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Security of Salvation

 

Your Relationship with God is Secure!

As discussed in Salvation and Wellbeing, Christians have entered the gateway to a relationship with God by faith in Christ’s forgiveness for our sins by His death on the cross. Through His gracious sacrifice, God sees us without fault and completely accepted by Him (Ephesians 2:7-9; Romans 3:21-25; Romans 10:9).

What is next step? After salvation, it is vital to realize that as Christians we are SECURE in our relationship with God. Why is this critical? We cannot grow in our faith and serve others well if we lack confidence that God accepts us.

Our Sure Assurances in Christ

The Bible itself makes a great example in Ephesians 5:20-33. In this wonderful passage, the Apostle Paul likens the relationship between Christ and the church (individual believers) to marriage. In the same way a married couple will find it difficult to grow in their love, intimacy and confidence in each other if they fear their partner will reject them, so a Christian will find it nearly impossible to grow in the love of God if they fear His repudiation.

Likewise, our loving God, who made and understands us, knows we cannot grow in His love without the confidence that He will not reject us. Wow, what a great promise!

So then, how can we know from scripture we are secure?

  • Direct statements – God states directly that we are secure (1 Peter 1:3-5; John 10:27-31; Romans 8:28-39).
  • Assurances – After we become a Christian by faith alone, we are not simply then a Christian, there is so much more. Our precious salvation provides wonderful, irreversible morphologic and legal assurances to our standing before God. No scripture indicates these assurances of salvation can be reversed returning us to our original corrupt and sinful selves.

These assurances are linked to the security of our salvation which is discussed in another summary in the Teleios ‘Know the Bible’ section (under ‘Our great salvation’).

What great promises! Because of our faith in Christ, we are a new person who cannot be unmade, with legally unchangeable promises that guarantee our salvation. This comfort and confidence allow us to invest ourselves in knowing and serving God. We should not be burdened with guilt and worry over the status of God’s acceptance of us.

The certainty of our salvation is one of the great comforting promises of Scripture. It is our hope! Yet the topic remains controversial even among Christians.

Six Key Assurances – An In-Depth Look

At our salvation through faith in Christ’s death and resurrection we are assured spiritually with God in six main ways:

