I received an email from a person who gave a detailed response to the Scriptures that I pointed to in my paper "List of New Testament Scriptures that Show You can lose Salvation". To show that I am responding to his full critique, and have not left anything substantive out, I am giving his full critique, its own url. Here is his paper that critiques me: "Proof from Scripture for Faith Alone & Eternal Security". For the most part, he gave a detailed analysis showing why he believes in both faith alone, and how salvation is secured, and if one is truly a believer, he will never lose salvation. He believes the once saved, always saved, teaching. He gives Scriptures which he says guarantees that no one truly saved, will ever lose salvation. I respond to the first part of this paper here. So, this paper will deal with his belief on faith alone as the means of salvation, as opposed to the Catholic view on Faith and grace inspired works/obedience is necessary for salvation. He also gives Scriptures which to him proves eternal security. I will analyze the Scriptures that he presents, and will highlight some passages that prove grace aided obedience/works must be included with faith and that one can lose salvation. I have created a part two, which goes over the Scriptures which I assert prove that one can lose salvation where he interprets as not teaching so. That is gone over here: "Matt's Response to a Critique of My Interpretation of Verses Which Teach That One Can Lose Salvation" . In this paper here, however, I will respond in detail to his assertions that Scripture teaches faith alone and eternal security. His writing is in green, my response is blue, and the Scriptures that I point to will be in black.

Hi Matt1618,
I got hold of one of your articles on "List of New Testament Scriptures that Show You can lose Salvation".

I believe salvation is available to all; but not everyone will be saved mostly because they fail to take God at His word which is conveyed in much of the scriptures that you quoted, which I believe that the reason you quoted these verses is because you made up your mind that all of these so called believers are genuine believers of which there is no way to know because most so called "believers" might be perceived by others as being true believers. Even some verses that are quoted in scripture state that some of this "believers" were never believers to begin with. If you can prove to me that all of these verses pertain to "genuine believers" then I would have no reason not to accept your premise. I hope you will read below to see where and why I am basing my beliefs on.

I hope that you can respond to some of the questions that I have or get your perspective or your comments on where you believe that I may be misled, because I consider everyone's opinion or belief as to where they are coming from or simply put; where are they getting their scripture knowledge, which If it is different I would consider it to be different from my perspective. So hopefully you can enlighten me on this topic so as to help me, in my spiritual walk.

For starters; respectfully, I believe one of us is not in tune with scripture when you state that works are necessary for salvation and you quote Matthew 25:31-46 as one of a few other verses that you quote in scriptures to support your belief that works are necessary for salvation. In verse 23 it ends by saying "faithful" servant. Faithful servant is one who is righteous in God's eye; one who is made righteous by faith alone and not works. Now I understand that you might say his works of what he did with his talents is what made him righteous.

I'll look at Matthew 25:31-46 with your comments down a little further.

But for now, let's look at Rom. 3:28-30 and Rom. 4:5 which are but a few verses that specifically state that faith alone without deeds (works) is what justifies a person (makes him or her righteous).

27 Then what becomes of our boasting It is excluded. On what principle? On the principle of works? No, but on the principle of faith. 28 For we hold that a man is justified by faith apart from works of law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since God is one; and he will justify the circumcised on the ground of their faith and the uncircumcised through their faith.

Now, going to back to Matthew 25, you argue:

This whole chapter 25, deals with an exhortation to the Jewish people them and for them to beware of how they treat their brethren. In verse 46 it ends with the " righteous" will inherit eternal life. You do not become righteous by doing good deeds, but only by having true faith.

31 When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,

34 Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.'

Contrast that to those who are condemned 25:41-42:

41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,

28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come forth, those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive good or evil, according to what he has done in the body.

You quote James 2:14-26. This verse of James, I believe, has been inappropriately used to mean that works are necessary for salvation. What it really is saying: If one is doing evil deeds and they say that they have faith, then where are your good works. In other words; Faith produces good works; but good works do not produce Faith. I will explain more in detail below.

As for Romans 2:6-13 which you also quote to show that works are needed for salvation; I will also have to respectfully disagree with your thinking on this one. This verse quoted is also an exhortation to the Jewish nation to lead a Godly life. I will go more into detail on why I believe that Faith alone plus nothing else is necessary for salvation. True faith is the core of eternal salvation.

4 Or do you presume upon the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not know that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But by your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 For he will render to every man according to his works: 7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are factious and do not obey the truth, but obey wickedness, there will be wrath and fury. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. 11 For God shows no partiality. 12 All who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.

To show even further Paul is not speaking only about Jews in Romans 2, he writes the following:

14 When Gentiles who have not the law do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or perhaps excuse them.

27 Then those who are physically uncircumcised but keep the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law.

Paul, our apostle as reference in (Rom.11:13; 1Tim; 2:7; 2Tim. 1:11), puts it very plainly on what it takes to be saved on his epistles, especially in Eph. 2:8-9. It is so plainly written that anyone can comprehend it, but yet, some do not. Why?

