Safe & Secure In God's Love

John 6:26-40; 10:27-30; Rom. 8:35-39

Is it true the love of God is the safest place for our never-dying souls? Should Christians have confidence that they will indeed be with God forever in Heaven? Is it correct to worry for one’s entire ‘Christian’ life about the lingering possibility of messing up and ending up in Hell? Which is more important the sovereignty of God or the free-will of humanity? I believe the Scriptures teach God desires for every Believer to know we presently possess eternal life as a consequence of God’s saving grace (Eph. 2:8, 9; 1Jn. 5:13). In addition every genuine Believer can be assured of eternal security because of the great preserving love of God (Rom. 8:28-39). God’s love gives His children perfect security in salvation. Please read on and I will attempt to demonstrate this from the Word.

If we are to experience real joy, confidence, and divine peace in our Christian experience, we must grasp the truth of eternal life in Christ Jesus. It is impossible to regard the Christian life as “abundant life” if we are not even certain we will be with God forever! Beloved, God did not design the salvation He offers to torment and fill us with doubts, fears, and spiritual anxiety. When we are insecure in the love and grace of God, we naturally will resort to “working to earn” or “keep” our salvation. We will serve in order to be saved or to remain saved, which is a gross violation of God’s salvation by grace rooted in His love and mercy. Yes, we do have a free will, but at no point will our powers of choice negate God’s gift of saving grace. Grace, divine favor, can never be earned, merited, or deserved! We must resist the temptations spiritual insecurity may drive us to by embracing the full truth about the brand of salvation God offers and gives. As a result we will know peace, and joy deep within because our souls rest in God’s eternal work on our behalf. As always the Scriptures taught by the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth on this matter.

Where Is Eternal Security in The Bible? (John 10:27-30; Rom. 8:35-39)

First consider the promise of the Lord Jesus with regards to His Sheep and how safe they are in the Father’s hand.

 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. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. (John 10:27-30 KJV).

To gain a sound working understanding of these incredible verses and this promise of eternal security consider the commentary of William MacDonald.

These next few verses teach in unmistakable terms that no true sheep of Christ will ever perish. The eternal security of the believer is a glorious fact. Those who are true sheep of Christ hear His voice. They hear it when the gospel is preached, and they respond by believing on Him. Thereafter, they hear His voice day by day and obey His Word. The Lord Jesus knows His sheep. He knows each one by name. Not even one will escape His attention. No one could be lost through an oversight or carelessness on His part. Christ’s sheep follow Him, first by exercising saving faith in Him, then by walking with Him in obedience. 

Christ gives eternal life to His sheep. This means life that will last forever. It is not life that is conditional on their behavior. It is eternal life, and that means everlasting. But eternal life is also a quality of life. It is the life of the Lord Jesus Himself. It is a life that is capable of enjoying the things of God down here, and a life that will be equally suitable to our heavenly home. Note these next words carefully. “They shall never perish.” If any sheep of Christ ever perished, then the Lord Jesus would have been guilty of failing to keep a promise, and this is not possible. Jesus Christ is God, and He cannot fail. He has promised in this verse that no sheep of His will ever spend eternity in hell.

Does this mean then that a person may be saved and then live the way he pleases? Can he be saved and then carry on in the sinful pleasures of this world? No, he no longer desires to do these things. He wants to follow the Shepherd. We do not live the Christian life in order to become a Christian or in order to retain our salvation. We live a Christian life because we are Christians. We desire to live a holy life, not out of fear of losing our salvation, but out of gratitude to the One who died for us. The doctrine of eternal security does not encourage careless living, but rather is a strong motive for holy living. 