  • Justification (we are declared innocent) – This is the wonderful result of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Let’s examine the details of the meaning of this great promise.
    • Meaning of the Greek New Testament word – Importantly, the complete meaning in Greek of the word “justification” (δικαιος, dikaios) is not fully conveyed in English. The word dikaios carried a legal sense that still exists today in modern Greek. In the ancient Greek and Roman worlds, the term signified that someone who was found innocent in a court of law of all charges against them, just like now, there was no double jeopardy (1). This important legal concept means once you have been found innocent you cannot be charged again for the same crime.
    • Christ’s work in justification – The Bible teaches that each of us has sinned and “fallen short” of what God requires of us (Romans 3:23). Because God is just, He demands punishment for our misdeeds. However, because He is loving, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to take the punishment in our place (Romans 3:24-26).
      • Example, it’s as though Christ acted as a courtroom judge, found us guilty of our sins, sentenced us to death, but afterwards, stood up, removed His judicial robe, came around in front of the judge’s bench and took the punishment for us, for, our past, present and future sins!
    • We were pronounced “innocent” before God when we trusted Christ for forgiveness of our sins. We do this only once and our sins are forgiven for all time. Since Christ’s sacrifice was sufficient for all our sins for all time, nobody can charge us again (Romans 8:31-34). Again, there is no double jeopardy!
    • No other work or sacrifice is required – Importantly, Christ is a sufficient sacrifice for our sins as He Himself is perfect, holy and without sin (Romans 3:25; Hebrews 7:26; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Therefore, Christ satisfied God’s righteous demand for judgment. Accordingly, He died once for all sin, for all time, and He does not need to do this again as did the Old Testament priests (Hebrews 6:1-14, and 10:10-18). This is signified when he sat down at the right hand of God the Father; His work to provide salvation was finished (Ephesians 1:20).
  • Adoption – This concept is important in our society because when a family legally adopts a child, the new family member gains all the rights and privileges of a naturally-born offspring (2). In other words, their new status in the family is permanent and cannot be overturned. What great security to the adopted child!
    • Likewise, in the ancient Greek and Roman worlds, generally comparable to our own society, adoption provided permanent legal status for a child that could not be overturned (3).
    • The Apostle Paul states our status as adopted children into God’s family in four separate places in his epistles, indicating the importance of our assurance following accepting Christ as Savior through faith (Romans 8:15,23; Ephesians 1:5; Galatians 4:5). Consequently, we are children of God, adopted into His family with legal protection and a permanent status. What a great promise!
  • God’s possession – The wonderful story of our being the possession of God starts in Exodus 19:5-6 when our Father told the redeemed Israelites that He intended them to be a kingdom of priests, a holy nation and His special possession. However, they failed in their commitment to God and sinned against Him. Therefore, they did not become the kingdom of priests or holy nation that God desired. Nonetheless, God will keep His promise to Israel – that the nation will be His eternal possession (Psalm 89; Psalms 132:11-17; Romans 11:26-29).
    • As we know, the Mosaic law showed us our need for Christ (Galatians 3:24). He has come and died for our sins, that through Him those who believe on his death for their sins will gain eternal life. As believers, God also redeemed us (purchasing us at the cross) and thereby enabled us to become a kingdom of priests, a holy nation and His special possession (1 Peter 2:9).
    • How does God accomplish making us His possession?
      • The Spirit’s sealing – We are marked as His possession at salvation when the Holy Spirit is given to us as God’s down payment to completing our full redemption (Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9). This is a great promise and is a part of the results of our belief to salvation by faith alone in Christ’s substitutionary work on the cross (Ephesians 2:8-9).
      • Seals were used in the ancient world as a legal means to close a document. If a king had given a new order, molten wax might be poured on the document to seal it and the king’s signet ring pressed into the wax. The king’s symbol in the wax would tell the carrier or the recipient that the contents of the document were the king’s will and breaking the seal inappropriately or ignoring the order was done at a person’s own peril (4).
      • We are sealed by our King and it reflects the same legal and unbreakable character as ancient law. Further, the Spirit seals us throughout our whole life on earth as God’s own possession, until we go to heaven. Importantly, all those who believe by grace in Christ’s forgiveness on the cross are Christians and possess the Spirit and the seal (Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9).
  • Spiritual baptism – This important biblical truth is vital in understanding who we are as Christians.
    • First, let’s consider the word itself. Although controversial, in the epistles when baptism is mentioned it reflects spiritual baptism. Water baptism might be considered as an external ritual to signify the internal event.
      • The word is βαπτιζω (baptizoo) in the Greek (the original language of the New Testament), was an old term borrowed from the dye trade. It meant that a piece of cloth immersed in the dye became ‘identified’ with the new color (5).
    • Second, how is being ‘identified’ with Christ associated with being a Christian? Fortunately, a lot!
      • When we believe at salvation we are identified with Christ’s gracious death and His resurrection. At this time, our old self died and was buried with Christ. We are raised now to new life with Him and God views us as sitting with Him at His right hand (Romans 6:2-12; Ephesians 2:4-7; Colossians 2:12-13).
      • Similar concepts in scripture that also appear to speak to spiritual baptism are: regeneration (Titus 3:5), born again (John 3:5) and putting on the new man (Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10).
    • Third, benefits of spiritual baptism. – We gain great advantages through the regenerative power of the Spirt such as:
    • Believer’s sin –
      • Personal sin – Although every believer sins, we possess the power to say ‘no’ to sin because as a new person in Christ we are able to live a victorious life.
      • Our fallen nature – We were depraved in body and mind through inherited sin before we came to faith (Ephesians 2:3). However, our new body, identified with Christ, eliminates our fallen nature and provides a way for us to approach God in a holy state (1 Corinthians 15:17; Hebrews 10:19-22).
    • The resurrection – Baptism teaches us the importance of the resurrection because we are raised with Christ to new life without which we would still be dead in our sins (1 Corinthians 15:17).
    • Eternal security – Baptism helps us know we cannot lose our salvation because scripture does not indicate that if we commit a sin our new self can be killed and the old dead re-resurrected!
    • In other words, we are transformed permanently to a new life, resurrected with Christ and free to serve Him. We cannot be defeated by the misdeeds of our old self, or even the old depraved human nature. These changes cannot be reversed. What a great comfort we have in the truth of scripture.
  • Perseverance – This word is does not appear in the scriptures, however it is an important concept built around the fact that it is God who maintains our salvation and not us. Therefore, we do not have to work or strive to maintain our salvation and worry that we will spoil it in some manner. Important scripture verses pertaining to God’s keeping us are 1 Corinthians 1:8, 2 Timothy 1:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:23 and Philippians 1:6.
  • God chose us to salvation (Romans 8:28-20) – This important doctrine can be a cause of heated debate. However, as always, we must look to scripture as our source of truth. The Bible tells us that God indeed chose us to come to salvation. Let us look at what scripture says. The primary verses are Ephesians 1:4,5 and 11, as well as Romans 8:28-39.
    • Reason for God’s choosing – God throughout history has had to choose His servants for His purposes and maintain a remnant of His people to testify of Him on earth; for example, Noah, Moses, Abraham, and David, along with many others. He chose out of graciousness, love, wisdom, knowledge, for His good pleasure and to His praise of His glory (Ephesians 1:4-8).
    • God had to choose us because scripture is clear that we were incapable of choosing Him because of our fallen nature (Psalms 14:1-3: 53:1-3; Romans 3:10-18). As fallen people we would not choose Him, we do not understand him we did not seek h\Him and have no capacity to do good. Consequently, for any of us to be saved God must choose and drag us to salvation (John 6:44). This is out of His mercy and grace; we do not deserve it!
    • Intent of the passages describing God’s choosing – The purpose of these verse is not to create controversy but to give the reader comfort that they are secure in salvation with God. It is apart from works.

