I wrote this only to help clarify what I believe the scriptures say about eternal security. It is not an important issue. It only becomes important in two cases:

1. If someone confuses salvation by faith and salvation by works; and

2. If it causes someone to feel they can continue in sin without fear of the eternal judgment.

I don't make a big deal out of it or bring it up in conversation - we have much more important work to do. It is disappointing to find believers taking sides on this issue - we have too much in common. A church should have the strength and unity to promote different perspectives on this and other less important issues.

PREMISE:

The following fits the scriptures best:

Salvation is received by faith - trusting in Jesus. Loss of faith for the purpose of this discussion is not the occasional doubts we all have but a purposeful rejection of God in our lives. Faith must be evidenced by works - it is not the works that save us; but true faith must have some evidence, some change in a person's life - if not right away at least eventually. Likewise, loss of faith is evidenced by works. If someone continues in sin, it is evidence of a loss of faith. Continuing in sin is not the occasional sin or even a grievous sin. Continuing in sin is a premeditated decision to continually reject God's prompting to the point of rejecting Him altogether - God is not mocked. Only God knows when this happens. A person may still blind himself by thinking he is a Christian although inwardly he has decided to walk without God. (Feeling guilty about a bad decision is an indication that you have not rejected God.) No one and nothing can take salvation away, only by our own rejection of God's Spirit - of His presence in our lives.

John 5:24

"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life."

As a young Christian, I had a special love for scriptures such as these that give us the assurance of salvation - and I still do. I believed in the concept of eternal security - that I couldn't lose my faith. In fact I am still assured of my personal salvation. There is nothing that can separate me from God's fellowship in Jesus. I will not reject God. Why would I! But we must take the scriptures in context of the whole Bible. Are there other scriptures that qualify or add conditions to John 5:24 and other scriptures like it?

The following is a list of all the scriptures that I know that pertain to this issue. If there are more please let me know: danon@cheerful.com

SCRIPTURES THAT SPEAK OF LOSS OF SALVATION:

2 Peter 2:20-21

If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.

They were saved, "they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." Also, they "have known the way of righteousness." If they were not saved, this passage makes no sense.

The judgment mentioned here is clearly eternal damnation.

This is not just a hypothetical situation - the context is "false teachers among you."

Heb 6:4-6, 8

It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. ... But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.

Paul uses the word 'enlightened' also in Heb 10:32 to refer to salvation. Can someone share in the Holy Spirit if they are not part of the covenant in the blood of Jesus?

They need "to be brought back to repentance" - can someone be saved if they are not forgiven? It is not the thorns and thistles that are cursed and burned; but the land that produces it. Where does the scripture talk about being cursed and saved at the same time?

There is no special indication that this is a purely hypothetical situation.

1 Tim 5:8

If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Eph 5:5-7

For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person - such a man is an idolater - has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient.

The context here is the believers in Ephesus. Again, it is not the works that save us; but the works are evidence of salvation. These two scriptures are not talking about occasional sin but continuing in sin.

Rom 11:20-22

Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.

Col 1:22-23

But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation - if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

We must continue in the faith.

Luke 8:13

Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.

Perhaps a scholar could show that this person was never really saved; but how would Jesus's original listeners have understood it?

James 5:19-20

My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

Matt 24:10-13

At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

2 Cor 13:5 Examine yourselves

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you - unless, of course, you fail the test?

1 Timothy 1:19

...holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith.

1 John 2:24-25

See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us - even eternal life.

2 John 9

Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

Luke 12:42-46

The Lord answered, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose the servant says to himself, 'My master is taking a long time in coming,' and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

Matt 18:23-35

23. "Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. 26. "The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' 27. The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. 28. "But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded. 29. "His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' 30. "But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. 32. "Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' 34. In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35. "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."

"Tortured" refers to the torment of Hell.

Matthew 25:14-30

14. "Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. 19. "After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.' 21. "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' 22. "The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.' 23. "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' 24. "Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.' 26. "His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27. Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28. "'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

Matthew 5:13

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men."

Luke 12:42-48

42. The Lord answered, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 43. It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. 44. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45. But suppose the servant says to himself, 'My master is taking a long time in coming,' and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. 46. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers. 47. "That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

Are we going to be beaten in heaven? I don't think so.

John 15:1-6

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.

This is not the fruit that is being burned; but the branches themselves.

Colossians 1:21-23

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation - if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

2 Timothy 2:11-12

Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us;

1 John 2:24-25

See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us - even eternal life.

Revelation 2:4-5

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

Revelation 2:16

Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

Revelation 2:24-26

Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan's so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you): Only hold on to what you have until I come. To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations

Revelation 3:3

Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

Revelation 3:11

I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.

Revelation 3:15-16

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

To be spit out of the body of Christ.

Matthew 25:8-12 (Notice that initially all the virgins had oil in their lamps. The foolish ones did not prepare extra. Does 'virgin' refer to one who is spiritually pure? Rev. 14:4.)

"The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!' But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'"

SCRIPTURES THAT SEEM TO SPEAK OF ETERNAL SECURITY:

John 5:24

"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.

This scripture and others like it give us assurance of salvation; but it is qualified by conditions in other scriptures. Simply put, we must remain in the faith.

John 1:12

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God

John 5:24

"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.

John 10:27-30

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.

Rom 5:9-10

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

Rom 8:1-2

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.

1 Cor 1:8

He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Phil 1:6

being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

1 Pet 1:3-5

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade - kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

The same condition also applies to the previous 8 scriptures - we must remain in the faith. Only by our own rejection of God can we lose our salvation.

Eph 1:13-14

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession - to the praise of his glory.

God never violates His promise, His covenant. But every covenant carries conditions. The promise will never be broken by God. It can only be broken by our own free will. There are some former believers who reject God completely - are you saying they have no free will?

John 6:37-40

All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 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."

It is the father's will that none be lost. Indeed, it is God's will that all come to salvation; but He will not violate our own will.

Rom 8:31-39

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Again no one and nothing can separate us, only by our own choice.

Heb 13:5

because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

God will always protect and comfort us. God's will always work in us to try to keep us near Him.

John 6:37

All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.

Again, it is only by our own will that we can be separated from God.

I John 3:6-10

No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.

"No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him." I admit I don't have a good explanation for this one, except to say that I think John is warning his flock that if you see someone continuing in sin, it should be recognized that they are not children of God. He does not intend to address backsliding in this passage.

"No one who is born of God will continue to sin" I don't believe John is saying that someone who is born of God is forced to not continue to sin. Sorry for so many negatives. John is saying that when someone chooses to continue in sin, they are no longer considered "born of God." There are a few among us who choose to live in sin and are expelled from the family of God.

Matt 7:21-23

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

Again the deeds are only an indicator of a person's faith. You may ask why I put this scripture in this section; because Jesus says, "I never knew you." The context of this passage does not appear to be speaking about someone who was formerly saved; but one may ask the question, doesn't God know who will be saved in the end and who won't be? This begs a much larger discussion; but it is sufficient to say that God knows all things from beginning to end - perhaps time for Him is not sequential as it is for us. So then someone who has lost their salvation was never really saved in the first place? I can't answer this question. I can only say that I've seen people who are filled with the Holy Spirit (or so it seems to me), their lives are transformed, they have good deeds, and then they gradually stray from the faith in manner that makes them appear for all intents and purposes like a non-believer. Perhaps from God's perspective, that person was never a believer. From our perspective, however, it appears that they were saved and then lost their salvation. Does it matter?