicense to sin, we don’t liveup to our new potential andprivilege in Christ.

When we are so

overcome by our guilt thatwe seriously wonder if wehave lost our position inChrist, then we need to takecomfort in the fact that inChrist we have the ultimateAdvocate and Intercessor.

We need to read over andover the reassuring words ofthe apostle John, who wrote:

My little children, thesethings I write to you, sothat you may not sin.And if anyone sins, wehave an Advocate withthe Father, Jesus Christthe righteous. And HeHimself is the propitiationfor our sins, and not forours only but also for thewhole world (1 Jn. 2:1-2).


We will strugglewith the desires of our flesh until

we are home with the Lord.

This deals with Christ’sprotection of our salvationin the present. It says thatwhen we find ourselvesslugging it out with theconsequences and emotionsof our foolishness, then weneed to realize that being inChrist we have the ultimatedefense.

You may not even knowthat you have a Lawyer. Butyou do if you are in Christ.He’s been retained by Godfor the very purpose ofhandling your daily sins.Trust Him. There is nobetter. He’s never lost acase—and He never will.

Some have speculatedthat this Public Defenderhas never actually had toargue a case. They believeHe merely holds up Hishands whenever an accusermentions the names ofanyone He’s agreed todefend. There’s somethingabout those hands thatalways wins.

How could you possibly

lose your salvation whenyou are in Jesus Christ. He Himself is your:

• Advocate• Intercessor• Payment for sin• Righteousness before

God and manWe can agree with Paul,

who wrote, “If God is forus, who can be against us?”(Rom. 8:31).

The Future In Christ: SalvationCompleted. This raisesanother issue. What aboutthat day in the future whenwe all stand before theJudge in the final day ofaccountability? Is it possiblethat at that critical point wemight lose everything?

We’ve all heard it saidthat when it comes to ourday in court, so muchdepends on the judge weget. Many criminals havetrembled at the thought ofgetting a tough judge. Somemagistrates have a heart.Some are even known for


being lenient. Others areknown for throwing thebook at those they don’tlike. Some have a reputationfor always giving themaximum sentence allowed.

Is it possible that wecould get a judge who showsno mercy? Is it possible thatwe could get a judge whowould not recognize thespiritual argument that hadkept us alive up to thatpoint? What if the judgesays, “No way. You’re notgetting off the hook justbecause someone loves you.You are a sinner. You aregoing to pay for your crimes,every one of them, until youhave completely fulfilledyour obligation to therighteous law of God. Awaywith you. Depart into thelake of fire prepared for thedevil and his angels.”

It’s an awful thought.But it will never be a realityfor those who are in Christ.We already know who isgoing to be hearing our

case. Our Judge will be thesame one who has beendefending us all of theseyears on the basis of Hisdeath on our behalf.

God has alreadyannounced that He hasgiven authority to His Son tojudge the earth (Jn. 5:24-30).It is at the judgment seat ofChrist where we who are inChrist must one day appear(Rom. 14:1-12; 2 Cor. 5:10).And it is that sameannounced Judge who has already assured all whoare in Him, “Most assuredly,I say to you, he who hearsMy word and believes inHim who sent Me haseverlasting life, and

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The Judge hasbeen preassigned,

and the mainverdict has beenpreannounced!


shall not come into judgment,but has passed from deathinto life” (Jn. 5:24).

If you have trusted inthe Lord Jesus Christ asyour personal Savior, counton those words. They areGod’s promise to you. Youdon’t ever have to worryabout losing your salvation,because in Him you have:

• A Savior who died forall your sins

• The best defensepossible

• A Judge who loves you• A preannounced

verdictIn that light, then, can

you see that those who arein Christ really do have asecurity based not on theirown record but on His?They are accepted not onthe merits of their ownname but on His. Can yousee how those who are inHim have a permanent filethat has been purged? Theyhave an Attorney who hasnever lost a case, a Judge

who loves them, and apreannounced verdict on all charges that might puttheir eternal salvation injeopardy—all because theyare in Christ!