Here's my study on Ephesians 2. Let us look at Ephesians 2:1-10 to give the context:

1 And you he made alive, when you were dead through the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among these we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of body and mind, and so we were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with him, and made us sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God-- 9 not because of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

God, who is rich in mercy (v. 4), makes us alive together with Christ by grace (v. 5). How is He rich in mercy, by just turning away from how sinful we are and just look at Jesus Christ's perfect righteousness, as faith alone people say? No, He did not declare us alive, He made us alive. By what? His grace. So, verses 4 and 5 show us that there is a real ontological change, not a mere declaration of a change. This is a change of being into an ontologically righteous person. Thus, infusion of grace, in order to make us truly righteous, is specifically implied.

He also raises up with Christ in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (v. 6). He does not declare us raised up with Christ, we are actually raised up to be with Him. We are now in the heavenly places. We now reign with him. We are not just filthy rags that somehow have a relationship with God in spite of being filthy rags, but someone who is intimate with God the Father based on us reigning with God. Notice that He really breaks the power of sin over believers. Thus, He does not merely make a forensic declaration of breaking that bondage, God actually breaks that bondage.

That is the background to the verses we are keying in on here. Remember grace is what makes us alive together in Him. It detached us from the bondage of sin, according to verse 5. Then we go to verse 8: For by grace you have been saved by faith. We remember that when Paul wrote that we are saved by grace in v. 5, he wrote that this grace made us alive, and separated from the bondage of sin (similar to when Paul wrote: He who has died has been justified (freed) from sin (Rom. 6:7). He has thus already laid down the transformative nature and power of grace. Grace is not a covering, or a mere imputation of Christ's righteousness to our account. This transformation is a gift indeed given to us by God. It originates from God, not our own doing, as Paul writes in v. 8. We can not approach God through boasting, as he writes in v. 9. This shows that foundational to our relationship with Christ is our total reliance upon Him to transform us, not just our own power. Thus, when it says, it is not of works, lest anyone should boast, it means we do not work to earn salvation. It is God's gift to us that ontologically transforms us. If we did it by ourselves, then we could boast. If we approach God through our own boasting and self-reliance, we are condemned (v. 9). When Paul condemns work salvation schemes, he condemns those who approach God through boasting (Rom. 2:17, 23, 3:27, Rom. 4:2). However, Paul never condemns works when done through God's grace as achieving salvation. In fact, elsewhere he says that grace empowered works are necessary to achieve salvation (Rom. 2:4-13, Gal. 6:8-9, 1 Tim. 6:18-19, etc.). Nevertheless, the point here by Paul is that we must approach God humbly and be utterly reliant upon His mercy and grace, before we can approach Him for salvation. We are saved through His power alone. We do not boast about ourselves. But God raises us up to be sons called to holiness. We are no longer controlled by the passions that had controlled us, before grace, Eph. 2:2-3.

In v. 10, Paul continues this outlook on salvation. He writes that we are His workmanship. Our work in his grace is His work in our lives. In v. 10 here, Paul does not write, OK, now I move on to sanctification, and thus, now we do good works to prove that we are already saved, or something to that effect. Verse 10 is not some new category from which Paul digresses from the whole section on salvation. Instead, he now states the kind of works which do profit unto salvation, as opposed to that which does not. We are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, according to Paul. Now in His grace and under His mercy, and in His power, we shall now walk in Him. This is what profits unto salvation. It is by grace that we are saved. It is not by works done under our own power. The gift of God which profits to salvation is thus not only faith as mentioned in v. 8, but works empowered by grace as well specifically mentioned in verse 10.

Now directly impacting the subject of losing salvation, Paul explicitly writes the following, Ephesians 5:3-6:

3 But fornication and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is fitting among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness, nor silly talk, nor levity, which are not fitting; but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure man, or one who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for it is because of these things that the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

This is in the New Testament, which is what we Christians should go by when it comes to salvation (We are not under the Law which is works), being that it was written to us Gentiles and Jews under the Dispensation of Grace, which we now fall under and not under the Mosaic Law of the Old Testament.

I would appreciate it if you could tell me why you believe that works need to be included for salvation? I'll assume you'll most likely quote from the book of James; but I'll address that also further below. Is Paul wrong? Didn't Jesus did all the work necessary at the cross when He said "it is finished?" I thought finished meant complete. Does it say in scripture that we must complete what He failed to accomplish?

John 14:15
If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

John 15:10
If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.

11 For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men, 12 training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world, 13 awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.

for if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live.

Besides that, Paul himself writes the following, Colossians 1:21-24:

21 And you, who once were estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him, 23 provided that you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which has been preached to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister. 24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,

You said: Does it say in scripture that we must complete what He failed to accomplish? Paul wrote: Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, Those are not my words, those are the apostle Paul's words. It seems like your position is saying Jesus did something not intended by Jesus himself or Paul. Paul has to complete it for the church. That applies to us as well. He didn't fail, but he failed your once saved always theology. This passage in and of itself destroys the concept of never losing one's justification. So, of course Christ did all he had to do, but what he did must be applied in actuality to one's life.

I've given some passages, will give further down below. Of course, Paul is right. I have a whole study on multiple passages which show that Paul refers to works being salvific, such as Romans 2:4-13. Study on works Paul and obedience. I've already looked at Ephesians 2 and Romans 3, which shows why those passages do not teach faith alone.

Also look at Rom. 11:6; Rom. 4:5 and Eph. 1:13. These are only a few verses that show salvation comes through faith and faith alone without works.

