Eternal Security

One of the doctrines held by a number of mainstream Christians is the doctrine of 'Once Saved Always Saved'. Now, I'm not here to expose this doctrine as false, but I have noticed that those who hold this doctrine, and those who reject it are in error.

Let me make one thing clear; if you are called by God to His Son during this lifetime then He wants you, and the only time He's going to let go is to chastise you, but even that doesn't mean He's leaving you forever.

Jesus spoke a parable about a shepherd who had 100 sheep, but when one went missing he went after it, and brought it back. The shepherd represents Jesus, while the sheep represent those of His flock. Now why did Jesus choose to represent us as sheep? Was it to insult us, because sheep are stupid? No, it's because just like the sheep we cannot save ourselves, it's impossible.

And so, when a sheep strays, the shepherd doesn't say, "Ahh hell, just leave it. If it wants to come back it will. I ain't going after it!" No, the shepherd leaves his 99 sheep, and goes after that one sheep, and he brings them back to the flock.

Paul also tells us that nothing in Heaven, or earth can tear us away from the love of God.

Romans 8:37-39 (King James Version)

 ³⁷Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

 ³⁸For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

 ³⁹Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Now let's look at the other end of the spectrum; aka those who denounce the whole 'Once Saved Always Saved' as false. While on one hand they do hold some truth, there is also error in this doctrine, and it is this.

When a believer begins to think that their relationship with Christ can be ruined by anything, and everything, they can go into a fearful panic. They begin to feel that they have to work themselves to be pleasing to God, and so they try all manner of things to not displease God. Never mind the fact that God through Isaiah tells us that our righteousnesses are like dirty rags, and therefore completely useless.

Isaiah 64:5

But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Paul also tells us that there is none that is righteous.

Romans 3:10-11

¹⁰As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

¹¹There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

So, no man is righteous, and no man seeks after God. Only God can give us the faith and grace to believe in Him, and His Son, Jesus Christ. Keep this in mind, because there will be a pop quiz later.

Those who denounce the idea of eternal security tend to point to the following verses as proof of their doctrine: Romans 8:1;

¹There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

As long as you are in Christ Jesus, and don't go after the flesh then you're cool. Now let's go forward a little here;

Romans 8:6-9

 ⁶For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

 ⁷Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

 ⁸So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

 ⁹But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

When a person is truly in Christ Jesus then they are truly spirit born, and the things of the flesh will no longer be of interest to them.  These are the ones who have eternal security in Jesus for they are His.

Now if a person decides to become a Christian, and then turns around to go drinking, fornicating, and committing violence then these do not have eternal security, because they never had it to begin with.

I wrote this hub, because during my life I have seen several sources telling Christians that there salvation in Jesus is not secure, and that if they screw up, God will mercilessly spit them out, and have them tormented.  This is a lie straight from the mouth of satan and his angels, because as soon as a believer (more than likely a babe in Christ) hears this, they start to panic, and go around trying to improve and perfect themselves.  They become so fearful of making a mistake that they wind up living in fear of a supposedly unforgiving God.

This is pure BS.  Once God and Jesus Christ have chosen someone they're not letting them go, and they will give the person the grace, faith, and strength to overcome.

So with that said I finish with this.  If you are truly one of Christ Jesus' then He will not let you go, and there is no need to fear, because you have salvation.

However, if you only became a Christian so you could continue to sin willfully then you are not one of Christ's.

Simple.