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.

Union with Christ

What does it mean to be "in Christ"? Does it mean that one is in a favorable position with regard to Christ? Or that God’s disposition is laid favorably upon us? Perhaps it means that one is in the same category of Christ, and as a consequence, God sees us in a new relationship with Him separate from the world. But these definitions have no ground in truth. What is true is this: the phrase “in Christ” means to be in union with Christ. This union is far more than a simple categorical or abstract principal. It is mysterious - yet personal.


Union with Christ means that on account of the fact that we have died in Christ, that we will also live in Christ (Rom 6:1ff). Furthermore, we were chosen “in Christ” before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4). Therefore from the first – eternal election – to the last – glorification, we are in union with Christ. That is, our union is timeless. We were chosen before time in Christ and we will be united in a resurrection body like His (cf. Rom 6:5; 1 Cor 15:50ff), when Christ returns and is glorified together with us for all eternity (1 Thess 4:17). Our salvation, then, was secured before time for all time. There was never a time when we were not in Christ.

Our heavenly inheritance, then, is secured in virtue of this union. Our election, predestination, calling, regeneration, justification, adoption, sanctification and finally our glorification is all of Christ. But not only this, we are not only in Christ but also in the Father and the Holy Spirit. Jesus and the father are one (John 10:30), and if anyone obeys Christ the Father will love Him and make His abode with the believer (John 14:23). In addition, we have received the Spirit of God also (1 Cor 2:12), thus, we are in constant communion and union with the Triune Godhead.