But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

2 God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the scripture says of Eli'jah, how he pleads with God against Israel? 3 "Lord, they have killed thy prophets, they have demolished thy altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life." 4 But what is God's reply to him? "I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Ba'al." 5 So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. 7 What then? Israel failed to obtain what it sought. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, 8 as it is written, "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that should not see and ears that should not hear, down to this very day."

Now, from this we know Paul in Romans 11:6 is not saying that obedience is not necessary to maintain our justification. Just look a few verses later, he is specifically speaking to Gentiles such as you and me, (11:13). But he proclaims in 11:22:

Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you too will be cut off.

Next, you wrote look at Romans 4:5. Let us look at the context of, Romans 4:1-5:

1 What then shall we say about Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness." 4 Now to one who works, his wages are not reckoned as a gift but as his due. 5 And to one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness.

Beyond circumcision, Paul points to Abraham's justification in Genesis 15, showing that justification is a process. When Paul speaks of Abraham being justified in Genesis 15:6, as referred to in Romans 4, he does not mean it is a one-time thing. Why do I say that? Abraham showed he was a man of faith long before this time, already justified. He acted as man of faith before. God makes the call to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3. He departs as the Lord had said, took all his possessions to the land of Canaan. He leaves house and home to who knows where, just at the Lord's bidding, and are we supposed to believe that he is a pagan? Abraham does many things for God, 12:7, built an altar to God), 13:4, called on the Lord's name next to the altar in faith. Melchizedek king of Salem blesses Abram and says (14:19) "Blessed be Abram of God most high,..." God is already Abram's God. Abram responds by proclaiming God most high, the maker of heaven and earth (14:22). Paul knows well this background to Genesis 15. Abram was a man of faith so in love with God that he did marvelous things that most believers, including me, would pale in comparison to. If he wasn't justified then, who would ever be justified? The view that doesn't acknowledge that Abram is justified in Genesis 12-14, makes justification by 'faith alone' harder than justification by works!!!

17]Hebrews 11 confirms this view of Abram. Hebrews 11:8 reads:

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

9 and being made perfect he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him

In conclusion Abram/Abraham is justified in Gen. 12, Gen. 15, and when we look at James, in Gen. 22, he offered Isaac on the altar to God. James writes he was justified by works in Genesis 22. We'll look at James 2 later. Paul in Romans 4 without making a mockery of Abraham's life is only speaking of another point in justification of him. In other words, justification is not a one-time evert, but a process.

That has always been the case through the ages and up to now. Why? God is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8). There are a lot more verses in the Old and New Testament, along with examples on how faith alone is needed for salvation; but that is for another time.

Having said that, let me get back to your belief that a "believer" can lose his salvation. (I'm proceeding with the assumption that you are talking about "true believers". You and I know that in any church you have "believers" that have not yet attain a regeneration status, so to speak. I believe that once truly saved, (regenerated by the Holy Spirit) you can never lose your salvation. Hopefully, I can prove it to you with scripture, as to why I believe this.

A. Eternal Salvation: (Romans 4:21)

The simple meaning of Eternal Salvation is that an individual who truly repents of his sin and accepts Jesus as his personal savior can never lose his or her salvation. The theological meaning of eternal salvation is those whom God has accepted in the Beloved, effectually called, and sanctified by His Spirit can neither totally or finally fall away from the state of grace, but will certainly persevere until the end and be eternally saved. Eternal security means that once a person has undergone the real experience of salvation, has undergone a true regeneration experience, that person cannot lose his salvation either by committing a specific sin or by ceasing to believe. That which keeps the believer saved and secured is by the works of the Holy Spirit and the work of God on his behalf, not the believers own works.

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without grumbling or questioning, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

B. LET'S LOOK AT SOME PRINICIPLES OF ETERNAL SALVATION:

1. SALVATION IS NOT REPEATABLE.

In the Ancient Greek language often the verb "to be saved" tends to emphasize a singular (one) act (John 3:14-15; 4:13-14; 6:35, 51). The point is that salvation is not something, which is repeated.

and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.

There is not a single case in Scripture that states a person was saved, lost his salvation and then was saved again. That concept is nowhere to be found in Scripture.

To the way in which you mean lose salvation, I do disagree that there is no evidence of a person being saved and never falling from God's grace and getting back to God's grace. One example is Paul's reference to a very passage that you point to that you believe teaches faith alone. One example is David. The very passage that you pointed to in Romans 4:5 points forward to someone we can know from Scripture, exactly what you termed as nowhere found in Scripture. In the first part of Romans 4:1-4 Paul gives the example of Abraham. Now, in showing that God justifies the ungodly, Paul next specifically cites David. Paul writes in Romans 4:5-8:

5And to one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness.6So also David pronounces a blessing upon the man to whom God reckons righteousness apart from works: 7"Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; 8blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not reckon his sin."