 

You are Saved Once by Faith – Get Over It!

So yes, God not only endorses eternal security with wonderful promises, as we’ve discussed above, but He also express His displeasure to those who do not believe it. This statement is supported by two main passages in Hebrews Chapters 6 and 10. Let’s examine briefly the primary passage in Hebrews 6, which although it can be controversial, is an exciting statement to our eternal security.

Here are the main points:

  • The author tells the young Hebrew believers that they should be mature by now; being teachers and able to judge quickly between right and wrong (Hebrews 5:12-14).
  • He urges them to leave the rudimentary principles of the faith dealing with issues related to their salvation (Hebrews 6:1-3).
  • He inquired how those who were saved (have known God’s gift and enlightenment and receive the spirit [all words or events consistent with salvation]) and have believed their sins were forgiven, could have another means to salvation apart from Christ.
  • Indeed, their insistence that some sin was not forgiven indicated they would want Jesus to return to the cross and submit to public humiliation again. This is not viewed favorably by God, as you might imagine (Hebrews 6:4-7).
  • The Hebrew Christians should have recognized their salvation as evidenced by the acts that they had already done (Hebrews 6:9-10).
  • Certainly, the wonderful security we have based in Abraham, God’s promises to him, and His confirmation by an oath, are two things that provide a sure anchor for our souls (Hebrews 6:13-20).

Hebrews 10 also indicates that for those who are unsure of forgiveness there is no other means for salvation except by Christ. The author urges those who doubt their forgiveness to stop and progress in their faith (Hebrews 10:19, Hebrews 10:26-39).

Certainly, we have a wonderful salvation by which Christ is sufficient to cover each and every one of our sins, past, present and future. For us to say that somehow His painful, long, suffering, humiliating and unjust death is not enough to cover all our sins is an offense to God.

To review, to date we have covered now six spectacular scriptural proofs (e.g., 1 Peter 1:4-5)., beyond direct scriptural statements, of our internal security:

In summary, apart from direct statements that we are secure, we have at least six great promises as a believer because of Christ’s redemptive work on the cross, resulting in either legal or morphological irreversible changes. These assurances indicate our secure status with God: spiritual baptism, justified as innocent, God’s possession, and adopted as His children and chosen for salvation. It is our great God that causes us to persevere, not us (1 Timothy 1:12; Philippians 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:23).

