The deceitfulness of eternal security

A profession of faith, a historical moment of belief, or whatever it may have been still does mean your salvation is secured until the end. The bible is clear. If you do not abide in the vine, then you will be burned up (John 15:6). If deny the master who has bought you, then you bring upon yourself swift destruction (2 pet 2:1).

Look at what the author of Hebrews says, “For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they then fall away, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt (6:4-7).” Never does the bible say that based on a profession of faith one is secure to the end. One may have all the outward signs of the a regenerate person and yet fall away.

Therefore let us cast aside this spurious use of the phrase “eternally secure”, and let us move to a more responsible phrase. That is, the phrase perseverance of the saints. For what does Jesus say, only those who continue in His word will prove to be His true disciples (john 8:31). It is significant that Jesus is speaking to those who followed Him; those who claimed to believe in Him, yet still, they must continue or abide in His word to be His true disciples.

Can we be secure in our salvation? Yes, for those whom God has effectually called in virtue of His plan will be justified and glorified (cf. Rom 8:28-30). The word “called” or called into union with Christ presupposes a plan in the past (28). God who is all-powerful cannot fail, and therefore, we cannot fail to be brought into glorification (30). Glorification according to God’s plan (28) surely includes both calling and justification (30). So then, can the called and justified be lost? Never! God cannot lie (cf. Titus 1:2), and he speaks through Paul telling us that nothing can separate us from the love which was granted to us in Christ (Rom 8:31-39). If Christ died for us (32, 34) and we died with Him (Rom 6:5), then it is impossible for us to be have not “died in Him”. Further, we were united in Christ by God’s election in eternity past (Eph 1:4), affirmed by a promise within the Godhead (2 Tim 1:9). Therefore our perseverance is assured.

But we must persevere. We must workout our salvation with fear and trembling in virtue of it being God who works in us (Phil 1:12-13). Remember, “if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven…”, then you will be saved - but only then.