THE PLAN FOR SECURITYFrom time to time you may run into someone whoteaches that Christians dohave absolute security in Christ—but only as longas they live and walk inHim. Such a person mightsuggest that the promises ofeternal security are alwaysconditional—that theyalways depend on whetheror not we remain faithful to

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Christ. For instance, once-saved-always-saved peoplelike to point out thatRomans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now nocondemnation to those whoare in Christ Jesus.” But theconditional security peopleare quick to respond thatthe entire verse actuallysays, “There is thereforenow no condemnation tothose who are in ChristJesus, who do not walkaccording to the flesh, butaccording to the Spirit.”

Paul was not implying,however, that a Christian issecure only as long as hebehaves in a mannerconsistent with the Spirit.His statements that followshow that when he referredto those who “walk in theSpirit,” he was talkingabout those who, becausethey are in Christ, live inthe realm of the Spirit (8:9).Even more significantly, he went on in the samechapter to describe a plan

that clearly shows thatChristian security is notsomething that depends on human performance.

Paul wrote about thiscomprehensive plan in thefollowing passage:

For whom He foreknew,He also predestined to beconformed to the image of His Son, that He mightbe the firstborn amongmany brethren. Moreoverwhom He predestined,these He also called;whom He called, these He also justified; andwhom He justified, theseHe also glorified. Whatthen shall we say to thesethings? If God is for us,

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Our salvationdepends on a

plan that beginsand ends with God Himself.


who can be against us?(Rom. 8:29-31).The Past Roots Of

God’s Plan. Paul wasclear that being in Christisn’t an “on again, offagain,” “maybe I’ll make it, maybe I won’t” kind of faith. It’s important torealize that in eternity pasteveryone in Christ has been:

• Foreknown (Rom. 8:29; 1 Pet. 1:2)

• Predestined (Rom. 8:29; Eph. 1:5)

• Chosen (Eph. 1:4; 1 Pet. 1:2)

God selected us ineternity past to be theobjects of His love andgrace. Even though Hecould see all of our sin and rebellion, He still choseus in Christ. His sovereigndecision was completelyapart from any human merit.

This foreknowledge ofGod is important to us.Because of sin, you and Iare damaged merchandise.But the One who bought us

knew all about that. Heknew exactly what He was getting. No surprisesfor Him. He wants us toknow that He chose us long before we ever thought of Him.

Furthermore, Hepredecided the outcome.While working with our willin a way that is beyond ourability to understand, Hepredetermined that wewould ultimately beconformed to the image and character of His Son.

We may have questionsand doubts about whetherwe are going to make it allthe way to the kingdom of

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God knewbeforehand thatHe was paying

the ultimate pricefor damagedmerchandise.


God. But the Lord hasalready worked that out forour wonderful and eternalbenefit. If we trust Christwho died for our sins androse from the dead on ourbehalf, and if we accept Hisgracious gift of eternal life,then we can be sure thatHe first chose us.

The PresentOutworking Of God’sPlan. The Lord has donemore than just think aboutus in the corridors of eternitypast. At the right time, andin our 20th-century lifetime,He came calling for us.

This is important. Hewants us to know that wedon’t have to go up onmountaintops and bang onpans to get His attention.We don’t have to write longapplications and submitrésumés to His office ofadmissions. He knew us.He chose us in Christ. Hepredetermined the outcomein eternity past, and thenjust a few days or months

or years ago He called us—His 20th-century children—to Himself.

At this point I wouldencourage you to read andreread Romans 8:28-32 andas much of the surroundingcontext as you can. Eventhough other Scripturesindicate that our part is torespond in faith to His call,this description of God’splan doesn’t mention thehuman side. It doesn’t sayanything about His waitingto see whether we wouldreceive Christ and then hangon by faith until the end. Onthe contrary, this portion ofGod’s Word shows the Lordtaking divine initiatives toassure His mission’ssuccess. It shows us thatsalvation is of the Lord.

Paul didn’t say that theLord called and then waitedto see who would respond.He said, “Moreover whomHe predestined, these Healso called; whom Hecalled, these He also


justified” (8:30). It’s hard tooveremphasize the point ofPaul’s teaching here. Whilein other parts of this sameletter he emphasized thehuman responsibility ofpersonal choices and faithin Christ, here he showedwhat God has done toassure the final outcome.