Though a true child of God, he committed major sins (per 1 John 5:17, Gal. 5:19, 1 Cor. 6:9, Gal. 5:5) with Bathsheba (adultery) and Uriah (arranged for his death) to make him become ungodly (2 Sam.11-12). He disinherited himself. He went from justified to unjustified. Now, this man of God who had been a radical believer in God, but turned away from God, committed these major sins. That is how he could be called ungodly coming into Psalm 32 (and thus termed ungodly in Romans 4:5). How was he forgiven? By sincere repentance given in the grace of God. He didn't earn his way back through law. This shows that any idea that God won't take into account sins and one can not get disinherited by future sins, is false. The fact is David earlier was justified, he lost his justification through mortal sin. Yes, once you are forgiven, those sins won't cause you to lose your justification again, but the fact is that David had lost his justification and had to have his sins blotted out again. The very passage you showed, Romans 4:5-8 exactly shows that one can lose justification, but through repentance can come back and be put back into a relationship with God. When his sins are forgiven, God doesn't hold those sins against him as far as separation from him. Verses 6-7 is not talking about future sins that are forgiven, it is only speaking about sins that have been committed, and one has repented for, exactly as Psalm 32 is showing David those specific sins forgiven for. After all, Ephesians 5, we saw, tells people that if you commit mortal sin, you lose your inheritance, unless you repent of such sins to get put back in God's grace. So, Paul shows David being in grace with God, losing that grace, and then getting justified again.

There is the explicit mention of exactly what you said is not in Scripture. There is no way to get around that. David, a man after God's own heart was justified as a child. He mortally sinned with Bathsheba and her husband Uriah, and became ungodly the exact term used in Romans 4:5, and was unjustified. However, through God's grace, his repentance, he again became godly. Justification is not a one-time thing, it is a process until you die.

Another example, Jesus shows that we are in a Father-Son relationship. He portrays the Father-Son relationship when he speaks of the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32. The son is in a relationship with his Father. He is in grace, he is due an inheritance. As this parable is talking about God forgiving a son who comes back, Jesus is speaking about salvation/justification. Jesus starts off speaking about a child, in a relationship with his Father, in grace, verses 11-13. He squandered his inheritance. He shows that one breaks a commandment mortally, by the prodigal son, when he repudiated his Father's gift to him and went into loose living. When the son repented of his sins and came back to the Father, we see the Father come running back to him. He had committed sins with prostitutes (Lk 15:30) and squandered all his money. Now, for those who argue that if you are God's child, you can not lose your inheritance, Jesus teaches otherwise. The other son, guilty of a sin of envy, confronted the Father over him throwing a party for the son who had strayed. Jesus has the Father telling the envious brother not to be envious but to rejoice that his brother, who had indeed sinned mortally and had severed his relationship with the Father, came back. He tells him on two occasions the following:

Luke 15:24, 32

24 for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to make merry.

32 It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.

1) He was his Son, and thus in his grace, v. 11.
2) He abandoned his Father, was lost, vv. 13-14, v. 24, v. 30. This again shows how one can mortally sin. He was separated from God.
3) He come back. He recognized his sinfulness, and fell down at the mercy of God, vv. 21-26
4) He became alive again when his Father accepted him (v. 20, 32).

Now, we know Jesus is representing this Father as God the Father. So, the son was in his grace, turned his back on his father, and was dead in his sins, separated from him. He totally repented from his sins, and his Father welcomed with open arms. However, he had been separated from him. This parable exactly matches David as Paul specifically mentions in Romans 4:5-8, shows that one in God's grace, David sinned with Bathsheba exactly like the prodigal son, became ungodly Romans 4:5, then he is made godly again, and an adopted son, just as the prodigal. Then for that sin, that he has repented for, is no longer counted against him, as far as separating him from God. The sin with Bathsheba represents repented for sins, which we have seen spoken of in Romans 4:7-8. It never meant, that if the son abandoned his Father again, or if David committed adultery/killed people again, there would be no eternal consequences if they died unrepentant.

It is implied in all the other passages, which warn against falling away, but if one does, one can come back, under God's grace, if one is truly repentant. All of the warning passages that I mentioned point to that, but through God's grace, and repentance, one can always be put back in God's grace.

2. TRUE SALVATION PRODUCES WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

This principle states that TRUE SALVATION will produce genuine works of Righteousness in one's life. Anyone who has been truly saved will show it with some degree of evidence, even though it might be quite small, there will be some evidence. A person is saved by faith alone, but that faith that saves is not alone, it will produce some kind of evidences, some kind of good works. Salvation is not by faith and works, but true salvation is a result of a faith that does produce good works (Mat. 7:17-20; Titus 2:11-12; James 2:14-24; II Pet. 1:5-10).

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 Well, I do not run aimlessly, I do not box as one beating the air; 27 but I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

3. THE TEST OF GENUINE FAITH

What is Faith? Simply put: Faith is accepting God at His word. All Scripture is inspired by God. When a person is saved, he may not know that Jesus was born of a virgin. When that person learns it, he or she will readily accept it. If they deny it or reject this truth, then perhaps they were never truly saved to begin with. Therefore, accepting God's word is a test of true faith. (Col. 1:22; II John 2)

4. WORKS OF THE BELIEVER ARE REWARDED

The believer does not attain his salvation by works, but a true salvation, a true faith, will result in good works and these works in turn will receive their reward. Salvation itself is not a reward for doing good works, but rather salvation by itself is a free gift received through faith and nothing else. (Heb. 6:10)

5. THE BASIS OF THE EXHORTATIONS (ENCOURAGE OTHERS) TO GODLY LIVING

The exhortations in Scripture for Godly living are based upon what God has done. The exhortations to Godly living are never based upon the fear of losing one's salvation.

