The KEY to Eternal Security

The following article by Pastor Zac Poonen provides an overview on the topic of eternal security including how a believer can know that they are secure and what the Scriptures have to say about the conditions surrounding this security.

ETERNAL SECURITY – FOR ALL WHO FOLLOW JESUS

Jesus said, “Man shall live by EVERY (single) word that proceeds from the mouth of God” – and not just by any one word of God (Matt.4:4). So, if we take just one verse of Scripture without comparing it with other verses in Scripture, we can arrive at wrong conclusions and end up believing what is false. Many preachers have deceived people by giving them false hopes through quoting just one verse of Scripture, ignoring other verses.

Many a wrong understanding of Biblical doctrines arises from not comparing Scripture with Scripture. When Satan quoted a Scripture to Jesus saying, “It is written”, Jesus balanced it by saying, “It is ALSO written” (Matt.4:6,7). God created birds with two wings, so that they could fly straight. Biblical truth is also balanced in the same way.

When considering the doctrine of eternal security, we must find a balance between the two great truths of the sovereignty of God and the free will of man.

God has given man a free will and never forces anyone to choose Him. But He knows from all eternity who will choose Him and who will not. So His election of some people as His children is based on His foreknowledge (as made clear in 1 Pet.1:1,2) – and not on arbitrary choice.

God created the planets without freedom of choice. And so, even though they have obeyed God’s laws implicitly for thousands of years, they cannot be either holy or sinful or God’s children. God created the animals however, with a free will. But they have no conscience. And so they too cannot be holy or sinful or God’s children.

But when God created man, He gave him both a free will and a conscience. Therefore, man can be either holy or sinful – and can choose to become a child of God.

If God were to take away our conscience, we would become like the animals - incapable of moral choice and therefore incapable of being holy or sinful.

If God were to take away our free will, we would become like robots – and again we would be incapable of being holy or sinful. So God never takes away our free will – even after we become believers.

We must recognize this truth if we are to understand the doctrine of eternal security aright. The teaching that it is impossible for believers to fall away from God, reduces believers to robots, who have no freedom of choice.

“God loves cheerful givers” – in all matters, including obedience (2 Cor.9:7). He does not desire an obedience that is forced. That is why He never takes away our freedom of choice. We can choose to follow Christ – and later choose to forsake Him, if we so wish.

Forgiveness of sins is a wonderful, free gift of God. But a person has to choose it, in order to receive it. God never forces it on anyone. If God had thrust forgiveness on people, then everyone in the world would have been forgiven and saved. It is the same with being filled with the Holy Spirit. God does not force believers to be filled with His Spirit. They must choose to ask for it (John 7:37-39).

God’s promises are never fulfilled automatically. The promises of God are all Yes in Christ. But we must add our Amen to them by our free will, if we are to receive and experience them (See 2 Cor.1:20).

Here is an example that proves this. God promised the elders of Israel in Egypt two things:

(1) that He would bring them out of Egypt; and
(2) that He would bring them into Canaan (Exod.3:17).

But only the first of those two promises was fulfilled in the lives of those elders, because they believed only the first and did not believe the second (Num.14:22,23).

The promises of God will not be automatically fulfilled in our lives. We must believe them, if we are to receive them. As James says, we “must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. Such a man will receive nothing from the Lord” (James 1:6,7).

Philippians 2: 12,13 commands us: “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God Who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”

Here we see that it is God Who first works in us by giving us the desire and the ability to do His will. That is one part of the truth. But then WE have to WORK OUT that salvation, if we are to experience it. That is the other half of the truth. Some Christians emphasise ONE WING of this truth while others emphasise THE OTHER WING. To have the whole truth, we need both wings. If we accept only one wing, we will keep going round in circles!!

We can experience the salvation spoken of in the above verses, only if we work out what God works in.

One proof of this can be seen in the very next verse, where we are told to “do ALL things without grumbling and complaining” (Phil. 2:14). How many believers can testify that they have been saved from ALL grumbling and complaining? Can you testify to that yourself? If you cannot, that is NOT because God is not working in you to save you from those sins. It is because you have not cooperated with His Spirit in working OUT your salvation from those sins. The next verse tells us that it is only when we are saved from all grumbling and complaining that we “prove to an evil world that we are the children of God” (Phil.2:15). By that standard, are you proving to the world around you, that you are a child of God?

Consider another area: It is God Who grants people the ability to repent (Acts 11:18). But He wants everyone to repent (2 Pet.3:9). So He is obviously willing to grant repentance to everyone. But most people (even believers) do not respond to the promptings of the Holy Spirit to repent. They do not work out what God is working in.

Consider yet another area: It is God alone Who can save anyone. But He wants everyone to be saved (1 Tim.2:4). So if people are not saved, it is because they do not respond to what God is trying to work in their lives. They resist the grace of God. They do not work out what God is seeking to work in.

A lot of the wrong understanding of eternal security comes from imagining that “eternal life”. means living forever. But “eternal life” does not refer to a life that never ends, because people who go to hell also live forever – and they certainly don’t have eternal life. Jesus defined “eternal life” as "knowing God and Jesus Christ” (John 17:3). Eternal life is a life that first of all, had no beginning and then has no end. That can refer only to the life of God Himself. This is the divine nature that we can now partake of, in Christ (2 Pet.1:4).

This eternal life is indeed the free gift of God (Rom.6:23). But the previous verse (Rom.6:22) tells us that God gives this eternal life only to those who want to be “freed from sin” and to become “bondslaves of God”. So even though eternal life is a free gift, there are conditions for receiving it.

In relation to the subject of eternal security, consider the following seven passages of Scripture. [It is essential, when looking at these verses, that we give up our pre-conceived ideas of WHAT WE THINK THESE VERSES SHOULD BE SAYING. Read them with a totally open mind – for this is the Word of God – and then you will know the truth]:

1. John 10:27-29: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 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."
   
