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 3:16
When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of Glory died; my richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, save in the death of Christ, my God; all the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to his blood. See, from his head, his hands, his feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down. Did e'er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown. Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were an offering far too small; love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all. Isaac Watts, 1674-1748
Introduction: The gospel of Christ is GLORIOUS - all the glory goes to God and none to men! In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 2 Corinthians 4:4
The gospel of Christ is called glorious for a reason! It is glorious! The Lord Jesus Christ suffered and died on the cross for our sins and shed his precious blood for our forgiveness and our redemption! On the third day he rose again! The Lord Jesus did everything that needed to be done to save us and we cannot add to his finished work on the cross! The blood of Jesus is good enough for you and it is good enough for me!
The devil hates the glorious gospel of Christ and hates the blood of Jesus! He is terrified of it! That's why he attacks the blood of Jesus! The Bible warns about those who pervert the gospel of Christ. Hold fast to the truth and rejoice in your salvation if you have been saved by Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world!
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. Galatians 6:14
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. Galatians 1:6-9
The Bible is very plain on the subject of the eternal security of the Christian. It makes it clear that a Christian is saved once and forever by JESUS! To get a right understanding of the gospel of Christ we need to study all the verses which speak of salvation, justification, eternal life, righteousness in Christ, forgiveness, son-ship, redemption etc. We need to look at all the promises of God's never-ending faithfulness towards us! We need to put all these glorious promises together and build a strong foundation on them and we shall understand in our hearts that the gospel of Christ is indeed glorious! When you have a strong foundation based on God's promises towards us from his word, you shall never be shaken! The Holy Ghost, the Comforter, guides a Christian into all truth and he bears witness with his spirit that he is a child of God!
You can lose rewards but you CANNOT lose/leave salvation! It is the gift of God and YOU can never add to it by your 'obedience'! You never merited salvation in the first place and neither could you EVER! If you really are a Christian why not tell the Lord that from this day forth you are going to trust in him alone to get to heaven? If you do your life will never be the same again! Jesus loves you so much he died to save you! May you be blessed though reading Once Saved Always Saved. It's the truth! Rejoice in your salvation and thank the Lord Jesus for saving you if you are a Christian! As an evangelist I am not alone in my belief in the eternal security of the Christian. This same position is shared and taught by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, The Luis Palau Evangelistic Association and many, many other evangelistic ministries across the earth. The gospel of Christ REALLY IS GOOD NEWS! Believe it!
A Christian is saved, not being saved!
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18
Fake RC/New Age 'bibles' taken from fake/corrupt manuscripts teach the false doctrine of 'being saved''! You are either saved, however, or you are not! You were either in the Ark or you were not! You were either in the city of refuge or you were not! A Christian is not 'being saved', he IS saved! God's word declares it and God cannot lie! Do you believe God?
we are not saved by works (obedience or endurance)!
If you believe that it is possible to lose your salvation you must, by necessity, believe in salvation by works. There is no way around this inescapable fact! According to your own theology you must be obedient in order to keep your salvation! Can you imagine what a terrible place heaven would be if we could enter it by our Christian obedience/overcoming? It would be full of self-righteous boasters! God ordained that there could only be ONE way to save us, ONE way to make us fit for heaven: the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ! If we could get to HEAVEN by our 'Christian obedience', JESUS DIED FOR NOTHING!
SALVATION is an EVERLASTING GIFT of GRACE, NOT a REWARD for WORKS!
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus:3:4-7
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Romans 4:5
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. Galatians 2:21
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Matthew 24:13 This verse is NOT talking about salvation of the soul! This passage refers to people going through the great tribulation who can be saved or rescued out of it in the end. Our souls are not saved by endurance! Sometimes the word 'saved' is used in a different context to mean a miraculous deliverance after a severe kind of persecution and tribulation. It is used in this way, for instance, in Jeremiah 30:7 'Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.'
