The California Collection/TheCaliforniaCollection.cdr/his136/secure2.lzh/SECURE2.TXT

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STE:Security of The Believer  by Cal Beisner

   (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