SECURITY OF THE BELIEVER
Security of the believer - Defined the state of being protected or safe from harm As a believer this relates to the salvation experience and our knowledge and certainty that we will indeed one day inherit heaven as our home.
Security of the believer The Problem One of the heart-breaking facts in our nation today, is the multitude of people, who have once served the Lord in church, professed a vital experience of salvation, given evidence of having received the Baptism with the Holy Spirit - many even having preached the Word of God - who today never come within the door sill of the church, nor make any pretense of serving the God whom they once professed to love with all their hearts. But it shouldn t surprise us.
That day shall not come, except there be a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition 2 Thessalonians 2:3
Security of the believer Assurance Possible This topic isn t The Insecurity rather, The Security of the Believer. Above all else we must have a positive assurance that we are indeed saved. Why is it so important? Every spiritual experience, every conflict, every prayer, every promise, is based on the assurance of our position in Christ. Whenever we endeavor to do anything for God we must be able to stand on the firm foundation that we are His child.
Security of the believer Assurance Possible This topic isn t The Insecurity rather, The Security of the Believer. Above all else we must have a positive assurance of our salvation. It is certainly God s will that men be saved & know they re saved. Every spiritual experience, every conflict, every prayer, every promise, is based on the assurance of our position in Christ. Whenever we endeavor to do anything for God he must be able to stand on the firm foundation of the positive assurance that he is His child. He can have this assurance now!
Our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance 1 Thessalonians 1:5
Security of the believer 2 sides to the subject Calvinism VS. Armenianism
Security of the believer 2 sides to the subject This controversy has been waged for years, with both sides going to extremes. Friends have parted, churches split, denominations birthed because of it and still there is only one way to settle the disagreement - by the Word of God.
Security of the believer 2 sides to the subject Since both sides believe the word of God must be the standard upon which all doctrine is built, they both come prepared. The Calvinist with their long list of proof texts, each asserting that salvation once experienced by an individual, can never be undone. Yet the Arminianist comes along with an equally long list of scriptures that stating the very opposite.
Security of the believer 2 sides to the subject With the difference continuing for hundreds of years with so many good men on both sides, it only proves there is scripture & good reasoning for both positions. If there was an easy, simple way of proving one side right or wrong, it would have been done long ago. The BIBLE must be the answer and the Bible must be interpreted by the Bible
Security of the believer 2 sides to the subject The conclusion that must inevitably be reached, is there is truth in both positions, but to carry either to the extreme is to either 1. Destroy the believer s sense of assurance & security 2. To comfort the sinner in their sin so much that they see no need to live righteously. There are two sides to every theological question because every doctrine has to do with God and Man.
Security of the believer 2 sides to the subject Salvation - and every spiritual blessing - comes from God. However due to the manner in which God made man (a free moral agent), he must play a part in every spiritual transaction. If God had made robots, without will or desire it wouldn t be. Therefore, in every theological matter there is God s side and Man s. This simple fact helps us understand why it is possible to list two arrays of scripture. They seem to contradict each other, but in reality they do not. One has to do with what God promises with the dealing with what Man must do. Actually they do not contradict, but compliment each other.
Security of the believer 2 sides to the subject Salvation and every spiritual blessing comes from God. However due to the manner in which God made man (with free will), we must play a part in every spiritual transaction. If God had made robots (without free will) we wouldn t have participate. Therefore, in every theological matter there is God s responsibility to us & our responsibility to him.
Security of the believer The balance of scripture So lets take a look at how God handles His end of the Spiritual transactions with mankind in these scriptures.
28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father s hand. 30 I and the Father are one. John 10:28-30
38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
Security of the believer The balance of scripture These glorious promises can not and must not be minimized, but they have to be understood in proper relation to passages that describe man s responsibility in the spiritual transactions.
13 Let no one say when he is tempted, I am being tempted by God ; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. James 1:13 15
4 For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. Hebrews 6:4-6
7 For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; 8 but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned. Hebrews 6:7-8
Security of the believer The balance of scripture One of the basic rules of hermeneutics (methods of scriptural interpretation) is that the obvious meaning of a passage is probably closest to the true meaning. One can hardly read verses four and five of this passage without believing that these expressions are describing one who has experienced salvation. While this passage warns of the danger of turning away from Christ, it must not be used to teach that there is no hope for one who falls away. The Scriptures make it clear that if one who has turned away from Christ (that is rejected Christ), will humble himself and return to Christ, there is forgiveness.
Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us? James 4:5
6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. 7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:5-8
9 Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. James 4:9-10
19 My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. James 5:19-20
12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Philippians 4:12-13
Security of the believer The balance of scripture God put two great principles here in these verses, and the Bible says: What God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. The Bible presents and enforces both truths and it never tones down the emphasis of one for fear of clashing with the other.
Security of the believer The balance of scripture It certainly is not God s will that anyone should be lost. We are also assured that He is able to keep them from falling. But these things are not automatic. God does not save or keep a person against their will. Just as faith and repentance are necessary for salvation, so they are necessary for the continuance of that salvation in our lives. The scriptural condition for salvation is believing.
He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:18
Security of the believer The balance of scripture The word believe in these, and other passages (John. 3:16, 6:40) is in the present tense, and means to believe and to continue to believe. It is this continuous or progressive present tense the implies not only an initial act of faith, but a maintained attitude of faith. Assurance of security, therefore, is for the believing ones. The elect are kept by the power of God through faith (1 Peter 1:5).
26 But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. John 10:26-28
Security of the believer The balance of scripture DL Moody calls out the literal translation of John 10:26-28, Not for one moment do I doubt this literal translation: My sheep keep on hearing my voice, and I keep on knowing them, and they keep on following me: and I keep on giving them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. Some read the passage as if it says: My sheep heard my voice, and I knew them, and they followed me, and I gave to them eternal life. The verbs are present and linear, indicating continuous action by the sheep and by the Shepherd, not that of the past tense.
26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Hebrews 10:26-28
How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? Hebrews 10:29
Security of the believer The balance of scripture There is no promise in the Bible that God will keep the man who willfully turns away from the provisions of salvation which Christ has made. These verses describe an apostate who willfully turns away from, or rejects, Christ. Such a one who turns from Christ most certainly has no hope, because he willfully turns from the only source of forgiveness and cleansing.
Security of the believer Scriptural Warnings The Word of God contains enough warning to preclude any thought of presuming on the Grace of God. Followers of Christ are exhorted to watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation (Matthew 26:41); to beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness (2 Pt. 3:17);
Security of the believer Scriptural Warnings We are to always give diligence to make your calling and election sure (2 Pt. 1:10); to hold faith, and a good conscience in order to avoid shipwreck (1 Tm. 1:19); to be careful to maintain good works (Ti. 3:8); to stand fast in the Lord (Phil. 4:1).
Security of the believer Scriptural Warnings The Christian is warned of mortal danger as: salt losing its flavor (Luke 14:34, 35); through failing to abide in Christ (John 15:6); in being moved away from the hope of the Gospel (Col. 1:23); in erring from the faith (1 Tm. 6:10); in being taken captive by the Devil (2 Tm. 2:24 26); in neglecting so great salvation (Heb. 2:3)
Security of the believer Our Responsibility However, in recognizing the possibility of the union with Christ being broken, we must not think of returning to a legalistic position where we are kept by our own efforts. A Christian can no more keep himself in the power of the flesh than he can save himself by this means.
Security of the believer Our Responsibility We are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation (1 Pt. 1:5). Our part is to believe Him; His part is to keep us. The believer s responsibility is to continually take advantage of the means of grace which God has provided for His children.
Security of the believer Our Responsibility The only way we can work out our salvation is as God works within us. Our part is to constantly feed on God s Word, to yield to the ministry of the Holy Spirit and to maintain unbroken fellowship through prayer. Through faith, obedience and consistent yielding to His Will, we allow ourselves to consume all that God s Grace supplies. We are not saved because of our faith and obedience, nor are we kept saved by these. But it is faith and obedience that keeps us in fellowship with Christ Who is faithful to keep that which we have committed unto Him.
Security of the believer Our Responsibility If the follower of Christ will do these things he is eternally secure. If through flagrant unbelief, unconfessed, willful sinning or apostasy, he does not abide in Christ he has no promise that he will be kept. Nowhere in the Scripture are we given license to presume against God s Grace. We have a High Priest Who is touched with the feeling of our infirmities (Heb. 4:15), but we are expected to draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, and to hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering (Heb. 10:22, 23).
Security of the believer Our Responsibility Maintaining our salvation is not a neat balancing act that we must perform as we endeavor to walk a narrow path with a deep drop on both sides. There is a drop to be sure; but by faith, obedience and faithful communion with our Lord we are privileged to walk farther and farther from it as we make our way up the headlands toward heaven.