We can be very secure in the Lord Jesus Christ, but faith in this doctrine, rather than in Him, can be a license to sin. This is a doctrine that’s false in the way it’s used, being carried on the back of a lie and compounding the error and confusion that comes from the lie. The sequence goes like this: “Once a person has accepted Jesus Christ as Savior, he/she is forever saved.”
We’ve demonstrated how “accepting Christ” is a misleading and presumptuous work of man rather than a work of God (read Diabolical Doctrine: Accept Christ as Your Personal Savior, and You Will Be Saved). Unless the Lord has overruled and brought the soul to repentance in spite of the error of the words (which is a rare occurrence), the person who has “accepted Christ” isn’t saved at all. It is the spurious conversion of a proselyte of men, a tragic event caused by an easy counterfeit gospel that accommodates the flesh when it should be denying it, instead.
Added to the false notion that salvation is entirely in the sinner’s power by “accepting” the Lord, the new proselyte is told he’s now eternally secure. He’s told there’s no longer anything to worry about, even though sin and a worldly life may continue. He’s told the needed change will come in full upon physical death. In effect, he’s taught to have faith in two things other than Jesus Christ, Who was raised from the dead to be our present Lord and Savior – the doctrine of eternal security and physical death!
If a person truly begins in Christ, it’s only the beginning of his spiritual journey and the salvation process, which leads one to salvation when completed.
Jesus said: “But he who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 10:22 EMTV).
One should also know that, frequently, endurance is to an end that exists in this life, though not always. But whatever the case, there is no great change in spiritual status with God upon physical death.
The apostles taught about the necessity of continuing on in faith:
“…strengthening the souls of the disciples, urging them to continue in the faith, saying, ‘Through many tribulations we must enter into the Kingdom of God‘” (Acts 14:22 EMTV).
Saving faith is planted in those who believe, but it must be brought to maturation. Jesus said that not all who begin finish. He spoke of counting the cost:
“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he may have enough to finish it; lest perhaps, after he has laid the foundation and is not able to finish, all those seeing begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’” (Luke 14:28-30 MKJV).
If one is warned to count the cost before starting, wouldn’t it follow that one can start and not finish? Isn’t that what the Lord warned people about? Continuing in faith is the key.
Jesus explained His parable of the seed sown, about the different experiences of those who receive His words. Here are two examples of those who believe on Him, yet don’t endure, not bearing fruit:
“But the seed sown on stony ground, is he who hears the Word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but is short-lived. For when tribulation or persecution comes because of the Word, immediately he falls away. But the seed sown in the thorns is he who hears the Word, and the anxiety of this age, and the deceitfulness of riches chokes out the Word, and it becomes fruitless” (Matthew 13:20-22 EMTV).
So we see that some can believe, but not go on to be made secure in the salvation that is theirs should they continue in faith. If one were to tell these people they’re saved upon profession of Christ, eternally secure by virtue of their profession, he would be lying to them. Here are the true and sober words of warning to all believers:
“But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not keep their own domain, but rather having left their own habitation, He has kept with everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the Great Day” (Jude 1:5-6 EMTV).
The purpose of judgment is to bring all into the knowledge of God through Jesus Christ. The Scriptures testify that all are destined to be reconciled to God, to know, worship, and praise Him. The price has been paid, and the die has been cast, for everyone. But not all have presently taken the Path of Truth to the point of arrival into this blessed state. As Jesus said, “Many are called, but few are chosen.”
Salvation comes by the working out of faith through obedience, not by a profession alone, though the substance of true faith beginning with confession of Jesus Christ as Lord sees one through to salvation:
“For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses unto salvation” (Romans 10:10 MKJV).
The admonition stands:
“And one said to Him, Lord, are the ones being saved few? And He said to them, Strive to enter in at the narrow gate. For I say to you, many will seek to enter in and shall not be able” (Luke 13:23-24 MKJV).
The one who believes on the Name of the Only Begotten Son of God already has eternal life. Can one walk away from Him? Yes, as did the seventy. Can one be lost forever and ever, time without end? No, He is the Omega and all things are His. It is written of Israel, whom He had cast off:
“For I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, lest you should be wise within yourselves; that blindness in part has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the nations has come in. And so all Israel shall be saved; as it is written, ‘There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob’” (Romans 11:25-26 MKJV).
The doctrine of eternal security causes the lawless to be secure and confident in their sinful lives, spreading their lawless attitudes like cancer and causing those without faith to blaspheme the Name of God. Those seeking to live a godly life, believing on Christ, will not receive a license to sin because of this false doctrine, because the Holy Spirit of God is with them to keep them. Jesus said of such:
“My Father Who gave them to Me is greater than all, and no one is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand” (John 10:29 MKJV).
Why should I have to believe in eternal security when I believe in the One Who has the keys to Hell and death, and Who has promised to be with me always, even until the end of the world? Does He not do right by me at all times? The salvation of God is nothing less than Jesus Christ being made manifest in these earthen vessels by the power of His gift of faith, here and now.
A child sucking from his mother’s breast needs no soother. With genuine life-giving faith in Jesus Christ, one does not need the doctrine of eternal security.
Read “Once Saved, Always Saved”?, The False and Misleading Gospel of “Accepting” Jesus Christ, Obedience, and Grace – The Reality.
Consider the alternative to this doctrine: If I don’t believe in eternal security, but seek to love God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, trusting in Him, what do I have to lose? Is He not faithful?