One criticism of the Arminian view of the security of the believer is that it lacks the assurance of one’s salvation if in fact, or so it is stated, we teach people that apostasy is in fact a very real possibility. Frankly, I have been a disciple since 1992 and have never believed in “once saved, always saved” but have not doubted my own salvation. I have struggled with sin like anyone else. I have fought (and sometimes) lost the battle against the flesh and Satan like anyone else. I have had to fight the good fight of faith in batting unbelief like anyone else. I have had to wrestle through my doubts to seek Jesus in prayer like anyone else.
And yet, despite the fact that I don’t believe in eternal security, I have not doubted that Christ loved me and gave Himself for me (1 Peter 3:18). I honestly believe that by His stripes I am healed and completely forgiven of all my sins (1 Peter 2:24). I believe that I am secure in Christ because He lives to make intercession for me as my faithful high priest before God the Father (Hebrews 7:25). I believe that the Holy Spirit bears witness with my spirit that I am a child of God Almighty (Romans 8:16). I believe that Christ is my righteousness (Philippians 3:8-9) and I believe that I have eternal life by faith in Him (John 5:24-25). I believe that I have no condemnation since I am in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). I believe that Jesus has set me free from sin and its power over me (John 8:31-38; Romans 6:11-14; Galatians 5:1-4, 13).
Yet I don’t believe in eternal security.
I believe the Bible teaches that we must persevere in the faith to be saved. We are justified by faith (Romans 5:1) and we are kept by faith (1 Peter 1:5). Jesus said that His sheep hear His voice (John 10:27-29) and we must not just hear His voice once but continue to hear His voice and follow Him completely (Revelation 14:4). If we have the Son, we have life (1 John 5:11-12) which comes by faith and therefore, failure to continue in the faith (Colossians 1:21-23) does not produce eternal life but brings only certain destruction (Hebrews 10:26-39). The wages of sin is death and those who sow to the flesh will reap corruption (Galatians 6:7-9) but those who sow to the Spirit will reap eternal life (Romans 6:23). Eternal life comes in Christ Jesus alone and we must be in Christ to receive eternal life (2 Peter 1:10-11).
So why don’t we just preach perseverance? The term “perseverance of the saints” is common in some Reformed churches but oddly the term is often substituted with the words, “eternal security” by many Baptist churches. I recently read a tract written by the late Baptist preacher, John Rice, written against Calvinism. Strangely, Rice rejects all five points of Calvinism but then turns around and embraces an Arminian view of total depravity (with the will intact) and eternal security (while Rice rejects the term perseverance of the saints). Rice’s reason: Perseverance of the saints implies that Jesus must be Lord of one’s life to gain eternal life whereas the Bible teaches that we only believe (once) and we receive eternal life. Rice believes that teaching perseverance robs the gospel of its power and its grace.
But I wonder what Rice and others must do with Scriptures such as:
That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not be become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.
– Romans 11:20-22
And by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you – unless you believed in vain.
– 1 Corinthians 15:2
Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith.
– 2 Corinthians 1:24
So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith – that you, being rooted and grounded in love.
– Ephesians 3:17
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
– Philippians 2:12-13
If indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
– Colossians 1:23
For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.
– 1 Thessalonians 3:5
Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.
– 1 Thessalonians 4:1
But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.
– 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
– 1 Timothy 6:12
The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful – for he cannot deny himself.
– 2 Timothy 2:11-13
Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who loved his appearing.
– 2 Timothy 4:8
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
– 1 Peter 1:8-9
Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
– 2 Peter 1:10-11
For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”
– 2 Peter 2:20-22
You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
– 2 Peter 3:17-18
There can be no denying that salvation is by faith and we are kept by faith. There is simply no promise of God keeping us if we are abiding in continued sin (1 John 3:6-9). The only safe way to preach the assurance of salvation is by the obvious: stay close to Christ (Hebrews 12:1-2). Die to self and live in abandonment to Him (Romans 6:11-14). Make sure you walk in obedience unto Him always (Luke 6:46-49; 1 John 2:3-6). When you fail and sin against God, when the Holy Spirit opens your eyes to see your sins, run to Christ and confess your sins to Him and walk in repentance unto Him (Matthew 3:8; Acts 26:20; Romans 2:4; 1 John 1:7-9).
How we need to preach perseverance! We need to preach to people to keep their faith in Jesus. We need to remind them not to get caught up in works-righteousness thinking that our works, our church attendance, our prayer lives, etc. keep us saved, but it is only faith in the Lord Jesus and what He has done for us that keeps us saved. Jesus’ blood alone cleanses us from all sin (Ephesians 1:7) and we must continue to place our faith in Him and Him alone! And to Him alone be all the glory and the honor that is due unto His name! Even in eternity, Jesus alone will be our salvation and the only One worthy of our praises (Revelation 7:10).
[Link to original post and comments at Roy Ingle’s website.]