No one is able to snatch a believer out of Christ’s hand. His hand is almighty. It created the world; and it even now sustains the world. There is no power that can snatch a sheep from His grasp.
Not only is the believer in the hand of Christ; he is in the Father’s hand as well. This is a twofold guarantee of safety. God the Father is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch a believer out of the Father’s hand. (MacDonald, W., 1995, Believer’s Bible Commentary)

The spiritual security of genuine Believers in Christ Jesus is soundly rooted in the love and grace of God according to Romans chapter 8. Note what the Apostle Paul wrote,

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 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. (Rom. 8:35–39 KJV)

God is saying in the clearest terms that NOTHING can break His salvation-relationship with His people. The hardnesses, poverty, dangerous situations, persecutions, and even if our physical lives are taken away, these threats are still powerless to sever us from the grand love of God. As we experience any or all of these challenges, we are assured God has not and will not abandon us. There is nothing about death, life itself, angelic creatures including Satan, and anything else that can remove us from God's love for us in Christ. We are totally secure in the love of God and such assurance does not breed careless living. Eternal security does not encourage fleshly carnal living at all. This truth should not be rejected for this reason because nowhere in the Bible does God ever sanction godless, sinful, or rebellious living. As a biblical truth, eternal security frees us to explore all the will of God with complete confidence in our God and Heavenly Father.

What Is Eternal Security? 

Eternal security is the belief that genuine Christians will always be saved.

A.     It is for Genuine Christians. 
Every true Christian has times or instances of unfaithfulness, sin, deviation, reluctance, rebellion, and barrenness.  It is during those times that we are in danger of losing assurance of salvation. This because the blessings of peace and confidence from the Spirit are forfeited, and He moves into conviction mode. Security of salvation is eternal and permanent, being based on the Lord’s sovereign power to keep those who belong to Him. It in no way rests upon our ability to continue to live sinlessly or perfectly. But assurance of salvation is temporal and can fluctuate, for it is a blessing granted to those who are obedient to the Lord.
However, as soon as a sinner receives Christ as Savior, he or she possesses full, unending salvation. To have Christ is to have a secure position before God (1 Jn. 5:10-13). Salvation is God's work on our behalf, not our efforts to earn or deserve salvation. Though the Bible does not use the term “security” to describe the believer’s relationship in Christ, it leaves no doubt that the child of God is eternally safe in Christ. Eternal security refers only to those who are born again through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, The Son of God. It does not refer to pretenders/hypocrites or to those who are merely dabbling in Christianity. The only people who are safe and secure in the love of God as those He has actually saved. It does not include those who merely think they are saved. It does not matter how sincere or committed an individual is; multitudes are sincerely wrong and extremely committed to wrong ideas, traditions, religious movements, and lies. 

B.     It is Dependent Upon God’s Actions.  The Bible is abundantly clear that no person who comes to God in repentance and faith will ever be separated from the Savior. On what does salvation depend?God’s Power.  First of all, we are secure because of the power of God.  “I give unto them eternal life,” Jesus says of His sheep, “and they shall never perish; neither shall any many pluck them out of My hand” (John 10:28; 6:39). As if His own divine assurance were not enough, He added, “My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand” (10:29). True believers are safe and secure in the powerful and capable hands of Almighty God and Christ!
      Christ’s Promise and Prayer.  Second, we are secure because of the promise and prayers of Christ. In His high priestly prayer shortly before His arrest, He said to His Father, “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Thy name: those that Thou gavest Me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the Scripture might be fulfilled” (John 17:12; 18:9). He told Peter, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not” (Luke 22:31–32). Because Jesus intercedes for us in heaven today, believers “have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1), our Great High Priest, who “is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:25). God will always answer the prayers of the Lord Jesus positively!
      The Spirit’s Presence.  Third, we are secure because of the presence of the Holy Spirit. He is “the Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchase possession, unto the praise of His glory.  [He is] “the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye [we] are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Eph. 1:13–14; 4:30). He is the other Comforter, whom Christ sent to “abide with you [us] forever” (John 14:16) after His ascension to the Father. Every genuine Believer has recieved the Spirit of God to indwell us for always. 
      God’s Preservation.  The whole Trinity secures believers, so that no one who believes in the Lord will ever be lost. God preserves His people from eternal damnation. However serious the sin we may fall into, we will never sin ourselves out of God’s kingdom. This truth does not encourage lazy Christianity. No, it inspires devotion and love for God that issues into righteous expression and service to God. Gladly and without shame Paul endured great suffering for his Lord, because, he said, “I know whom I have believed and I am persuaded that He is able to keep [guard] that which I have committed [entrusted] unto Him against that day” (2 Tim. 1:12). “The Lord shall deliver [rescue] me from every evil work,” he testified in closing that letter, “and will preserve me [bring me safely] unto His heavenly kingdom” (2 Tim. 4:18; 1 Pet. 1:5; Jude 1, 24). God's preservation of Paul was not unique to him; it is afforded to every genuine Christian. 