God justifies those Hecalls to Christ. In legal terms,that means He declaresrighteous those who believein His Son. On the basis ofHis Son’s death, God acquitsthose who come to Him for mercy. Exercising Hisprerogative as the presidingJudge of the universe, Godsays that we are not to be charged with eternalpunishment for our sin.

If you wonder whetherthat’s what Paul really hadin mind in Romans 8, readverses 33 and 34: “Whoshall bring a charge againstGod’s elect? It is God whojustifies. Who is he whocondemns? It is Christ who

died, and furthermore is alsorisen, who is even at theright hand of God, who alsomakes intercession for us.”

The point here is that,from the world’s perspective,there might be many thingsthat could be said againstus. Because of our spiritualimmaturity, we often sin.There is much dirt thatcould be thrown at us,

but God responds in ourdefense. To our accusers He declares something like,“Who do you think you areto accuse someone whom Ihave declared righteous. I’mthe One who is passing thejudgment around here. AndMy Son is the One who haspaid the price that enables


Who can find us guilty after

God has declared us innocent?

Me to do so. The one youaccuse of sin is one that Ihave pre-chosen andjustified for Myself.”

The FutureAssurance Of God’sPlan. Romans 8 doesn’tleave us wondering if weneed to be justified followingeach new scrape with God’slaw. This passage, alongwith the previous chapters,shows that God hasdesigned a rescue thatchanges our relationship tothe law once and for all. Weare given a new status thatcovers our future as well asour past. In this light, Paulsaid, “For sin shall not havedominion over you, for youare not under law but undergrace” (6:14).

What words! Not under law but under grace.This is the ultimate kind of immunity and perpetualpardon. It is a kind ofprotection that allows God to announce the finaloutcome of our salvation as

if it were alreadyaccomplished. So Paul couldwrite, “Whom He justified,these He also glorified”(8:30). We usually think ofglorification as somethingthat will occur at some point in eternity future. Inthe mind of God, however, ithas already occurred.

But someone may reply, “How do we know that God has not merelypredetermined the eternaloutcome of those He knowswill remain true to the end?How do we know that He isnot merely exercising Hisability to see what we havenot yet seen?” We know thatsuch a view would violate

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God’s plan doesn’tleave us wondering

if we are going to make it toheaven or not.


everything we have seen up to this point. God hasarranged a salvation thatrests on the death of Christfor us, on His life in us, onHis defense of us, and onHis ongoing intervention andintercession on our behalf.

Read verses 31 to 34over and over. See and feeldeep in your heart how fullyand finally the issue of sinhas been settled by thedeath of Christ once and forall. Then read verses 35 to39 again and again. See ifyou still have questionsabout whether or not theplan of God assures thesafety of the Christian intothe future.

How could Paul be anyclearer about the futureoutcome? After reflecting onthe very real life-threateningpossibilities that all of usmust live with, he declared:

Yet in all these things weare more than conquerorsthrough Him who lovedus. For I am persuaded

that neither death nor life, nor angels norprincipalities nor powers,nor things present northings to come, norheight nor depth, nor anyother created thing, shallbe able to separate usfrom the love of Godwhich is in Christ Jesusour Lord (Rom. 8:37-39).

That’s the future ofeveryone in Christ. BecauseHe has unilaterally resolvedthe sin question once andfor all, there is nothing inthe future that can preventthe foreknown, predestined,called, justified, andglorified child of God fromgetting to the place God hasprepared for him. That’s

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In Christ, there islegal protection forthe future as well

as the past.


why our Lord could say tothe woman at the well:

Whoever drinks of thiswater will thirst again, but whoever drinks of thewater that I shall give himwill never thirst. But thewater that I shall give him will become in him afountain of water springingup into everlasting life (Jn. 4:13-14).

