Question submitted: Growing up, my church trained me to be very confident in my convictions and by the Lord's grace I am still unshaken in those beliefs. However, after moving across the country for four years of college and then a career, I have heard some things from the pulpit that I feel very uncomfortable about. One of which is the idea of eternal security. The idea that as long as you asked Jesus into your heart at some point in time, you’re good no matter what. What are your thoughts on this?
Response: The above question concerning "Eternal Security" is a very important question for Christians to consider. There has been an ongoing debate upon this question for a very long time in the Christian community. Much has been written on both sides of this debate.
Let me begin by saying that there are many honest and sincere Christians on both sides of this debate. The danger is not so much whether or not you believe this doctrine but why you believe it or how you hold it. On the one hand, if you sincerely believe that the Bible teaches eternal security but at the same time you endeavor to live a holy life in order to honor and please God in your behavior then God accepts you in spite of what you believe. On the other hand, if your belief in eternal security causes you to believe that you are eternally secure even when you dishonor and disobey God by sinful behavior then you are deceived and in danger of being lost forever. What is true of this doctrine is true of any doctrine. I mean if what you believe the Bible teaches becomes a license to commit sin, then it is a perversion of the gospel and it puts your soul in danger of being lost. The gospel was intended to deliver men from the power of sin. If your attitude is that committing sin is no big deal because God will forgive you, then you are perverting the gospel by making it a license to commit sin.
Notice what Paul said in Romans the 6th chapter. He asked the question, Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? And then he answered his own question with the strongest possible negative that words can express, God forbid.
Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?Also verse 6:15 What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
You might read the entire passage, Romans 6:11-23, to see how strongly Paul believed that salvation by grace leads to a life of overcoming sin. The Bible clearly teaches that being eternally saved is conditioned on continuing in faithful obedience.
The most important question concerning eternal security is: How do we know if a person has true faith or not? Historically, those who were honest and sincere in believing what is called "Eternal Security" today (but was in past times was called "Perseverance of the Saints") were deeply concerned with the evidence which proves a person is indeed a true believer. Jonathan Edwards and Charles Finney are good examples of this kind of honesty.
Jesus said the following on the subject of who is a true believer.
John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
"if" often introduces a conditional clause. "if" is a conjunction that joins together the two clauses in this sentence. "if" means that something will occur if some other event occurs. To paraphrase this passage: In the event that you remain faithful by obeying Jesus commandments, then it is evident that you are indeed a true follower of Christ.
The writer of I John also briefly answered this question of how we may know who is a true believer.
I John 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
So, the most important question concerning eternal security is why and how a person holds this doctrine. I have attempted to answer this question briefly and concisely. Much more could be written and has been written on this subject. I hope that what I have written is of some value to you.