One of the most controversial Baptist distinctives is called Eternal Security, the belief that if a person is truly saved, they cannot be unsaved, no matter what they do or even if on the surface they fall into unbelief due to indoctrination in, for instance, public school or perhaps in the disappointment of circumstances.
Is it a valid doctrine, though? And if it is
what does it imply for the believer who is struggling with the issues of life
and of sin?
I’m going to give you the cliff notes version
today. The subject is so profound that you could do a series of Sunday School
lessons on it but for our purposes I’m going to keep it as basic as I can.
I want to start with a passage in Hebrews and
break it down for you and then bring up some supporting verses and try to
establish why I came to believe in Eternal Security.
Hebrews 5:12
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one
teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are
become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in
the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who
by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Hebrews 6:1 ¶
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on
unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works,
and of faith toward God, 2 Of the
doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the
dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And
this will we do, if God permit. 4 For it
is impossible for those
who were once enlightened, and have tasted of
the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the
powers of the world to come, 6 If they
shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to
themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Traditionally, Hebrews is thought to have
been spoken by Paul and written down by Timothy as his amanuensis or secretary
while Paul was in Rome. You can read the end of Acts to see why he felt he
needed to write this letter at that time by the inspiration given to him by the
Holy Spirit if that was the occasion that prompted its writing. It can be a
very confusing book if you don’t read and study it in its entirety rather than
cherry-picking verses to make a point. It is a wonderful book, though, filled
with great promises and comfort.
As a side note; perfection in verse 1 of
chapter 6 in Hebrews has to do with completeness, being finished or completed,
in the Bible, as one definition;
2 Chronicles 8:16 Now all the work of Solomon was prepared unto
the day of the foundation of the house of the LORD, and until it was finished.
So the house of the LORD was perfected.
Colossians 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of
Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye
may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
James 1:4
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and
entire, wanting nothing.
In Hebrews 5:12 we have Paul starting to
admonish those, in context Jewish Christians who had our Old Testament, who should
be able to teach the word of God but are lacking in their understanding of
doctrine and needs be brought again to the basics which Paul taught and which
is self-evident in God’s word.
God’s word alone is capable of making a
Christian and teaching him or her doctrine. MITSUO FUCHIDA
Chapter six starts with what Paul calls the doctrine
of Christ and it is, as he puts it, the basics we should all know. We
shouldn’t have to learn to count all over again by now. But here we go.
First, the first doctrine is repentance from dead
works which are sins against God.
I know that there are some preachers who
insist that dead works are the things you are holding onto that you
think justify you such as, “I’m a good person,” or, “I was baptized by a priest
when I was a baby,” but the Biblical text is clear as to what dead works
are Biblically speaking.
Repentance from dead works.
Dead works are
sins that needed to be cleansed by sacrifices under the Law given to Moses but
now by the blood of Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 9:8 ¶
The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was
not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: 9 Which was a figure for the time
then present, in which were offered both
gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as
pertaining to the conscience; 10 Which
stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances,
imposed on them until the time of reformation. 11 But Christ being come an high priest of good
things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands,
that is to say, not of this building; 12
Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he
entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
13 For if the blood of bulls and of
goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the
purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more
shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself
without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living
God?
We were to repent of our sins, and that
doesn’t mean just changing your mind, but turning from your known sins and
asking God to deliver you from even sins you aren’t aware of. Here’s an example
of repent and turn with one action following another as part of
it.
Ezekiel 18:30
Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to
his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your
transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
And here is an example from David on sins
that aren’t so obvious.
Psalms 19:12
Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
Of course, in today’s consumer church
influenced heavily by communistic belief sin is downplayed and repentance from
sin is not thought much of. We even have unmarried Christian couples today
living together casually because it us culturally acceptable.
Faith toward God would seem like an obvious thing but what is faith. In
the Bible faith and belief are linked.
Romans 3:22
Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all
and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Galatians 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under
sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that
believe.
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to
God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently
seek him.
We believe what Jesus said about Himself.
John 14:5
Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can
we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him,
I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by
me. 7 If ye had known me, ye should have
known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us
the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9 Jesus
saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known
me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou
then, Shew us the Father?
Those who call Christ a liar, who do not
believe in Him and what He has said about Himself have God’s wrath abiding on
them.
John 3:36
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that
believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
We believe that He rose from the dead as the
foundation point of the Christian faith.
Romans 10:9
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt
believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be
saved.
Without the death, burial, and resurrection
of Christ there is no Christianity. In the Muslim’s Koran Jesus as the Messiah
is mentioned three times more than Muhammed is even named and yet they deny He
died on the Cross or was resurrected. There is no salvation there.
Paul goes on to mention baptisms, plural.
There is the baptism of the Holy Ghost when one receives Christ. This is beyond
our control. If you are truly saved then the Holy Ghost, the very mind of God
indwells you. As Peter said to the Apostles in Jerusalem as he talked about his
encounter with the Roman centurion Cornelius;
Acts 11:16
Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed
baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
Referring to what Jesus had told them post-resurrection;
Acts 1:1 ¶
The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began
both to do and teach, 2 Until the day in
which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given
commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: 3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after
his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and
speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: 4 And, being assembled together with them,
commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the
promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye
shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
When we become saved, born again, we submit,
like Jesus showed us by submitting to the ordinance of baptism;
Matthew 3:13 ¶ Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto
John, to be baptized of him. 14 But John
forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
15 And Jesus answering said unto him,
Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.
Then he suffered him. 16 And Jesus, when
he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens
were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and
lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice
from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
This will represent Christ’s death, burial,
and resurrection for us.
Romans 6:3
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were
baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we
are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up
from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in
newness of life. 5 For if we have been
planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness
of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this,
that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be
destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
As my topic here isn’t about baptism I won’t
go into the many verses and passages on the subject.