THE PROCESS OF SECURITYIt’s one thing to talk aboutGod’s part in our salvation;it’s another to talk aboutman’s part. What about thehuman realities of moraland spiritual failure, fallout,

and even defection? Morethan one person has startedwell and ended up badly.From a human point of view,it often looks as though such a person has lost hissalvation. Even the apostlePaul seemed at a loss toexplain what it meant whensomeone strayed from thefaith. Yet his response is amodel for our own. Hewrote, “Nevertheless thesolid foundation of Godstands, having this seal:‘The Lord knows those whoare His,’ and, ‘Let everyonewho names the name ofChrist depart from iniquity’”(2 Tim. 2:19). The apostlehad to admit that there aremany things about who issaved and who is not savedthat only God knows.

This reminds us that wecannot always tell who isand who is not a child ofGod. This might be hard forus to accept. It is easier ifwe are able to assume thatChristians are those who


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live like Christians, andnon-Christians are thosewho don’t. But appearancescan be deceiving. This isbecause in many wayssalvation is a process that was made sure in the past, is changing us in the present, and will becompleted in the future.

The Past Tense Of The SalvationProcess. In Romans 5,Paul declared:

Therefore, having beenjustified by faith, we havepeace with God throughour Lord Jesus Christ,through whom also wehave access by faith intothis grace in which westand . . . . having nowbeen justified by Hisblood, we shall be savedfrom wrath through Him(vv.1-2,9).Here we are reminded

that someone in Christshould think of himself notas one trying to be saved orhoping to be saved, but as

one who has already beensaved. This is exactly whatthe apostle said in his letterto the Ephesians:

You He made alive, whowere dead in trespassesand sins, in which youonce walked according tothe course of this world . . . . But God, who is richin mercy, because of Hisgreat love with which Heloved us, even when wewere dead in trespasses,made us alive togetherwith Christ (by grace youhave been saved) . . . .For by grace you havebeen saved through faith, and that not ofyourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lestanyone should boast(2:1-2,4-5,8-9).Many people in the

church don’t have suchassurance of having beensaved from the eternalpenalty of their sins. Butsuch a view is foundationalto the New Testament.


The Present TenseOf The SalvationProcess. This is where thegreat drama of salvation isso often stalled. Withoutlosing their security andtheir immunity fromprosecution, Christians caneasily lose their battles oversin. Although in Christ theyhave already won the war,there are many battles thatcan still be lost. Sin can get

us down and rob us of ourfaith, hope, joy, and love inChrist. Poor choices cantemporarily enslave us tothe very sins from which we have already beendelivered. Such failures cansometimes cause a child ofGod, for a while at least, to

be indistinguishable from a child of Satan.

For this reason Paulpleaded:

If then you were raisedwith Christ, seek thosethings which are above,where Christ is, sitting atthe right hand of God.Set your mind on thingsabove, not on things onthe earth. For you died,and your life is hiddenwith Christ in God. WhenChrist who is our lifeappears, then you alsowill appear with Him inglory. Therefore put todeath your memberswhich are on the earth:fornication, uncleanness,passion, evil desire, andcovetousness, which isidolatry. . . . But now youyourselves are to put offall these: anger, wrath,malice, blasphemy, filthylanguage out of yourmouth (Col. 3:1-5,8).Paul’s appeal is for

Christians to live in a22 © RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.

Even with the war won, manystrategic battles

can be lost.

manner that is consistentwith who they are in Christ.In other words, have youbeen saved from the eternalconsequences of your sin?Then live like it! Live likesomeone who is headed forheaven. Don’t be overcomeby the power of sin!

Obviously, Paul was atthe same time admitting thatsomeone who is in Christcould still fall into all of thesins he listed. Otherwise hiswords would make no sense.He was saying that someonewho has been saved andwhose life is hidden withChrist in God may still haveto be urged to turn awayfrom his sin.

