The phrase eternal security is not in the Bible. However, phrases with comparable meaning do occur such as:

Everlasting life (Dan. 12:2; Mth. 19:29; John 3:16, 36; 4:14; 5:24; 6:27, 40, 47; Acts 13:46; Rom. 6:22);

Eternal life (Mth. 19:16; Mark 10:17; 30; Luke 10:25; 18:18; John 3:15; 5:39; 6:54, 68; 10:28; 17:2; Acts 13:48; Rom. 5:21; 6:23; 1 Tim. 6:12, 19; Titus 1:2; 3:7; 1 John 1:2; 2:25; 3:15; 5:11, 13, 20; Jude 1:21);

Eternal salvation (Heb. 5:9);

Eternal inheritance (Heb. 9:15), and;

Eternal redemption (Heb. 9:12).

Eternal security, eternal life or eternal salvation are one and the same. From the Bible we learn that the only salvation God offers to mankind is eternal. "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).

God offers to completely save and give eternal life to anyone who responds to His invitation to trust His Son Jesus as their only hope of heaven.

Another way to help us understand this often times misunderstood phrase is to take a look at the flipside – that you could lose your salvation. What this implies is that to lose your salvation, this would mean that keeping salvation would depend upon your efforts or actions to keep it. For those who subscribe to this viewpoint they are saying in effect that they are trusting in human works to save themselves. However, when we read Ephesians 2:8-9 we see that: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.” We become Christians through God's unmerited grace, not as the result of any effort, ability, intelligent choice, or act of service on our part. However, out of gratitude for this free gift, God's intention is that our salvation will result in acts of service on our part. We are not saved for our own benefit, but to serve Christ and build up His Church (Eph. 4:12).

The Bible teaches that salvation is a present possession, received at the time of the new birth or acceptance of Christ as one's personal Savior, and is kept secure or eternal by God's power (see John 3:16; 3:36; 5:24; 10:28; Heb. 9:15; 10:10, 14; 1 Peter 1:4,5).

In John 6:37, Jesus made the promise that He would never cast out anyone who had trusted Him as Savior: "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away."

Some say, "Yea, I understand that Christ may not cast me out, but I can cast myself out." Read John 6:39 where Jesus said, "For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." Jesus promises that He will never lose anyone who has come to Him for salvation and that this is the Father's will.

So, we see that if just one saved person in all of history were lost, then Jesus Christ would be a liar.

Jesus said: "I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life” (John 6:47). He promises eternal life as a present possession to all those who believe in Him.

Many misunderstand this foundational precept because they believe that they must somehow earn salvation or work to keep it. However, the Bible clearly teaches that we are saved by faith and not by works (John 3:18; Rom. 3:24-28; 4;5; Eph. 2:8-9).

Additionally, the Bible teaches that anyone who is trusting in works in addition to faith in Christ will not be saved (Rom. 11:6; Gal. 5:2-4). If you think it's easier for God to love you when you're good, secretly suspect that God chose you because you deserved it, or think some people's behavior is so bad that God couldn't possibly save them, then, you don't entirely understand that salvation is by grace, a free gift. It cannot be earned, in whole or in part; it can only be accepted with thankfulness and praise. The point is clear - we are to trust in Christ only to be saved.

Salvation was completed on the Cross by Jesus (Heb. 1:3). We read in John 19:30: “When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” Up until this time, a very complicated system of sacrifices were in place. Sin separated people from God, and only through the sacrifice of an animal, a substitute, could people find temporary relief from their guilt. But because people continually sinned, frequent sacrifices were required – if the Levitical sacrifices could have made the worshipers perfect, they would have no need to repeat the yearly ritual. In no way could animal sacrifices remove the guilt of sin. In God’s plan, Jesus became the final and ultimate sacrifice for sin. The word finished is the same as "paid in full." Jesus came to finish God's work of salvation (John 4:34; 17:4), to pay the full penalty for our sins. With His death, the complex sacrificial system – designed to remind us of our sins - ended because Jesus took all sin upon Himself (Hebrews 1 – 13). Now we can freely approach God because of what Jesus did for us. Those who believe in Jesus' death and resurrection can live eternally with God and escape the penalty that comes from sin. We discover that if we want to be saved, then we must believe that Jesus Christ finished the work of salvation on the Cross and receive it as God's free gift (Rom. 6:23).

As previously said, after we are saved, we should live our lives for Christ out of love and gratitude for all that He has done for us, but we should not confuse salvation with heavenly rewards. Jesus said, “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works” (Mth. 16:27). Jesus has been given authority to judge all the earth (Rom. 14:9-11; Phil. 2:9-11). Although His judgment is already working in our lives, there is a future, final judgment when Christ returns (Mth. 25:31-46) and everyone's life is reviewed and evaluated. This will not be confined to unbelievers; Christians will face a judgment, too. Their eternal destiny is secure, but Jesus will look at how they handled the gifts, opportunities, and responsibilities given by Him for His use in order to determine their heavenly rewards. At the time of judgment, God will deliver the righteous and condemn the wicked. Please carefully understand this - Christians will be rewarded for faithful service or suffer the loss of rewards for not serving the Lord here on Earth, but they will be eternally saved (1 Corinthians 3:11-15). Just as parents discipline their children to correct and restore them, a born-again saint can live their life in rebellion, have eternal life, but can also experience a God-approved, restorative chastisement provisioned to bring them to repentance (Heb. 12:5-11; 1 Cor. 5:5; 11:30-32).

It is then salvation by grace through faith. It is a free gift, and is entirely without works (Rom. 3:27-28; 4:1-8; 6:23; Eph. 2:8-9). God’s divine order is salvation then service from a grateful heart (Eph. 2:8-10; Titus 3:5-8).

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39) and "I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him” (Ecc. 3:14). Those who are saved can know and be absolutely assured of their salvation. Nothing can undo what God has done.

"These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal life” (I John 5:13). Eternal life is not based on how you feel, but on the fact that Jesus died, was resurrected and paid the price for sin once for all.

“Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3).

You can know that you have eternal life if you believe God's truth. If you aren't sure that you are a Christian – that you will live eternally with God - ask yourself: "Have I honestly committed my life to Jesus as my Savior and Lord?" If so, you know by faith that you are in truth a child of God. To have eternal life with God requires entering into a personal relationship with God in Jesus Christ. Today you can come to the One who loves you, turn from your sins, accept God’s free gift and plan for salvation through Jesus - who is God in flesh, who died and rose from the dead (1 Cor. 15:1-4) as your Lord and Savior (John 1:12). Ask Jesus to forgive you, to come into your heart, and to wash you clean from your sins. Salvation is as close as your own mouth and heart. It is not a complicated process - if you believe in your heart and say with your mouth that Christ is the risen Lord, you will be saved (Rom. 10:8-10).

Pray to Jesus. Seek Him. Ask Him to save you. He will.

Next lesson we will look at: “About Eternity”

Grow in grace and truth,

Doug Morrell

CORE Notes From Doug