Jennifer Rothnie Supporter Housewife, Artist, Perpetually Curious

Eternal Security is the theory that once you believe, God will keep you secure forever. Due to this, a believer must "persevere" in faith and can never subsequently reject Christ - hence "Perseverance of the Saints".

There are many scriptures that explicitly contradict, and others that cause difficulty, for this view. Believers can return to the world, fail to endure, etc.

II Pet 2:20-22: These people had personal relationship with Christ (epignosis). They had escaped the world (apopheugó) - a feat only Christ's deliverance can achieve. Then, they went back again and were once more entangled with the world and overcome (héttaomai). 

Luke 8:13, Matt 13:20-21: These received (welcomed) the word with joy like the believers of 1 Thess 2:13. They had no root, so could not endure through trials, and died like the foolish man of Luke 6:46-49.

Lk 8:14, Matt 13:22: These heard the word (Rom 10:14-17, Matt 11:15,) but what they heard in the beginning did not remain in them (I John 2:24). They were 'choked/cut off because joined with' the world (sumpnigó). Unproductive faith that returns to the world is talked about it James 1:19-27, John 15:1-4, II Pet 1:3-11, Luke 9:62, etc. 

Luke 12:42-46: The servant of Christ who does not wait for His coming will be 'assigned a place with the unbelievers'. This is like the foolish virgins (Matt 25:1-13). 

1 Tim 1:18-20: Timothy is exhorted to hold fast (echó) to faith, the same faith others have 'thrust away from themselves' (apótheó) and suffered shipwreck (nauageó - to break, to come to ruin, to suffer shipwreck (II Cor 11:25 - Paul was in the actual ship before it broke, it was not an illusion)) concerning their faith. 

Rom 11:17-24: Another branch and vine analogy, ref. Is 18:1-7. The Israelites did not remain, and were broken off. The Gentile believers were grafted in - but Rom 11:20-22 makes it quite clear we should not be smug in this newfound position, for God will not spare us if we do not continue with Him!

And others:
John 15:1-8, 1 Tim 4:1-15, II Tim 2:12, Heb 3:12-19, Heb 6:4-6, Heb 10:23-39, James 1:2-12, James 1: 22-25, James 5:19-20, II Pet 1:8-11, I Peter 5:8, Matt 10:22, Matt 18:21-35, Matt 24:13, Gal 5:2-12, I John 2:24, Rom 11:17-24, Rev 2:5-11, Rev 3:5, Rev 3:11, Rev 22:19, etc.)

From God's perspective, one could say there is 'preservation of the saints that persevere', and not run into any scriptural contradictions. (1 John 5:1-5) Furthermore, the seal of the holy spirit is God's guarantee to all believers (those that persevere and those that do not) of the promised inheritance of eternal life, so long as they abide in Christ. (Eph 4:30, John 15:1-16, Jude 1:21) Nothing can forcibly separate us from the love of God! (Rom 8:31-39). 

The misunderstanding comes in when God's perspective is mixed up with man's actions inside of time. Many verses that only apply to the final verdict of salvation, or that apply to God knowing before time who is His, are often assumed to apply to the moment of us believing Christ as Messiah and professing Him as Lord. For example, in John 10:27-30 talks about how he gives eternal life to his sheep and they will 'never perish'. This occurs at the judgement, when we receive our glorified bodies. (Rom 8:22-25, I Cor 15:50-54, Jude 1:21) We receive the promise of this hope when we come to faith. (Heb 10:23) The seal of the holy spirit is the 'arrabon' - the engagement ring or down payment which God gives us as a promise He will fulfill all terms and obligations. This does not prevent us from exiting the contract.

John 2:23-24 and II Tim 2:8-13 sum up this difference of perspective. We may believe on Christ, but Christ knows our hearts and our futures, and whether or not our faith is one that will prove true until the end.

It's a complex topic, but scripture is harmonious & does not contradict. Where there is confusion, it is due to misunderstandings of man and the limits of our perspective - not inaccuracy of scripture.

November 01 2013 • 8 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

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