What is Assurance of Salvation And Eternal Security

THE SENSE OF ASSURANCE OF SALVATION AND ETERNAL SECURITY SPRING FROM A SENSE OF OBEDIENCE AND LOVE, NOT FROM A SENSE OF LEGALISM AND DESIRE FOR DISOBEDIENCE. EVEN IF YOU VIOLATE AN AUTHENTIC LAW, “IT IS OKAY, NO PROBLEM”, MENTALITY CANNOT COME FROM A WELL INTENTIONED PERSON. A person can have the assurance of salvation through : faith in Jesus Christ (1Jn 5:13); keeping His commandments (1Jn 2:3-6; Jn 8:31-32; Heb 5:9); overcoming the world by loving God rather than the world (1Jn 5:4-5); persistently practicing righteousness rather than sin (1Jn 2:29; 3:7-10); loving fellow believers (1Jn 3:14-17; 4:20); earnestly hoping for the return of Jesus Christ to receive us to Himself (1Jn 3:2-3); and also by the witness of the Holy Spirit (1Jn 3:24; 4:13). “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” (Rom 8:16). Thus a person can have neither salvation nor true assurance of salvation just by believing that he will be saved any way, or by simply believing in the theory of ‘not losing of salvation’.

THE BELIEVER MUST KEEP THE FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST AND PRODUCE ‘GOOD FRUITS’ TO CONTINUE IN ETERNAL LIFE AND THEREBY ENSURE ETERNAL SECURITY. THE SENSE OF ETERNAL SECURITY IS IN THE UNBREAKABLE LOVE BOND WITH JESUS EMANATING FROM SACRIFICIAL OBEDIENCE. ASSURANCE OF SALVATION AND ETERNAL SECURITY ARE GOD DESIGNED PROVISIONS BASED ON GOD’S CONDITIONS AND STANDARDS, NOT MAN MADE THEORIES BASED ON MAN’S STANDARDS AND CONDITIONS AND IMAGINATIONS AND THEORIES. 

Obedience Commanded To Retain Salvation

The individual decides for himself whether he should go to hell or heaven. Believe or not to believe is a matter of individual responsibility and free will. The reason for unbelief is from inside, not from the world, flesh or devil (2Cor 4:16). Man himself is responsible for his unbelief and destruction. He cannot blame anyone. But devil creates suitable environment for unbelief. Only those whose spirit want to be deceived, can be deceived  by the devil. A person cannot miss salvation because of another person, even devil. The salvation of a person does not depend on any other person. I preach the gospel of Christ in obedience to the commandment of God, not because  I am indispensable for the salvation of any other person. God is in sovereign control of everything. But there is no automatic or universal salvation. One must personally accept Jesus Christ. Non-acceptance of Jesus Christ is rejecting Him. There is no neutrality in spirituality.

Man can be secure from falling if he wants to be (2Pet 1:4-10). The promise for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit forever is not unconditional. Man must repent for the forgiveness of sins. (Peter wept). Repent and be converted (Acts 3:19). Repentance is a condition for forgiveness. Those who continue in sin cannot inherit the Kingdom of God (Gal 5:19-21).

Faith in the blood of Christ brings the remission of sins (Rom 3:24-25). Salvation is by grace through faith. But sins will not be remitted by grace without repentance and faith. There is no automatic justification. One has to walk in the Spirit in order that one may be justified. “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit”(Gal 5:16-25).

“For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience”(Eph 5:5-6). “Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me but I will not be brought under the power of any”(1Cor 6:9-12). “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient; all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not”(1Cor 10:23).

“Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straight away forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed”(Jas 1:22-25).

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live”(Rom 8:1-13).

Man can make sure His calling. “...Give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall” (2Pet 1:10).

After the new birth it is the responsibility of the believer to grow into the status of a child of God.  “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (Jn 1:12-13). “Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example for unbelief”(Heb 4:11). “But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons”(Col 3:25). Thus even the believer will be recompensed for his sins. “...And thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith...”(Rev 2:13).

Nature of judgment and the need abstain from sinning and produce good fruits or works: “Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;”(Rom 2:6-9).

“If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him”(Jn 14:23). “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments”(1Jn 2:3).

Disobedience Is Proof of Unbelief

Sacrifice of Christ is the basis for forgiveness. If all future sins, including not glorifying God, are forgiven at the moment of believing, why chastisement?. Chastisement  is for the person who does bad works while believing in Christ. Those who do bad works, yet not receiving chastisement are not believers, but bastards. Eternal death is awaiting them. Continuance in sin or bad work is the evidence on the basis of which one can know that one has ceased to believe.

“But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and worse than an infidel” (1Tim 5:8). This proves that the bad works of the believer can deny his faith in practice, leading him to the state of apostasy. Continuous sin hardens the heart of the believer and will progressively lead to unbelief and thereby losing of salvation. The unbelief will be progressively expressed in sin and disobedience to the words of God. “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate”(Titus 1:16).

The nature of true Good Works: Why Jesus Christ did not overthrow Roman Empire? God said, ‘vengeance is mine’. ‘I will repay, says the Lord’. Delay is not impotence. Hence God Himself will deal with the evil ones. Hence the purpose of our good works must be to glorify God in obedience to the Word of God.

The fruits  are works and words which can be judged. Thou shall know them by their fruits. Bad actions might be the proof for apostasy.

