Eternal Assurance: The Triune God’s Unshakable Grip on Salvation

Our salvation is not held together by our tainted will and/or our feeble efforts. It rests securely in a threefold DIVINE work that WILL NEVER FAIL:

• The Father’s sovereign will (Romans 8:29-30)
• The Son’s perfect intercession (Hebrews 7:24-25)
• The Spirit’s sealing presence (Ephesians 1:13-14)

Some believers hold a view that one could lose their salvation. And, as proof, they cite many passages in the Bible that warn us against falling away from the faith. Such a view is engendered because they see:

1. Some so-called “believers” forsake the faith after having been part of a church for many years.

Such so-called “believers” are simply proving the truth of the Bible which clearly says that they:

“…went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, SO THAT IT WOULD BE SHOWN THAT THEY ALL ARE NOT OF US” (1 John 2:19).

2. Some so-called “believers” whose life does not show evidence of a changed nature (i.e., the person who is truly Born-Again, WILL show evidence of a changed life).

Such so-called “believers” may have made a profession of faith in Christ and may even be participating in various church activities. But, Jesus says:

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven…” (Matthew 7:21a).

He also says:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is BORN AGAIN he cannot see the kingdom of God…The WIND BLOWS WHERE IT WISHES and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit” (John 3:3b,8).

It is therefore clear there are MANY who acknowledge Jesus as “Lord”, but they have NOT been made Born Again from above. Hence, Paul commands us to:

“Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves!…” (2 Corinthians 13:5a).

This explains the many warning passages in the Bible to warn those in the church who may be deceived into thinking they are Born Again.

A view that one could lose one’s salvation is a subtle acquiescence to a view that our salvation is held secure by our feeble efforts. They are also not trusting God’s sure promises for His sheep that they will never perish (John 10:28-29).

Some of them agree God does His part in keeping His sheep, but have a view that a sheep can jump out of God’s hands by their own free will!!

The Bible firmly negates such an understanding:

Jeremiah 32:38-40 “They shall be My people, and I will be their God; and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their own good and for the good of their children after them. I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that THEY WILL NOT TURN AWAY from Me.”

Micah 5:2-4 “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity. Therefore He will give them up until the time when she who is in labor has borne a child. Then the remainder of His brethren will return to the sons of Israel. And He will arise and shepherd His flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God. And THEY WILL REMAIN, because at that time He will be great to the ends of the earth.”

Romans 8:38-39 “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Note: a person who thinks he could jump out of the secure hands of his Shepherd is also a “created thing”

1. Purpose of the Father for His Children

“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He PREDESTINED, He also CALLED; and these whom He called, He also JUSTIFIED; and these whom He justified, He also GLORIFIED.” (Romans 8:29-30).

we know He WILL accomplish His purpose “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure’” (Isaiah 46:10; Psalm 33:11).

2. Role of the Son in Securing His Own

In His High-Priestly prayer, Jesus prays:

“Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:24).

These prayers, made by the Son of God Himself, are not mere requests but expressions of His perfect will, which are guaranteed to be fulfilled. Further:

“…Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:24-25).

3. Role of the Spirit in Sealing His Own

“…having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:13b-14).

Such people also think a mere human can break the seal that a believer is sealed with – they forget that the Holy Spirit who is God Himself who is the seal.

Furthermore, such a view that one could lose one’s salvation is rooted in Roman Catholic tradition – they believe it’s a combined effort of God and man working together that keeps us saved, little realising that a believer is NOT kept righteous by their works – at any time, a believer:

“may be found in Him, NOT having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, THE RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH COMES FROM GOD ON THE BASIS OF FAITH” (Philippians 3:9).

Therefore, take heart, dear ones…if you’ve been caused to be Born Again from above – our security is NOT grounded in our feeble attempts at keeping the Law or remaining faithful, BUT in the triune God’s unchanging work – the Father’s sovereign purpose, the Son’s perfect intercession and the Spirit’s sealing presence.