But what if he doesn’trespond? What if he dieswithout returning to theLord? Does he lose hissalvation? Not if he wastruly saved. Not if what we have seen up to thispoint is correct. What canhappen, however, is thatthe Christian can lose many

temporary and even futurebenefits. A disobedientchild of God can lose:

• Opportunities for doing good

• Irreplaceable time• Peace of mind• Joy of heart• Self-control• Confidence• Usefulness to God• Reputation• Health• Relationships• Physical life• The approval of God• Eternal rewardsEven though these might

be called peripherals, in thatthey do not jeopardize theeternal well-being of oursoul, it is obvious that theyare not incidentals. TheLord loves us too much to let us live withoutfatherly correction evenwhen we allow ourselves tobe overcome by the powerof sin (Heb. 12:1-11). Hemight even take us homeprematurely as He did some


of the disobedientChristians in Corinth (1 Cor. 11:29-32). Eventhough our eternal destinyis not at risk, it can be “afearful thing to fall into thehands of the living God”(Heb. 10:31).

The Future TenseOf The SalvationProcess. The day iscoming when the processwill be complete. We won’talways be struggling withsin.

Behold what manner of love the Father hasbestowed on us, that weshould be called childrenof God! Therefore the

world does not know us,because it did not knowHim. Beloved, now we arechildren of God; and ithas not yet been revealedwhat we shall be, but weknow that when He isrevealed, we shall be likeHim, for we shall see Himas He is. And everyonewho has this hope in Himpurifies himself, just asHe is pure (1 Jn. 3:1-3).Throughout John’s first

letter, he emphaticallystated that unless there is a basic change ofdirection and life, there will be no evidence orassurance that we reallyhave been saved. But wemust not expect to be saved from the presence of sin and its struggle untilthe day we see Christ faceto face. That’s when oursalvation will be complete.


The struggle for right choiceswon’t be over

until we see Himface to face.

SOME SPECIFICQUESTIONSShould we justassume that all those who claim to be Christians aresaved, no matter howthey are living? No, theburden of proof is on theperson who claims to be a new creation in Christ.Anyone who says he knowsChrist as Savior shouldprove it by living a life thatsupports his claim. Paulsaid of such persons, “‘TheLord knows those who areHis,’ and, ‘Let everyonewho names the name ofChrist depart from iniquity’”(2 Tim. 2:19).

The apostle Johnindicated that some whodepart from the faith revealthat they were never reallysaved in the first place. Hewrote, “They went out fromus, but they were not of us;for if they had been of us,they would have continued

with us; but they went outthat they might be mademanifest, that none of themwere of us” (1 Jn. 2:19).Given such possibilities, allwe can do is conclude thata person either is or is notgiving evidence of havingeternal life. God alone is his Judge.

If salvation cannotbe lost, then why doso many of thepromise passages haveconditions attached tothem? The Word of God attacheshuman conditions such asfaith, love, or doing the willof God, not to imply thatsalvation is dependent onhuman performance but todistinguish those who aresaved from those who arenot. If the Bible did notattach conditions tosalvation and security, itwould seem to teach thatall men everywhere aresaved. Faith, love, andobedience to God give


evidence of the saving lifeand presence of Christ. “Bythis we know that we are inHim” (1 Jn. 2:5).

If salvation cannotbe lost, why does theBible warn about thepossibility of fallingaway? Some of thesewarnings are directed topeople who do not reallypossess what they profess.

For instance, Hebrews10:26-31 warns that ifsomeone deliberatelyabandons the faith in Christhe once professed, he willfind nothing else, no othersacrifice that is able to savehim. While such a person

had been associated withthe “set-apart community,”he was never a truebeliever. The writer ofHebrews affirmed this when he went on to write of true believers who hadshown real evidence offaith, “But we are not ofthose who draw back toperdition, but of those whobelieve to the saving of thesoul” (Heb. 10:39).

Hebrews 6:1-9 is another warning passageoften referred to by thosewho believe you can loseyour salvation. It too speaksof those who fall away after they “have tasted theheavenly gift.” It too speaksof the dangers of fallingunder the fiery judgment of God. But what does itmean? It has been explainedin a number of ways. Somethink the passage is againreferring to people whofinally reject a salvation they professed but neverpossessed. Others interpret


Some of thewarnings are for those who

profess what they do not possess.

it as a warning to believerswho might be inclined tothink that a person who fallsinto sin needs to be savedagain. Still others believe itrefers to the kind of severeloss that a sinning Christiancan incur. Whatever theright interpretation, theinspired author was clearlywarning about things hedidn’t expect to happen to the believers he waswriting to. In verse 9 hesaid, “Beloved, we areconfident of better thingsconcerning you, yes, thingsthat accompany salvation,though we speak in thismanner” (Heb. 6:9).