 

Teleios Research – Lordship Salvation

Teleios completed a survey about the gospel by recruiting participants from the Instagram site, InstaPray (6). There were 539 participants, of whom 64% were <30 years, and 85% evangelicals. In total 92% believed they were saved by grace through faith and 44% thought they could not lose this salvation.

The premise – Lordship salvation has become a popular notion in the past few years that although one is saved by grace one has to demonstrate that Jesus is Lord to be saved. Teleios found that 56% of young Christians believe in lordship salvation despite also agreeing they were saved by faith.

The exact term is not used in scripture. Nonetheless, the question has merit in that if a person has not had a real change in life following a stated conversion, then most likely they really are not saved (1 John chapters 2-4).

However, to demonstrate this godly post-conversion character, is it from our own efforts and works or is it because that we are regenerated into a new person that can behave as God wishes, as stated above regarding our spiritual baptism?

When asked this question, young believers indicated salvation was by their own works (69%) and not by regeneration (18%). This is an unfortunate misunderstanding of scripture.

We know from scripture our own works are useless before God because we do not understand what is good or have the power to do good (Romans 3:10-12; Ephesians 2 :1–3). It is only being made again to a new person are we able to do godly works. (Ephesians 2:10; Romans 6:12-23).

As an example, when I was a college student my dear father, who was a doctor, brought me into his clinic and asked me to perform a simple clinical test on a patient. I looked like a doctor in a white coat and tie and performed the test the best I could. However, I did the test incorrectly. Fortunately, the patient was very patient.

The next year I went to medical school, and through hard study and hundred-hour weeks, as well as every third night stays working in the hospital, I gained the knowledge, temperament and judgment to become a physician. I was transformed into a doctor who could treat patients. I did not awake every morning thinking I would prove myself as a doctor, I served by patients by nature because I was regenerated into doctor.

Similarly, as a believer we cannot prove by our own works that Jesus is Lord, but only by our transformed character, occurring by our regeneration at baptism can we act in a way that shows He is our God. Therefore, we do not awake every morning thing we will prove ourselves as a Christian but we by nature serve God because we are regenerated believers.

Eternal Security and Wellbeing

Our eternal security should help us throughout life by:

  • Hope – The knowledge of our salvation and a better future life beyond helps us through every step of our lives to maintain joy despite difficult times.
  • Protecting our minds – Knowledge of our salvation provides good wellbeing as shown by our research It’s difficult to have hope in the future and good wellbeing if you don’t even know you are truly saved. Our eternal security is the helmet of our salvation, protecting our minds (Ephesians 6:15) and the anchor for our souls (Hebrews 6:19).
  • Service – Eternal security should allow us to better serve God as it becomes difficult to be a joyful servant when we lack confidence that we will ever really be with God. Such doubt can sap our energy and turn our thoughts from serving God to our own selves. We can only serve fully when we have a confident secure foundation (Colossians 1:9-14).
  • Christian growth – Knowledge of our security is necessary for progressing to maturity in the Christian life as exemplified in 1 Thessalonians 1:5-7. We may not feel we deserve salvation (actually we do not – it is God’s gift through Christ) and it may fight against our nature and upbringing, yet as Christians we must live by the facts of Scripture and its blessed truth of our eternal security.

Surely, we have a wonderful God who graciously has given us with a great salvation secured in Him. Who could ask for a more wonderful gift?

 

  1. https://scholarship.law.wm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1209&context=wmborj
  2. https://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Adopting+parents
  3. https://www.biblestudytools.com/encyclopedias/isbe/adoption.html
  4. https://www.biblestudytools.com/encyclopedias/isbe/seal.html
  5. https://www.westernseminary.edu/transformedblog/2014/02/25/baptisim-meaning-and-mode/
  6. https://teleiosresearch.com/salvation-survey/
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