Question: .

What are your views on "eternal security?' Thanks!

Mark

Answer:

Dear Mark,

Big subject - here's the short version of my reply.

I believe that nothing we can do can earn us the gift of salvation, which is by grace.

I believe that salvation is eternal life, and that eternal life is given to us when we commit, believe and trust in Jesus as being sufficient, complete and enough for our salvation. Nothing we do adds to what he has done -- his work is sufficient.

Since we are given eternal life when we are saved, I believe that it is ETERNAL life. If it were not, the Bible would have to call it conditional life, or eternal life as long as we do not make any major mistakes, etc.

So, I believe that those who are saved are eternally secure.

But -- experience shows and history demonstrates that not everyone who says "Lord, Lord" (Matthew 7:22) will be saved. That is, we can attend church for 30 years but that will not make us a Christian any more than going out and sitting in the garage will make us a car. So, how do we know if we are truly saved? And, what about those whose behavior appears (to us at least) to make a mockery out of Christianity?

The Bible says that they went out from us because they were never of us (1 John 2:19). That is, there are people whom we may even think are Christian, but they are not. So -- the only one who truly knows if we have the Holy Spirit (Romans 8 says that we are none of his if we do not) is God. We cannot discern that.

We cannot earn salvation -- we can accept it, in faith, and commit our lives to our Lord and Master. We know that we are not saved by works (Ephesians 2:8) but we also know that if we are saved we will show forth his workmanship in our lives (Ephesians 2:10) because that is what Christians by definition do.

We are not saved by works, but for works.

Christians obey Jesus Christ -- we are not perfect, but we are forgiven, and we are saved. And if he has saved us, no one can snatch us out of his hand. He who has begun a good work in us will finish it.

Hope this helps, Mark. May God bless you and keep you.

In Christ,

Greg Albrecht