   When considering the promise in these verses, we must remember that there are some conditions mentioned here for the promise to be fulfilled. Most Christians do not look at the conditions! Thus they believe a false teaching. The promise of eternal security is given here ONLY to those who follow Jesus until the end. You cannot encash a cheque if it is not in your name; and you cannot claim a promise if you do not fulfil the conditions. If you are following Jesus, you certainly have eternal security. But if you are not following Him, then you are deceiving yourself if you believe that you are eternally secure. No-one can pluck you from Jesus' hand if you follow Him. But you can choose to jump out of His hand yourself at any time – because God will never take away your free will.
   
   
2. Matthew 24:11-13: "Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved."
   
   Jesus Himself says here that to be saved, one must endure until the end. We must take these words of Jesus exactly as He spoke them, if we are to know the truth.
   
   
3. Matthew 6:14,15: “If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.”
   
   Jesus was very accurate with His words. The fact that He used “heavenly Father” here, indicates that He was talking to God’s children and not to unbelievers. In fact, the whole sermon on the mount (of which these verses are a part) was meant for God’s children.
   
   Here Jesus tells God’s children that they will not be forgiven if they do not forgive others. What will happen to this “saved” person, if he dies in that state – unforgiven by God, because he did not forgive others. Can he enter into God’s presence with unforgiven sin? Can he receive forgiveness of sins after he has died?? There is NO forgiveness of sins beyond the grave. So he will be eternally lost. Even though He was once “saved”, he lost his salvation.
   
   Jesus made this crystal clear in the parable in Matthew 18:23-35. There we see that the entire debt that the king forgave his slave was placed back on the slave’s head and he was also put in prison – just because he did not forgive his fellow-slave. Jesus concluded the parable saying, “My heavenly Father will do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart" (v.35). This teaches clearly that ALL the sins that our heavenly Father once forgave us will be placed back upon us, if we do not forgive even one person. And if we die in that state, we will be unforgiven and therefore, eternally lost.
   
   
4. Romans 8:12,13: "Brethren......if you are living according to the flesh, you WILL die.".
   
   This warning is for “brethren” – believers. The Holy Spirit tells believers here (in no uncertain terms) that they will CERTAINLY die spiritually, if they live according to the flesh – even if they were once “made alive”. Yet many preachers tell believers that they will NEVER die spiritually.
   
   God warned Adam in Genesis 2:17, that if he disobeyed God, he would “surely die" (just as it is written in Romans 8:13). But Satan said, "You surely will not die" (Gen.3:4) – just like many preachers are telling believers today.
   
   Who was right in Eden – God or Satan? 
   Who do you think is right today – God or these false teachers?
   
   
5. Hebrews 3:12-14: "Take care, brethren (these are ‘holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling whose High Priest is Jesus’ – as we see in verse1), that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God………. For we have become partakers of Christ, IF we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end."
   
   Here we read that “holy brethren” (believers) can end up having an evil, unbelieving heart that makes them fall away from the living God. We are also told that we become partakers of Christ ONLY if we hold fast our faith UNTIL THE END. These words are crystal clear, to all whose minds are unprejudiced by preconceived ideas.
   
   
6. Hebrews 6:4-6: "In the case of those who have been enlightened and have tasted the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify the Son of God”.
   
   These verses clearly refer to believers who were once made “partakers of the Holy Spirit”. We are told here that such believers CAN fall away. We are also told that it is impossible for them to return to repentance AS LONG AS (the meaning of “since”) they live in their sin and thus re-crucify the Son of God. Everyone who takes sin lightly is thereby despising the crucifixion of Christ and in a sense crucifying Christ afresh. As long as a person has that attitude to sin, he cannot be brought to repentance. If he remains in that state, he will be lost eternally. But there is hope for him if he decides to take sin seriously and thus stops re-crucifying Christ.
   
   
7. Rev.3:5. "He who overcomes will be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life"
   
   These are the words that Jesus spoke to an elder (messenger) of a church and to all the believers in that church. Jesus never makes any empty threats. Read this warning of Christ’s, with an open mind and ask yourself, “Can a person’s name be erased from the book of life? Does the Lord always speak the truth?”
   
   Jesus knows more about the book of life than any of us do. We are not to use logic here, but simply accept the words of Jesus as they are. It is true that God knows the end from the beginning and so He knows who will overcome and who will not. But He is speaking to us in human terms here, so that we can beware of this danger of our names bring erased from the book of life. It is written about the final judgment: “If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (Rev.20:15). God hides these truths from clever, intelligent people who use their logic and reveals them to “babes” – those who accept His Word, exactly as it is written, with a childlike heart (Matt.11:25).

Many claim to believe that the Bible is God’s infallible word. But they choose what they want to believe in it and reject what they don’t want to. They depend on what their fallible minds tell them, and not on what God’s Word teaches clearly. Thereby they show their arrogance and their pride.

These are matters of extreme importance, because they affect our eternal destiny. So we cannot afford to blindly believe what men teach us and thus be deceived. We must believe the word of God, which is the only light we have in this dark world. Whatever interpretation you may put on any other verse in the New Testament, it cannot cancel out the truths stated clearly in the above verses.

One of the last promises in the epistles is that the Lord “is ABLE to keep us from falling” (Jude 24). This is true - the Lord is certainly able to keep us from falling. But if we do not yield ourselves completely to Him, He will not be able to keep us from falling - for He never forces His will on anyone.

As believers, our relationship with Christ is compared to that of a betrothed virgin, awaiting her wedding (2 Cor.11:2; Rev.19:7). In the next verse (2 Cor.11:3), Paul says that he fears that Satan will deceive us and draw us away from simple devotion to Christ, even as Satan deceived Eve. Eve was in paradise and was deceived by Satan – and was driven out of paradise by God. Today, we who are “engaged” to Christ are headed for paradise. But if we allow Satan to deceive us, we will never enter paradise.

If the bride plays the harlot with the world and with sin, her Bridegroom will refuse to marry her. This is the harlot church referred to as Babylon (in Revelation 17), that is finally rejected by the Lord.

If you love the Lord, you will keep yourself pure for Him, even when you find other believers around you playing the harlot with the world and with sin. Jesus warned us that in the last days, "most people's love will grow cold. (This sentence obviously refers to believers for they are the only ones who love the Lord). But the one who endures to the end will be saved." (Matt.24:11-13).

Satan seeks to deceive all of us. But the Bible warns us that God also will allow us to be deceived, “so that we believe what is false” – IF we “do not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved” (2 Thess.2:10,11).

