A Born-Again Christian’s Eternal Security

Following are seven reasons from the Bible why a born-again Christian cannot lose his salvation. Over 200 Scriptures are referenced, which are given at the end for ease of readability. Anyone reading this who doubts the truth of this doctrine, sometimes called “once saved, always saved”, is encouraged to look up and read the Scriptures for himself.

1. Eternal Life – The Bible says that ETERNAL life is a present possession [1]. If we could lose that life from God [2] then we never had ETERNAL life. Our life is Christ’s life when we are saved [3] (see #4) and Christ cannot die again [4]. I John 5:13 says we can KNOW that we have ETERNAL life. God promised eternal life and God cannot lie [5].

2. Born Again as Sons of God – When we accept Christ we are born again of God [6], are passed from death unto life [7], and become a new creature [8], or creation [9], with all things new. We would have to become unborn to lose our salvation and born a third time to get saved again, which is not mentioned in the Bible. We also become a son of God [10] with a new nature, Christ’s nature [11], and Christ cannot deny himself [11]. We get an incorruptible nature [12] and our will is changed [13]. John 10:27 says the believer WILL follow Christ.

After we are saved, God no longer deals with us as sinners but as sons [14]. He chastises but his chastisement is not payment for sin, it is child-training. God may chastise but the payment for ALL sins was made 2000 years ago on Calvary (see #3). Sometimes God may even chastise with death [15]. The fellowship with God may change but not the Father-son relationship. For example, a father tells his boy not to play with the father’s delicate tools or they will break. The boy disobeys and breaks the tools. As chastisement the father punishes the boy but the punishment does not pay for the tools; the father still must pay for the new tools and the boy is still his father’s son. All of our sins were paid for on Calvary and ALL of them are forgiven when we are saved (see #3).

3. What Happens to a Believer’s Sins – In God’s eyes when we get saved we are perfect forever [16], justified (made as if we had never sinned [17]), and sanctified [18], as far as our salvation is concerned. We still live in a sinful body and still sin but these only affect our fellowship with the Father once we are saved (see #2). The Bible says that God WILL NOT impute (charge up) sin to a believer [19] and that includes ANY sin. If a justified person could go to hell he was never truly justified. If after being saved a sin or sins could cause one to lose his salvation then all of his sins were not paid for at Calvary and forgiven (washed away) when he trusted Christ and his blood [20], as the Bible says [21]. God forgives and forgets [22] every sin, including future sins (all our sins were future when Christ died for them), when we get saved.

4. What We Have “In” Jesus Christ – When we get saved we are placed into the body of Christ [23]. We become “flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone” [24]. Our soul is “circumcised” from our flesh with a circumcision “made without hands” [25]. The Bible says that the body (church) will be presented without spot or blemish [26]. It cannot be without blemish if pieces have to be removed. Our position is settled: we are mystically seated in heaven already [27], a joint-heir with Christ (a joint heir cannot be disinherited [28]), and safe in Jesus’ and God’s hand [29] where we cannot be plucked out. The Holy Spirit places us IN Christ [23] just as we were IN Adam [30] before we were saved. IN Christ we are safe from condemnation [31], accepted [32], preserved forever [33], sanctified [34], alive forever [35], a new creature [36], perfect [37], righteous [38]; and we have liberty [39], all spiritual blessings [40], and an inheritance [41]. Our inheritance is reserved for us in heaven [42] (see #6), will not fade away [42], is incorruptible [42], and cannot be defiled [42].

Colossians 3:3 says our life is HID with Christ IN God; Satan has to get through God and then Christ to get to us, to cause us to be lost again. If Satan can overcome God and Christ to get one Christian, then he can get all of us because we are all sinners alike [43]. If Satan knew there was a way to make a Christian lose his salvation he is subtle enough that he could cause every Christian to lose his salvation [43.1]. For a believer to go to Hell, Christ and God [44] would have to go to Hell, because we have everything in standing and position that the Lord Jesus Christ has and we are “in” Him [45]. Our security is in a perfect person: Jesus Christ [45.1].

5. “God” Keeps Our Salvation – Throughout the Bible Jesus is called the Saviour [45.2]. Hebrews 7:25 says he saves to the uttermost, or he COMPLETELY saves. Eternal security is not a separate doctrine from salvation; if we are not saved forever then we were never saved at all because Christ saves us from ALL of our sins when we get saved (see #3); and gives us ETERNAL, EVERLASTING life (see #1). Christ came to save [46]. Once we are saved it is God’s responsibility, not ours, to keep our salvation, because we never could. Just as a believer can never save himself, he can never keep himself. We are kept “by the power of God” [47], not our power, and “HE is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against THAT DAY” [48]. When we are born again God begins a work in us that He will perform until the day of Jesus Christ [49]. Jude 24 says that Christ, not us, will KEEP us from falling and present us faultless to God. We are confirmed unto the end [50]. Christ is the “author and finisher of our faith” [51]. “Whatever God does, it will be forever and nothing can be put to it or taken from it” [52]; and that includes our salvation, AMEN!

