The California Collection/TheCaliforniaCollection.cdr/his080/isue12c.arj/ISUE12C.TXT

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                       Security of The Believer
              (Christian Research Institute Fact Sheet)
                 CAN THE BELIEVER LOSE HIS SALVATION?

.    The doctrine of the "security of the believer" (also called the
"perseverance of saints," and "eternal security") has long been the
majority position within historic Christianity.  Augustine, Luther,
and Calvin are among the great men of the past who have taught it.  In
modern times, Charles Hodge, Benjamin Warfield, Lewis Sperry Chaffer,
and others have taught it.  However, there have been those who have
denied it (mostly in the followers of the theology of Arminius and
Wesley).  With such disagreement among the great thinkers of the
Church, it is imperative that we consult the Scriptures again on the
question, "Can the believer lose his salvation?"
.    We do not consider this a central issue of the Christian faith,
important as it is.  In other words, we do not believe it is necessary
to believe one position or another in order to be a Christian.  We
recognize that a limited discussion such as this will not end
discussion and controversy on this matter.  We are here seeking only
to present our position and the Scriptural evidence which we believe
supports it.  We encourage readers to study the reasons for both
positions (for references, see our bibliography on "Calvinism and
Arminianism" and fact sheet on the "Security of the Believer").
.    Jesus taught that "God so loved the world, that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have
everlasting life." (John 3:16)  We find here three points directly
related to the discussion at hand: 1) that our salvation is by
believing in Christ (see also Acts 16:31); 2) that this salvation
consists of eternal life; 3) that those who possess this salvation
will "never perish."
.    He taught also in relation to this, "My sheep listen to my voice;
I know them and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they
shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  My father,
who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them
out of my Father's hand." (John 10:27-29)  Again it is said in the
strongest terms that the sheep will "never perish," that they have
"eternal life."  It is added that "no one" is able to snatch the sheep
from the Father and the Son.
.    Paul tells us that to those who are "in Christ Jesus" there is no
condemnation.  They are they who are indwelt by the Spirit of Christ,
and the indwelling of the Spirit is presented as proof that they will
be raised form the dead to life. (Romans 8:1, 9-11)  God is working
"all things" to good for those who love Him, who are called according
to His purpose.  We are guaranteed that "those He justified, He also
glorified." (Romans 8:28-31)  The Christian has been justified by
faith, at the moment at which he exercised that faith in Christ.
(Romans 3:23-38; 4:9; cf. Genesis 15:6)  Thus, his having been
justified guarantees his resurrection in glorification.
.    "What, then, shall we say in response to this?  If God is for us,
who can be against us?  He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him
up for us all -- how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give
us all things?" (Romans 8:31-32)  The gift of Christ to us as sinners
(Romans 5:8) shows the absolute goodness of God toward the believer;
Paul tells us that He is "for us," and that this can leave no one
(effectually) "against us."  No one is left to bring charge against
the believer, for only God has that right, and He has justified the
believer. (Romans 8:33; 3:23-28)  Only Christ has the right to
condemn, but instead He makes intercession for the believer. (Romans
8:34; 1 John 2:1-2)  Nothing can separate the believer from the love
of Christ -- nothing in all creation, and God Himself will not
separate the believer from Him. (Romans 8:35-39, cf. vv. 32-34; John
10:27-29)
.    The believer has been called of God (Romans 8:28-30; John 6:27-
29, 37-40, 44-47), and those who have been called, or "drawn" by God
to Christ cannot lose their salvation. (John 6:37)  Salvation is a gift
to the believer (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-10), and the gifts and
the calling of God are irrevocable. (Romans 11:29)
.    Salvation for the believer is something which he presently
possesses, and is a completed act.  The correct translation of
Ephesians 2:8-10 puts the phrase "...by grace are ye saved" (AV) in
the past tense, "by grace you have been saved," showing that the work
is finished: salvation is complete at the moment of belief.  In that
moment the believer is justified (Romans 3:28), though the work of
sanctification, which follows salvation, is a continuous work of the
Holy Spirit throughout the life of the believer. (Romans 8:30-31;
12:1ff)
.    Just as salvation is first acquired by faith, it is also kept by
faith, not by works.  Indeed, it is not our work even to keep our
salvation by faith, but the work of God, for He is the One Who works
faith in us. (John 6:29; Philippians 1:6)  As God was the One who
began the work of faith in us, so He is the One who will perfect that