If we accept the truth that is written in God’s Word, and if we face up to the truth about the sins in our own life that the Holy Spirit shows us, and if we are eager to be saved from ALL those sins, then we will never be deceived.

But if we do not accept what is clearly written in God’s Word, or if we do not desire to be saved from sin, then God will allow us to be deceived and to believe what is false – not only in this matter of “eternal security” but in other areas as well.

Here then is the conclusion of this whole matter:

We love the Lord, because He first loved us and because He forgave us all our sins. Therefore, by His grace, we will keep our conscience clear at all times and we will love Him and follow Him until the very end – and so we are eternally secure.

Every disciple of Jesus who is following Him is eternally secure.

But let him who thinks he is standing take heed, lest he fall (1 Cor.10:12).

He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

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"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren." Romans 8:28-29

Scripture says that those who love God and have been called by Him are predestined to be "conformed" to the image of Christ.  But what does this mean?  What does it mean to be "Christ-like"?

conform: to act in accord with the prevailing standard; to be or become similar in form, nature, or character; to be in harmony or accord; to adapt, adjust

The standard for the Christian is Jesus, and those called by God are to reflect His very nature as they are changed by the power of the Spirit (II Peter 1:4).

And here is the kicker: Jesus Christ is real!  He is not a myth, a figment of man's imagination, or a generic moniker for things we consider "good".  He is literally the Word of God who was made flesh and dwelt amongst men.  He has a distinct character, nature, and personality.  There are things He likes, and things He dislikes.  Faith in Christ results in an actual transformation so that - even now - we will be as He is (I John 4:17).

Yet, if we went by the professions of many Christians, one might think that Jesus is schizophrenic.  There is the gay Christian...liberal Christian...hip hop Christian...feminist Christian...conservative Christian...Southern Baptist Christian...Charismatic Christian.  Jesus is like the Baskin Robbins flavor of the month where each and every person has his own version.  But what do these qualifiers really mean?  It means that we do not want to be conformed to Jesus; rather we are conforming HIM to our own image.

Since we are not in agreement with Jesus just as He is, we fragment Him into pieces.  The parts of Him we like, we accept.  The parts we don't like, we replace with our own ideologies.  The end result is that we wind up with our own flavor of Christianity.

However, the truth is that Jesus Christ is real; and if we claim to belong to Christ, but do not bear His image, then we are simply lying to ourselves.  We cannot append anything else to Him.  It cannot be Jesus and...such and such.  It must be Christ alone. 

We must be conformed to His image.  It is not enough to name His name, and yet not have His nature within.  Such will find themselves outside of the Kingdom, no matter how much they have professed in this life to belong to Him.

In the message below, Pastor Zac Poonen discusses the topic of what it really means to be conformed to the image of Christ, so that we may all examine ourselves to see if we be in the faith.

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Grace is for the Undeserving

"But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." James 4:6

The key to receiving the grace of God is to be humble, which is why God repeatedly commands man to humble himself (Exodus 10:3; Deuteronomy 8:2, 12; II Chronicles 7:14; 34:27; Jeremiah 13:18; Matthew 18:4; 23:12; James 4:10; I Peter 5:6).

The opposite of this is pride, which is the root of why Lucifer fell.  It stands in stiff-necked contention against God and against His ways.  Pride hardens the heart so that we cannot receive the things of God...even His grace (Daniel 5:20; Obadiah 1:3).

We have spoken previously on the topics of eternal security, predestination, and free will.  However, in the following video, David Pawson discusses the topic of God's sovereignty and His grace.  What is sovereign, irresistible or unconditional grace? What does it mean to be "saved by grace"?  Minister Pawson examines what a Scriptural understanding of grace is so that we can truly appreciate God's gift.

To expound upon this topic, he evaluates the 5 points of Calvinism - which not only did not come from John Calvin, but also contradicts some of his own beliefs.  Commonly called by the acronym TULIP, these points include:

• Total Depravity
• Unconditional Election
• Limited Atonement
• Irresistable Grace
• Perseverance of the Saints

A great illustration that Minister Pawson uses in this discussion of grace is the story of the Potter and the clay.

"THE WORD which came to Jeremiah from the Lord: Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.  Then I went down to the potter's house, and behold, he was working at the wheel.  And the vessel that he was making from clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he made it over, reworking it into another vessel as it seemed good to the potter to make it.  Then the word of the Lord came to me: O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does? Says the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel." Jeremiah 18:1-6 [Amplified Version]

This Scripture is often used to justify a perverted understanding of God and His grace.  The text does not show a potter arbitrarily determining to make some vessels of honor and others vessels of dishonor.  The potter desired to make a particular type of vessel, but the vessel itself became spoiled in his hands.  Yet we know that this was not the potter's plan because had to change his intended use of the vessel and make it into another vessel.  

In the next chapter, God instructs Jeremiah to shatter the perverted vessel as an illustration of how God will deal with Israel.  Why?  "Because the people have forsaken Me.." (Jeremiah 19:4).  It is the vessel which became perverted in the hands of the potter; the potter did not willfully create it to be so.  What God had created to be a vessel of mercy, now became a vessel of judgment; not because God chose it to be this way, but because the vessel was spoiled.

The video starts off as a rather academic discussion, but soon gets into a question and answer session as he addresses common questions about God's grace and how we experience that in our lives.

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What does the Scripture say about self-deception?

"For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him." II Corinthians 11:2-4

In the above text, Paul is speaking of being ready to be presented to Christ as His Bride and he indicates that there is one thing which could prevent us from being ready: deception.

I had a friend who, no matter what situation she got herself into, she would convince herself that it was good.  As a result, she never learned from her mistakes.  I once told her, "The most dangerous thing about you is that you can deceive your own self."   What I didn't realize at the time is that this capability exists for each person.  The carnal mind is fantasy-prone, and will run to lies and delusion so as not to submit to the truth. 

Pastor Zac Poonen examines the Scriptures to see what God's word has to say about self-deception.  You should listen to this message.

