“Once saved, always saved?”
Billy Graham was walking along a Chicago street one evening when he saw a drunkard propping up a lamppost. The befuddled man recognised Billy and shouted out,
“I’m one of you converts!”
“You may be one of mine, but you’re not one of God’s!” came the reply.
There are many people who have ‘prayed the prayer’ and asked to be forgiven and admitted into God’s kingdom. There are many who have gone forwards at evangelistic rallies and committed themselves to God, but does that mean their names are written in God’s book of life and are assured of eternal salvation?
At a student conference, I went on an afternoon walk with a group of students and asked one young lady how she was enjoying the conference.
“It has been most interesting as I have not been a Christian very long.”
She then explained how she had been drawn to Christ.
“So did you then invite Jesus into your life?”
“Yes, I did.” she replied.
I then asked her a question that stumped her.
“You invited Jesus into your life but surely what really matters is whether he has accepted you. Are you sure he has?”
Her answer was,
“Well I hope so, I do feel more at peace now.”
“But can’t people feel peaceful for a whole variety of other reasons?”
The question was then passed on to other students on the walk.
“How can we be sure that Jesus has accepted us?”
After a considerable discussion one student concluded,
“Hasn’t God promised that those who follow Christ are saved?”
Unfortunately they could not put any flesh on that bone, they couldn’t say what these promises were.
The Promises that give confidence
There are so many such promises in Scripture, such as,
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
The tenses used are striking. If anyone ‘is’ in Christ, he ‘is’ a new creation, the old ‘has’ gone and the new ‘has’ come. Salvation is a present status for those who belong to and are ‘in Christ’.
I had a patient who had terminal cancer and was in hospital waiting to die. I had the privilege of leading her to Christ, using a Gideon Bible that was in her bedside locker. We talked about the gospel, how Jesus, as the God of this world, entered it just over 2000 years ago. He came both to teach us and to become the ultimate sacrifice for our sin. Her response was,
“I need to be forgiven by Jesus then.”
We then prayed together. It was obviously important for her to be sure of her new standing with God so I wrote on a piece of paper several verses on assurance, These were the verses I left with her.
“Yet to all who did receive him (Jesus), to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to to become children of God.” John 1:12
“For God so whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” 1 John 5:11-12
Such promises, given by God, are very reassuring but note where the security lies. Salvation is only given to those who are living ‘in Christ.’
I went to visit this lady after she was transferred to the local hospice and reminded her of the assurance those in Christ should have. I read the following verse to her,
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1
To emphasise what this meant, I wrote her name in “bold” on a sheet of paper and said,
“Let this piece of paper represent you. This Bible represents the Lord Jesus.”
The sheet of paper with her name on it was then placed inside the Bible and this was closed.
“You have now trusted yourself to him. You are therefore ‘in Christ. Because you now belong to Christ, when God looks at you now, he does not see your sin but the righteousness of Christ. We are saved because of his righteousness. Furthermore, because the Lord Jesus has gone to heaven and you are now in him, you also will join him there, because you are in Christ.”
What wonderful promises we have been given by Jesus and his apostles. But note we are not saved because of a prayer or commitment we made in the past, neither are we saved because of some ceremony involving us in the past, such as baptism, confirmation or even ordination. These promises teach us that we are only saved if we are living in Christ.
Jesus reassured those who are following him,
“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.” John 10:27-28
This verse talks of two sides of a covenant. God gives eternal life to those who listen to and follow his Son, Jesus. It is God who has initiated this covenant but the evidence will be seen in those who respond. Jesus continued,
“My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no-one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.” John 10:29
When sure of our relationship with Christ we will have great confidence and boldness. Latimer wrote to Ridley, both Reformers of the Church of England in the 16th century, to say that once he was settled and steadfast about his own salvation he was as bold as a lion, but if that hope became eclipsed he was fearful and afraid and was disqualified for service. Many are disqualified for effective service because they are continually doubting their own salvation.
Watchman Nee, the Chinese evangelist and Bible teacher, was approached by a new convert in deep distress.
“No matter how much I pray, no matter how hard I try, I simply cannot seem to be faithful to my Lord. I think I'm losing my salvation.”
Nee replied,
“Do you see this dog here? He is my dog. He is house-trained; he never makes a mess; he is obedient; he is a pure delight to me. Out in the kitchen I have a son, a baby son. He makes a mess, he throws his food around, he fouls his clothes, he is a total mess. But who is going to inherit my kingdom? Not my dog; my son is my heir. You are Jesus Christ's heir because it is for you that He died.”
