Post by Michael James Stone on Jun 7, 2012 5:10:15 GMT -8
ETERNAL SECURITY: PART 2
Posted on May 31, 2012 by Ariel Staff
Another question we can ask regarding eternal security is: “What are the evidences of it?” Evidences for this may be grounded in the work of the Trinity.[1]
God the Father
1. The Sovereign Purpose of God
Romans 8:28‑30 spells out one of these sovereign purposes of God, when Paul said those who have been justified will be glorified. He does not say only some who have truly been saved are going to persevere to the end and then make it; he does not say that only some who are justified will eventually be glorified. What is stated is that those who have been justified are also guaranteed to be glorified by God the Father. See also 1 Cor 1:8, Eph 1:4, 11-12; 2:7; Phil 2:12-13; Heb 2:10
2. The Father’s Power to Keep
The second reason which is dependent upon God the Father is based upon the fact of the Father’s power to keep. The fact that He has the power to keep means that He will keep. John 10:25‑29 points out that God will give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish. The ones who have been saved have eternal life. And if the word eternal means anything, it means just that: it is eternal. If someone could lose his salvation, he did not have eternal life, he had only temporary life. John then emphasizes this fact even further with the next phrase. Not only does he state positively that God gives them eternal life, but then he also states negatively: they shall never perish. See also Rom 4:21; 8:28-30; 14:4; Col 3:3; II Tim 1:12; I Thes 5:23-24; Heb 7:25;
3. God’s Infinite Love
A third reason that eternal security is dependent upon God the Father is because of God’s infinite love. Romans 5:7‑10 states that, if God sent His Son to die for us when we were His enemies, He would certainly keep us now that we are His friends. The love of God was proved by the sending of His Son to die for our sins while we were His enemies. If God was willing to provide salvation when we were His enemies, the love of God will make sure that He is going to keep us now that we are His friends. See also Eph 1:4.
4. The Promise of God
The fourth reason dependent upon God the Father for eternal security is based upon the promise of God. God made a specific promise of eternal security, and the promises of God can never be rendered null and void. John 3:16 states that the believer will not perish. If a believer could lose his salvation and end up in Hell, then obviously a believer can perish. But according to this passage, once a person has accepted Yeshua as his Savior, as his Messiah, he simply will not perish. See also John 5:24; Heb 6:16-19.
God the Son
1. He Bore our Condemnation Forever
When the Messiah died He bore condemnation forever. He did not merely bear condemnation for past sins, for when Jesus died, all our sins were still future. He did not die just for some of our sins, He died for all of them. The Messiah has died, and He has borne our condemnation (Heb. 5:8‑9; I Jn. 2:2).
2. Believers Are Partakers of His Resurrection Life
The Messiah has risen, and believers are partakers of His resurrection life (Rom. 4:25; Eph. 2:6). The fact that we are partakers of His resurrection life emphasizes that resurrection life is not something that can be lost.
3. The Messiah’s Work As Advocate
The third reason that eternal security is dependent upon God the Son is the work of the Messiah as an Advocate (I Jn. 1:1‑2:2). As our Advocate, He deals with the sins in the believer’s life, but never with the threat of losing salvation. Because He is an Advocate on our behalf, sin in the believer’s life is dealt with, but not by loss of salvation.
4. The Messiah’s Work of Intercession
The Messiah intercedes so that none can be lost. He interceded while still on earth (Jn. 17:1‑26), and He is still interceding for us (Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:25).
5. The Messiah’s Role As Shepherd
As a shepherd (John 10:27‑29), three things may be pointed out:
First, believers have eternal life. Again, the word eternal must mean what it says.
Secondly, they shall never perish. No matter what the sheep do, they will never perish.
Thirdly, no one [can] snatch them [from His] hand. No one has the power or the capacity to snatch them from His hand.
6. The Purpose of the Messiah’s Redemptive Work
“What is the purpose of His redemptive work?” Ephesians 5:25‑27 states that He died to purify the Church so that it will be without spot and without blemish and this is exactly what He intends to do. Certainly, if any part of that Body could lose its salvation that would be a spot; that would be a blemish. See also Heb 5:9; I Pet 3:18
God the Holy Spirit
1. The Holy Spirit’s Work of Regeneration
II Corinthians 5:17 states that all things have become new; Galatians 6:15 declares the believer to be a new creature or creation; Ephesians 2:10 teaches that believers have been created in Christ Jesus. The work of regeneration makes one a new creation, a new creature.
2. The Holy Spirit’s Ministry of Indwelling
When the Bible speaks of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling the believer, it emphasizes that once He comes to indwell that believer, He indwells him permanently, eternally, and for ever (Jn. 14:16‑17; I Cor. 6:19; Eph. 2:22; I Jn. 2:27).
3. The Holy Spirit’s Ministry of Spirit Baptism
By Spirit baptism, the believer is vitally joined to the Messiah (I Cor. 12:13) and becomes a member of His Body. There is no implication that it is possible to ever fall out of that Body.
4. The Holy Spirit’s Ministry of Sealing
The Holy Spirit does seal, and the purpose of the sealing is to seal up the believer in Christ so that he can never fall out. The clear emphasis is that the believer has been sealed, not just temporarily, not just until he no longer believes, but has been sealed unto the day of redemption. Having been sealed, the final redemption is guaranteed. Perhaps the sealing ministry of the Spirit is the most vital one, emphasizing eternal security (II Cor. 1:21‑22; Eph. 1:13‑14; 4:30).
5. The Power of the Holy Spirit
Philippians 1:6 brings out the fact that the Holy Spirit will complete the work He has begun. He has begun the work of salvation in us, and He will bring it to its final completion.
[1] This post is a modified version of Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum’s original Messianic Bible Study. The full version may be obtained here.
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