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Vital
Issues: Eternal Security By:
Joel Joyce
Question: Do you have eternal
security?
A sense of security is a basic need we
all have. After food, clothing, shelter, and love,
security is probably the next need we try to fulfill. We
seek security in many areas: job security; financial
security; social security; national security; home
security. We spend an enormous amount of money on
security. Consider the cost of health insurance and auto
insurance. What are we purchasing? Security. Although
you probably pay a great deal of attention to security
in your day to day life, you may be ignoring the most
important security you need—eternal security. What
security do you have for eternity, for the endless life
of your soul that will follow your death? How sure are
you that you will be in heaven? Do you know that you can
gain security for eternity in this present life? You
have likely invested significant money and time to
achieve security for this life. Take a moment to
consider your need for eternal security.
Eternal security comes from possessing eternal life.
It results from having a right relationship with God and
knowing that your sins are forgiven. The Lord Jesus
said, "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" (John 10:27,28). The phrases "I give unto
them eternal life," "they shall never perish," and
"neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand" prove
that those who are Christ’s sheep are completely secure
for eternity—they could not be more secure.
When Christ spoke of His sheep, he was speaking
figuratively of those who had put their faith in Him.
The figure is so appropriate. Sheep are among the most
vulnerable animals. They have no natural defense against
any predator. They are helpless animals. And that is our
condition before God because of our sin. The Bible says,
"when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ
died for the ungodly" (Romans 5:8). We are without
strength to remove our guilt before God, without
strength to acquire God’s forgiveness, and without
strength to shelter ourselves from eternal punishment
for our sins. But while we are powerless, Christ is not,
"Christ died for the ungodly." We deserve eternal
punishment for our sins, but Christ became our
substitute and bore that punishment when He died on the
cross. Through His death, Christ has made it possible
for us to be eternally secure from facing punishment for
sins.
How do we get eternal security? It is a gift, "For by
grace are you saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest
any man should boast" (Ephesians. 2:8,9). We can’t earn
it by good living, because our lives could never meet
God’s perfect standards: "For all have sinned and come
short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Jesus said,
"none is good, save one, that is, God" (Luke 18:19). And
we can’t obtain it through church sacraments such as
baptism or communion. Although these practices are
taught in the Bible, they are not presented as a means
of gaining eternal security. They are merely symbols
that show spiritual truth. Eternal security is a gift
personally received from God, through an act of faith.
It is not a life long process, but rather a moment in a
person’s experience when he abandons trust in himself
and trusts Christ as his Savior.
How can we be sure we are eternally secure? Christ
does not leave His sheep in the dark. When He gives us
eternal life, He also assures us that we have it. This
assurance comes not through feelings, but rather through
something concrete, reliable, and unchanging—His Word.
The Apostle John wrote, "These things have I written
unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God;
that ye may know that ye have eternal life" (1 John
5:13). This promise of assurance is given to those who
have believed on His name.
Do you have eternal
security? |
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