What does it mean to 'work out your salvation with fear and trembling'? So many Christians , especially in my beloved Africa, have an incorrect understanding of Philippians 2:12-13. What does it actually mean to 'work out your salvation with fear and trembling'? It DOES NOT mean 'keep yourself saved by your obedience', for that is IMPOSSIBLE! Salvation is NOT of ourselves!It simply means living your Christian life with an attitude of reverence and respect towards God, who has SAVED you and is SANCTIFYING you! The word 'fear' in this context means 'to have reverential awe of'. It does NOT mean be afraid/scared! JESUS tells all Christians not to be AFRAID! He has PROMISED that they ALL have ETERNAL LIFE and shall NEVER PERISH! It's simple really! Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Philippians 2:12-13 Jesus Christ is the Saviour! We have to repent, believe in Jesus Christ as our risen Saviour and confess Jesus as Lord in order to be saved but we are not saved by our faith - WE ARE SAVED BY JESUS! We are not 'being saved' by consciously deciding to keep 'believing in Jesus' every day, consciously deciding to have 'continuous faith' in Jesus! What nonsense such a notion is! Christians are SAVED forever and eternally justified by the precious blood of Christ!The Christian's faith is continuous, by it's very nature! God, who gave it to us, is the author and finisher of it! Jesus is the Saviour, NOT our faith!
The very moment a lost sinner calls upon the name of the Lord he is saved FOREVER by Jesus! At the very moment a lost sinner comes to repentance and faith in Jesus as his risen Saviour, confessing him as Lord he is brought from death to life, he is justified eternally by the blood of Christ, he becomes a son of God and God sends the Spirit of his Son into his heart, he is born again, the righteousness of Christ is imputed to him, he is washed in the blood of Jesus, he is adopted into God's family, he is forgiven, he is given the free gift of eternal life, shall never be condemned by God and shall never go to hell! Hallelujah, what a Saviour!
This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that ChristJesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. I Timothy 1:15
And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. 1 John 4:14
A Christian has eternal life! Eternal life goes on FOREVER! You cannot have eternal life for a limited period of time! In John 10 verse 28 Jesus states that a Christian has eternal life! He also states that it is therefore IMPOSSIBLE for a Christian to go to hell - '.... they shall never perish, ….' In John 10 Jesus talks about a shepherd and explains that the sheep follow him because they know his voice. He explains also that they will not follow a stranger because they do not know the voice of strangers. He then describes himself as the good shepherd. The emphasis in John 10:27 is thus on 'ME' not 'follow', so it's '.... they follow ME' rather than ' …. they FOLLOW me'. We don't get to heaven by 'obedience' but because we have been SAVED by JESUS our good shepherd, and no-one else!
Not only is eternal life eternal but it is also a quality: knowing Jesus! Everyone has an eternal soul and spirit and will exist forever but only a Christian has eternal life. A person receives the free gift of eternal life at the moment he is saved by Jesus.
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 3:16
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. John 3:36
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 5:24
37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:37-40
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. John 6:47
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. John 10:27-28
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. John 17:3
9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 1 John 5 9-13 Do you believe God?
A true Christian has trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ to save him. Do the test: are YOU trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ to get to heaven or in yourself?
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Ephesians 1:13
Who or what are you trusting in? A Christian who believes that it is possible to 'lose his salvation' by disobedience cannot be trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross alone in order to get to heaven, even though he might think that he is!
His assurance will actually be in his own 'obedience'! He is, in effect, 'keeping himself saved' by his obedience! We are not saved by good works or kept in salvation by obedience to Christ. Neither can we lose or forfeit our salvation by bad works - disobedience! If you believe that you can lose your salvation by bad works ( disobedience), you must, by necessity, believe that you are being kept saved by good works - obedience! You cannot have one without the other! WE ARE SAVED BY CHRIST ALONE!
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. Galatians 1:6-9
16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Galatians 2:16 The amazing verse above shows us that a Christian is actually justified by Christ's own perfect faith! He is justified by the faith OF Christ. That's FAILSAFE!
