The Aaron Papers  www.the-aaron-papers.net 

PART TWO  ADDENDUM "C"

-ETERNAL SECURITY-  

  There is an apparent problem within today’s Church concerning eternal security and the way in which some denominations handle this important issue.  It would appear that this problem begins to surface when some attempt to prove that a person or group has eternal security within God’s reconciliation.  

  There is no doubt that there is such a thing as eternal security for each and every covenant believer.  However, there are far too many Scriptures that more than imply the removal or shift of some from their perceived eternal hope for us to just ignore this issue.  This could involve the status change of what we see identified in Romans as "the remnant" and "the rest" /or "the chosen" and "the called".  The remnant /or chosen ones would represent the elect priesthood, and the rest /or called out ones would represent all those who have been initiated into God's corporate institutions--Israel and the Christian Church.  The remnant is a small fractional part that have been chosen by God Himself out from the rest.  Yet the remnant continues on as an integral part of the rest--Ekklesolia en Ekkelsia.

  This is not an argument over the reality of eternal security, for eternal security is as real as salvation itself in the life of God's elect corporate peoples.  This argument is directed more toward those denominations who attempt to hand out their brand of eternal security to everyone who enters their doors.  Consequently, they believe that their entire congregation is comprised of only the elect priests of God.  By this interpretation they are excluding all of the sheep. 

***Absolute eternal security, as taught by some denominations, undermines the absolute sovereignty of God.  

***Our understanding of eternal security can affect the way in which we respond to God's call to sanctification.  

(1) What is eternal security?  

(2) How do we receive eternal security?  And how do we know when we have eternal security?  

(3) Can we lose our eternal security?  

(4) If we can lose our eternal security, can we regain it?

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(1) What is eternal security?

The most common definition of eternal security, is our gift of assurance from God for our entrance into His eternal kingdom.  Our inner assurance of God's personal promise of eternal life that He makes to His corporate peoples.  Those who receive this eternal promise in the first instance would represent just God's holy priesthood who will constitute His gathered up kingdom. Then the "rest" or the "called out one's" eternal security is based on the faithful promises that are contained within God's Word.

(2) How do we receive, and how do we know we have, eternal security?

Eternal security, like salvation, is received from God through the power of the His Holy Spirit.

For God's holy priesthood:

  (a) God sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, to confirm we are His adopted (children).  Whereby we cry, Abba Father. (Gal.4:4-6 and Eph.1:13)

  (b) God sealed us and gave us the earnest of the Spirit. (2Cor.1:22 and Eph.1:13)

  (c) Within every born again believer, there must be this heartfelt assurance of our eternal hope; That peace from God that does pass all understanding, (that) will guard your heart and mind through Christ Jesus (Phil.4:7).  Which is the absolute evidence of our eternal security. Then for the "rest" and the "called out one's", it is the the witness of His Word with the heart felt assurance that comes from God Himself.  

(3) Can we lose our eternal security?

The only thing that restrains me from saying no, is the sovereignty of our Eternal God.  Far too many Scriptures clearly state that one can be severed from God's holy priesthood and peoples to just say they were only false followers or that they were never saved. 

  (a) God will remove your candlestick. (Rev.2:5)

  (b) God will blot your name out of the book of life. (Rev.3:5)

  (c) God will remove your crown. (Rev.3:11)

  (d) If you do not continue in God's goodness, you also will be cut off. (Rom.11:22)

  (e) Now the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron. (1Tim.4:1 and 2)

  (f) Pursue peace with all men, and holiness; without which no one will see the Lord: looking diligently lest anyone fall short of the grace of God: lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled. (Heb.12:14 and 15)

  (g) Therefore let (them) who think (they) stand take heed lest (they) fall. (1Cor.10:12)

  (h) Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest. Let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. (Heb.4:1)

  (i) (The apostle Paul writes): I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain. (1Thes.3:5b)

Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty.  Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.  But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. (1Cor.9:26 and 27)

(Disqualified = rejected, castaway: implies loss of future reward.)

We find some of these same fact confirmed in the Parable of the Sower (Mat.13:3-23) and the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Mat.25:1-13).  

The parable of the sower is defined in Mat.13:18-23 - "Therefore hear the parable of the sower:

When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.  This is he who received seed by the wayside.      

But he who receives seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while.  For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.      

Now he who receives seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.      

But he who receives seed on good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundred-fold, some sixty-fold, some thirty-fold."  

Likewise, the parable of the ten virgins: "Then the Kingdom of Heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.   Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.  But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.  And at midnight a cry was heard: Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet Him!  Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.  And the foolish said to the wise, give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.  But the wise answered, saying, No, lest there should not be enough for us and you: but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterwards the other virgins came also, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us!  But he answered and said: Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.  Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour which the Son of Man is coming."  

Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.  For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: "For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him." (Heb.10:35-38)      

Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.  (For) how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at first began to be spoken by the Lord. (Heb.2:1 and 3a)      

For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.  And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish (lazy), but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promise. (Heb.6:10-12)  

(4) If we can lose our eternal security definitively, can we regain it?

The answer to this question would be absolutely no.

  (a) For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gifts, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good Word of God and the power of the age to come--IF THEY FALL AWAY, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again to themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. (Heb.6:4-6)

The falling away here would have to represent a complete denial of one's belief in the God of Creation.

  (b) For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sin, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.  Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will (they) be thought worthy who (have) trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which (they were) sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of Grace? For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay," says the Lord.  And again, "The Lord will judge His people." (Heb.10:26, 27, 29 and 30)

This passage is referring to a severe judgment that potentially awaits some wayward prodigals.  

  (c) For if after (we) have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, (we) are again ENTANGLED in them and OVERCOME, the latter end is worse for (us) than the beginning. (2Pe.2:20)

The prerequisite word in this passage is OVERCOME.  

For consider Him (Christ) who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.  You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin, and you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to (children). (Heb.12:3 and 4)  

Absolute eternal security has an inherent danger for all believers: that danger is the loss of the fear of God.  A condition in which we can do whatever we desire with the complete assurance of our eternal salvation.  The only true eternal security is found within the heart of each believer; where God's Spirit witnesses with our spirits, that we are His peoples.  

Once again, these passages are referring first to the completed kingdom--the holy priesthood that is to be gathered up into heaven at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Then secondly, to the same completed kingdom--the New Jerusalem, when it comes down from Heaven and is established upon the New Earth.

When times are darkest and you question your Eternal Security, remember your JUSTIFICATION!!!

     -AMEN-