For example, in Romans 12:1-2: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God".

22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you too will be cut off.

After Paul deals with the theology of salvation and points out that believers are eternally saved, then he basically exhorts Christian living in Romans 12 which is based on what God has done in chapters 1-11. It is not based upon the threat of losing salvation.

Romans 2:4-13, spoke of getting heaven or hell based on what we did. Romans 2:23-27 wrote of keeping the law in one's heart. Romans 3 said what was excluded from justification was works of the law, which excluded law based on trying to keep the moral law on one's own power, (Rom. 3:20), and circumcision 3:28-30. With Paul referencing David and Abraham's specific citations and where it was in the Old Testament passages with our examination, we saw justification was a process, Romans 4:3-8. Indeed, it is not something that we boast about, or something that 'makes God owe us' because it is all God's grace and mercy. Romans 6:16-23 shows that we get freed from sin in our justification, not just declared, and it is a process. As a believer, sin leads to death, obedience leads to justification. The fight against sin is an ongoing process, Romans 7. Romans 8 show we still must meet the righteous requirement of the law by the law of the Spirit (Rom. 8:2-4). Our salvation is our dependency on putting to death the deeds of the flesh (Rom. 8:13), and we will inherit only if we suffer (8:17). Moving to Romans 11, we saw disobedient works are of course not salvific, as Romans 11:6 shows. But going to the immediate context of the specific quote in Romans 12, is the exact warning from what you say we don't have to worry about:

The Romans 11:22 passage, the background to Romans 12, Paul is writing this to Gentile Christians does he mean it or not? You don't fall unless one is already standing up. And up means in His grace. He does want to mold us into his image. If we transform into his image, that is the way we don't fall. Does he mean it or is he just faking? He means it. No explaining away a clear passage. We must let Paul inform our theology, not us informing Paul what he means.

The same point is made in II Corinthians 5:15: "and he died for all that they that live should no longer live onto themselves; but unto him who for their sakes works died and rose again".

Here again is the exhortation not to live selfishly, but unto God because of what God has done. The exhortation is based upon God's mercy, not based upon losing salvation.

1Working together with him, then, we entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says, "At the acceptable time I have listened to you, and helped you on the day of salvation." Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation

6. THE RESULTS OF SIN IN THE BELIEVER'S LIFE

This principle of eternal security points out what sin actually does in the believer's life: sin severs one's fellowship with God (1 John 1:6-7, 9) once one believes he has a "family relationship" with God. When one is born physically, he is born into "a family" and will always be a part of that family. At times, communion and fellowship within that family might become strained and broken because of animosity between family members. The same thing is true in the family of God. One may break fellowship because of one's sin, but he will always remain in that family nonetheless. Sin severs fellowship but does not sever salvation.

John describes how we are in him. Only if we keep the commandments, 1 John 2:3-4:

3 And by this we may be sure that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He who says "I know him" but disobeys his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him;

1 John 3:11-12 We are urged not to be like Cain, whose sin separated him from God.

11 For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, 12 and not be like Cain who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous.

John gives more detail on 1 John 3:14-18 here:

14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. 15 Any one who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But if any one has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or speech but in deed and in truth.

John later introduces the term mortal sin, which is a sin that leads to eternal death, 1 John 5:16-17.

16 If any one sees his brother committing what is not a mortal sin, he will ask, and God will give him life for those whose sin is not mortal. There is sin which is mortal; I do not say that one is to pray for that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin which is not mortal.

7. PERSISTENT SIN SHOWS A LACK OF GENUINE CONVERSION<

This principle is the point of I John 3:6-10, where the present tense is used. Consistent sin does not show a loss of salvation, but rather that the person was never saved to begin with. Often people point to a person that he walked down the aisle to received Jesus, but has never shown signs or evidence of it because he is still walking in the same steps before he "believed" in Jesus. Merely saying that he walked down the aisle or saying that he believes in Jesus is not proof that he had saving faith. The question is: "Was he ever really saved to begin with? Was he ever really converted in the true sense of the term?" Persistence in sin may show a lack of conversion.

8. PERFECTION IS NOT ACHIEVED IN THIS LIFE

Eternal salvation does not mean that you have achieved perfection as a believer. Believers will be sinning for the rest of their lives. No one will achieve perfection in this life. If one must reach perfection in order to be save or for that matter maintain salvation, then everyone, including every believer is in trouble. If anyone could have made it to perfection, it would have been the Apostle Paul, and yet he wrote, "I am not yet perfect" (Phil. 3:12-14). In I Timothy 1:15, written toward the end of his life, Paul said: "Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of I am chief". Notice that he did not use the past tense: "I was." He used the present tense: "I am."

1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, and make holiness perfect in the fear of God.

However, this very passage in Philippians 3 shows what you say is guaranteed, salvation, is not: The passage you refer us to shows that we have not achieved perfection but also we are not guaranteed salvation. You pointed to Phil. 3:12-14, let us go back 2 verses, 3:10-14:

10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that if possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brethren, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

You brought up the fact that Christians are children of the Father. We are adopted children of God. As he adopts us, he understands that we are imperfect. That is why when in grace, he doesn't need perfection. If one goes strictly by law, one is condemned no doubt for imperfections. However, as adopted children a Father will forgive us for small failings.