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. Galatians 2:21
1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Galatians 3:1-3
Salvation is the work of God not the work of man! Salvation is not something that can be 'controlled' or given away like a ticket! There can be no greater pride than to believe that we are in control of the gift of God - eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. A Christian who believes that it is possible for him to give away the gift of eternal life must believe that it is something that he is in control of! It would only appeal to the pride in man to think that he was able, through obedience, to finally get to heaven because he had not 'given away' his salvation through disobedience to Christ! Reader, ask yourself the question - Do I like the idea of 'conditional security' because it offers me the opportunity to 'add' to the finished work of the cross through my obedience? Ask yourself another question - Do I dislike the doctrine of 'once saved always saved' because it strips me of any self-effort entirely, in respect to getting to heaven? Salvation is the work of God not man and it is FAILSAFE!
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John Chapter 1 11-13
A Christian is justified by the blood of Jesus, not by his obedience. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. Romans 5:9
A Christian is made eternally righteous at the very moment he is saved by the Lord Jesus Christ! For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Romans 5:19
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Corinthians 5:21
The righteousness of Christ is imputed to the believer at the very moment he repents and believes in the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour , confessing with his mouth the Lord Jesus!
A Christian can never be condemned by God! Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 5:24
A Christian should seek to walk in holiness and obedience to Christ but his motive must be faith which works by love only! ' ... the person who thinks he could forfeit his own salvation by lack of obedience cannot obey the Lord apart from a motive of fear.' RT Kendall
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. Galatians 5:6
What about Galatians 5: 19-21 and 1 Corinthians 6: 9-11 and Ephesians 5:5 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour. 3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Ephesians 5:2-5
'Inheriting' the kingdom of God in these verses refers to obtaining blessing now and rewards in the future, not to 'entering' the kingdom. When a person becomes a Christian he is now actually in the kingdom of God, God's 'heaven below'. 'Heaven below is the kingdom of God. It is God dwelling in the hearts of men', as Dr RT Kendall points out. If a Christian falls into the sins described in this passage he will certainly not experience the fullness of joy and blessing he could have experienced whilst indulging in them and he shall lose rewards at the judgement seat of Christ if he stays in such sins. He shall not 'inherit' the kingdom of God. He shall not have ' … any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.' This is what the warnings are about. Surely as Christians we should desire to 'inherit' the kingdom of God!
Notice that far from trying to frighten the people he is writing to in Corinthians with a potential 'loss of their salvation' Paul instead builds them up in their very salvation: ' ... ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.' 1 Corinthians 6:11 Paul knows the truth of Once Saved Always Saved! The Lord wants YOU to know the truth of Once Saved Always Saved too! Paul's words are GOD'S words.
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: Colossians 1:13
No one goes to hell for committing 'sins'. People go to hell for one reason only - because they are not saved. Jesus paid the penalty for our sins on the cross and there is no more penalty to pay! People come into the world as lost sinners going down the broad way and don't have to do anything to be condemned - they are condemned already. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:18
If anyone comes to Jesus in repentance, believing in him as his risen Saviour and confessing him as Lord he shall be saved. We are saved by Jesus alone, once and FOREVER! The new birth spoken about in John 3 is the work of God and is failsafe!
What about I Corinthians 15:1-2? Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
I Corinthians 15:1-2 This verse is NOT saying that it is possible for people to lose their salvation! Paul is not contradicting the gospel of Christ here! He is not saying that people are saved by their obedience! He is basically saying 'if you are truly saved!' Enduring faith is an indicator that that faith is genuine.
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? II Corinthians 13:5
What about Hebrews 6 verses 4-6? 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. Hebrews 6:4-6
These verses are often used to try and prove that it is possible for a Christian to lose his salvation. The use of these verses to try and prove this point simply exposes the position of the one who uses them, namely his belief that salvation is something that is kept through obedience! It shows that his understanding of salvation is faulty and rooted in the idea of salvation by works, even though he may not actually have fully realised it! To think, even for one minute, that verses speaking of consequences for disobedience refer to loss of salvation proves that the person thinking this believes in 'salvation by obedience'! There is no way of getting around this inescapable fact!
