Security Part 1

As a pastor of a Southern Baptist Church, I have found the doctrine of the Security of the Believer to be one of the most misunderstood beliefs in the church today. On one hand, there are those who believe that a sinner’s prayer, a casual profession and a warm water dunking will secure them eternally no matter how they choose to live. On the other hand, there are those who believe one can loose their salvation at any turn and could possess eternal life one day and be in danger of the fires of hell the next. Like most beliefs, the truth is probably best found in the middle. I have a very strong belief and am a great proponent for the Security of the Believer. Over the coming weeks, I am going to address this very important topic.
I am going to attack this issue with about four different writings. First, I simply want to say I believe the clear teaching of scripture overwhelmingly supports the belief that a genuine follower of Christ is eternally secure in the hands of Christ. As we examine this doctrine, allow me to show you a few promises in Scripture:

1. The Present Tense of Eternal Life
1 Jn 5:13-14
13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

He writes to those who believe (present tense) so they may know (without a shadow of a doubt) that they have (possess now) eternal life. What do they possess? How long is eternal life? I could have eternal life one day and loose it the next day it would not be eternal.

2. The promise of eternal life
Jn 3:16-17
16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Once again, when one believes what do they receive? How long is eternal life? When do you begin your eternal life with Christ? (the moment you believe).

3. God’s Plan
Jn 6:39-40
39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

What is the Father’s will? How many will Jesus lose?






4. In the hand
Jn 10:27-30

28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one."

When Christ gives us eternal life, we shall never perish. We are placed in His hands where nothing can snatch us out.

5. The Deposit
Eph 1:13-14
13 And you also 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, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession-to the praise of his glory.

When a person believes, they are marked with a seal the promised Holy Spirit. The Bible says, (not I) the Holy Spirit is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance. The Holy Spirit is a deposit (part of the purchase-money or property given in advance as security for the rest) God gives us the Holy Spirit has a deposit promising there is more where that comes from.

The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament says that “arrobon” (deposit) is a commercial loan word from the Semitic signifying ‘pledge’ or ‘deposit’. Paul uses it in 2 Corinthians 1:22 and Ephesians 1:14 for the Spirit who is for us the guarantee of full future possession of salvation” (page 80).

6. Kept for us
1 Pe 1:3-4
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-kept in heaven for you,

In Ephesians we see that the Holy Spirit is the deposit on our inheritance. Where is our inheritance kept? How can we loose something we do not keep?

7. The Presentation
Jude 24 –
24 To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy- 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

Who keeps me from falling and presents before His glorious presence?

8. Ro 8:35-39
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

What can separate us from the love of Christ?

As we go through this process of looking at the security of the believer, I have outlined a few Promises from Scripture. Part two will show that the doctrine of the security of the believer is based not only on the promises from Scripture but also the Pardon of the Father, the Payment of the Son, and the Power of the Holy Spirit. I will show that this doctrine does not give us a license to sin but is a promise to give us continual hope and confidence in the keeping power of God.
As I close this part, I echo the great words of Paul to Timothy: “Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day” (2 Tim 1:12). I, too, am convinced that Christ is able to guard what I have entrusted to him.