ETERNAL SECURITY by John Trevett 4-2017

Eternal security is PREVELANT in the scriptures. If one does not believe in eternal security, then he or she saying, in effect, "I have to do something to obtain it or keep it." This results in NOT BELIEVING (putting total confidence in) the gospel and putting SOME amount of confidence in his or her self. Below are ten reasons why I believe in the eternal security of the believer. Always remember, the Bible CANNOT contradict itself.

Reason 1: Everlasting life means everlasting life. In the book of John, the words "eternal life" are directly correlated with believe. Take John 6:47: "Verily, verily I say unto thee, he that believeth in me HATH everlasting life." The word "hath" is present tense; similar to "has." A person who put his or her full trust (believes) in Jesus HAS everlasting life. If one HAS everlasting life, how long does it last? It lasts forever. If one could lose his or her salvation, then the person never had everlasting life. They had temporary life. Thus, Jesus would have lied and that is impossible. In hope of eternal life, which God, that CANNOT lie, promised before the world began (Titus 1:2)

Reason 2: Sealed means sealed. One is sealed the moment he or she believes (trusts) the Gospel. We also have seen that this person is "sealed" unto the day of redemption (Eph4:30). If a person is sealed unto the day of redemption, how can one lose salvation? People are either sealed unto the day of redemption or they are not sealed unto the day of redemption. Since the Bible is the word of God, I will believe (Eph 4:30).

Reason 3: Jesus promised not to lose nothing in the book of John. "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. "And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I SHOULD LOSE NOTHING, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that everyone which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:39,40). Are we to think that when Jesus has one, He will actually lose one? I see the "should". However, since Jesus is God (I Tim 3:16; John 1 14), are we to think that He will lose one?

Reason 4: The Bible states that ALL sins are forgiven to the believer. "ALL" in the Greek is "PAZ." It means total, all, 100%, always (which is a measure of time). If the Bible says ALL my sins are forgiven (past, present, future) then I CAN'T lose my salvation. "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, HAVING FORGIVEN YOU ALL TRESPASSES; blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross" (Colossians 2:13,14)."And by him all that BELIEVE are justified from ALLTHINGS, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses" (Acts 13:39).Am I not to believe the Bible when it reads "ALL"? If ALL my sins are forgiven, what sins do I have left to send me to hell? NONE.

Reason 5: In the book of Hebrews, the writer tells us that those that are sanctified are "perfected forever". How does one get sanctified? We are told by Jesus himself in Acts 26:18, "To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which ARE SANCTIFIED BY FAITH that is IN ME." We clearly see that we are sanctified by faith in Jesus; NOT faith in ourselves, the law or works. If 100% of our faith is in Jesus, then we are perfected forever. "For by one offering he hath PERFECTED that are sanctified" (Heb 10:14). Since, I am perfected FOREVER, how can I lose my salvation?

Reason 6: Salvation is a GIFT and not a reward. There are MANY verses that read salvation is a GIFT. We see this in Eph2:8-9, Rom 6:23 and Rom 5:15-20, which reads: But not as the offence, so also is the FREE GIFT. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the GIFT BY GRACE, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the GIFT: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the FREE GIFT is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. Therefore, as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the FREE GIFT came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover, the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. Salvation is NOT a gift if one has to do something to earn it. IF one cannot earn it, how can one lose it? Also, how many times does the Bible need to tell us that salvation is FREE before we will actually believe it?

Reason 7: Jesus said that nothing will be plucked out of His hand or the Father's hand. "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall ANY MAN pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand" (John 10:28,29). If one could lose their salvation, then someone or some-

thing "plucked them out of His hand". I find that to be impossible for anything to pluck us out of God's hand. The same holds true in Romans 38,39."For I am persuaded, that NEITHER death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 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." NOTHING -- not even ourselves -- will be able to pluck us out of His hand.

Reason 8: A born again believer cannot lose their salvation because THEN we would be able to "boast." "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast" (Eph 2:8,9). "Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? Nay: but by the law of faith" (Romans 3:27). Boasting simply means this, we can't go to the Father and say, "See, I deserve to be here because I am not a sinner like Hitler!" This is boasting before God. IF, I could lose my salvation, THEN I would be able to boast, "See, I didn't do that sin to lose my salvation like that guy over there!" A saved individual CANNOT BOAST about his or her salvation.

Reason 9: The Bible says over and over that the believer is "declared righteous" by faith, belief, grace. There is NO verse that states once a believer is "declared righteous" they become unrighteous. JUSTIFIED means "declared righteous." The following are two examples. "Being JUSTIFIED FREELY by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Rom 3:24)."Knowing that a man is NOT justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and NOT by the works of the law: for by the works of the law SHALL NO flesh be justified" (Gal 2:16).

Reason 10: IF I could lose my salvation, then "the flesh" gets partial credit. The "born again" believer understands that "the flesh" cannot justify them AT ALL. "For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have NOCONFIDENCE in the flesh" (Phil 3:3). "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth NO GOOD thing" (Rom 7:18a). "Are ye so FOOLISH? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the FLESH?" (Gal 3:3). Our flesh cannot please God at all. Are we to think that once we are sealed that we maintain our salvation through the flesh (works or works of the law that WE do)? Only "religion" would have us be so foolish (Gal 3:1-3). Bonus reason: Here are two more verses to consider."...to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, RESERVED in heaven for you 5 Who are KEPT by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Peter 1:4-5). "Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that ARE SANCTIFIED by God the Father, and PRESERVED in Jesus Christ, and called..." (Jude 1:1). If I am kept by God and preserved by God, how can I lose my salvation? The simple answer is; I can't.

A QUESTION

The Bible is full of people who found salvation both as individuals and groups. The list includes: Saul, Cornelius, the Ethiopian, Simon the Sorcerer, the thief on the cross, the Philippian jailor, etc. Can you find ONE example in the Bible where someone lost his or her salvation in the New Testament? Here's a hint. You won't find one person named in the New Testament who lost his or her salvation. The Bible CANNOT contradict itself! It is God who keeps us, seals us, never losing us and not allowing anything to pluck us out of His hand. Believers ARE the body of Christ and nothing will ever separate us from the love of God. He sanctifies us by faith. "For by one offering he hath PERFECTED FOREVER them that are sanctified" (Heb 10:14). WOW! How great is this?! How great is grace! How great is God! Believe (put TOTAL confidence in) the Gospel of Jesus today. DON'T trust in yourself, religion, or works to save you. Salvation is FREE; a GIFT. Believe ONLY in Him (Jesus) and be eternally secured!