work in us until the day of Christ.  Paul writes of those who believe
works are necessary to retain salvation, "You foolish Galatians!  Who
has bewitched you?  Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly
portrayed as crucified.  I would like to learn just one thing from
you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing
what you heard?  Are you so foolish?  After beginning with the Spirit,
are you now trying to attain perfection by human effort?  Have you
suffered so much for nothing -- if it really was for nothing?  Does
God give you His Spirit and work miracles among you because you
observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?...The
righteous will live by faith." (Galatians 3:1-5, 1lb; New
International Version; cf. Romans 1:16-17)
.    While Paul tells the believer to work during (not "for," which is
a wrong translation) his life in salvation, he follows the command by
saying that it is God who works in the believer to will and to do His
good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12-13; cf. Ephesians 2:10)
.    We are told that those who overcome will inherit the kingdom
(Revelation 2:11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12,21), and the believer, the one
indwelt by Christ, is the one who overcomes. (1 John 4:4)  He is
preserved by God through the power of the One who dwells in him.
(Psalm 37:28; 40:11; 121; 1 John 4:4)  Thus the believer, while not
knowing what he will be, knows that when Christ appears, he will be
like Him, for he will see Him as He is. (1 John 3:2; cf. 5:11-13 --
note: this does not mean that all believers will have such assurance
of their salvation; they can have the assurance by faith in God's
Word, but weakness of faith may cause their own assurance to be
lacking; this does not mean that because they are not sure they are
saved, they are not in fact saved.)
.    The believer is by definition one who does not "shrink back" and
come to destruction, but one of those who "believe and are saved."
(Hebrews 10:39)  He is one of whom the writer of the Epistle to the
Hebrews is "confident of better things (than damnation)...things that
accompany salvation." (Hebrews 6:9)
.    What have we found?  We have found that the believer is justified
by faith (Romans 3:28), that faith is a work of God in him (John
6:29), that God will finish the work of faith in the believer.
(Philippians 1:6)  We have found that the just will live by faith
(Romans 1:17), and that this life is eternal. (John 3:16)  The
believer will "never perish" (John 10:27-29; 3:16), and the gift of
salvation cannot be taken from him. (Romans 11:29)  No one can snatch
the believer from God. (John 10:27-29 -- for those who argue that it
is possible for the believer himself to choose later to reject God and
hence lose his salvation, it would be well for them to remember that
the believer himself is "some one," and that "no one" can take him
from God; this would include himself), and nothing in all creation can
separate him from the love of God. (Romans 8:35-39)  God "preserves"
him (Psalms 37:28; 40:11; 121) to the final consummation of his
salvation, being made conformable to the image of Christ. (Romans
8:29-31; 1 John 3:2)
.    These and many other passages of Scripture clearly teach, then,
that the believer cannot lose his salvation.  Passages which appear to
teach otherwise will not contradict these passages.  The careful
interpreter will always interpret those passages which are doubtful
interpretation in the light of those which are more clear on the
subject, and it can only be said that all the passages which appear to
teach contrary to the security of the believer are unclear and
doubtful at best; many of them speak not of believer, but of
unbelievers who have been closely associated with, but never received,
the Gospel; others speak of the possibility of the believer falling
deeply into sin and suffering chastisement from God, even the death of
his body, that his soul might still be saved; some speak of
"if...then" propositions ("...if we hold fast...then...") in which the
Greek grammar answers whether the condition (the "if") is fulfilled;
all may be reconciled with the clear teaching of the verses which
teach the security of the believer, without hurting the grammar or
context of the questioned passages.

.    "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In
His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through
the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an
inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade -- kept in heaven for
you.  Through faith you are shielded by God's power until the coming
of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.  In
this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have
suffered grief in all kinds of trials.  These have come so that your
faith -- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though
refined by fire -- may be proved genuine and may result in praise,
glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.  Though you have not
seen Him you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you
believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your
souls." (1 Peter 1:3-9)

by Cal Beisner

Computers for Christ - San Jose