Eternal Security

• Once Saved - Always Saved

  No, this is NOT in the Bible.

• Backsliding

  • According to Webster backslide means: 1 : to lapse morally or in the practice of religion
    2 : to revert to a worse condition : RETROGRESS
    
  • A Christian can backslide.
  • What if a Christian dies in a backslidden condition?

• Who goes to Hell?

  EVERYONE who rejects Jesus of Nazareth as Savior and Lord.

  Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

  ANYONE who blasphemes the Holy Spirit

  Luke 12:\10 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.
  • Those who NEVER accept Jesus as Savior and Lord.
  • Those who accept Him but later REJECT him as Savior and Lord 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.

• Why don't backsliders go to Hell?

  • All sin is covered by the blood of Jesus John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

    Romans 8:37 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.

  • We are not saved by our righteousness Isaiah 64 6 But 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.

    James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

  • God is not looking for an opportunity to send us to hell John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

    John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
    28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
    29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

  • What happens to unrepented sin?

    It has already been covered by the blood of Jesus to protect the soul from separation from God and damnation.

    But, the sinner will suffer loss

    • In this world
      • loss of Joy
      • loss of blessings
      • loss of health
      • loss of life
    • In world to come
      • loss of reward 1 Corinthians 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
        12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
        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.
      • loss of status Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

• Eternal Security

  We are eternally secure in Jesus Christ. Outside of Him we are eternally lost. We make a conscious, intentional commitment through faith to Jesus Christ. We can only break that commitment through the same type of conscious, intentional rejection of Jesus Christ. We cannot 'accidentally' lose our salvation. Satan would wish us to be fearful of God to the extent we do not trust His Love or minimize it in some way. Always remember, His Love is greater than your ability to comprehend His Love.

by Randolph Lucas 12/8/01