We are Christ's heirs, not through our perfection but by means of His grace. It is Christ’s righteousness that saves us, not our own. John Wesley had been working hard to please God. He prayed, was committed to his church, studied his Bible and was devoted to social good works. He was even ordained and had been preaching for some time when the importance of the ‘new birth’ began to come to him. He travelled to the United States to preach but when there a Moravian missionary simply asked him,
“Are you sure, Mr. Wesley, of your salvation?”
“Well,” he answered, “Jesus Christ died for the whole world.”
“Yes, we all believe that; but are you sure that you are saved?”
Wesley replied that he was sure that provision had been made for his salvation.
“But are you sure, Wesley, that you are saved?”
It went like an arrow to his heart, and he had no rest or power in his preaching with that question unresolved. Many men and many women are unsure of their own standing before God – they only hope they will be saved.
We are saved because we accept the righteousness that Christ alone can give us, but that is just the beginning – we cannot just sit there! The Bible is clear that those who God calls have responsibilities too.
The Bible is clear that anyone who is not living with and for Christ has no security concerning their salvation. It is Christ who is our Saviour and outside of him there is no salvation.
Paul wrote to those who hoped that their upright lives, those who were righteous in their own eyes, would put them in good standing before God,
“You, who are trying to be justified by law, have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.” Galatians 5:4
The gospel story always begins with God’s grace, his love for rebels who are spiritually dead and therefore cannot help themselves. Forgiveness can be found only by turning back to God as a repentant sinner and accepting the covenant he has offered. He then gives us his forgiveness and the right to be called children of God (John 1:12). The whole Bible teaches that God’s grace can only be found in Christ - reject him and there is no forgiveness. If we turn to God, ask for his forgiveness and then centre our lives on pleasing him by obeying what he teaches, we can then have complete assurance that our names have been written in God’s ‘Book of Life’. Without repentance, without relying on Christ and without a determination to live obediently to his wishes there is no forgiveness, no salvation.
God’s covenants with his people have always required a sincere response from his people. He always remains faithful but the Bible is clear that we must respond to this love by a commitment that is seen in our obedience.
The Warnings of the Old Testament
In my morning quiet times, for the last few years, I have written down the references of those verses that emphasise many Biblical doctrines. Under the heading ‘Falling away from grace,’ I have noted the many references that are relevant to this theme. The two sides of this covenant are repeatedly stressed.
Moses
Moses recognised that the Lord is always faithful but that God’s people are fickle and can lose their status as being God’s people. He calls on them to remain true to their LORD, and that God’s anger and calamity would come on them if they reject his rule. He explains the reason for God’s rejection,
“It is because this people abandoned the covenant of the LORD, the God of their fathers . . . They went off and worshipped other gods and bowed down to them . . . Therefore the LORD’s anger burned against this land, so that he brought on it all the curses written in this book.” Deuteronomy 29:24-29
The consequences of turning away from serving God would be disastrous,
“But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will be utterly destroyed.” Deuteronomy 30:17
The future of God’s people is to some degree dependant on our response to God,
“Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life . . .” Deuteronomy 30:19
Moses knew that, in the future, people would make the wrong decision, forget God and that then their fate would be sealed.
“He is the Rock, his works are perfect and his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he. They have acted corruptly towards him; to their shame they are no longer his children, but a warped and crooked generation.” Deuteronomy 32:4-5
Joshua
Joshua, who succeeded Moses, also recognised that their future as God’s people depended on their remaining faithful to their Lord,
“Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshipped beyond the river and in Egypt and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve . . . But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:14
The Children of Israel made their decision,
“We too will serve the LORD, because he is our God.” Joshua 24:18
The Joshua warned them that this must be a permanent decision and that turning away from God later on would be disastrous for them,
“You are not able to serve the LORD. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end of you, after he has been good to you.” Joshua 24:19-20
It is clear that God’s covenants are dependant on our positive response.
David
King David also recognised that when God seems to have left his people, it is always because of their response to him,
“Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive vindication from God his Saviour . . .” Psalm 24:3-4
Here there is no sense that man is earning his own salvation, salvation has always been a gift of God, it is he who gives us his forgiveness and his righteousness - but he only gives this to those who genuinely repent and turn to him.