The laying on of hands by the
Apostles, in the early days of the church, was a vehicle by which the Holy
Ghost was several times imparted to new believers.
Acts 8:14 ¶
Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had
received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for
them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them:
only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they
received the Holy Ghost.
Acts 9:17
And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his
hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee
in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight,
and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 18
And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he
received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
Acts 19:1 ¶
And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having
passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2 He said unto them, Have ye received
the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much
as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3
And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said,
Unto John’s baptism. 4 Then said Paul,
John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people,
that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ
Jesus. 5 When they heard this, they were
baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6
And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them;
and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. 7
And all the men were about twelve.
The practice was also used as imparting
authority or a spiritual gift.
Acts 13:1 ¶
Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and
teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene,
and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted,
the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I
have called them.
3 And
when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them
away.
1Timothy 4:14
Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy,
with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
The resurrection of the dead is
fundamental to Christianity. Without believing that Christ rose from the dead
you cannot be saved from Hell and the Lake of Fire.
Romans 10:9
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt
believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be
saved.
Eternal judgment very clearly means that after a person dies there will be
a final, eternal judgment of God.
Hebrews 9:27
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the
judgment:
Many Baptists believe there are two
judgments; one of the Christian’s works, which I will come to later, and one of
the unsaved dead’s works but with starkly different results. The unsaved dead
are judged at what is known as the Great White Throne judgment after the end of
the millennial reign of Christ on earth.
Revelation 20:11 ¶ And I saw a great white throne, and him that
sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was
found no place for them. 12 And I saw
the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and
another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged
out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Paul then goes on to make a very important
declaration in this first part of Hebrews, chapter 6, that we must grasp to understand
Eternal Security. It is impossible, he says, that having been saved, that you
can fall away, become unsaved. If you did, rhetorically speaking, you could
never get saved again without Christ being re-crucified. How simple does it
have to get?
So, if you believe you can lose your
salvation you can’t get saved again. For those of you who believe you can put
your salvation on and off again like a cheap jacket this has to be a conundrum.
Let me read it aloud again to you, what Paul says which, to me at least, is
very clear.
Hebrews 6:4
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have
tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the
powers of the world to come, 6 If they
shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to
themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
So what about the sins a Christian commits
for which he or she does not ask forgiveness for? There was a rock star named
Warren Zevon once. You may have heard of his famous song, “Werewolves of
London.” He became a Christian and before he died of cancer he published a song
entitled, “The Sin,” where he asked the question of what are you going to do about
the little sins, the ones that aren’t a crime against the Law. He was referring
to things like stealing little things, being cruel, hurting someone’s feelings
unfairly. People who don’t believe in Eternal Security typically dumb down sin
to where they ignore the ungodly stuff we do every day that isn’t a blip on the
radar hardly but still transgressions against God’s moral law.
Anyway, back to Paul’s statement in Hebrews
6:6. If you think you can become saved then lose your salvation he says you
cannot get saved again without crucifying Christ all over again.
Hebrews 10:12
But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat
down on the right hand of God;
Notice what Jesus said about eternal life.
John 10:28
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither
shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
And technically since we are the body of
Christ on earth we are part of His hand.
Can a Christian suffer being reproved and
suffer loss for the sin they commit? Of course they can. We will stand at the
Judgment Seat of Christ some time after we physically die.
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment
seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according
to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Our works and our very intentions and the
meaning behind our actions will be judged but we will be spared.
1Corinthians 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for
the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire
shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
14 If
any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If
any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be
saved; yet so as by fire.
And yes, we can quench the Holy Spirit’s
influence in us by our attitude and actions.
Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God,
whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
1 Thessalonians 5:19 Quench not the Spirit.
And I will state very emphatically that
Christian dogma over the centuries has made it often too hard to become a
Christian, demanding perfection we are not capable of, and sometimes, as in the
present day, too easy as all we need to do is repeat a 1-2-3 repeat after me
formula that may be backed by no genuine repentance or even a consideration of
the facts we must believe.
OLD PATHS STORY
Discuss fruits of the Spirit. Evidence that
you are saved doesn’t just come in your trying to avoid sin and in the things
you don’t do but is characterized by the things that emanate from you because
He indwells you.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is
no law.
Paul tells the Corinthians to examine
themselves
2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the
faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus
Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
Are you saved? Have you received Christ as
your Saviour and been born again? Are you letting God speak to you through His
word every day while you reach out to Him in prayer?
Christians can become overwhelmed with the
distress they find themselves in whether their fault or not. They can question,
AM I REALLY SAVED? Someone might be going through a torment right now that
makes them question their relationship with Christ. If you are caught up in a
sin you can have God deal with it.
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
And if you have believed and trusted in
Christ’s righteousness and not your own I would confidently tell you that you
are saved. Yes, it is true that Christians can be guilty of any sin under the
sun in our weak and doomed flesh. But I am sure that if a Christian is writhing
in sin they are miserable. If they are not miserable in pursuing a sin that
besets them and reveling in it I would suspect that they never were saved and
just recited a few words someone told them to say because they were sick of
their life as it was and those words meant nothing to them outside of an
emotional experience at the time.
The words you say in themselves aren’t magic
but the intention of the heart, something only God knows, is the meaningful
thing. Trust in Christ today, in His righteousness and not your own and be born
again into God’s kingdom. Be assured that Christ will never let you go.
Hebrews 13:5
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such
things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Be confident in your salvation. I want to
close with this word of encouragement from Paul.
Romans 8:31 ¶
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be
against us? 32 He that spared not his
own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely
give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any
thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that
died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God,
who also maketh intercession for us. 35
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or
distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed
all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than
conquerors through him that loved us. 38
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities,
nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor 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.
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