C.     It is an Issue of Much Debate. One of the standard questions for theological debate over the last two thousand years has been whether or not a Christian could lose his salvation. Some passages have been misinterpreted to suggest one can lose his salvation, and others declare clearly that one cannot. It is a delicate matter and challenging task to reconcile all these apparently contradictory passages.  As a result, Protestant Christianity has historically been divided between the two views represented by John Calvin and Jacobus Arminius.

1.       Calvinism: One group, including those called “Calvinists,” after John Calvin, a leader of the Protestant reformation in the 1500s, believe that a person who is genuinely saved cannot lose his salvation. He may “backslide” for a time into sinful behavior, but he will never be lost, since our salvation came through the grace of God in the first place. This position often is stated as “once saved, always saved,” or “once a Christian, always a Christian.” (Anders)

2.       Arminianism: Another group, including those called Arminians, after the 16th century Dutch theologian, Jacobus Arminius, believed that it is possible to lose one's salvation. Most of these contend that those who lose their salvation can regain it, although some in the past contended that they cannot.

D.     It is A Crystal Clear Biblical Teaching.

1.       The passages that support eternal security are clear in their teaching.

                                                                  i.   Such Scripture include John 10:27–30, 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. 29, My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand. 30, I and My Father are one.

                                                                 ii.   This is one of the clearest statements in the Bible that one who believes in Jesus for salvation will never be lost. Believers sin and stumble, but Jesus as the perfect Shepherd loses none of His flock (see Luke 22:31-32). Eternal life is a gift (John 3:16, 36; 5:24; 10:10; Rom 6:23). If one has it, he has it eternally. They shall never perish is a strong affirmation…("they will indeed not ever perish"; cf. John 3:16, …"never perish"). The security of the sheep is found in the ability of the Shepherd to defend and preserve His flock. Such security does not depend on the ability of the frail sheep. No one can even snatch His sheep out of His hand. –Bible Knowledge Commentary

                                                               iii.   This seems to be a clear statement that once a person has been given to Christ by God, he is eternally secure with Christ.

2.       This eternal security position is bolstered by Romans 8:35–39:

                                                            i.      Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ³⁶ As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. ³⁷ Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. ³⁸ For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, ³⁹ 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.

                                                           ii.      If no one can successfully oppose us (v. 31), charge us (v. 33), or condemn us (v. 34) with regard to our personal relationship with God, then it follows that no one can separate us from Christ’s love for us [8:35]. The list in this verse covers the full range of experiences that could seem to pose a challenge to the reality of Christ’s love.…The trials and difficulties listed in v. 35 not only do not separate us from Christ’s love, they make us more than conquerors by forcing us to depend even more on God. …8:38, 39, Absolutely nothing can separate believers from God’s love. The apostle struggles for words to describe the absolute certainty of God’s love for believers. Nothing hard or dangerous, neither death nor life, can separate us. If God, the uncreated One, is for us, and no created thing can separate us, then our security in Him is absolute.—Nelson Study Bible

                                                         iii.      Instead of separating us from Christ’s love, these things only succeed in drawing us closer to Him. We are not only conquerors, but more than conquerors.  It is not simply that we triumph over these formidable forces, but that in doing so we bring glory to God, blessing to others, and good to ourselves. We make slaves out of our enemies and stepping stones out of our roadblocks.