8 Ways We Can Deceive Ourselves

• Ephesians 5:6 - Seeking to understand spiritual things primarily by human intellect or cleverness.
• I Corinthians 6:9-10 - Assuming that we can be a "believer" and continue in unrighteousness.
• I Corinthians 15:33 - Believing that we can hang around "bad company" and not be affected.
• Galatians 6:3 - Thinking more highly of yourself than you ought, even if based on some gifts or talents God has given you.
• Galatians 6:7-8 - Not understanding that what we reap is what we sow and that we also "reap" eternal life.
• James 1:22-25 - Forgetting the importance of "doing" what the word says, not just "hearing" it.
• James 1:26, 3:2-13 - Not knowing that all our "good works" mean nothing if we can't control our tongues.
• I John 1:8 - Never seeing your own faults, but only the faults of others.

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"Remember Lot's wife." Luke 17:32

This is one of the shortest verses in the Bible, but clearly Jesus felt that it had meaning for those in the end times. What was Jesus telling us here and how does it relate to His second coming?

In Genesis Chapter 18, three Heavenly messengers (whom Abraham collectively calls Lord) speak of the evils occurring in Sodom and Gomorrah. We have discussed previously how the wickedness at that time is reflected in man's nature at the end of time, with men being lovers of their own selves.

While certainly a literal historical event, in a lot of ways the story of Sodom and Gomorrah can also be seen as a symbolic illustration of the salvation experience itself.

In such an illustration, Sodom and Gommorah represents the world. It is described as a place whose sin was so grievous, it required a visitation from the Lord.

The angelic messengers represent the presentation of the Gospel. It gives light to those with eyes to see and points to the way of salvation, away from destruction. Yet, the very same results in blindness for those who are unrepentant (II Corinthians 4:1-4; Hebrews 3:7-8).

"And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door." Genesis 9:11

This blindness is so profound, that those who are unrepentant cannot even find the door, which is Christ Himself (John 10:7-9). Even those who receive the message still have no ability in and of themselves to affect their own salvation.

"And while he [Lot] lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city." Genesis 19:16

Lot recognized the messengers as Godly and had received them unto himself.  Yet, although they repeatedly told them to flee, he still lingered. The angels had to physically take hold of Lot and his family and compel them out of Sodom.

Man is a slave to sin and has no power to separate himself from sin. If God does not intervene and bring man out by His own power, man would be ever lost. Receiving the truth of the Gospel is not an act of man deciding to save himself; it is man acknowledging the one thing that reveals to us the door (Christ) whereby we might be saved. It is then God's mercy alone which brings us through that door unto salvation. In doing so, God sets us outside of the contaminations of the world and sin.

Notice, however, that being saved from Sodom was not the end of their journey.

"And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed." Genesis 19:17

Once freed from the boundaries of the world/sin, they are then instructed not to stay where they are or even to look behind them, but to run to higher ground (Psalm 61:2; Isaiah 55:8-9; Philippians 3:14). This wasn't just a nice thing to do, but was necessary that they still not be consumed by the coming destruction (Isaiah 52:11; Jeremiah 51:6, 45, 50; Matthew 24:16; II Corinthians 6:17; Revelation 18:4)! They are told to escape for their lives to the mountain, which in Scripture is often a figure for God (Numbers 16:24-33; Psalm 2:6; Psalm 36:6; Psalm 125:2; Isaiah 2:2-3; Revelation 21:10).

Once we are separated from the world by God, we too must then run the race which takes us ever closer to God (Luke 16:16; Philippians 3:13-14; Hebrews 6:1; II Timothy 4:7). We cannot stand still in the Lord and we must not look back. The result of not heeding this warning is visible in Lot's wife.

"Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt." Genesis 19:24-26

Now we see the importance of the angels' commands that they run to the mountain.  The cities, the inhabitants of the cities, the plains surrounding the cities, and all that grew upon the ground around the cities were destroyed.  When judgment comes, the only safe place to be found is in Christ.

Scripture does not say why Lot's wife looked back.  It could have been a longing for family, friends, possessions, or anything from that former life which was being left behind.  Per the angels' warning, she was indeed "consumed".

Perhaps this is why Jesus' very next warning to us after this is:

"Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it." Luke 17:33

We cannot go forward into new life in Christ while looking backwards.  Attempting to do so merely compromises our walk with the Lord (Proverbs 14:14; Hebrews 10:38). We are called by God to be the salt of the earth, but when we nurture within us a longing for the things in the world, we become unusable. Instead of being salt poured out to preserve the way of the Lord in the earth, we become stoic and fortified within ourselves.  The direction of our focus shows us to still be lovers of our own selves and our own lives.

In the last days, when speaking of His imminent return, Jesus tells us to remember Lot's wife. Let us really consider these words and redeem the times.  Set your face like a flint to draw nearer to God and not be entangled in the affairs of this worldly life.

"And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Luke 9:62

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Does Your Heart Condemn You?

Yesterday, I saw a video that concerned me. It is the testimony of a man who doubted his salvation, but has now come to "really" trust in the Lord.



The first troubling point in the video was the response from his church. Upon hearing the man confess that he feared still being lost, he was immediately removed from the church members list.


What is a church members list? What purpose does it serve? Do we know the saints by their fruit or by the church rolls? Such an action sounds suspiciously like man signing-off on who belongs to God.

Should someone who is unsure about salvation be removed from a position of leadership? Absolutely. Should someone continuing in unrepentant sin be removed from fellowship? Yes. But taking someone off the church rolls because they are fearful their lives are not measuring up?

What drove this man to question his salvation was struggles with his own failures in living up to the "Christian standard". If he could not "do" what he thought Christians were supposed to "do", then he assumed that must mean he is not saved. And when he goes to the leadership seeking Godly counsel, he is removed from the church members list.

It is no strange thing when believers find themselves unable to meet the standards set forth by Christ. As long as your attention is on what you can "do", you will always feel like a failure. Yet, there will always be a difference between what we see in Scripture and what we can "do" because we cannot walk out this Christian life in the flesh. If wrestling with this internal contradiction between the desires of the flesh and the spirit is evidence of being lost, then I suppose that the Apostle Paul was not saved, for he said:

"For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin." Romans 7:15-25

Paul was in anguish over the fact that there was something in him fighting against his submission to God. What he did not want to do, he did in fact do. It made him feel like a wretched man! Did he take this as the evidence that he was not saved? No, it propelled him to take refuge in Jesus Christ all the more. He could say with confidence that Christ was able to deliver him from this body of death...and He is able to deliver us as well.