Verses 4-6 in Hebrews 6 speak of Christians who have allowed themselves to fall away in their Christian lifestyle through their own stubborn wilfulness and sin but what is it that it is impossible to renew them again to? The answer is 'repentance' NOT salvation!!! There is one repentance for salvation, when a person is born again, is justified by the blood of Christ, becomes a child of God, an heir of God and receives the free gift of eternal life! A person is only born again once! The repentance spoken of in Hebrews 6 is not therefore salvation repentance, for that only happens once, at the moment of conversion, no, it is sanctification repentance! Sanctification is an on-going work in the life of a Christian and Christians may need to repent of sin in their lives regularly but unfortunately it is possible to fall into sin to such a degree that a Christian can fall away and become like the Christians described in Hebrews 6:4-6. It would be a sad thing to fall into this category and have no reward at the judgment seat of Christ for Christians. (See: 1 Corinthians 3:11-15)
And what about Hebrews 10:26-31? 26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:26 -31
These verses speak of the consequences for 'sinning willfully' as a Christian. Verse 27, which has been used by some to try and prove that it is possible for a Christian to forfeit his salvation, simply refers to the fire which shall ' ... try every man's work of what sort it is ...' at the judgement seat of Christ for Christians. (See: 1 Corinthians 3:11-15)
The Judgment Seat of Christ 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. 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 1 Corinthians 3:11-15
Note: "It would seem that gold, silver and precious stones would be analogous to ' ... faith which worketh by love.' (Galatians 5:6). The wood, hay, and stubble would be analogous to any work of the flesh - all self-righteousness and disobedience. ' R T Kendall
What about Matthew 7:21-23? 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
In Matthew 7 verse 21 we read about those who say, ' ... Lord, Lord ...'. Many who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour say, "Lord, Lord", like non-Christian church-goers and members of religious cults. The Bible makes it plain that we are not saved by works, so when Jesus says in verse 21, ' ... he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.', he is simply talking about true Christians - those who have been saved! What essentially is the will of God that Jesus is talking about? It is this: 'And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ ....' 1 John 3:23 God commands all men everywhere to repent! Lost sinners must come to Jesus in repentance, believing in him as God their risen Saviour and confessing him as Lord. In doing this they are DOING THE WILL of GOD and can enter the kingdom of heaven! The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
In verse 22 we read about some of the things that people will say they have done when they face the Lord Jesus Christ at this great white throne judgment (see Revelation chapter 20 for a description of this judgment).
Verse 23 gives us the key to understanding this passage of scripture correctly -'And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.' In John 10:14 Jesus says, 'I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.' In John 10:28 Jesus says, 'My sheep hear my voice and I know them ....' Jesus knows His sheep and His sheep know Him! Who are His sheep? Why, Christians of course! What will Jesus say to the people referred to in Matthew 7:23? He will say, ' And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.' Please note that the Lord Jesus Christ does not say, " I used to know you, but I don't know you anymore."!!! He says, ' ... I never knew you ...' ! They will be people that the Lord Jesus Christ NEVER knew! They will be people who were NEVER His! The people referred to in Matthew 7:22-23 are ALL NON-CHRISTIANS!
What about Revelation 3:5?
He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. Revelation 3:5
How many of those who want to try to prove that a Christian can lose his own salvation use this verse?! It is often used by them as a threat to Christians to try to frighten them into a daily life of Christian 'obedience/overcoming' in mortal terror of losing their salvation if they don't but is it really a threat? Far from it, how could it be, for we are NOT saved by works but by Christ ALONE! This glorious verse is simply another wonderful promise of the eternal security of the Christian!
The Bible says in 1 John 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:5. The overcomer, '... he that overcometh ...', is a descriptive title of a Christian! It is a descriptive title of the person who has believed on the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God, the person who has been saved by Jesus! A Christian's name is in the book of life of the Lamb, from the foundation of the world! The Lord is saying in Revelation 3:5 that a Christian ( ... he that overcometh ...) will be clothed in white raiment due to the righteousness imputed to him in Christ! His name will not be blotted out of the book of life! His name will be confessed before God and the angels! Revelation 3:5 is not a threat but the most glorious promise imaginable to Christians: their names will NEVER be blotted out of the book of life! We are not going to make it to heaven by our Christian 'obedience'/'overcoming' but because we have been saved by the Lord Jesus Christ! Could you REALLY imagine bowing your knee before the Lord Jesus Christ, with his nail-pierced hands, and confessing in shame to him that you believed that your Christian 'obedience', your 'overcoming', would qualify you to be clothed in white raiment? It's a shocking thought but sadly many, it seems, are going to have to do that if they don't repent of their pride!
