Posted on 09/22/2006 10:53:33 AM PDT by cowboyfan88
Is eternal security a "license" to sin?
Question: "Is eternal security a "license" to sin?"
Answer: The most frequent objection to the doctrine of eternal security is that it supposedly promotes the idea that Christians can live any way that they want to - and still be saved. While this is "technically" true, that is not the "essence" of eternal security. A person who has truly accepted Jesus Christ as his or her Savior "can" live a sinful life - but he or she "will" not do so. We must draw a distinction between how a Christian should live - and what a person must do in order to receive salvation.
The Bible is abundantly clear that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6). A person is saved by faith - faith alone. The moment a person truly believes in Jesus Christ, he/she is saved and secure in that salvation. Salvation is not gained by faith, but then maintained by works. The Apostle Paul addresses this issue in Galatians 3:3, "Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?" If we are saved by faith, our salvation is also maintained and secured by faith. We cannot earn our own salvation. Therefore, we cannot earn the maintenance of our salvation either. It is God who maintains our salvation (Jude verse 24). It is God's hand that holds us firmly in His grasp (John 10:28-29). It is God's love that nothing can separate us from (Romans 8:38-39).
Any denial of eternal security is, in its essence, a belief that we must maintain our own salvation by our own good works. This is completely antithetical to salvation by grace. We are saved because of Christ's merits, not our own (Romans 4:3-8). To claim that we must obey God's Word or live a godly life to maintain our salvation is equal to saying that Jesus' death was not sufficient to pay the penalty for our sins. Jesus' death was absolutely sufficient to pay for all of our sins - past, present, and future, pre-salvation and post-salvation (Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
So, with all that said, does this mean that a Christian can live any way he/she wants to and still be saved? This is essentially a hypothetical question, because the Bible makes it clear that a true Christian will not live "any way he/she wants to." Christians are new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17). Christians demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), not the acts of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21). 1 John 3:6-9 clearly states that a true Christian will not live in continual sin. In response to the accusation that grace promotes sin, the Apostle Paul declared, "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" (Romans 6:1-2).
Eternal security is not a "license" to sin. Rather, it is the security of knowing that God's love is guaranteed for those who trust in Christ. Knowing and understanding God's tremendous gift of salvation accomplishes the opposite of giving a "license" to sin. How could anyone, knowing the price Jesus Christ paid for us, go on to live a life of sin (Romans 6:15-23)? How could anyone who understands God's unconditional and guaranteed love for those who believe, take that love and throw it back in God's face? Such a person is demonstrating not that eternal security has given him or her a license to sin, but rather that he or she has not truly experienced salvation through Jesus Christ. "No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen Him or known Him" (1 John 3:6).
I can understand someone believing they have eternal security, but they surely can't know they do, or that it even exists or is needed.
What a waste of the entire concept of 'believing', then.
The road is fraught with peril.
Sin is not without consequence.
I don't think it's a waste, it's what God intended for us to do...besides, believing doesn't make things come true, does it?
Eternal security? Not if you are a true Cowboy fan...
(Had to take the shot...you can now start throwing bricks at me.)
Yes .. it does.
"Hebrews 11:1"
I keep encountering this verse. It must be a message to me to have faith.
Believing makes things happen?
Makes things happen?
The book of Hebrews is, in part, an explanation of what we have in Christ .. eternal life .. and that we can trust Him, and the scriptures.
That faith is an assuring comprehension .. that I admit, there is no way I fully understand it, but I do know I'm saved. I do know I will go to heaven when I die. I do know I can believe Jesus lived once, died once and rose from the dead once and now sits at the right hand of the father.
How?
Initially .. the bible and preaching told me ... sincere prayer and quiet evidenced to me that it was truth.
I don't think there is much earthly logic that can explain some things .. this is one of them.
So ... believing makes things happen? Probably more like believing allows things to be evidenced as having been promised.
Okay. Serious answer this time (If I can just hold the tongue...)
Be be truly saved, God must have regenerated you, the unrepentant sinner. Your heart will be turned to His Word; You will WANT to do what His Word directs you to do. Sin will occur. You will not be able not to sin until we, made right through the imputation of Christ, sit on the right hand of God. But you will want to be on the right side of the Law.
The elect are placed in heaven by God's freely given grace, undeserved, and chosen since the before beginning of time. Those that have failing faith were never regenerated in the first place, as God's Will cannot fail. Anyone that argues with that is saying God can fail, and that is treading on seriously thin ice. Is God infallible?
Those that were chosen are in some semblance of sanctification, slowly turning more of their hearts to God's will. There is no perfect person until Christ trades our sins for His righteousness at death or judgement day, whichever comes first. Yes, some are further along the road to sanctification than others, but luckily God is patent for even me.
OK
Rev 3:5 5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. (KJV)
Rev 20:12-15 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (KJV)
Hebrews 10:26-27
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
You must take the entire teaching of Scripture into account, not just those verse that support your chosen point of view.
On the other hand, I cling to Perseverance of the Saints.
Isaiah 43:1-3; Isaiah 54:10; Jeremiah 32:40; Matthew 18:12-14; John 3:16; John 3:36; John 5:24; John 6:35-40; John 6:47; John 10:27-30; John 17:11-12; John 17:15; Romans 5:8-10; Romans 8:1; Romans 8:35-39; 1 Corinthians 1:7-9; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Corinthians 4:14; 2 Corinthians 4:17; Ephesians 1:5; Ephesians 1:13-14; Ephesians 4:30; Colossians 3:3-4; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; 2 Timothy 4:18; Hebrews 9:12; Hebrews 9:15; Hebrews 10:14; Hebrews 12:28; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 1 John 2:19; 1 John 2:25; 1 John 5:4; 1 John 5:11-13; 1 John 5:20; Jude 1:1; Jude 1:24-25.
Jamieson Fausett Brown Hebrews 10:26 we sin Greek present participle:
The NASB does a better translation of this.
Rebellion v Stumble?
NASB with Strong's Numbers Hebrews 10:26 26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
This makes far more sense. I have had my moments (more than I would like to admit) of willful rebellion has that lost me Christ’s sacrifice? Is it too late to repent? IMO this is aiming more at the unrepentant sinners.
You must take the entire teaching of Scripture into account, not just those verse that support your chosen point of view.
Agreed .. and understand the les clear verses in light of the more clear verses.
NASB John 10:26 26 "But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. 27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.
No one. Love the sheep reference. It has new meaning to me when I met I guy who raised them. He loved his sheep but thought they were helplessly stupid.
Its great to have a good shepherd John 10:11
He that overcometh, what??? What are you going to overcome???
Rev 20:12-15 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (KJV)
You notice anything significant about the people at this judgement???
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