Hebrews 12 shows the differences, his purpose is shown. First, vv. 5-7:

5 And have you forgotten the exhortation which addresses you as sons? --"My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage when you are punished by him. 6 For the Lord disciplines him whom he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives." 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

Strive for peace with all men, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

Next Hebrews 12 shows us one can mortally sin like Esau. He is not writing this to unbelievers, this passage is addressing believers, 12:15-17:

15 See to it that, no one fail to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" spring up and cause trouble, and by it the many become defiled; 16 that no one be immoral or irreligious like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

9. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN POSITION AND PRACTICE

This principle of eternal security is that there is a difference between taking a position on certain beliefs but yet practice something else that does not conform to your beliefs. Perhaps the best example of this is the Corinthian church. Paul referred to the Corinthian church positional as being a sanctified church (I Cor. 1:2). But according to their practice, they are one of the worst churches in the New Testament. There is a difference between position and practice; however, bad practice does not mean that the position has been lost.

9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor sexual perverts, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

Later in your essay, in reference to 1 Corinthians 5, you wrote:

The sixteenth area of evidence is the truth of Scripture that gross sins were punished, but never with loss of salvation. For example, (1 Cor. 5: 1-5) describes a case where a true believer is living with and sleeping with step-mother. Paul condemned this, telling the church that it must exercise church discipline to deliver such (a person over to) Satan for the destruction of the flesh. ) NOTICE THAT HE SAYS THE FLESH RATHER THAN THE SPIRIT, because the text goes on to say that the spirit (shall still) be saved. This gross sin was punished by excommunication, but not by loss of salvation.

1 It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and of a kind that is not found even among pagans; for a man is living with his father's wife. 2 And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. 3 For though absent in body I am present in spirit, and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment 4 in the name of the Lord Jesus on the man who has done such a thing. When you are assembled, and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

By the time 2 Corinthians was written, the offender repented, and got accepted in the community. Here he specifically says that the one who committed the sexual act of immorality with his mother/step mother, had lots of grief. The community had to forgive him, Paul specifically forgave him, 2 Cor. 2:1-10. So, the act that Paul castigated him for in 1 Cor. 5, Paul noted had put him outside the grace, specifically one of the sins mentioned in 1 Cor. 6:9. He repented and was forgiven. Again, another example of someone being washed from sin, committing a grievous sin, but was required to repent, to be forgiven again. This is yet another example that you said did not exist in Scripture.

10. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WORKS AND SALVATION

This principle to bear in mind is that if works are needed to keep salvation, then salvation is by works. Works is what separated Adam and Eve in the garden, to begin with. Faith is what brought them back to Him and faith in our redeemer is what is going to save us. In Romans 4:4-6 Paul said: Now to him that works, the reward is not reckoned as of grace, but as of debt. But to him that works not, but believes on him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness. Even as David also pronounced blessing upon the man, unto whom God reckons righteousness apart from works.

It is also referred to in Galatians 5:4-6, which not only shows how faith must work in love, but one can lose grace:

4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we wait for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is of any avail, but faith working through love.

Also, obedience is shown to be absolutely essential in Romans and Galatians itself. Romans 6 for example tells us exactly that obedience is a cause of salvation. Exactly after Paul writes that we are under grace not law he writes that obedience is necessary for salvation. Romans 6:14-16

14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. 15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Do you not know that if you yield yourselves to any one as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?

20 When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 But then what return did you get from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death. 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the return you get is sanctification and its end, eternal life.

Confirmation of this exactly fits with Hebrews 12:14:

14 Strive for peace with all men, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

13 for if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live.

Galatians 2:21 "I do not make void the grace of God: for if righteousness is through the law (works), then Christ died for naught" .

II Timothy 1:9: who saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before times eternal.

9 who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not in virtue of our works but in virtue of his own purpose and the grace which he gave us in Christ Jesus ages ago, 10 and now has manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

Galatians 5:24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Romans 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

2 Tim. 2:3-5. 3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier on service gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to satisfy the one who enlisted him. 5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

Paul then emphasizes enduring as essential to achieve salvation in the following verse, 2 Tim. 2:12:

12 if we endure, we shall also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us.

but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

So if works are necessary to keep salvation, then salvation is ultimately by works. Yet the Bible consistently teaches that salvation is by grace though faith and apart from works.

C. THE EVIDENCES FOR ETERNAL SECURITY

What are the evidences of eternal security? Since there are so much evidence of eternal security, let's begin with:

A. GOD THE FATHER

1. The sovereign Purpose of God

Romans 8:28-30 spells out one of these sovereign purposes of God, when Paul said those who have been justified (made righteous) will be glorified. He does not say only some who have been saved are going to persevere to the end and then make it; he does not say that only some who are justified will eventually be glorified. What is stated is that those who have been justified are guaranteed to be glorified by God the Father.

8:14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of sonship. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" 16 it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

I Corinthians 1:8 states God shall also confirm you unto the end, not temporal, but unto the end. This is a promise to all believers; that all believers will be confirmed in the end.

4 I give thanks to God always for you because of the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus---7 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ; 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart.