It is not anyone's job to convince another that they are saved. Such would be futile and foolish. Yet, trusting in the finished work of Christ does not mean pretending that the condition of your life is irrelevant. Having your "eyes on Christ" does not mean being indifferent about whether you are bearing fruit. When we really trust in the finished work of the cross, we understand that Jesus is calling us to take up our cross and follow Him.

"Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." Romans 6:6

"That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." Ephesians 4:22-24

"And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." Galatians 5:24-25

"Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." Colossians 3:9-10

God says that we must put off the old man and put on the new man. We must make the decisions each day to deny our flesh and live for Him by the power of His Spirit. This is how we are victorious over sin. Our confidence in salvation comes from knowing that God is faithful to complete the work He is doing in us as we yield to Him. That as we are made conformable unto His death (the death of the cross in our own lives) we will also walk in the power of His resurrection.

The minister in this video says the reason people struggle with assurance is because they are likely not saved. That may be true for some. Yet it is also possible for people to struggle because they have a false sense of salvation and are therefore unprepared when their flesh starts to rise up against the new life found in Christ. Instead of following the Biblical instruction to crucify the flesh, they feel condemned by it.

A false assurance is no assurance at all. If we have no responsibilities in our covenant with God, then there would be no way that we could make our calling and election sure.

"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." II Peter 1:4-11

There is an entire book in the Bible which addresses our assurance of salvation, and that is I John. In the last chapter of that book, John explains why he has written that letter:

"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." I John 5:3

At first, the verse may seem repetitive. Why would he be writing "to" those who believe so that they "may" believe? This is because believing in God is not a one-time act. It is an abiding faith whereby we continue believing unto salvation. As we continue believing or abiding in the faith, we will see the character of God being established within us.

John describes not what we must "do" to be saved (because remember, it is not of works and cannot be wrought in the flesh), but who we are becoming through salvation in Christ by the power of God's Spirit. Why is this message important? Because it is by this assurance that our joy will be full (I John 1:4).

So what are the character traits or fruit we will see developing in us as the assurance that we are in Christ?

1. Sincerity (I John 1:5 - 2:2; I John 3:19-24)
   We are not being deceitful or hypocritical in our walk with Him, but are open and transparent. When He brings sin to our attention, we repent; we don't try to hide it as if it is not there or justify our continuing in it. I John also speaks of an inner witness which attests to this.
   
   "And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God." I John 3:19-21
   
   If our own consciences are aware of sin in our lives, then surely God Himself is aware of it, for He is greater than our hearts. But if we can stand before God in all sincerity with our consciences purged, then we can have confidence toward God. That does not mean we are sinless, but it means we are not seeking after or willfully continuing in sin. We cannot run game on God.
   
   
2. Obedience (I John 2:3-6)
   As we keep His words, His love is being perfected within us. God is conforming us into the image of His Son. He is a Potter molding the clay.
   
   
3. Love (I John 2:7-29; I John 3:10-18; I John 5:3)
   We will have love for the brethren, for God, and for the truth. We will also not love the things of the world.
   
   
4. Sanctification (I John 3:3-18; I John 5:16-21)
   Because we have this hope in Christ, God says we will purify ourselves (3:3) and keep ourselves (5:18) from sin. We feel about sin how God feels about it. We don't enjoy it and willfully continue in it; we abhor it. We find no enjoyment in sin and do not seek it; yet should we sin, the Holy Spirit convicts us and compels us towards repentance.
   
   
5. Faith (I John 5:4-15)
   We believe - and continue believing - in the Son of God, Jesus Christ and in the truths to which the Holy Spirit bears witness of in Him.
   

Again, these are not things we can "do". It is the fruit God develops in us as we continue abiding in the faith.

There is a washing of water by the word. We are becoming less of who we were and more of who God has created us to be. This is not an overnight work. As Paul indicated, it may feel like an internal battle, it may be frustrating, we may have to wrestle against our own desires, but God is faithful to deliver. As we walk with the Lord, we are being changed by His Spirit from glory to glory.

"Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." II Corinthians 3:17-18

Once you have repented, confessed Jesus Christ as Lord & Savior, and turned in faith to Him...your journey with God is just beginning. God is not looking to pluck sinful fruit off a tree; He is laying the axe to the root. He is conforming you into the image of His Son, but to attain this life we must lose the soulish, carnal life (Matthew 16:25). In your patience, possess ye your souls (Luke 21:19). He charges US with crucifying the old man, and He promises to resurrect the new. When we buffet our bodies (I Corinthians 9:27), we are turning away from one life towards another. We are dying to self and making of ourselves living sacrifices unto God, which is our reasonable service unto Him (Romans 12:1).

How can you keep your flesh under subjection to the Spirit of God? Instead of feeding on that which is soulish (which only strengthens the flesh), begin to feed primarily on that which is spiritual. Dedicate time to prayer, fasting, the study of God's word, and speaking to yourself in spiritual songs. This helps to weaken the flesh and build up your spirit in the Lord. As our old man is weakened, the desires of the old man also grow weak. We begin to walk in victory by the power of God over those sins which seem to so easily beset us. Do these things "save us"? Absolutely not! However it is the way that the life of Christ can be made manifest within us.

The minister is correct in that the assurance of our place in Christ can only come from Him. However, that is not as a result of us believing that we have no accountability before the Lord. Being anguished over sin is not the evidence that you are still lost. Jesus died to pay the debt for all of our sins, but He also then sent the Comforter whereby we can have victory over our sins.

The article on the only reason salvation can be lost may also be helpful.

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God's Robots?

Some believe that man does not have a free will given by God. They say that all is predetermined for man by God apart from any personal choice of his own - even his eternal destiny. Man is more or less a robot which does whatever God has programmed. Not only is this position unScriptural, it is completely contrary to the very nature of God.

We dealt briefly with this error in the previous article on predestination, however let's look a little more into how free will is addressed in the Scriptures.