We can do nothing to merit salvation before we are saved by Jesus neither can we do anything to merit salvation after we are saved! Those who think that they can don't seem to see that their self-righteousness is surely far worse in the sight of God than the very sins that they judge others for! Jesus had the sternest words of rebuke for those who thought they were good, those who thought they were doing well in the sight of God! This sobering truth should serve as a warning to us all!
1 or 2 ? When I was in Nigeria undertaking a Hope Crusade, the Lord showed me a 'picture' of two groups of Christians. He showed me that the first group of Christians are trusting in 1 person in order to get to heaven and that the second group are trusting in 2 people in order to get to heaven!
The Christians who are trusting in 1 person in order to get to heaven are trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ alone. The Christians who are trusting in 2 people in order to get to heaven are trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ ....... and themselves!!! WHICH GROUP ARE YOU IN?
I once heard a Bible teacher make the following statement about the basis of his eternal security: " I'm secure because I love God." I would like to make the following statement about the basis of my eternal security: " I'm secure because the Lord Jesus Christ has saved my soul!" WHICH OF THESE TWO STATEMENTS WOULD YOU BE MOST LIKELY TO MAKE?
It is a grave mistake indeed to shift the basis of our assurance of going to heaven away from the Lord Jesus Christ alone .... to OURSELVES! This is the surest way to cultivate a root of pride.
A PERSONAL TESTIMONY Several years ago I visited a British prison. When I arrived, the chaplain told me that there was a Christian prisoner who had apparently 'given up on his faith'. He had lost all interest in attending the chapel services, reading his Bible, or having any kind of Christian fellowship whatsoever. The chaplain went on to tell me that this man had heard about my visit and for some unknown reason had asked if I could visit him in his cell. Immediately the Lord spoke into my heart and said, " Alex, he has been taught that it is possible for him to lose his salvation. Go and tell him the truth."
When I walked into the cell I was greeted with the sight of a thoroughly dejected man! I said "Hi" and then I said " Listen my friend, I am not going to beat about the bush, you have been taught that it is possible for you to lose your salvation!" Shocked, he looked up at me and said, " WHO TOLD YOU?!!! HOW DID YOU KNOW?" I replied, "God told me! Now I want to ask you a question. Can Jesus lie?" He fell silent then looked at me again and said quietly, " No, He cannot lie." Fixing my gaze on him I then said, "That's right, He cannot lie! Now I am going to give you a couple of Bible verses: 'My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.' Was Jesus lying when He said these words or was He telling the truth?" He looked at me with tears in his eyes, started raising his arms in the air in praise to God, and said excitedly, "HE WAS TELLING THE TRUTH!
I asked him exactly what had happened to bring such discouragement to his life and he replied, " I was taught that I had to make it to heaven by my obedience and I knew I just could not keep up the standard to do that, so I just gave up." I assured him that it was impossible to add to the finished work of the cross and we prayed together, thanking God for our salvation!
This prisoner was transformed and 'set free' in a few minutes simply by being told the truth about the eternal security of the Christian! Jesus said, ' And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.' John 8:32. Proverbs 12:25 says, 'Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.' The man I met in the prison that day who had a heavy heart, heard a good word, and his heart was made glad! When I left him he shone with the joy of his salvation! When the chaplain asked me how I had got on, I told him what had happened and he was amazed! All we could do was praise the Lord and thank Him for His faithfulness!
37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:37-40
CHRISTIAN READER, PLEASE BE ASSURED THAT YOU CANNOT 'LOSE' YOUR SALVATION, 'UNPLUCK' YOURSELF FROM JESUS'S HAND OR FORFEIT YOUR SALVATION BY ANY MEANS WHATSOEVER! Jesus said, 'And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish ... ' Will you take Him at His word? ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED! Alex Bowler
NB. I am planning to add more information to this page in due course.
Reader, have YOU been saved? Click on the cross to find how you CAN be saved by Jesus.