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What We Believe and Why
Written by Dr. Lester Hutson

Copyright - Lester Hutson - 1986
This material is copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced without the express written permission of Dr. Lester Hutson.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

IN CHRIST WE HAVE ETERNAL SECURITY

JOHN 6:39

The Bible teaches that once a man comes by faith unto Christ, he is saved forever. He is not saved just so long as he maintains a good testimony and refrains from being too bad. He stays saved inspite of, not because of, his conduct. He can never in any way lose his salvation. In this lesson, we shall consider but a small portion of the mass of Bible proof there is on this subject.

I. Man's salvation remains his eternal possession regardless of how he lives after his conversion:

A. God didn't save us in the first place because of our good conduct.

1. We were saved strictly by faith in Him; not because of goodness:

a. Rom. 3:22 says God's righteousness is upon all them that believe.

b. Eph. 2:8 "By grace are ye saved through faith."

c. Jn. 3:16, Acts 16:31 etc. show salvation comes by believing.

2. It came to us solely as a gift of God; not as a payment of debt:

a. Rom. 6:23 says that the "gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

b. Eph. 2:8 also calls it the "gift of God.

3. Our goodness was strictly excluded from our being saved:

a. Eph. 2:9 says it is "Not of works, lest any man should boast."

b. Titus 3:5 plainly says it is not by works of righteousness.

B. God didn't save us because of our goodness; neither does he keep us because of our goodness:

1. Isa. 64:6 Our puny morality becomes no more pleasant to Him after we're saved than it was before.

2. He saved us because we exercised faith in Him, and He keeps us because we exercised faith in Him:

a. Phil. 1:6 says, "Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. "

b. It is in view of this that Paul rejoices in Phil. 3:8-9.

C. Just suppose a man's own goodness was what kept him saved:

1. Rom. 3:23 All men sin, and if they say they don't, God says they are liars. I Jn. 1:8.

2. James 2:10 says if a man commits one sin, so far as God is concerned, he is guilty of all.

3. Rom. 6:23 Sin brings the condemnation of death. (Ezek. 18:20).

4. So if God set man right, then left it up to him to stay right, man would be in real trouble. All men sin (even saved ones), and sin condemns and brings about death. So if it were up to man to keep himself saved; he'd soon be right back in the state he started in.

D. It is God and God alone who keeps us saved:

1. I Pet. 1:5 clearly says we "are kept by the power of God."

2. Furthermore, the scriptures show how Father, Son, and Spirit are dedicated to our security:

a. Col. 3:3 says, "For ye are dead; and your life is hid with Christ in God."

b. Eph. 1:13 then shows we are "sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.

c. To destroy us, it would God-Father, Son, Spirit.

3. God didn't need any help to (Titus 3:5); neither does He to help Him keep us saved.

II. Even if a man should renounce Christ, be saved; he would still be saved:

A. We have already shown a man is kept by God (I Pet. 1:5), apart (Titus 3:5). If it is up to God, then man has nothing to do with it. The decision whether to keep you or let you go rests with God; not you.

B. Christ has already decided to never let you go:

1. In Jn. 6:37, 39, 44 He specifically says so three times. Now, that's either true or He's a liar. But, he's not a liar; so it's true.

2. Rom. 8:35-39 Furthermore, not only will He not let you go, but He won't let anyone (not even you) separate you from Him.

C. By faith we are placed into the irrevocable relationship of sons of God:

1. By faith we are born again (Jn. 3:3); and become, thus, the sons of God. (I Jn. 3:1-2).

2. It is just as impossible for a spiritual son to reverse the process which made him a son and by so doing go back to preexistence as it is for a physical son to reverse the natural processes which brought him forth as a son.

D. It is in view of this that the Bible calls the life we have in Christ "everlasting", Jn. 3:16, 36; 4:14; 5:24; not "temporary".

"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"