“ . . . the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children – with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.” Psalm 103:18
“The LORD is righteous in all his ways and is loving towards all he has made. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” Psalm 145:17-18
Solomon
When Solomon dedicated the new temple, the Lord reminded him that his covenant demands a positive response,
“You shall never fail to have a man to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your sons are careful in all they do to walk before me as you have done.” 1 Kings 8:25
“As for you, if you walk before me in integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne over Israel for ever, as I promised David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.” 1 Kings 9:4-5
However this promise was associated with a warning,
“But if you and your sons turn away from me and do not observe the commands and decrees I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I wll cut off Israel from the land I have given them and will reject this temple I haver consecrated for my name. Israel will then become a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples.” 1 Kings 9:6-7
Throughout the Bible this bilateral nature of the covenant has always been emphasised. God initiates the promise but he has to be accepted and positively responded to.
Later prophets
Jeremiah recognised that God’s covenant with his people necessitated our continued commitment,
“I will pronounce my judgments on my people because of their wickedness in forsaking me.” Jeremiah 1:16
For one of God’s people to turn his back on God’s ways was recognised as being fatal, whatever virtues he could point to. Ezekiel warned the exiled Children of Israel in no uncertain terms,
“But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits sin and does the same detestable things the wicked man does, will he live? None of the righteous things he has done will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness he is guilty of and because of the sins he has committed, he will die.” Ezekiel 18:24
This sounds harsh and empty of any hope but Ezekiel continues,
“But if a wicked man turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will save his life.” Ezekiel 18:27
Here is the gospel in the Old Testament. God says to those who are already members of his chosen people,
“Repent . . . Rid yourselves of all the offences you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel . . Repent and live!” Ezekiel 18:30-32
Later Ezekiel is very explicit that it is only by remaining as God’s faithful people that they will be saved,
“If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, he will die for it.” Ezekiel 33:18
Other prophets also recognised that God’s involvement with them depended on their obedience. God would lead them to rebuild his temple in Jerusalem on one condition:
“This will happen if you diligently obey the LORD your God.” Zechariah 6:15
Warnings in the New Testament
Jesus and his apostles also taught that our continued response to God is crucial for salvation. Being ‘formally’ a Christian is of little benefit, we must ‘personally’ be ‘in Christ’.
Jesus warns us
Jesus repeatedly warns us that our forgiveness by God is dependant on how we behave towards others. He said to his disciples,
“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive you.” Matthew 6:14-15
Jesus made it clear that there would be those who would hear the word of God and even ‘receive it with joy’ but who are ‘rocky ground.’
“But since they have no root, they last only a short time. Still others, like the seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.” Mark 4:16-19
Our salvation does depend on our remaining true to Christ. Salvation cannot be found outside of him so a continued relationship with him is vital.
“All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” Mark 13:13
Jesus is stressing that there will always be those who are attracted to the gospel and even become involved in churches, but who fall away from him for a variety of reasons. Our eternal salvation depends on us remaining firm in our commitment to him,
“By standing firm you will gain life.” Luke 21:19
Jesus warns us that it will be sin and false prophets that will draw many away from following him and that only those who remain faithful for life will be saved,
“Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” Matthew 24:12
Paul warns us
This teaching is supported by the apostles writings:
“You will say then, ‘Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.’ 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.” Romans 11:19-21
When writing to the troubled church of Corinth, Paul stresses the importance of their holding fast to apostolic teaching, which is the evidence of their salvation. If they don’t then their salvation is imperilled.
“By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I have preached to you.” 1 Corinthians 15:2
When Paul wrote to the Ephesians he warned them that even though they are church members, immoral behaviour will result in them being excluded from heaven,
“But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. . . 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.” Ephesians 5:3-5
When he wrote to the Colossians, Paul stressed the need to keep going on with Christ if we are to receive his forgiveness.
“But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body . . . to present you holy and free from accusation – if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel.” Colossians 1:22-23
His letter to the Galatian church warns them that to move away from a dependancy on Christ is fatal.
“You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.” Galatians 5:4
To turn to a different message to that of Jesus and his apostles has eternal consequences,
“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel. . . If anyone is preaching a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned.” Galatians 1:6-9
When writing to the Philippians, Paul shares his concern for those who do not think as the apostles taught.
“Join with others in following my example brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.” Philippians 3:17
The true people of God are those who ‘glory in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 3:3). There were those in Philippi who had been involved in the church but who had then turned their backs on living for Christ as taught by his apostles.
