It's salvation, not probation!

Ro 11:29 - "For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable."

Jo 6:37 - "The one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out."

1. To understand our eternal security in Christ it is essential to correctly understand salvation itself.

A. Eternal life is a gift. We did not earn if by our merit; we cannot lose it by demerit. (Jo 3:16; Ro 3:24; 4:4,5; 6:23)

B. On the cross, Jesus Christ died and paid for all our sins; past present and future. (Is 53:4-6,11; 1 Cor 5:21; Jo 19:30)

C. Eternal life is just that-- eternal. It can never cease or be interrupted in any way. (Jo 3:16,36; 5:24; Heb 5:9; 1 Jo 5:11,13)

2. At the moment of salvation, we are imputed with the Righteousness of Jesus Christ. That is, His Righteousness is eternally deposited to our acccount with God. (Ro 4:3,22-24; 2 Cor 5:21; 1 Cor 1:30)

3. At the same time, all sins were blotted out and forgotten. (Col 2:13,14; Is 1:18; Ps 103:3,12; Heb 10:17)

4. When one believes in Christ as Savior, he is born from above, and created as a new spiritual creature. (Jo 3:6;7; 2 Cor 5:17; Ti 3:5)

5. In the instant of salvation the Holy Spirit indwells the believer and seals him as the eternal possession of God. (Ro 8:9; Eph 4:30)

6. The believer is transferred out of the kingdom of Satan into the kingdom of Jesus Christ. (Col 1:13,14)

7. God sees every believer as already resurrected, glorified and seated with Jesus Christ in heaven. (Eph 2:4-7; Col 2:8-13, 3:1-4; Ro 8:28-30)

8. Jesus Christ personally guarantees the eternal security of the believer, holding us by His power. (Jo 10:28,29; 1 Pt 1:5)

9. All sin in the life of the believer results in broken fellowship with God (1 Jo 1:6,7), Divine discipline (Heb 12:5-11), and loss of eternal reward (1 Cor 3:10-15), but not loss of salvation. We are restored to fellowship by confession and correction. (1 Jo 1:7-9)

10. If a believer sins persistently, discipline will intensify to the point of death, but his salvation is secure. (1 Cor 5:1-5; 1 Jo 5:16)

-- (bygrace@thru.faith), August 09, 2000