What does the Biblemean when it says thatonly those who endureto the end will besaved? Those who are truly saved arethose who will endure.Others may stick around for a while, but endurance is a sign that God’s presenceand power is at work in a

person’s life. For this reason,Paul could say to thePhilippians that he was“confident . . . that He whohas begun a good work inyou will complete it until theday of Jesus Christ” (1:6).

In Matthew 24:13 there is a specific reference to theproblem of enduring spiritualdecadence and persecutionin the tribulation period. Butthe principle still stands thatthose who endure give proofof the Lord’s saving work inthem.

Why does the Biblesay that we are towork hard to get intoheaven? Such a questionmay reflect a number ofpassages, each of which has a slightly different slant.For instance, 2 Peter 1:10-11 says, “Therefore,brethren, be even morediligent to make yourcalling and election sure,for if you do these thingsyou will never stumble; forso an entrance will be


supplied to you abundantlyinto the everlastingkingdom of our Lord andSavior Jesus Christ.”

This passage indicatesthat as we work hard in ourChristian walk our salvationbecomes more sure, certain,and beyond all doubt. Thewhole chapter is speakingof the need to have afruitful and productiveknowledge of Christ, not of the possibility of losingone’s salvation. This willlead to an abundant,rewarded entrance into thekingdom of God. Peter wasspeaking to people who areinclined to lose sight of theforgiveness they havealready received (1:9).

What did Paul meanwhen he referred tofalling from grace? Paulwrote, “You have becomeestranged from Christ, youwho attempt to be justifiedby law; you have fallen fromgrace” (Gal. 5:4). This isthreatening, but it doesn’t

refer to a loss of salvationalready received. There areat least two possibilities. Itcould refer to the Judaizers,who believed that salvationcame ultimately throughkeeping the law. If suchpersons turned away fromChrist, whom they had neverreally learned to depend on,they would be turning awayfrom their only hope ofsalvation.

Another possibility takesinto account what Pauldescribed in Galatians 3.There the apostle talkedabout Jewish Christians whoaccepted Christ in order tobe saved, but made themistake of thinking theycould go on to maturity bykeeping the law. Paul madeit clear that they needed totrust the same Spirit ofChrist for perfection andmaturity as they did forsalvation. If they didn’t, theywould fall from the principleof grace. They would notlose their salvation, but they


would lose the undeservedpower and enablement ofGod, which first leads tosalvation, then to trueChristian experience.

Doesn’t 1 Peter 1:4-5 say that we are keptby our faith? That is onlypartially true. This passageis actually saying that weare kept by a faith that is inturn kept by the power ofGod. Specifically, Peterwrote of a salvation “thatdoes not fade away, reservedin heaven for you, who arekept by the power of Godthrough faith for salvationready to be revealed in thelast time.” Peter knew thisfaith-preserving powerfirsthand. Prior to his denialof Christ, the Lord told Peterthat Satan had asked to testhim. But He had intercededfor Peter and prayed that his faith would not fail (Lk.22:31-34). This is a beautifulpicture of the human anddivine sides of salvation.Peter’s faith was the means

of trust and relationship,and it was protected byGod’s sovereign grace andChrist’s intercession.

Didn’t the apostlePaul himself showsigns of uncertainty in1 Corinthians 9:27 andPhilippians 3:12-14?No. In the first passage,Paul was not concernedabout losing his salvationbut about losing hisusefulness as a servant ofChrist. In Philippians 3:12-14, Paul expressed his deepdesire to experience moreand more of Jesus Christ.He was not longing to besaved but to grow in therighteousness and maturityof Christ.