“For as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven.” Philippians 3:18-20
The book of Hebrews warns us
This need to keep going with Christ, obeying him, is repeatedly emphasised by the writer of the letter to the Hebrews,
“We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. Hebrews 3:14
“And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed. So we see that they were not able to enter, because of unbelief.” Hebrews 3:18-19
“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 . . .” Hebrews 6:4-6
The lesson is clear, to turn away from God and his son will result in his turning his back on us.
“ . . . because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord.” Hebrews 8:9
“. . . and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” Hebrews 9:27
“If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.” Hebrews 10:26
Peter warns us
Peter recognised that Christians have a role in confirming what God has given them,
“Therefore my brothers, be all the more eager to make your election and calling sure. For if you do these things you will never fail and will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:10-11
For Christians to relapse and return to worldliness is fatal,
“If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Saviour 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.” 2 Peter 2:20-21
Peter warned us that it is possible to fall from being a recipient of God’s grace,
“Therefore dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position.” 2 Peter 3:17
John warns us
John knew that there were people within the church who were teaching doctrines that were opposed to those of the apostles. He noted that they and their followers were worldly and did not live as God requires. The proof of salvation is to be full of the Spirit of God, which means to live as Christ did.
“If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in them.”1 John 2:15
“ . . . the man who does the will of God lives for ever.” 1 John 2:17
These renegades eventually left the fellowship of believers who were living for Christ.
“They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.” 1 John 2:19
Towards the end of the last book of the Bible comes a reminder that we have a responsibility to believe and repent and persist in this new life if we are to inherit eternal life.
“He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile . . .” Revelation 21:7-8
This reiterates what Jesus said to the churches. Salvation is always a free gift of God but he gives it only to those who repent, obey and are faithful. To the church of Ephesus he said,
“To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” Revelation 2:7
To the church of Smyrna, Jesus said,
“Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Revelation 2:10
To the spiritually dead church at Sardis, Jesus says that their eternal survival depends on them,
“Wake up,! Strengthen what remains and is about to die . . . 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 . . . They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.” Revelation 3:2-5
Jude encourages us
Jude, probably a natural brother of Jesus, wrote to encourage Christians to ‘contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints’ (Jude 3). At the end of his short letter he reminds his readers that there are two sides to the new covenant Jesus has made with his people. There are our responsibilities and then a reminder of what God has promised to deliver to his people.
He starts with our role to understand the faith better. He reminds us that God chose a people for himself but those who failed to live by faith were rejected:
“I want to remind you that the Lord delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe.” Jude 5
God wants us, his people to become more loving like Jesus, to help persuade doubters, to win people for Christ and to hate all sin in others and ourselves.
“But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.” Jude 20-23
Jude then reminds his readers what the Lord Jesus has promised to deliver, to help us from falling away from him and to take us joyfully to be with him in eternity. He can only do this because he is God, our creator and our Lord.
“To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” Jude 24-25
Calvin and Arminius
There has been much misunderstanding of what these great theologians cherished. It may surprise many who call themselves Calvinists that Calvin himself considered it possible for us to lose our salvation if we turn away from Christ. He wrote in his famous Institutes (II.8.18),
“Still, our redemption would be imperfect if he did not lead us ever onward to the final goal of our salvation. Accordingly, the moment we turn away, even slightly from him, our salvation which rests firmly in him, gradually vanishes away. As a result, all those who do not repose in him voluntarily deprive themselves of all grace.”
Calvin himself taught that grace is universally available but that few take up God’s offer. Calvin distinguished those who had a ‘temporary’ faith from those who had a ‘true faith’ and would therefore be saved. It was Calvin’s successor in Geneva, Theodore Beza who insisted that God had decreed who would be saved before the world began. The famous ‘Five Points’ of Calvinism were formulated in Holland later as a response to the teaching of a godly Dutchman, Jacob Arminius who had himself been a student of Beza in Geneva but had found his rigid theology objectionable.
Arminius became a very popular professor in Leiden where he suggested that God’s choice was based on foreknowledge and by knowing who will repent enabled the eternal God to predestine them to glory! He taught that God’s grace, which is available to all people, is not forced on anyone, it is our decision whether we will accept what God offers. When publicly questioned about his views he replied,
“I have never taught that a true believer can either totally or finally fall away from the faith, and perish.”
However he then defined a true believer as someone who continues in the faith to the end!
Views became polarised and taken to extremes. One extreme was that just as those saints who will go to heaven are predestined so are those who are going to hell. The logical effect of this was to negate the need for evangelism which is fundamental in New Testament teaching.
