Gaylord Diaz's Blog

GOD’S PROMISE

John 10:27-29, 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 pluck them out of my hand. {29} My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no one is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

INTRODUCTION

The doctrine of eternal security is the fifth of Calvinism Five Points, also known as ‘the perseverance of the believer’. In Baptist circles, this doctrine of eternal security, or the eternal preservation of the believer, is also known by the popular maxim, ‘once saved, always saved’. The maxim is a great source of encouragement to those of us who are truly God’s sheep and who trust Him to preserve us our whole life through and usher us safely, gladly, to Heaven’s shores.

Unfortunately, there are unscrupulous, sinning brethren among us, falsely-so-called, who use these words of our Lord to give themselves a false sense of security. They think they can keep on sinning and live any ole way they please because they can never be lost or damned. Yet, that is the farthest thing from the truth. The promise of the Lord’s preservation, as we shall see, is not given to sinners—be they professing Christians or downright heathen.

The doctrine of eternal security, simply stated is this. GOD PRESERVES THOSE WHO PERSEVERE. AND THOSE WHO PERSEVERE DO SO BECAUSE THEY ARE PRESERVED BY GOD.

IT’S POSSIBLE TO LOSE YOUR SALVATION

Before I get to the promise of God’s preservation and the eternal salvation of the believer, I’d like to bring the balance of Scripture into focus and let you know that it is indeed possible for a professing Christian to lose his or her salvation. Scriptures make this clear and the point is beyond debate. If you know what factors lead to the loss of salvation, you’ll guard yourself from them and thus assure yourself that you won’t lose your salvation.

HOW SALVATION IS LOST

(1) BY LIVING A LIFE OF SIN AND DISOBEDIENCE. Matthew 7:21-23 tells us, 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.

(2) BY BEING SPIRITUALLY FRUITLESS. Jesus warns us in John 15:2, Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away (see also Luke 13:6-9, Matthew 25:14-30).

(3) BY BECOMING SPIRITUALLY LUKEWARM, whereby you’re not on fire for the Lord, but then, you’ve not gone back totally to the world. Revelation 3:15-16 reads, I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. {16} So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

(4) BY TAMPERING WITH SCRIPTURE. Revelation 22:19, And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

(5) BY REVERTING TO WORKS SALVATION. Those who want to work for their salvation will end up losing it if they persist in works-salvation. Galatians 5:1-4 warns us, Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. {2} Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. {3} For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. {4} Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. A professing Christian can lose his or her salvation.

(6) BY DEPARTING FROM THE TRUTH. 1 Timothy 4:1 warns us, Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils (see also 2 Timothy 4:2-4).

(7) BY NOT ENDURING OR ABIDING TO THE VERY END. Jesus said in Matthew 10:22,  he that endureth to the end shall be saved. He went on to say in John 15:6, If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. Revelation 3:5 continues along this line, 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 (see also Matthew 10:33). Verse 11 goes on to exhort us, Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

(8) BY COMMITTING THE UNPARDONABLE SIN. Matthew 12:31-32, Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. {32} And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

(9) BY APOSTATIZING. Hebrews 6:4-6, 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.

Coming Up On My Next Blog Post, Part 2. If God’s sheep can never perish, and if some Christians end up perishing; we have a real paradox here. How we need God’s wisdom and understanding! Stay within ear’s reach of the school bell and when classes resume I’ll clear up the air with the Bible’s version of Glade. You’ll understand the paradox in no time.