ETERNAL SECURITY John 10:22-30 I. INTRODUCTION- a. Today as we continue our study of the basics of the Christian faith we look at the subject of the security of a believer s salvation. b. The question we look at today is can a Christian lose their salvation? c. Can the sins and failures of a Christian result in the loss of their salvation? d. This subject is important because Christians can and do sin. e. As saved as we are we will not be free from the temptation to sin we will not be free from the possibility of sin we will not be free from the potential to sin until we go to Heaven. f. As long as we live in these fallen bodies and as long as we live in this fallen world Christians can and will sin. g. Because of what God did in our life when He saved us we can t sin like we did before we were saved but we can still sin and we will. h. What happens when a Christian sins do we lose our salvation? i. Some Christian groups say that believers can lose their salvation other Christian groups say that is not possible. j. A couple of years ago I went to a funeral in which a pastor of another denomination mocked and ridiculed the idea of what he called once saved always saved. k. What does the Bible says about the security or the insecurity of the believer s salvation?
l. John 10:22-30 is the key passage in the New Testament on the security of the believer s salvation. m. We will study this passage under three headings the promise of eternal life the protection of eternal life the proof of eternal life. II. THE PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE- a. In verse 28 Jesus is speaking and He says And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. b. In this verse Jesus makes the same promise two different ways. c. #1, He says that those who truly believe in Him will not perish that is they cannot and they will not be lost. d. #2, Jesus says that it is not possible for any power, force, or person, human, supernatural or spiritual to take eternal life from the one who truly believes in Him. e. This is not the only place in the Bible that affirms the eternal security of the believer the doctrine of the eternal security of the Christian is taught or implied in numerous places in Scripture. f. Romans 11:29 says that the calling of God is irrevocable the salvation that God gives to those who trust in Christ is not subject to being revoked or rescinded. g. Jude 1:24 says that it is God Who keeps those who trust in Christ from stumbling and losing their salvation. h. If the security of our salvation depended on us we would all be lost if it were possible for you and me to lose our salvation we would. i. Our salvation is secure not because we are holding on to God but because He is holding on to us.
j. 1 Peter 1:3-5 (NKJV) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God k. Those whom God saves He keeps by His own power. l. Hebrews 10:12 But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. m. The atoning sacrifice of Christ on the cross was so perfect and so powerful... that it never needs to be repeated and those who trust in Christ and what He did for them on the cross are saved for all time for eternity. n. The Holy Spirit s role in eternal security is declared in Ephesians 1:13 (NKJV) In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. o. The Holy Spirit s presence in the life of the believer is God s guarantee of the permanence and security of our salvation. p. 43 times in the gospel of John the life of the believer is referred to as eternal life not temporary life not until you sin too much life but eternal life. q. The Bible teaches that the moment a person believes in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior they enter into eternal life passing from death into life. r. Our connectedness to God began the moment we trusted and believed in Christ and it does not end. s. If eternal life can be interrupted then it is not eternal.
t. The Bible teaches that when a person believes in Christ they are at that moment born again they are regenerated their names of written in the Lamb s book of life sealed with the Holy Spirit. u. If our salvation could be negated by something then all those things that God did in our life when we trusted in Christ would have to be undone and reversed. v. You would have to be un-born again un-regenerated our name would have to be erased in Heaven the Holy Spirit s seal on your life would have to be unsealed. w. If you could lose your salvation then everything God did in your life when you trusted in Christ would have to be undone because of some failure on your part. III. x. And that is not possible every saving and redeeming thing God does in the life of the person who trusts in Christ He does perfectly and permanently. The promise of eternal life. THE PROTECTION OF ETERNAL LIFE- a. The words of Jesus in John 10:28-29 paint a picture of believers being held in His hand. b. That is a tremendous image of the security of the believer with one hand Jesus holds us and keeps us safe and with the other hand He fends off anyone who comes after us. c. Romans 8:35-39 gives a long list of things that cannot separate the believer from the love of Christ. d. Romans 8:35-39 (NKJV) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other
created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. e. The reason why those things cannot separate us from Christ is because He is holding us in His hand. f. Understand sin in the life of the believer is serious when a believer in Christ sins it is not good it is a bad thing. g. In many ways the sin of the believer is worse than the sin of an unbeliever. h. When a believer sins we disobey and dishonor the One who saved us we sin against and we grieve the Holy Spirit who lives within us we hurt our witness and testimony. i. Sin in the life of the believer affects our fellowship with Christ it affects our fellowship with other believers it hinders our spiritual growth and it limits our ability to be used and blessed by God. j. Sin the life of the believer robs us of joy it makes us vulnerable to more temptation and sin and it opens a door in our life for Satan to exploit and work through. k. Sin in the life of the believer opens us up to God s chastisement if we refuse to repent. l. Sin in the life of the believer is serious it will affect and harm us. m. That is why when it comes to sin in our life the Bible teaches that believers must be ruthless. n. Jesus used hyperbole to express how ruthless believers are to be with temptation and sin in their life Matthew 5:29-30 (NKJV) If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you