Both Calvin and Arminius have been tarnished by the rigidity of some of their successors.
The Council of Dort (1618) was called to try and adjudicate on these extremes. The two camps strongly opposed each other, each quoting different portions of Scripture. The result of this Council was that the writings of Arminius were banned. In 1646 the Westminster assembly met to try and bring a united orthodoxy to the churches and it largely followed the Dort formulation with its adherence to ‘double predestination’ of those who will be saved and those who will be lost. The Westminster Confession was accepted by the Church of Scotland but not by the Church of England which as so often took a centrist position of ‘moderate Calvinism’.
Chosen by God
The Bible is abundantly clear that all Christians have been chosen by God to be members of his kingdom. In the Old Testament, the Jews were repeatedly called, ‘God’s chosen people’. No-one can join God’s kingdom unless God calls them. Jude, probably the natural brother of Jesus, began his short letter with the words,
“Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James. To those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ. Jude 1:1
Paul wrote similarly,
“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” Ephesians 1:4
“For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you . . .” 1 Thessalonians 1:4
“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wiser; God chose the week things of the world to shame the strong. . . It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus.” 1 Corinthians1:27-28
“For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave.” 1 Corinthians 7:22
Peter wrote,
“To God’s elect . . . who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood.” 1 Peter 1:2
Just as Abraham and his descendants were chosen by God to be his people, so all of God’s people still have to be called. King David wrote,
“Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts.” Psalm 65:4
John wrote,
“The inhabitants of the earth whose names have been written in the book of life from the creation of the world . . .” Revelation 17:8
Jesus himself taught his disciples that our salvation is because God has chosen us,
“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast away.” John 7:37
“And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.” John 7:39
“This is why I told you that no-one can come to me unless the Father has called him.” John 7:65
The lesson is clear, what a great privilege it is to have been chosen by God, it is not something to be abused. It is significant that in the vast majority of times we are reminded about our being chosen by God, the purpose is mentioned – we have been chosen to be a holy people, set apart to represent God and his only Son. We have to work hard at our calling. We have been chosen,
“. . . to be holy and blameless in his sight.” Ephesians 1:4
“. . . for obedience to Jesus Christ . . ” 1 Peter 1:2
Our choice
The Bible is clear that we can choose not to believe but we cannot choose to believe. Faith is a gift of God, but obedience then becomes our responsibility. Faith is the commitment that every true Christian has made to Christ because of what God has done in Christ to save us. It is only God who can save us,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works so that no-one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:8-10
Salvation is only given to those who have chosen to follow Jesus Christ – there is no other way to be saved. We refuse to allow God and his Son their right to rule our lives at our eternal peril. To turn away from Christ is to turn from salvation.
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.” John 3:36
Assurance
If we remain in Christ our relationship with God is guaranteed – outside of Christ there is no salvation. Paul keeps reassuring Christians that God is on the side of those who are committed to Jesus Christ.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
Christians were facing a tough time but Paul can reassure all those who are living with Jesus Christ as Lord of their lives,
“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 . . . nor anything else will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:36-39
God longs for his people to know how they stand with God. When you're in an airport, observe the difference between passengers who hold confirmed tickets and those who are on standby. The ones with confirmed tickets read newspapers, chat with their friends or sleep. The ones on standby hang around the ticket counter, pace and worry. The difference is caused by their confidence. Eternal security does affect how we live now.
This assurance is only promised to those who are living with and for the Lord Jesus. At some time in our life we heard the good news by someone explaining it to us. We learned that God accepts those who turn to Christ for salvation and we then received the Holy Spirit to enable us to keep Christ as our priority for life.
“And you 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.”Ephesians 1:13-14
The Holy Spirit motivates and encourages Christians to keep on living for Christ. His work is to point people to Jesus. Without his work we will never keep going as a godly set-apart people.
Summary
We need to teach everyone these vital truths and promises. It is a heinous doctrine that those who think they are Christians because they believe some doctrines, have subjected themselves to some church rituals or have joined a church, are assured of salvation. Only those who have the Spirit of God living in them can be assured of their salvation.
We were spiritually dead until God put his Spirit in us and caused us to believe in his Son.
“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins . . .” Colossians 2:13-14
Paul wrote similarly to the Christians in the church of Thessalonica saying that our security comes from being in Christ.
“For God did not appoint us to to suffer wrath, but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage each other and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10
God has never changed. He remains true to his word. If we keep going on with Christ we are completely secure, but if we turn our backs on Christ we are lost. God’s character is that of love and patience and a slowness to become angry yet ultimately he will turn his back on those who continue to reject his rule.