The second area of evidence concerns eternal security for the reasons, which are dependent upon God the Son. Let's look at one of the crucial passages for making this point is Romans 8:34-39:

"who is he that condemns? It is Christ Jesus that died, yea rather, that was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword. Even as it is written, for your sake we are killed all the day long; we were accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, 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 creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Paul points out the incompetency of celestial and earthly things to keep one eternally. Believers do not have the power to keep themselves, so God is the One who is going to keep them. On the other hand, these verses emphasize further that there is nothing, absolutely nothing that can now separate us from the love of God. Nothing outside of us, nothing inside of us, not even we ourselves can separate us from the love of God.

Jesus says the same thing that Paul writes in what causes separation from God, Matt 15:18-19

18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a man. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."

For I am persuaded, that neither adultery, nor fornication, nor idolatry, nor bearing false witness, nor drunkenness, nor homosexuality, shall be able to separate us from the love of God.

Furthermore, Ephesians 1:4, and 11-12 states that believers have chosen to bring glory to God. If God knew (and He knows) one would lose his salvation, He would not have chosen him to begin with. The very fact that it shows that He did; guarantees eternal security.

Ephesians 2:7 develops the sovereign purpose of God even further: that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Those who have obtained the mercy of salvation from God in this life will receive even greater displays of God's mercy in the ages to come, in the next life. This promise is a guarantee of eternal salvation.

Philippians 2:12-13 states that God is working in believers to accomplish His will. Not only is the gaining of salvation a work of God, but the retention of salvation is a work of God. The reason salvation cannot be lost is because the keeping of salvation is not dependent upon the believer, it is dependent upon God the Father and His sovereign purpose.

Another verse concerning His sovereign purpose is Hebrews 2:10, which speaks of His purpose in bringing many sons unto glory.

1 Therefore we must pay the closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. 2 For if the message declared by angels was valid and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him.

2. THE FATHER'S POWER TO KEEP

The fact that God the Father has the power to keep. This means that He will keep. John 10:25-29 points out that God will give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish. The ones who have been saved, not once, not twice or multiple times, but have been saved (period) have eternal life. And if the word eternal means anything, it means just that: it is eternal. If someone could lose his salvation, he did not have eternal life, he had only temporary life. John then emphasizes this fact even further with the next phrase. Not only does he state positively that God gives them eternal life, but then he also states negatively: they shall never perish. Never means never!

John 10 for example says nothing contrary to what Jesus himself warned against. For example, this is one of the verses I quoted in my list of Scriptures. Here James is speaking to his disciples, Matthew 5 :1, 'The disciples came to him'. Again, Jesus elsewhere warns that sins can send you to the hell-fire. Matthew 5:22:

But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be liable to the hell of fire.

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; 28 and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand.

Romans 4:21 states: and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was able to also perform. Since God has promised to keep the believer, He will do it.

Romans 8:28-30 states that those whom He foreordained or predestinated, called, and justified will also be glorified. These passage makes it very clear that all those who have believed have been called and justified; therefore, these will also be glorified.

II Timothy 1:12 teaches that He is able to keep that which has been committed. Believers have committed themselves to Him and now He is able to keep them; He has that power.

Hebrews 7:25 points out that believers have been saved (without limit) to the uttermost; God's power has saved completely (not partially saved). If salvation could be lost, then it was not a complete salvation, and God's power has a limit.

Consequently, he is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

One more example of God's power to keep is in Jude 24, which teaches with all confidence that God is able to keep the believer from stumbling and present him faultless before the throne.

20 But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; 21 keep yourselves in the love of God; wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

The book of James seems to be one of controversy to the Paul's teaching regarding faith. This extreme view, called antinomianism, held that through faith in Christ one is completely free from all Old Testament law, all legalism all secular law and all the morality of a society. The book of James is directed to Jewish Christians scattered among all the nations (James 1:1). Some people fail to recognize that James teachings on works complemented - - not contradicted - - Paul's teaching of faith. Having said that; the Pauline teachings concentrate on our justification with God, James teachings concentrate on the works that exemplify that justification. James was writing to Jews to encourage them to continue growing in this new Christian faith. James emphasizes that good actions will naturally flow from those who are filled with the Spirit and questions whether someone may or may not have a saving faith if the fruits of the spirit cannot be seen, much as Paul describes in Galatians 5:22-23.

And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

In his letter Paul writes to Jews that works of the law do not provide salvation (Romans 3-4, Galatians 2-4). James says the same thing, if you go strictly by law, you will not be justified, James 2:10. That is why before he gets to the pivotal passage of James 2:20-26, he talks about the law of liberty, James 2:12, very comparable to the law of the Spirit, Romans 8:4, where we can meet the righteous requirement of the law. And as we are children of God, as Hebrews 12 notes, we do not have to be perfect. If you go strictly by law, one will not inherit eternal life with one small sin, James 2:10. Instead we are in the law of liberty, James 2:12-13. 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy; yet mercy triumphs over judgment. Next, James then talks about faith and what kind of faith you need to be saved. What kind of faith will save you, James asks in 2:14? He next then says if one, a Christian, ignores a brother in need, that faith is dead (v. 17). Thus, it exactly matches Jesus' words where what one did, gets the result of heaven or hell based on what that person did (Matt. 25:31-46). That is the background for the essential passage of James 2:20-26:

In sum, through this chiasm James repeats several things:

1) a) Without works faith will not accomplish anything but a dead soul (vv. 20, 26).
2) b) Abraham and Rahab are justified by works (vv. 21, 25), not merely demonstrate faith.
3) c) One is justified by works, as even a true faith alone is incomplete (vv. 22, 24).
4) d) At the center of the chiasm, James shows through Abraham that his justification in Genesis 15 was incomplete as it needed to be fulfilled by his work in Genesis 22 , which we saw was further complemented by the example of Rahab, v. 25.