Didn’t Peter implythat some who fallaway from the faithwould have beenbetter off if they hadnever been saved inthe first place? Peter wasspeaking of false teacherswhen he wrote the following:


For if, after they haveescaped the pollutions of the world through theknowledge of the Lordand Savior Jesus Christ,they are again entangledin them and overcome,the latter end is worse forthem than the beginning.For it would have beenbetter for them not tohave known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holycommandment deliveredto them. But it hashappened to themaccording to the trueproverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed,to her wallowing in themire” (2 Pet. 2:20-22).The illustration at

the end of this passageshows us that Peter was notimplying a loss of salvation.Since the dog was still adog, and the pig was still apig, they both went back to

their own natural ways.Both returned becauseneither had experienced an essential change ofnature. At best, both had merely been cleaned, combed,pampered, and flattered.

This is the bestexplanation for those whoappear to have completelylost any faith in the LordJesus Christ. But if the truthwere known, they neverhad it. They may haveenjoyed many of thebenefits of the truth andpeople of God for a while,but it had never resulted ina real change of heart. Theyhad grown up among thewheat as hard-to-tell-the-difference weeds (tares).But in time they showedtheir true colors. Johnexplained that, in leaving,they showed that theirsalvation was not the realthing (1 Jn. 2:19).


CHECKLIST FORASSURANCE ANDSECURITY

IIn light of what we havecovered, let’s see nowhow you check out. For

evidence and assurance thatyou have been saved, askyourself the followingquestions. Do you:

❑ recognize your need ofa Savior? (Rom. 3:23).

❑ believe that Jesus isthe Christ? (1 Jn. 5:1).

❑ believe that He died foryour sins? (1 Jn. 2:2).

❑ desire to obey theLord? (1 Jn. 2:3-6).

❑ love the people ofGod? (1 Jn. 3:14).

❑ sense God’s Spirit inyou? (Rom. 8:16).

❑ sense correction foryour sin? (Heb. 12:5-9).

For evidence of youreternal security, rememberthat when you acceptedChrist as Savior, you were:

• reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:18),

• purchased at a greatprice (1 Pet. 1:18-19),

• freed from the law(Rom. 8:1-2; Gal. 5:1-4),

• declared righteous(Rom. 5:1),

• set apart for God (Jn. 17:17),

• glorified (Rom. 8:17,30),• forgiven (Eph. 4:32),• indwelt by the Holy

Spirit (Rom. 8:9),• indwelt by Jesus Christ

(Gal. 2:20),• indwelt by the Father

(Eph. 4:6),• spiritually gifted

(1 Cor. 12:7; Eph. 4:7),• made part of the body

of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13),• placed in God and

in Christ (Eph. 1:3-4;2:5-6),

• made an heir of God(Rom. 8:17),

• adopted into the familyof God (Eph. 1:5),

• made complete inChrist (Col. 2:9-10),

• made secure (Jn. 10:27-30; Rom. 8:38-39).


THREE KINDS OF SECURITY

Sure but not secure.These people believe thatthey have confirmedreservations in heaven. But they’re self-deceived.They are like the legalists ofChrist’s day who mistakenlythought that God wouldaccept them on the basis of their own good efforts (Lk. 18:9-14).

Secure but not sure.Such a person has trustedChrist as Savior and is heldfirmly in the protective handof God (Jn. 10:27-29). Butwhen failure occurs and guilt comes in like a flood, or when mental, physical,and emotional exhaustionset in, such a personbecomes confused byfeelings.

Sure and secure. Thisperson has accepted Christas his personal Savior, hascontinued to walk in thisnew relationship, and enjoys

the confirming evidence thatsignals the reality of newbirth. This evidence isdescribed in 1 John:

• Belief in Christ’s savingwork (4:9-10; 5:1).

• Confidence in the Wordof God (2:5; 5:13).

• A new way of life (2:3-6).

• The awareness of theSpirit (4:13; 5:6-13).

• A love for otherChristians (3:14).

We sincerely hope that you are both sure andsecure. If not, we urge you tomake sure you have takenthe first step. Recognize thatthere is nothing you can doto escape the penalty of yourown sin— except to throwyourself on the mercy of theLord Jesus Christ, His deathfor your sins, and His savinglife. Trust Him today forwhat you could never do for yourself and then relytotally on God’s promises(see Jn. 3:16; 6:37; 10:27-30;Rom. 6:23; 8:28-39).


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