Brief Thoughts on Eternal Security

From: The Christian Shepherd: 2002

By: Robert L. DeWitt

• 3 min. read • grade level: 8

Perhaps the reason some Christians doubt the eternal security of the believer in Christ is that they doubt the efficacy [value] of the work of Christ at the cross. They may think like the one who said, “He is rowing on one side of the boat and I must row on the other side to get to heaven.” But such sad thinking suggests that our Lord did not do a complete work at Calvary. The Apostle Paul presents the truth. “When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly” (Rom. 5:6⁶For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6)).

Grace or Works?

Other believers allow that the work of redemption was completed by Christ, but they still think their salvation depends on their own ability to measure up and maintain it. These folks don’t see that redemption is a finished work and is a free gift by grace (Rom. 6:23²³For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23); Eph. 2:4-9⁴But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, ⁵Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) ⁶And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: ⁷That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. ⁸For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:4‑9); 2 Tim. 1:9⁹Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, (2 Timothy 1:9); Titus 3:5⁵Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:5)), something none can ever measure up to or maintain.

God tells us that man is helpless, corrupted and dead in sin (Rom. 3:10-12¹⁰As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: ¹¹There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. ¹²They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (Romans 3:10‑12); Eph. 2:17¹⁷And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. (Ephesians 2:17))—down in a horrible pit (Psa. 40:2²He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. (Psalm 40:2)). It should be apparent that he can do nothing to achieve or earn salvation by his own works (Isa. 64:6-8⁶But 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. ⁷And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. ⁸But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. (Isaiah 64:6‑8)). Only God can redeem a soul, and that by grace (unmerited favor, gratis). We must receive the gift with thanksgiving and by faith make it good to our own soul.

Holding on or Being Held?

Failing to appreciate the difference between the believer’s standing (depends on Christ) and state (depends on the believer) results in thinking that whenever the flesh acts salvation might be lost.

Our standing depends on the finished and perfect work of Christ on the cross, not on ourselves. We must not discredit that holy work.

Our state, on the other hand, depends on our obedience and faithfulness. Standing is redemption and the gift of eternal life. Faithfulness has to do with rewards in heaven, not our going to heaven.

Salvation and Restoration

Consider a child who is born into a family or adopted. (Believers are both; see John 3:3³Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3); Rom. 8:15¹⁵For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (Romans 8:15); Gal. 4:4-6⁴But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, ⁵To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. ⁶And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:4‑6).) If such a child is disobedient to his parents, he is not put out of the family for sins, but he loses the favor of the parents until repentant and restored. The prodigal son did not cease to be the son because he sinned, but he had to repent and return to enjoy restoration to happy fellowship with his father and receive blessings (Luke 15:11-24¹¹And he said, A certain man had two sons: ¹²And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. ¹³And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. ¹⁴And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. ¹⁵And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. ¹⁶And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. ¹⁷And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! ¹⁸I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, ¹⁹And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. ²⁰And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. ²¹And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. ²²But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: ²³And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: ²⁴For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. (Luke 15:11‑24)).

Believers must confess their sins in order to continue in happy fellowship with our God (1 John 1:9⁹If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)). We also ought to know that believers are the children of God and He is our Father forever (1 John 2:16¹⁶For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (1 John 2:16); 1 John 3:12¹²Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. (1 John 3:12)).

R. DeWitt (adapted)

Ed. Note: The above excerpt has been taken from a pamphlet written by our brother on this subject. For a complete list of available pamphlets on various Christian subjects, please contact the author.

Click here to show subject links in the text for more information.