The first thing I will reiterate is that what is commonly called "free will" is not completely free. It is constrained by the sovereignty of God. As with any child, the choices available to us are only those options which the Father has given us. It is not possible for man to make choices beyond the latitude that God provides.

So what does Scripture say about free will?

Free Will is Free Will

In an attempt to dispel the reality of free will, it is often asserted that such a word doesn't exist in the Scriptures. However, the question is not whether the words we use are in Scripture, but whether the concept being discussed is Scriptural.

Throughout Scripture, there are examples of man making choices and being told by God to choose. Some may note that the word "Trinity" is not in the Scripture, but that does not mean that the reality of God being three persons in one being is not present in the text.

However, the word "freewill" is seen in Scripture, often in describing man's offerings to God. This poses a particular problem for those who claim man has no free will.

If man has no free will, then how could "freewill" be applied to anything man does? By virtue of believing that man has no free will, this mandates that everything man does is predetermined by God apart from his choice. For Scripture to say man has free will in any area proves that, 1) Man has a will and; 2) Man is given some latitude by God to make choices.

The Scriptures on freewill show specifically that man is making decisions which impact his interaction with God of his own free will. If free will exists, then free will exists.

With that in mind, let's review the use of the word "freewill" in Scripture.

Present Your Bodies a Living Sacrifice

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word nĕdabah literally means a "freewill, voluntary offering". It is often used to describe the type of burnt or peace offerings Israel brought to the temple.

The Jewish Encyclopedia defines a "free will" offering as:

"A term applied to gifts presented out of the benevolence or religious impulse of heart of the giver, and not in fulfillment of any obligation, promise, or vow."

A"free will" offering is one that is given voluntarily, NOT resulting from any command or obligation. So what does that have to do with us? There is Scriptural relevance between the "free will" offerings of the Old Testament and the offerings we bring to God in the New Testament. WE ourselves are an offering.

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." Romans 12:1

It is our lives which are on the altar as "WE" present ourselves as a living sacrifice. God does not keep or place us on the altar. We must present our own bodies as this living sacrifice. God puts responsibility for this offering of ourselves on us. And what is the altar upon which our sacrifice is made? It is the cross.

"And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." Luke 9:23

Not if any man has been predestined to come after God. Not if any man has been programmed or forced to come after God. If any man "will". Again, we see man's will in operation in connection with offerings presented to God. Not only so, but after "willing" to come after God, man must deny himself, take up the cross, and follow. Because our free will does not go away after salvation, we must continue to deny, take up, and follow.

The way that we present ourselves as living sacrifices is by taking up our cross daily. God does not force us to do this. In fact, Jesus states that one who does not take up his cross (present his body sacrificially) is not worthy to belong to Him (Matthew 10:38).

"Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." Romans 6:6

It is the daily presentation or sacrificing of our bodies on the cross which destroys the body (old man) of sin. There is a direct correlation between us carrying our crosses and us overcoming sin. The victory over sin was accomplished once and for all in Jesus Christ's death on the cross and is applied to our lives individually as we take up our cross and follow Him. This is the offering believers are to give in faithfulness to Christ.

Scripture also confirms this relationship between the offerings submitted to God in the temple and the offering of our lives to Him as both being "free will" sacrifices. David declared that he was a "free will offering" to God.

"I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD; for it is good." Psalm 54:6

In this text, the words "I will freely" is the word nĕdabah which again means a freewill voluntary offering. David's sacrifice unto God is of his own free will.

Silver and Gold

We continue to see this same confirmation that we are free will offerings depicted symbolically in Ezekiel Chapter 8:

"And I said unto them, Ye are holy unto the LORD; the vessels are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering unto the LORD God of your fathers." Ezekiel 8:28

In discussing the "the offering of the house of our God" (Ezekiel 2:25), the text states that the vessels of gold and silver in that house are "freewill" offerings unto the Lord.

In the New Testament, God says that we are called the vessels of gold and silver in the Lord's house.

"Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work." II Timothy 2:19-21

The vessels of honor in this great house are the vessels of silver and gold. These represent those who belong to God and have departed from iniquity. Letting Scripture explain Scripture, it can be clearly seen that God is comparing the believer to the "freewill" offerings of gold and silver in the Old Testament temple. We are these holy, freewill offerings.

The pattern for the Christian is what we see reflected in Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. It is denying our own will in submission and obedience to the will of the Father.

"Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." Luke 22:42

By examining the use of the word freewill in Scripture, it can be clearly seen that God's people can offer sacrifices to God freely without compulsion, including the sacrifice of one's self. God not only gives man freedom of will to choose, He implores us to exercise this "will" in following Him by presenting ourselves as living sacrifices.

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Once Saved, Now Lost - Conclusion

Over the course of this series on the Once Saved Always Saved doctrine, we have reviewed numerous Scriptures showing that salvation is not unconditionally, eternally secure. We are eternally secured as we continue in the faith, abiding in Him. When we turn in faith to Jesus Christ, we are entering into a covenant and it is through this covenant that we receive the gift of eternal life.

Still, this often leads to one question, "What sin is it that Jesus does not forgive or that makes one become lost?"

Yet, what people fail to understand is that such is not about sin primarily, but about relationship. The only way our covenant relationship with God can be broken is for us to stop loving God.

Love is the Foundation

In the Spirit of the Law series, we discussed how love is the fulfillment of the law. In fact, love is the objective that God has with mankind.

"He said unto him, What is written in the law? How readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself." Luke 10:26-27

From the beginning, God's goal with man was to redeem him by love, establish him in love, and regenerate him to love. God is love and being reconciled to Him means that we become one with - and reflections of - who He is.

"We love him, because he first loved us." I John 4:19

Because of sin, it was not possible for man to love God. Sin made man selfish/self-centered by nature versus being selfless (which is the manifestation of love). This is why we must be born again. God demonstrated His love for us in sending His Son to die for our sins so that we could attain new life in Him. It is only possible for us to love God because He first loved us.

"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." John 3:16

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

"Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." I John 3:16

"In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." I John 4:9-10

By demonstrating His love in this way, God makes it possible for us to enter into His love (I Timothy 2:3-4, Revelation 22:17). Once we are in Christ, that love becomes the foundation of our relationship with Him.