Some misunderstand the following passages as to mean that salvation of the onetime believer cannot be lost, because they think that believing is just a one moment exercise, and not a life-long exercise of the free will of the person. (See the definition of believing). “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (Jn 1:12-13).“Verily, verily I say unto you, he that believeth on me hath everlasting life”(Jn 6:47). “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life: but the wrath of God abideth on him” (Jn 3:36). “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 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” (Jn 3:15-16). “...He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (Jn 5:24). “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” ( Jn 6:37). If you love me keep my commandments. “And I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever” (Jn 14:16). “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one that seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day” (Jn 6:39-40). “...And as ye have heard that an anti-Christ shall come, even now there are many anti-christs...They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us”(1Jn 2:18-19). The freedom of the person to exercise his free will is emphasized here. If I cancel my faith in Christ by the exercise of my free will, God will cast me out. Not only that this possibility is not denied here, but also that the possibility is emphasized in other passages. (God cannot lie (Titus 1:2).

God Assures Eternal Life Only To The Believer Who Perseveres In Faith

GOD ASSURES THAT SALVATION CANNOT BE LOST DUE TO EXTERNAL FACTORS. Salvation cannot be lost through the outworking of any of the factors external to the person. “But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one”(Jn10:27-30). “If God be for us, who can be against us?...Who can lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?...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”(Rom 8:31-39).

The Need to Repent And Confess Continuously

What a man has to do now for the forgiveness of sins, atonement with God and salvation is to repent, confess his sins and believe in the person of Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross for forgiveness of sins.

There is no substitute for the confession of sins and faith in Christ. There is no automatic forgiveness even for believer. Believer has to keep his faith, repent and confess his sins or acknowledge his sinfulness moment by moment. Forgiveness of future sins require confession of sins then in the future. If we say that all our sins, past, present and future, are forgiven, that is, now we have no sins, we are liars. “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us” (1Jn 1:5-10). “I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord: and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin”(Ps 32:5). “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy”(Prov 28:13). Thus if we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive our sins. Thus sinless perfection is wrong theory. By faith in Christ one’s spirit is born again, and his sins until that moment is forgiven. For future sins’ forgiveness he has to confess his sins. Then Christ is faithful forgive and defend our case. There is no Biblical support for the argument that all the sins of the person, not only of the past and present but also of the future is forgiven at the moment when one is born again.

When the believer sins and confesses his sins, Jesus who paid the full price or penalty for our sins, defends the believer against the accusation of the devil (1Jn 2:1-2). When the sinner confesses his sins, God will forgive his sins (1Jn 1:9). “Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works. Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin”(Rom 4:6-8).

At the time of new birth future sins are not forgiven, but only the sins that are past. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God”(Rom 3:24-25).

To overcome the devil moment by moment the believer should confess his sins and live a holy life (1 Jn 1:7-10; 3:5-10; 5:18; Col 2:6; Heb 12:14). If one commits sin and refuses to confess it, God is under obligation to let the law take its own course. “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all”(Js 2:10). Those who do the works of the flesh shall not inherit the kingdom of God (1Cor 6:9-11). “Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Gal 6:7).

THE BELIEVER WHO DIES WITH UNCONFESSED SIN CANNOT INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE. “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Rev 21:7-8). “And there shall be in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Rev 21:27). “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie” (Rev 22:14-15).

Sanctification is accomplished only by the application of the blood of Christ. “Wherefore Jesus also that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate”(Heb 13:12).

Limits of Grace and the Defect of The Theory of Once Saved Always Saved

GRACE DOES NOT KEEP MEN SAVED WHEN THEY SIN (Rom 8:13). Every soul that sinneth must die (Eze 18:4). GRACE DOES NOT CANCEL THE LAW OF CONFESSION FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS (1Jn 1:9). GRACE DOES NOT CANCEL JUDGMENT OF FUTURE SINS (Rom 6:1-23). At new birth forgiveness of future sins is not accomplished (but only the sins that are past). Because the transgression of the law and the confession of the sins are necessary for the forgiveness of sins. Unless the sin comes into existence how is it possible to forgive it. Hence no future sin is forgiven at the new birth of anybody. Without actual confession of sins there is no freedom from the condemnation of sins (1Jn 1:9). The sacrifice of Christ is nothing but the basis on which God can forgive the sins of the person when he repents and confesses, whether he is a believer or not.

GRACE DOES NOT GUARANTEE ETERNAL LIFE TO THE PERSON WHO REFUSES TO OBEY. “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are” (1Cor 3:16-17). “But I keep under my body and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (1Cor 9:27).

GOD DOES NOT GUARANTEE ETERNAL LIFE OR CHRIST UNCONDITIONALLY to anyone who serves devil or mammon. “No man can serve two masters...Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Mt 6:24). “He that committeth sin is of the devil” (1Jn 3:8), even if he is believer.

Things Which Man Has Freedom to Do

1. MAN CAN DEPART FROM GOD (Hos 1:2; 2Sam 22:22). Man can allow the Word of God to depart from heart (Deut 4:9). MAN CAN EITHER CONTINUE IN GRACE (ACTS 13:43) OR FALL FROM GRACE (Gal 5:4; Heb 12:15). Believer can frustrate the grace of God (Gal 2:21). Continue in faith (Acts 14:22), or discontinue from faith (1Tim 1:19-20; 4:1; 5:12; 6:21). Instead of believing unto salvation, can draw back unto perdition (Heb 10:38-39). Believers can become unbelievers (Lk 8:13; Heb 3:12; 4:11). If the person continues in the true faith, he shall have Christ and eternal life (1Jn 2:24-25). If he lives after the flesh he shall die (Rom 8:12-13).