o. Believers are not to play around with sin relying on the power and resources of God we are to arm ourselves every day to fight temptation and sin we are to give sin and wrong no quarter in our life we are to allow no sin take root in our life. p. And when we do sin we must immediately deal with it immediately confessing our sin to God and repenting of it. q. Sin the life of the believer is serious it is bad it affects our walk and fellowship with God our sin needs to be forgiven but if we are truly saved it will not cause us to lose our salvation. r. The Bible says in Romans 8:1 that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. s. When we gave our life to Christ the eternal penalty and consequence of our sin past, present and future was finally, fully and forever forgiven. t. Sin in the life of the believer is not good but it will not cause us to lose our salvation. u. Some people may want to use the doctrine of eternal security as an excuse to sin. v. They believe this doctrine means that they can go out and live any way they want to they can even willfully sin without fear of judgment or ramifications. w. They reason If I can t lose my salvation then I'll just do whatever I want to do and still get to Heaven. x. Let me assure you any person who looks at eternal security as an insurance policy so that they can sin without any eternal consequences no matter what they say has never been saved they have never been born again.
y. The heart and mind of a true born again believer the heart and mind of the one who has experienced the love, mercy and grace of God does not think like that. z. Those who have truly known the love and forgiveness of God for their sins are not going to use their forgiveness and the salvation God has given them as a license to sin. aa. True believers in Christ are looking for ways to please and honor God every day they are not looking for ways to exploit the salvation God has given them. IV. bb.the truly born again person is born again with a desire to please and honor God to do good works in His name and to live a holy, good and godly life...they are not looking for ways to get away with sin. The promise of eternal life The protection of eternal life. THE PROOF OF ETERNAL LIFE- a. There are times when we see someone who for years was seemingly a faithful follower of Christ they were involved in the church involved in ministry living what appeared to be a disciplined Christian life and then one day they walked away from the church from the faith and they have never returned. b. And we ask our self How could a Christian do that? c. We want to tell our self that they are a backslidden Christian and they will come back one day we hope they will we pray they will and maybe they will but the answer could also be they were not a Christian to start with. d. 1 John 2:19 (NLT2) These people left our churches, but they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left, it proved that they did not belong with us. e. Jesus said in John 10:27 (NKJV) My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
f. In this verse, Jesus gives two marks of a true Christian #1, the mark on the ear My sheep hear My voice #2, the mark on the foot and they follow Me. g. A true Christian a true follower of Jesus Christ is one who has a desire to listen to and obey God s Word and a true follower of Jesus Christ is one who is actively following Him. h. Many times when we ask a person if they are a Christian they will say Yes, I accepted Christ many years ago. i. And that is all they can say because today they are not active and involved in a church and they are not active and involved in worshiping and serving the Lord no Christian content in their life. j. But, Yes, I accepted Christ many years ago is not the right answer to the question Are you a Christian? k. The right answer is Yes, I became a Christian many years ago and I am still following Christ and I am still serving Him faithfully today. l. If Yes, I accepted Christ years ago is all a person can say then something is wrong in your life. m. The test that you were really saved back then is the kind of life you are living today now. n. Not only is faithful Christian living and a life characterized by worship and service evidence of a true salvation so is the desire to live a holy and godly life. o. Because of what God does in a person s heart when He saves them it is not possible for a true Christian to live comfortably in a life characterized by willful sinful behavior and conduct. p. 1 John 3:9 (NLT2) Those who have been born into God s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God s life is in them. So they can t keep on sinning, because they are children of God.
q. Christians can and do sin but because of what God has done in their life it is not possible for the true Christian to live a life characterized by constant, consistent, unrepentant and willful sin. r. The eternal security of the believer is a wonderful and true doctrine but it is only wonderful and true for those who are truly saved. V. CONCLUSION- a. Thank God that the One who saves us is the One who keeps us saved. b. The eternal security of the believer is one more reason to praise and honor our God. c. How do you answer the question Are you a Christian? d. Christians live a life of worship and service Christians desire to live a holy and godly life not in order to be saved but because we have been saved.