One Monday while getting ready for work I thought I’d lost my salvation. I found it though, it was in my other pants’ pocket.

Ba-dum-dum-*cymbal crash*

I struggled trying to decide on a title for this post; should I go with the standard “Eternal Security” when discussing this doctrine of Christianity, or go with the more playful “Eternal Insecurity” characterizing those who do not believe in this doctrine? I suppose it doesn’t matter. What does matter is understanding what “eternal security” actually means.

Eternal Security: Understanding that your salvation cannot be lost, revoked or returned and that once you are saved your eternal fate is sealed forever by the Holy Spirit.

The apostle John wrote in his first letter, “I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5.13, emphasis added). Notice that John did not say:

“…so that you may hope to have eternal life”
“…so you may guess you have eternal life”
“…so you may pray you have eternal life”
“…so you may wonder if you have eternal life”

No, he wrote “so that you may know you have eternal life”! Salvation isn’t supposed to be enigmatic.

Those who believe in the doctrine of eternal security are the minority in Christendom. I wish I could tell you why. The truth of this doctrine has always seemed very clear to me, even early on in life. When I was in High School I was very vocal about my faith. For this I received a variety of responses: some were interested, some bored, and some angry. In regard to the later, I remember being told on one occasion to “go to hell”. The student commanding me wasn’t sure if he should laugh or punch me when I told him with an anguished expression, “but I can’t!”

Today we will examine Scriptures that support this idea as well as explain three doctrines of our faith that require eternal security. Those doctrines are:

1. Eternal Life
2. Position in Christ
3. Seal of Redemption

We will examine each in turn, but begin with the topic of salvation. We are all likely familiar with John 3.16: For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

When we come to Christ we are saved from eternal death. Instead of descending to hell, eternally separated from God, and enduring the punishment our sin deserves, we are raised to eternal life in Christ.

Question: How long is eternal? Notice that John did not write:

“…have eternal life until he blows it big time”
“…have eternal life until he doesn’t want it any longer”
“…have eternal life until God changes his mind about him”

No, the Bible promises that everyone who believes in Jesus has eternal life. And I have to tell you that’s not just good news that’s great news!

When writing to the church at Ephesus, Paul said:

And although you were dead in your transgressions and sins, when you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation) – when you believed in Christ – you were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2.1 and 1.13a).Paul—very interestingly—has a very distinct meaning behind the phrase “in Christ” here in Ephesians 1.13. It’s not some figure of speech, it is a very real place, a position that all Christ-followers are in. Read the first chapter of Ephesians and you will see how important this is.

In the next chapter starting in verse 18 Paul talks about a dividing wall of hostility between us and life in Christ. From these two chapters, and other teachings of Paul I have pieced together an illustration that may make this doctrine clear for you.

The teaching of Ephesians two is simple. We are born in sin from a long line of ancestors; our only inheritance is death. There is a dividing wall of hostility between man and God that man cannot overcome. We are dead in our sins, separated and distant from God.

When Jesus died and rose again he opened the way from death to life. It is important to note that this is a one-way journey! Once we have been brought near to God through salvation we can never be separated from God again.

Once we put our faith in Christ we cross through the dividing wall of hostility into life. Our inheritance is eternal life! That is what it means to be “in Christ”.

Okay, go back to where we were just reading, Ephesians 1.13:

And when you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation) – when you believed in Christ – you were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit, who is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory.

Notice that we are sealed with the indwelling Holy Spirit. Two items of importance here:

1. With the Holy Spirit being the guarantor (making the down payment) our inheritance is GUARANTEED.
2. With God doing the sealing, who can possibly un-seal us?

I know people who believe that, while you cannot “lose” your salvation, you can give it back, or opt out. Again I ask, once you are sealed by God who can possibly un-seal you? No man is strong enough to break the seal—the indwelling Holy Spirit. So if only God can break the seal we can rest easy, because the Bible promises the only time that seal will be broken is when God welcomes us to eternal life on the other side of this one.

If a child did not know from day to day whether or not he was a member of the family he would be an emotional and psychological wreck. The fact is, regardless of your behavior, you are always going to be a member of your family and there is nothing you, or they, can do about it. Why is that? Because you were born into the family and that can never be changed. So it is with God’s family! You see, if you are in Christ, you are a part of the family.

During the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge 23 workers fell to their deaths in the San Francisco Bay. After that, the city erected huge nets beneath the bridge. After they were in place, only a handful fell, and they were safe, and the work was completed in record time and with record safety. Why? The workers could concentrate on their jobs and not have to worry about dying!

To be a productive Christian you need to know that your future is absolutely secure. If you are to do a great work for Jesus, then you need peace of mind, instead of always worrying about your future. Insecurity prevents us from reaching our fullest potential as believers, but when we live in knowledge we are eternally secure in Jesus and all things are possible!

So let’s briefly review:

1. Eternal life is, well, “eternal”. Seems obvious, but amazingly many miss the point. (John 3.16)
2. Our position in Christ is a one-way trip. There is no return. (Ephesians 2.13-.19)
3. Once you are sealed no one ca un-seal you.(Ephesians 1.13)
4. You can no more be un-born-again than you can be un-born. (John 3.1-.8)
5. God has saved you and nothing can ever separate you from Him. (Romans 8.38-.39)
6. You become stable, no longer tossed about by every wind of teaching! (Ephesians 4.14)
7. You live with peace of mind. (Ephesians 6.15)