But all of this is not through our own strength, but only through Him who loved us. Only the power of Christ can bring sweetness out of bitterness, strength out of weakness, triumph out of tragedy, and blessing out of heartbreak. –Believer's Bible Commentary

                                                         iv.      Other passages that reinforce this perspective are Philippians 1:6, Romans 8:29, 11:29; Ephesians 1:13–14; Hebrews 7:25-26, 9:12-15, 26; 10:9-10, 14-18; and 1 Peter 1:5.

E.     It is a Solid Theologically Position. In addition to these Scripture passages, there is also the logical (theological) argument that goes along with them.

1.      When a person is born again, he is spiritually reborn through a work of the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 2:8 states that this salvation is not a work of ourselves, but is a gift of God. We are given a new spirit “which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians 4:24).

2.       Our experience of righteousness and holiness are not yet perfected, however. Even genuinely reborn believers still must fight against a residue of sin remaining in us. Romans 7:19–20 says that “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. ²⁰ Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.” Nevertheless, this sin in the true believer never can cancel the gift of life and peace with God given freely because of Jesus. Based on this truth, the apostle Paul triumphantly declares, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (8:1).

3.       How, then, could one lose his salvation, since that would require regeneration in reverse—degeneration into death again, slipping from a position that we did not attain ourselves anyway, but which God gave us? “For if, when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:10). This simply reinforces Romans 8:29, “For whom He did foreknow, He also predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

God’s love gives His children assurance and security in salvation. This is the biblical position without any questions or doubt. Every Believer in Christ Jesus needs to know this so that we all can have confidence, joy, and peace in our Christian lives. The confidence, peace and spiritual joy that God designed for His people to know through faith in Him should be yours. The assurance that we are secure in God’s love is fundamental to the abundant life He wants to give us. There is absolutely NOTHING “abundant life” about worry and anxiety regarding whether or not we will go to heaven or hell.  Without any doubt if we do not believe we are secure in God’s love, we are likely to be tormented by doubts and fear, robbing us of our peace and joy in the Christian life. Beloved, this is not the plan and will of God.

The reason many Christians have historically been willing to die for their faith is the fact they were assured they would be with God in their death (Phil. 1:20-26). One of the reasons Christians have historically flung themselves into a dying world on the mission field is because they were secure in the love of God. They had no fears related to their eternal destiny. In the absence of such eternal security, we may become enslaved to a life of legalism, trying to keep our good works in sufficient supply so that we will not lose our salvation (Anders). They are always hoping to finally make it in. Some of these folks are tenaciously holding on to God so that they can finally be saved. You hear of them trying to press on because they do not want to finally be rejected by God because they messed up so badly. Some claim to believe they can lose their salvation, but they are still content to wallow in sin, discouragement, failure, defeat, and spiritual depression.  I have met people who have said, “I use to be saved.” I know folks who have said, “I wandered away from God during my youth…, but I am saved again now.” No, no, no, a thousand times no! God did not design the Christian life and experience so that its final and ultimate outcome depended on frail human beings. No, in His grace and motivated by His great love He saved us and will keep us always. We are secure in Him (Rom. 8:26-29; Phil. 1:6; Eph. 1:13, 14).

Drink this wonderful biblical truth in deeply and then live with abandon for the glory of God in the power of His Holy Spirit. Beloved, believe the Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and your Heavenly Father. Examine these verses again closely and allow God's Word to persuade you of the truth. Become a student of the Holy Spirit and I promise you He will guide you into all truth. Christ Jesus is a complete Savior and He will keep you forever since you are His.

If you have not trusted Him as Savior I encourage you to do so as soon as possible. If you require further instructions about these all important matters, please consult the following articles. They will greatly assist you.

http://maxevangel.blogspot.com/2014/03/what-must-i-do-to-be-saved.html
http://maxevangel.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-philippian-jailers-salvation-ii.html
http://maxevangel.blogspot.com/2014/04/born-of-spirit-experiencing-new-birth.html