Now that we have seen sufficient scriptural evidence of a conditional salvation from the New Testament, let us take time to look into the principals of this doctrine from as early as the garden of Eden, before sin entered into the world.
In the Garden of Eden, man was in perfect relationship with God, for HE walked with them and communed with them in the cool of the evening. Even in that paradise, God put conditions upon man to keep his relationship and place in God’s creation.
Genesis 1:15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Adam male and female could not continue in everlasting life if they disobeyed God and ate of the forbidden fruit from the forbidden tree. Here we see conditions placed by GOD on them continuing in life, or falling away into death! How is it that the GOD that changeth not, when it comes to the blood of his dear son JESUS, and the salvation that it brings, would have less conditions upon the renewed relationship and communion with GOD?
There were also conditions to the Israelites that were “saved” from Egypt to walk in the wilderness journey on the way to the “promised” land. In fact, there were many that left Egypt but never entered into the promised land. Along the way there were many who disobeyed God, and faced the consequences of being destroyed!
I Corinthians 10:5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
So now let us look at the verses that are usually given to propose an eternal security view. Here are the most commonly given, along with the arguments for, and response to the arguments.
John 10:27-29 – My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Argument: if you hear the voice of Jesus, he knows you and you will follow him and not walk away from him.
Response: Jesus is saying that he knows his sheep, and that if you are his sheep you will hear his voice, and if you hear his voice you will follow him….however, he does not indicate in this verse that no one will walk away from him! Proof of that is found in the same book of John 6: 64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
John 6:37 – All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
Argument: Jesus will not cast away any who comes to him! This indicates regardless of what you may do, he is always seeking to bring you closer!
Response: There is a lot read into that verse that Jesus did not say. He did say that whosoever cometh to him he would not cast out. The opposite also holds true, that whosoever cometh not to him, he would cast out! It is the continual pressing onward into Jesus Christ that determines if he will keep you and not cast you out! The condition that Jesus set here is that “he who cometh” will not be cast out…”Cometh” is a continuing practice, not a one time event….
John 10:28 – And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand.
Argument: Jesus states here that NO MAN can pluck you out of his hand…and that includes you! And he did state that whoever was in his hand he has given to them eternal life!
Response: Yes, he does state that whosoever is in his hand, no one can PLUCK them from him! Plucking someone from the hand of Jesus is indicative of someone who was forcibly removed by another! If you choose Jesus and come to HIM, NO ONE can pluck you out! Romans chapter 8 tells us this truth “38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,39 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.” There is no one that can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus, but you must choose him! You came by choice! And like the disciples who followed Jesus no more, you can leave by choice! The promise given in Romans 8 is understood to be to the believer who is walking with the Lord, not someone who has rejected truth and walked away from their salvation they received through grace!
John 5:24 – Verily, verily, I say unto you, 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.
Argument: If you believe on Jesus, you have eternal life, and are not condemned, but passed from death to life!
Response: Just like you passed from death unto life, you can choose to walk in the ways of death and pass from life back into death! We see this happening with the Israelites who left Egypt (death, bondage, sin), as they chose to leave Egypt and follow Moses through the water and the wilderness to get to the promised land….yet we see them living in the promised land of Israel…and they are having to make a choice again…will they stay in the way of the Lord, or will they follow the gods of this world? Their choice will determine their destiny!
JOSHUA 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
19 And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.
20 If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.
Here is biblical truth that if you forsake the LORD he will not continue to forgive your sins. Sins can only be forgiven when we “repent” (metanoia in the Greek which means a complete reversal of actions)
John 3:16 – 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.
Argument: If you believe in Jesus you will not perish! You WILL have everlasting life! Once you have passed from death to life, you are now living and cannot die! (spiritually)
Response: Yes, that is indeed true! If you are in Him and He is in you, everlasting life is now abiding in you! But you must abide in HIM, to continue in that life! God’s love is not universally applied! It is only universally available! There are conditions to receiving the effects of that love, found in the blood of Jesus! If there are conditions to receive, would God be just in universally keeping it in lives that no longer follow Jesus Christ? If there are conditions to accessing the love of God, then there has to be conditions in keeping the love of God in Christ Jesus!
Romans 11:29 – For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance.
Argument: The gift of God is salvation through Jesus Christ and the calling of God unto salvation is without repentance nor will it be taken away!
Response: The word repentance used here in the Greek means (ametameletos irrevocable, unchangeable)! God’s plan and gift of salvation through Jesus Christ and his blood, and the calling of all men everywhere to repent (metanoia- reversal of actions) is irrevocable! All must come by and through JESUS CHRIST! There is no other way! It is not saying that your salvation cannot be revoked, but the WAY to salvation is irrevocable!
Jude 1:24 – Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present [you] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
Argument: Jesus is able to keep you from falling. Do you doubt the power of God to keep you and present you faultless?
Response: Jesus is able to keep us from falling and is well able to present us blameless before God! At question here is not the power or ability of God, but the willingness and desire of the ones he is offering his keeping and presenting abilities to!
1 John 5:13 – 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, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
Argument: We can KNOW that we have eternal life! And KNOW that we have been saved and given eternal life!
Response: Again, if we are BELIEVING (walking in and putting trust in Jesus) these promises are indeed for the believer! If you have ceased to walk in belief, you are an unbeliever and have chosen to fall back to your old lifestyle and ways (became unrepentant) and these promises are no longer yours!
We could go on to many more verses, but by now we should have seen the basis for eternal security is baseless. However, to encourage you in your walk in the Lord, realize that if you are following after Jesus, denying yourself and carrying your cross, being crucified with Christ, you are in a very secure place! You are choosing to abide in the Rock that was cleft for you, and there is no power or principality, seen or unseen, that can pluck you out of the hand of the Savior! If you are like Moses, who CHOSE rather to suffer affliction with the children of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, then you are living the life of a New Testament believer! If you are hungering and thirsting after righteousness, you shall be filled! If you are walking daily by the Savior’s side, living each moment in the crucified, then you have something that no one can take away from you!
However, if you are thinking that you can continue in sin after that you have come to the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, do not be deceived! The humble, gentle, precious Lord who walks in the shadows and highways of life, calling out with his tender voice to all that will hear him, will someday soon stop his calling. The precious high priest will lay aside his priestly garments, and putting on his royal vestments, will appear in clouds of great power and glory! That gentle savior will call out no more, but the conquering LORD OF LORDS and KING OF KINGS, with a shout will gather his beloved ones that are blood washed and ready for his appearing! Then the wrath of GOD will be poured out upon the fearful and the unbelieving! If you have walked away from the LORD JESUS CHRIST, get back to him while there is still time! He is still ready and willing to forgive, and will be coming back for those who have made their selves ready, washing their garments in the blood of the Lamb! Do not be deceived into thinking that you were saved as a child, and can live as you wish now! Be not deceived! God is not mocked! Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap! If we will sow to the spirit, we shall reap of the spirit life everlasting, but if we sow to the flesh, we shall reap corruption and death! (Galatians 6:7-8)
Pastor Stephen Dubois