Community answers are sorted based on votes. The higher the vote, the further up an answer is.
Derrol PORTER
Supporter
There is another description word for eternal security, that is themed in the Scriptures, Perseverance of the Saints.The Doctrine states that God not only saves people through Grace but also Keeps people saved by preserving who He has saved. There are multiple verses that convey the truth of this Doctrine, I will list a few. 2 Timothy 1:12, Philippians 1:6, Romans 8:28-39, John 10:27-30, John 5:24, and 2 Peter 1:10. When a person is saved the Holy Spirit breaks the power of sin and seals that person till eternity Ephesians 1:13-14. If someone is truly saved or born again they have made alive by the Holy Spirit and Jesus is the author and perfecter of our Faith, Hebrews 12:2 and Hebrews 7:25. Signed, and sealed and delivered is not just a song, it is a Biblical truth.
Aurel Gheorghe
Supporter
The doctrine of eternal security, better known as "Once Saved, Always Saved" or the “Perseverance of the Saints,” is the teaching that once a person chooses to believe in Christ can never be lost. It is the assurance of salvation granted to all who once accepted Christ as their Savior, regardless of what they might believe or do from that moment onward – it is based primarily on Romans 8:38, 39 and John 10:28, 29. The difficulty I’m having with this doctrine is that rules out freedom of choice we all have - to choose whether we will be saved or lost - whether we want to serve God or Satan. We all have the right to change our minds once accepted Christ. There are countless Bible example where God grants the freedom to choose or change our mind. Yes, “no man is able to pluck” a saved person from God’s hand, but by our own choices we can let go of God and choose to be lost (Heb 2:1). Only a personal relationship with Christ gives us the assurance of salvation (John 15:5). Christ’s disciples, who were in a saved condition, were told that unless they remain connected to Him, they could lose their salvation (John 15:6). And Judas Iscariot, who at one point performed miracles (Matt 10:5-8), in the end decided to rather serve Satan than Christ (Luke 22:3). In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says that only by abiding in Him we have assurance of salvation (Matt 7:17-23). In the parable of the sower (Luke 8:5-15) Jesus tells the disciples that it was indeed possible to believe, be saved but then lose salvation. Furthermore, the parable of the ungrateful servant (Matt 18:23-35), tells that the servant was first guilty, then forgiven and later on, due to his own actions, rejected - his initial guilty condition was reinstated. Clearly the ungrateful servant was once saved but later lost his salvation. Paul also understood that to remain connected to Christ meant to die daily to self, that Christ might live in him (1 Cor 15:31). King Saul was chosen by God (1 Samuel 10:1), at some point he was full of God's Spirit (1 Samuel 10:10), but in the end was rejected by God and lost his salvation (1 Samuel 16:14).
Jennifer Rothnie
Supporter
Eternal security is a debated topic within the church as to whether someone is completely assured of future salvation no matter what they do or believe from that point on. There are a couple main variations of this view: Eternal Security variation #1: Once a person believes in Christ they are secure in their salvation and cannot lose it for any reason at all, even if they reject faith in Christ and die an unbeliever at a later date. This contradicts II Tim 2:11-12 that the Father will disown the person who disowns Christ. (II Tim 2:12.) Eternal Security variation #2: Once a person believes in Christ, the Holy Spirit will ensure that they keep believing in Christ, and so that person can never lose their salvation. This is the version of Eternal Security believed by most Calvinists. This contradicts many passages which state someone did or that people will fall away by rejecting faith (Heb 6:5-8, I Tim 4:1, I Tim 1:19, Lk 8:13, etc.) The above two variations can be referred to as 'Once Saved, Always Saved.' Alternate views: Assurance of salvation conditions on Faith: A believer holds the active assurance of salvation, and cannot be lost due to struggling with sin, commiting a willful sin, Satan snatching him away from God, God forsaking him, or other reasons of works or outside factors. However, a person can give up this assurance by deliberately rejecting faith and no longer believing. This view fits with the language of John 3:16, I Pet 1:9, Jn 20:31, and many other passages that show that is those actively believe who actively hold salvation. Assurance of salvation conditioned on living faith: Similar to the above, except holds that "faith without works is dead (James 2:26)" and that if someone isn't growing in faith even in the smallest part, then they don't have a true relationship with Christ (II Pet 1:3-11.) Assurance of salvation conditioned on living faith and not living in willful sin: This adds a further condition of not wholeheartedly and willfully embracing sin as a state of being (Heb 10:26.) That is, a believer might struggle with sin or commit a sin willfully, but a believer should not return to slavery to sin and willingly embracing the pursuit of sin and reject walking by the spirit in favor of walking by the flesh (II Pet 2:20-22.) This view is very similar to the one above it if not identical, as one cannot be a slave to both sin and to righteousness or walk by both the spirit and the flesh. https://ebible.com/questions/17692-what-does-the-hebrews-10-26-mean-concerning-willful-sin#answer-28778 Salvation conditional on avoiding specific sins: This view holds that specific 'mortal sins' can cost a believer salvation, regardless of whether the believer still walks by the Spirit. This view is eschewed by John in I Jn 2:1-2. Salvation conditional on performing specific works: This is the view that the believer must perform specific works or tasks to 'prove' his faith is genuine and that if he doesn't perform, or stops performing, those works he is not saved. Paul contradicts this view in Gal 3:1-14 as a form of erroneous works-based salvation that merely moves the performance of works to after first belief rather than prior. **** The general theory of eternal security does not seem to fit with scripture, which conditions salvation on faith and mentions many cases of people who specifically rejected faith after once believing, or specifically returned to the world. https://ebible.com/questions/17728-what-exactly-does-fall-away-mean-in-heb-6-6#answer-28836 These topics dive into the particulars further: https://ebible.com/questions/2974-is-there-such-a-thing-as-an-ex-christian#answer-24682 https://ebible.com/questions/2039-what-is-the-seal-of-the-holy-spirit#answer-29251 https://ebible.com/questions/673-does-hebrews-6-4-6-mean-we-can-lose-our-salvation#answer-14122 https://ebible.com/questions/672-does-hebrews-10-26-mean-that-a-believer-can-lose-salvation#answer-7631
Robert Broyles
Supporter
There are many texts that refute the doctrine of eternal security. I'll give the two best texts for brevity's sake: Hebrews 2:12 "See to it, brothers and sisters (i.e., believers in Christ), that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away (i.e., apostatizes) from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. 14 We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end." (NIV) Hebrews 6:5 "For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit (i.e, those who have been born again), 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they then commit apostasy, since they crucify the Son of God on their own account and hold him up to contempt." (RSV) We have eternal security as long as our faith "in Christ Jesus" remains firm until the end of our lives!
Add your Answer
All answers are REVIEWED and MODERATED.
Please ensure your answer MEETS all our guidelines.
A good answer provides new insight and perspective. Here are guidelines to help facilitate a meaningful learning experience for everyone.
- Adhere to the eBible Statement of Faith.
- Your answer should be complete and stand-alone.
- Include supporting arguments, and scripture references if possible. Seek to answer the "why".
- Adhere to a proper tone and spirit of love and understanding.
- For more info see The Complete Guide to eBible