Thus, the argument that it is only speaking of "exemplifying, or demonstrating justification" contradicts not only the words of James 2:21, but the accompanying verse 25. Faith alone is incomplete, according to James. Also, the other idea that Paul is talking about justification before God and implying that James is not talking about justification before God is contradicted by the offering of Isaac, because the offering of Isaac was not shown to anybody other than God, Genesis 22:14-18. This is not justification before men, there was no one who watched this except God (and his angel).

So besides the sovereign purpose of God, a second reason dependent upon God the Father is the Father's power to keep.

3. GOD'S INFINITE LOVE

Romans 5:7-10 states that, if God sent His Son to die for us when we were His enemies, He would certainly keep us now that we are His friends. The love of God was proved by the sending of His Son to die for our sins while we were His enemies. If God was willing to provide salvation when we were His enemies, the love of God will make sure that He is going to keep us now that we are His friends.

Furthermore, Ephesians 1:4 states that we have been chosen in love. By His love, He has chosen us in order to keep us.

4. THE PROMISE OF GOD

The fourth reason dependent upon God the Father for eternal security is based upon the promise of God who always keeps his promises. God made a specific promise of eternal security and the promises of God can never be rendered null and void. John 3:16 states that "the believer" will not perish. If a believer could lose his salvation and end up in Hell, then obviously a believer can perish, which would render God a liar by not keeping his promise. But according to this passage, once a person has accepted Jesus as his Savior, he simply will not perish.

"For God so loved [aorist, a past point in time] the world, that he gave [aorist, a past point in time] his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth [present, current, progressive action] in him should not perish [aorist, a past point in time], but have [present, current, progressive action] everlasting life."

The present tense, "that whosoever believeth in him," or in other words, "that whosoever is believing in Him" sheds a different light on the entire verse. One would expect, according to Protestant tradition, the word "believe" to be aorist, showing that it is a "one-point-in-time" event. I used to say, "I believed in Christ on such and such a date, so I know I am saved." It could be asked why Jesus switched to the present tense in a verse full of aorists. The answer is that Jesus makes it utterly clear what he is really trying to say; that this belief is an acting, continual belief, and not just a past act of faith.

Notice that "have everlasting life" is also in the present tense. It does not say you will have eternal life in the past or future, but that you will currently be having eternal life. One Greek grammar [James Hewitt, New Testament Greek Hedrickson Publishers,1986).13.] explains the present tense in this way, "The present tense is basically linear or durative, ongoing in its kind of action. The durative notion may be expressed graphically by an unbroken line, since the action is simply continuous. This is known as the progressive present. Refinements of this general rule will be encountered; however, the fundamental distinction will not be negated." Applying this definition here, he who is currently, habitually and continuously believing will be currently and presently having eternal life.

Next, I asked him to consider whether the word translated "believe" means a mere mental assent. The word in biblical times carried with it the concept of obedience and reliance. Kittel [Gerhard Kittel, Theological Dictionary of the NewTestament Eerdmans, 1968] states, "pisteuo means 'to trust' (also 'to obey')." Vines [W. E. Vines, An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1984)] says, "[R]eliance upon, not mere credence." .

We know elsewhere Jesus specifically says that one can believe for a while, and fall away, Luke 8:13

And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy; but these have no root, they believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.

Then John 5:24 teaches that the believer has already passed from death into life. The promise is that we already have eternal life, because we have passed from spiritual death to spiritual life, and spiritual life is eternal life. The Scriptures always emphasize that believers have eternal life at the present time. If salvation could be lost, it was not eternal, but only temporary. Scripture does not state that salvation is temporary. When we accept Jesus as our savior, we have been spiritually reborn again at the time that you genuinely accept Jesus as your Savior. Scripture does not state that you need to be reborn again and again until you get it perfect. (You'll never get it perfect) . For those who state that you can lose your salvation are really meaning to say that either (they were never truly saved (not losing their salvation), or they want to judge people, according to their own standards of salvation, as to who and when one should be considered saved. One should rely on scripture only and not on man's doctrine(s).

24 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me, has eternal life; he does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. 25 "Truly, truly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself, 27 and has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of man. 28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come forth, those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.

In Hebrews 6:16-19, the writer based his argument upon the promise of God and the oath of God. As if the promise of God were not enough, God added His oath to the promise. The content of the promise and oath is that believers are going to be kept safe.

4 For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they then commit apostasy, since they crucify the Son of God on their own account and hold him up to contempt. 7 For land which has drunk the rain that often falls upon it, and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed; its end is to be burned.

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Matt's Response to an Essay That Teaches Faith Alone and Eternal Security...by Matt1618 ... This text may be downloaded or printed out for private reading, but it may not be uploaded to another Internet site or published, electronically or otherwise, without express written permission from the author.