I Am Forever Saved

by Pastor Ed Pomelear, with bibliography

Why I believe in preservation of the saints

I've decided to post this in lieu of my usual 1Timothy essay. Forgive the interruption.

Because of recent discussions on the topic, I want to ensure that everyone attending Christ's Bible Church knows why I believe in and our doctrinal statement teaches eternal security. Two points before I continue:

1. I am not saying anyone must believe the same to be able to attend and worship here. As has always been and always will be while I am here, anyone is welcome to worship with us. We do and should always respect the beliefs of others while practicing the truth as we see God teaching us.
   
2. It is important to know the "why" for your belief on any topic. This of course comes with maturity. When first taught we tend to believe what our teachers say. As we mature in faith, we should examine all things and allow God to reveal the truth to us. (I can think of two areas of doctrine where I would now disagree with some of my early teachers; both are minor issues, but biblical doctrine nonetheless.)
   

There are two distinct and contradictory views on the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints or eternal security. The Calvinist view is commonly referred to as "once saved, always saved." This is the "P" for perseverance in T.U.L.I.P., the acronym for the Calvinist's five tenants. Many Calvinists believe that if you do not believe in eternal security you have to keep your salvation by works.

The Armenians on the other hand believe one's salvation may be lost. Many of them would say "if you hold to eternal security you are purposely promoting a license to sin." A note about this later.

I wholeheartedly agree with the following statements by Matt Slick: I believe "that once a person is saved he cannot lose his salvation. I place my conviction upon this position because of my study of Scripture. But I do not claim that if someone is as studious as I am, that he will arrive at the same position. I recognize that there are godly people on both sides of the argument."

Advocates of both views have logical arguments to which they appeal in support of their positions. It seems the best way to resolve the difference for us would be to compare the two key biblical passages that serve as the major textual support for the theories – John 10:27-30 and Hebrews 6:4-6. There are other passages on both sides of the debate, acknowledged. However, proponents turn to these as their primary passages. My focus will be on these two. (Other pertinent passages on both sides the reader may reference during study include John 6:37-40, Romans 11:17ff, Galatians 3:10, 1John 2:19, and James 2:10. I list others later in the essay.)

The first passage – Jesus' speaking – makes a strong argument for security. ²⁷ "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; ²⁸and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. ²⁹ "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. ³⁰ "I and the Father are one." (John 10:27-30)

It is significant to translators that in the phrase they will never perish John uses a double negative. In English, a double negative is ungrammatical – consider "don't never go there," which would mean go there; the opposite of what was likely intended.

In Greek, however, a double negative is acceptable and used to add emphasis. Therefore, an acceptable translation with emphasis might be "they will not, repeat, will not ever perish." That is a very strong statement.

Now look at the statements in verses 28-29. Who can change the believer's status by snatching him or her from Christ's hand? It says no one and that includes the believer him or herself. God gives us to Jesus and that is irrevocable. It is a logical argument, right?

So then let us look at the opposing argument. ⁴For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, ⁵and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, ⁶and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. (Hebrews 6:4-6)

The writer of Hebrews describes apparently truly saved people who abandon their faith and so lose their salvation. Because of the issue's complexity and the apparent disagreement with Jesus' statement, three interpretations have developed. Allow me first to explain them.

1. The writer speaks of people who are genuinely saved and who lose their salvation. There is something in the passage that many Armenians ignore. The result for of losing one's salvation is that it is impossible to renew them again to repentance. Therefore, they cannot be saved again as most Armenians think.
   
2. The writer speaks of people who were never saved. They tasted truth and gifts and were exposed to God's Word but were never saved. This interpretation would mean that they strayed only from knowing the truth not from having experienced it. This is probably the more commonly held view.
   
3. The writer speaks of people who are genuinely and permanently saved. They are not lost. Therefore, the salvation is real and the apostasy is hypothetical. Some translations support this view outright using perfectly good translation methods. The King James Version reads, if they shall fall away, for instance. The Greek word is an adverbial participle and may be translated numerous ways (ten different ways according to some Greek grammar texts). The context must drive an accurate translation (refer to Erickson, p. 993 for more detail.) This view turns the condition (and then have fallen away in the NASB) to an "if" clause and so the verse describes what would happen if it were possible for the elect to become lost.
   

Those are the options; the there may be others, but they are variations of these three. They have been given names for ease of reference; respectively they are called the "saved and lost theory," the "non-Christian theory," and the "hypothetical." Remember that these are interpretations of a text.

It should not surprise you to discover that I fully reject the saved and lost theory interpretation. If it were true, it would contradict Jesus' statement in John 10. Since we believe the Bible is without error, we cannot accept this interpretation.

It might very well surprise you, however, to discover I also do not readily accept the second possibility. I base this on biblical evidence as well. Look at Hebrews 6:4 where the write clearly says they have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit; that is a forceful argument that these people have experienced salvation fully. If it says they are saved, we cannot question them on that basis.

That leaves me with the third choice. Read the third sentence again, "Therefore, the salvation is real and the apostasy is hypothetical." The verse is then saying that if it were possible to lose one's salvation, they could never gain it back but it is not possible.

Here is the resolution of the two passages stated as simply as I am able: Hebrews 6, an Armenian's key passage, implies that true believers can lose their salvation, but John 10 teaches that they will not. My conclusion, therefore, is that there are people who think they can lose their salvation but they simply cannot.

I know there are other passages which speak possibly of one losing his or her salvation, but as you examine each carefully, they simply do not hold up to these clear teachings about eternal security:

• John 6:40 "For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day."
  
• Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
  
• Romans 11:29 …for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
  
• 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, ²²who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.
  
• Ephesians 1:13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,
  
• Eph 4:30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
  

I have one more clarification of my position before I conclude. Believing in eternal security is not a license to sin. The believer is regenerated; changed by God to be a new creature. As such we war with sin, not seek to live in it. Those who claim salvation but sin just as they wish are likely the ones not saved since they contradict Scripture. Here is another clear teaching: The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; (1 John 2:4).

I am not a very good Christian. I am a sinner. I know my unfaithful and sinful heart. If my salvation were dependent in any way upon my faithfulness or obedience, then I am in trouble. I would never claim that I was able to remain faithful enough or do enough good to maintain my position with God. I just cannot go there. Instead, I rely totally on him to keep me, not me to keep myself.

My prayers are that all Christians receive the truth – not as I see it, but as the Holy Spirit inspires and Scripture teaches it. I invite the reader to study the Bible, and seek wise counsel on this and other difficult doctrinal issues. My library and help is always available.

Bibliography

I have not used some of these works. Erickson, however, cites them and for ease of reference, I have referred to them.

Calvin, John. Commentaries on the Epistle to the Hebrews, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1949

Clarke, Adam. Commentary on the Bible, from e-Sword's online Bible study tools
(www.e-sword.net)

Erickson, Millard J. Christian Theology, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1985, p. 992; this was the primary theology text for theology courses at Columbia International University.

Hewitt, Thomas. The Epistle to the Hebrews: An Introduction and Commentary, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1960

Marshall, I. Howard. Kept by the Power of God, London: Epworth, 1969

Pomelear, Ed, "The Doctrine of Eternal Security," unpublished sermon notes for message delivered February 23, 2003

Slick, Matt. "Eternal Security," http://www.carm.org/christianity/miscellaneous-topics/eternal-security (Accessed: January 27, 2010)

Slick, Matt. "If you can lose your salvation, then what must you do to keep it?" http://www.carm.org/christianity/miscellaneous-topics/if-you-can-lose-your-salvation-then-what-must-you-do-keep-it (Accessed: January 28, 2010)