“The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished . . .” Exodus 34:6-7
God will remain faithful and will keep this ultimate threat. In his final letter Paul is probably quoting from an early Christian hymn when he writes,
“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 disown us. If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.” 2 Timothy 2:11-13
We all have a decision to make, ‘Is Jesus Christ my Lord, is he my Saviour and my hope or am I still outside of his true family? But that is just the beginning. Our Lord does not intend for us just to sit there after being saved, we are to press on in our service for him. Paul, who asks that Christians should emulate him, said,
“Forgetting what is behind and straining to what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things.” Philippians 3:13-14
The Bible is clear that our acceptance by God depends on his work of grace in a person’s heart. No-one is able to genuinely turn their life over to the control of Jesus Christ unless God has first drawn them to himself. It is the Spirt who reveals Christ to be the answer to our needs. The Australian evangelist, John Chapman, was talking with a student who said that he could not accept that salvation is predestined as everyone can choose whether they want to accept Christ or not.
“That’s not true,” Chappo replied, “For example, you cannot accept Christ.”
“Of course I can,” the student replied.
“Go on then, do it, accept Jesus as your Lord and your Saviour.”
“No! I don’t want to,” answered the student.
“That is just the point, no-one can become a Christian unless God calls them.”
When a person becomes a Christian they receive the gift of God’s Spirit who enables and motivates them to live for the glory or reputation of Christ for the rest off their life. Evidence that the Holy Spirit is active in a person’s life is evidence that they have been truly ‘born again’. This evidence will include all of the following, just one or two features may just be the effect of upbringing.
a. We love Jesus and want to live pleasing him out of gratefulness
b. We love his word, the Bible, recognising that this is the way God teaches today.
c. We love Christ’s people. There is a unique bond between all those who love Jesus; serving him and his church becomes a priority.
d. We notice a change in our characters as the fruit of God’s Spirit in us improves relationships with others (Galatians 5:22)
e. We love to pray and involve our Lord in all we do.
f. We love to share the news about Jesus with others so that they too may be saved.
g. We become bolder in sharing the gospel.
h. We come increasingly to hate sin. Our consciences become more acute.
i. We increasingly care for God’s creation, for others in his world and for godly standards in society.
j. We look forwards to being with the Lord in heaven.
Without such evidence the status of someone calling themselves a Christian must at best be described as dubious and probably means that the work of grace has yet to begin. Paul wrote,
“If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.” Romans 8:9
The natural effect of having a true faith is that we will live for the glory, or reputation, of our Saviour and God. Their is no such thing as an inactive faith. Paul concluded:
“We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. This this end I labour, struggling with all the energy, which so powerfully works in me.” Colossians 1:28-29
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17
“Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, to will and to act according to his good purpose.” Philippians 2:12-13
A real faith is an active faith which will be seen in our activities of faith, for these are what we have been called to do.. There is a big price to pay when we accept Christ but an even bigger one if we reject him. A self-made man will only have himself to blame for what he becomes.
A group of climbers were about to climb Mont Blanc with a Swiss guide. They met up the evening before the planned ascent and the guide told them that they should wear protective clothing but only bring essentials such as ice axes and ropes. A young Englishman in the group then said,
“I’ve been so looking forwards to this climb and I want to make the most of it. I have planned to bring a variety of things so that I can really enjoy the trip, such as my photographic equipment, a blanket and a picnic including bars of chocolate so I can rest on the way.”
The guide retorted,
“If you insist on this, you must go alone as you will not reach the top with all that clutter.”
The man still insisted on doing his own thing. He left alone early the next morning before the group departed. As the group progressed they saw the man’s equipment, the blanket, then his picnic, then his camera lens, then his tripod and finally the camera itself, left by the side of the track. At last they met the Englishmen, all he had was his pickaxe and some ropes but nothing else.
So it is in our seeking to follow Christ. He comes to us and says you cannot reach the top with everything you are holding in your hands and you cannot reach it alone. We say,
“We’ll try it.’
But God says,
“Then you go your own way. “
The tragedy is that when we find that we cannot reach the top with all that we would like, we let our ambition to reach the top go and we settle down in the plain, a plain that is full of luxurious tents.”
Yet God has called us to climb the mountain of faith by obeying his Son and working together with the rest of his people till the summit of bringing glory to Christ has been achieved.
BVP