"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." Ephesians 3:17-19

"According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love." Ephesians 1:4

Our relationship with God is "rooted and grounded in love". Love is the root system by which He feeds and makes provision for us and it is the anchor which gives us stability in Him. In this covenant, it is not just God's love for us which is critical, but also our love for Him. It is a mutual love, as the love of God is reflected in us back to Him and others.

"I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me." Proverbs 8:17

"But if any man love God, the same is known of him." I Corinthians 8:3

"Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." John 14:23

"Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me." John 8:42

"For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God." John 16:27

Our love for God is used by Him as the evidence of our relationship with Him. If we are to receive anything from God, it is because of that love relationship (covenant) we have entered into with Him.

"Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations." Deuteronomy 7:9

"And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments." Nehemiah 1:5

"The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy." Psalm 145:20

"And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments." Daniel 9:4

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

"Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity." Ephesians 6:24a

"Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." II Timothy 4:8

"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him." James 1:12

"Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?" James 2:5

God keeps His covenant with those who love Him. God preserves those who love Him. God's promises are for those who love Him. Can we see the pattern here?

This is why we took time to review the meaning of a covenant relationship and how the institution of marriage is a reflection of this covenant in Christ. It is a covenant borne from love.

Love is Patient

"And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ." II Thessalonians 3:5

In discussing this topic previously, I was asked, "Well, I don't always live up to my marriage covenant with my spouse. So, if I sin against God and die before I repent, does this mean I'm damned to hell?"

Even in this example, the representation God has given of our covenant with Him still holds true.

The covenant of marriage is secured by vows, not performance. When a husband or wife fail in their marital obligations, that does not in itself dissolve the marriage relationship; although it can damage the fellowship between husband and wife. For example, no matter how poorly one maintains the home or provides for the household....your spouse is STILL your spouse.

Although God is perfect and never fails, man is not perfect and occasionally falls short. When we do, we can know that God's love is ever present for us, prompting us towards and looking for our repentance.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." I John 1:9

"My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." I John 2:1

When Peter sinned by denying Jesus Christ before men, it was not his sinful acts that Jesus brought to Peter's remembrance, but his love for God.

"So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?

He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep." John 21:15-17

Peter's restoration could only be done in "love". Jesus didn't come trying to get His pound of flesh from Peter or to make him grovel for the wrongs he had done. Jesus, in His love for Peter, reminded Peter of his love for God. And not just the phileo brotherly love that we may feel for others, but Jesus called him into the agape love which comes from God alone and is at the expense or denial of ourselves. This is why there is a direct correlation between forgiveness and love. When love is present, we find repentance and forgiveness.

"Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little." Luke 7:47

Love is not quick to see or create offenses. Love is patient, kind, not self-promoting or seeking its own way, nor becoming easily angered. (I Corinthians 13:4-5). There is a certain attitude of long-suffering when love is in operation, which again implies patience.

The Scriptures indicate that "loving" the Lord is synonymous with "waiting" on the Lord.

"For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him." Isaiah 64:4

"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." I Corinthians 2:9

This is the essence of what it means to endure in the faith, and why believers are exhorted to do so! Waiting and enduring are demonstrations of our love for God. If we love Him, we will be faithful. If we love Him, we will obey. If we love Him, we will patiently endure.

Sin is only the symptom of a bigger problem: a failure to love as we should. But when love is strong, even a multitude of sins are forgiven.

"And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins." I Peter 4:8

Not only is marriage the pattern of how the covenant is entered and maintained, it is also the pattern for how the covenant is broken.

A Bill of Divorcement

The only thing that breaks the covenant of marriage is divorce. And it is the same with God. One way in which Scripture speaks of this as a falling away.

"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition." II Thessalonians 2:3

The phrase "falling away" is the Greek word apostosia which comes from the word apostasion meaning a bill of divorcement. The word apostosia is used only one other time in Scripture where it is translated "forsake" (Acts 21:21).

Implicit in the understanding of apostasy is the knowledge that such individuals have forsaken God. They have turned their back on God and on the covenant with which they had entered with Him. When God looks at such individuals, He considers their defection to be akin to a divorce.

God can only be divorced from those who are espoused to Him; and neither has He ever entered into a marriage covenant with all of humanity. God is only betrothed to His Bride, His people...the ones who have been called out and set apart for His good pleasure.

This is why it is so important to understand what Scripture is saying and who is being addressed. A failure to do this only leads to confusion and error. The Scriptures do speak of false converts who were never born again and never received by God as His own. But it also speaks of those who receive Jesus Christ, are converted, and later forfeit the covenant relationship with Him.

Divorce is a covenant term. God would not use references to a divorce in describing the falling away of those who never belonged to Him precisely because He is not in covenant with them. We see the same illustrations in God's interactions with Israel.

"Thus saith the LORD, Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away." Isaiah 50:1

"And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also." Jeremiah 3:8

Both the Old and New Testaments confirm that the only way a covenant relationship between God and His people is broken is through divorce. When man forsakes the love of God, he is turning away from the one thing upon which our covenant with God is based.

The Passion of Christ

God loves us passionately! So much so that He died on a cross to redeem us - His Bride - unto Himself (John 15:13). And as we noted earlier, we are to be reflections of Him...and even His love.

When Scripture speaks of our love for God, it is not talking about a worldly or primarily emotional sentiment. He is speaking of the agape love that God has poured unto us being reflected through us back to Him.

Yet, how does that happen? How do we reflect the love of God?

"But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." II Corinthians 3:14-18

There is a vail upon the heart that results in the mind being blinded, making it impossible to see Jesus Christ. But when the hearts are turned to God, this vail is done away with; the heart of man becomes uncovered and open to Him.

The term "open face" refers to a drawing back or removal of a veil. In Hebrew culture, it was unseemly for a woman to remove her veil for anyone but her husband. Thus, Scripture illustrates this as a time of intimacy whereby the Bride of Christ looking into a glass is changed by the Spirit into the very image of the living God. Changed here literally means being metamorphosed!

Yet what is this glass that changes us as we gaze upon it? It is the word of God.

"Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." James 1:21-25

As we spend intimate time in God's word, it is like looking into a mirror. By showing the perfection of our Lord, the words at the same time convict us of our own shortcomings and our need for cleansing. Under the washing of the water of the word, the image of our Savior becomes imprinted on our souls (Ephesians 5:26-27). The Spirit brings life to the word by bringing it to life within us as we submit to it.

It is not the word alone that saves, but the engrafted word. Engrafted means inborn or implanted by nature. This doesn't indicate that which barely scratches the surface, but word which is planted firmly and deeply in our innermost being; bearing with it the power (Spirit) to change who we really are. Thereby, we are changed so that the man looking in the mirror of God's word becomes more and more like His character.

When God looks at us, He ought to see Jesus; a reflection of Himself. We don't become Jesus Christ, but His life becomes more evident in us as His nature is being imparted to us. This is the goal of sanctification, our transformation in the inner man to be made in the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). It is this process of beholding the Lord that changes us so that the love of God may be shed abroad in our hearts (Romans 5:5).

Yet, the Scriptures describe two different types of persons looking into this glass. Those who continue in this intimate communion with God and those who turn away from it.

The one who continues is assured to be a "doer" of God's word. This is not primarily because the person is working to obey, but because - by remaining in God's presence - this person is being forged and molded by God into the image of Christ so that he can obey by nature. The doing of the word is merely the result of God's cleansing process, not man's carnal efforts.

Alternately, the other "goes his way" which means to depart. As a result, instead of being changed from glory to glory into Jesus' image, he becomes forgetful. Forgetful of what he has heard, what he has been shown, what he has been forgiven, and of just what type of wretch he is apart from God.

When one departs from or forsakes God, His love cannot be perfected in us (I John 2:5).

Forsaking Your First Love

"If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha." I Corinthians 16:22

We have seen how love is the object of what God wants from man and how our covenant with Him is based upon love.

As we enter into this covenant, it is our mutual love (His love for us and the same being reflected through us to Him) which forms the foundation of our covenant relationship. This is why we are told to keep ourselves and continue in God's love.

"Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." Jude 1:21

"As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love." John 15:9-10

How do we "keep ourselves" in the love of God? By staying in His presence, beholding His glory so that He may change us by His Spirit thereby allowing us to obey Him by nature. We don't follow the example of the forgetful hearer, but we become doers of His word by simply "continuing" in Him as He completes His work in us.

In fact, Scriptures indicate that the only reason people reject Christ is because they love something else more than God. It still all boils down to love.

"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." John 3:19

"Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." II Timothy 3:4-5

Yet, the question of relevance for this article is whether God indicates that man can stop loving Him? Does the word of God show that we can forsake the foundation and anchor of our covenant relationship with God?

"Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent." Revelation 2:4-5

These are God's words to His church at Ephesus. Jesus says above that the individuals above have "left" their first love. Jesus doesn't fault them for having never loved Him, but for leaving His love.

He goes on to say that they should remember from where they are fallen and return to that place. One, this tells us that they are fallen. Second, this indicates that the place they had maintained before falling had been acceptable to God. Otherwise, why would He be calling them to return back to it? The consequence for not doing so is to have their place removed from before Him.

"So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." Revelation 3:16

This is another statement that God makes to His church, this time at Laodicea. The issue at hand is their lukewarm relationship with Him. Lukewarm is the word chliaros and is a metaphor for the condition of the soul wretchedly fluctuating between a torpor and a fervour of love.

God's love for us is passionate, and if His love is reflected in us, then our love for Him will be the same. We will be passionately in love with God! If not, He says that He will spew us out of His mouth, which is a pictorial description of being cast forth from His Body.

What about sin?
Sin occurs as a result of a failure to love as we should. Remember, we are being transformed into the image of Christ as we continue in His presence so that obedience comes by nature not by a work of the flesh. As we rest in Him, He will change us to be like Him. This is why love is linked to obedience.

"Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." John 14:23-24

What about faith?
Faith comes from and is made possible by love. Just as in a marriage, it is love that leads to fidelity. If you love someone, you will remain faithful to them.

"For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love." Galatians 5:6

What about enduring?
It is love for the Lord that equips us to endure. We only fail to endure when our love has grown cold.

"And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. " Matthew 24:12-13

Some people avoid this topic. They consider it too scary or too depressing. However, I think that is the wrong view. This message gives me joy in my spirit because it helps me to realize that I am in a love relationship!

God loves me, and because of that, I can love Him. All that He asks is that I stay in His love and He works all else out for my good. That is Good News!!

"Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end." John 13:1

A wise man named David Wilkerson once said, "A transfiguration is taking place in all our lives. The truth is, we're being changed by what obsesses us. We're becoming like the things that occupy our minds. Our character is being influenced and impacted by whatever has hold of our hearts."

So the question becomes, what has a hold of your heart? Is it the love of God? Jesus loves us until the end, but do we love Him?

I cannot free myself from the world. I cannot change my nature. I cannot get rid of my sinful desires. I cannot be perfect. I cannot do what is good. But God can!!! And all that He requires is that we come to and continue in His love to be made whole.

"And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness." Colossians 3:14

Take a moment to watch the following videos. The first is from Minister David Pawson teaching on an analysis of the Song of Songs and its Scriptural meaning. The last video is the song "My Greatest Love is You".





This article is part of a 6-part series evaluating a doctrine referred to as Once Saved Always Saved, Eternal Unconditional Security, or Preservation of the Saints.

1. God Doesn't Mince Words
   
   • Names Blotted Out of The Book of Life
   • It IS Possible to Fall Away
2. "IF"
   
   • Conditions for Salvation
   • Cast from God's Body
     
3. Salvation is a Result of Covenant
• God's Relationship With Man is Based on Covenant
• Was the Abrahamic Covenant Unconditional?
  
• Covenant Responsibilities
  
4. Sealed Until the Day of Redemption
5. A Candid Look at OSAS "Support"
• Eternal Life is a Gift
• Nothing Can Separate You From the Love of God
• You Cannot Be Unborn
  
• You Can Only Lose Fellowship with God
• You Can Only Lose Your Reward
• Predestined by God
• Eternal Life is "Eternal"
  
• All means ALL
6. The ONLY Reason Salvation Can Be "Lost"

Read more »