The security of our soul depends on Christ’s righteousness, not our own [53] (see #4). If sinning in any way could cause one to lose his salvation, then Paul would have lost his, because AFTER he was saved he said he was the chief of sinners [54]. We get saved by God’s grace [55], not by what we do [56], and our salvation remains by God’s grace, not according to what WE do; we will be saved from wrath THROUGH him [57].

If we can do something to lose our salvation then God failed and our salvation was not only dependent upon God’s grace, but also upon our behaviour – which is works! (Doing works in the Lord’s name is not definite evidence of salvation, we must KNOW him as our personal saviour [58], see #8.) Salvation is a gift, not a wage [59]; it is obtained, not attained [60]. It never was deserved and never will be. If our safety is dependent upon our works then we are really saved by our works and must earn our salvation, which is a direct violation of Scripture and the truth of salvation by God’s grace ONLY [61].

A person who believes that he must work to keep his salvation, instead of work because he HAS salvation, needs to make sure he is ONLY trusting the Saviour Jesus Christ to take him to heaven and not Jesus Christ plus his good works; he needs to understand how to be saved and what salvation really is [62].

6. Jesus is Faithful – Not only are we kept by God’s power but we CANNOT come into condemnation [63]; we are NOT condemned [64]. Our intercessor is Jesus Christ [65] and he pleads our case when we are saved; that is why we can never be condemned again with the penalty of our already forgiven sins, or else Christ’s intercession is not sufficient. If we lose our salvation we are condemned again and the Scriptures [66] are not true! Once we are saved and given to Christ [67] we cannot be lost again because John 6:39 says that of all that God gives Christ, Christ will lose nothing (and we are something).

We will NEVER die [68] but will live forever [69] (see #1). Christ will IN NO WISE (under ANY circumstances) cast out any that come to him [70]. All that get saved will NEVER perish [71] (never means NEVER). Christ will NEVER leave us or forsake us [72]. NOTHING (including ourselves) can separate us from the love of God IN Christ [73], and all believers are IN Christ (see #4).

7. The Holy Spirit, Our Seal – God gives the Holy Spirit to every believer when we get saved [75] as the earnest (down payment [76]) of his promise to take us to heaven and give us our inheritance [77] (see #4). We can only be unsaved if we do not have the Holy Spirit [78], which means we would have to lose the Holy Spirit to get lost again; but the Bible says we are SEALED by and with the Holy Spirit UNTIL the day of redemption [79]. The Holy Spirit can be quenched [80] or grieved [81] but not lost.

8. The Sinful Believer and the False Christian – We will not be perfect until we get to heaven, and we may be disobedient, but we cannot lose our salvation. We can still fall, but not so as to be eternally lost, for the Lord upholds us [82]. We are still tempted and tried [83], as Jesus was [84], but only for the purpose of strengthening us and making us more of what the Lord wants us to be. Our works may not stand the fiery test of the judgement [85] but our salvation will [86].

Not all who claim to be saved are. Not all church members are saved. If they are saved, they will eventually show a change and false professors of Christ eventually fall away [87]. Just make sure you are trusting ONLY Jesus [88] and HIS righteousness [89] to get you to heaven, not YOUR faith or a prayer or work(s), and you believe (trust [90]) to the “saving of the soul” [91].

9. Misapplication of Scripture / Rightly Dividing the Word – One should not twist Scripture [92] talking about the Old Testament saints, Tribulation saints, or the losing of a ministry, testimony, nation, or life and try to make it prove a sinner forgiven by the grace of God through Christ’s blood can lose his salvation. The Word of God must be “rightly divided” [93] or it can be “wrested unto your own destruction” [94].

Scripture References

1. John 3:36; 5:24; 6:47,51; 10:28

2. 1 John 5:11-12; Romans 6:23

3. Colossians 3:4

4. Romans 6:9-10; 1 John 1:2

5. 1 John 2:25; Tit 1:2; Numbers 23:19; John 3:14-18; Romans 6:23

6. John 1:13; 3:3-7; 1 Peter 1:23

7. John 5:24; 11:25

8. 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15

9. Ephesians 2:10; 4:24

10. John 1:12-13; Romans 8:14-17; Galatians 3:26; 1 John 3:1-2

11. 2 Timothy 2:13; 2 Peter 1:4

12. 1 Peter 1:23; 1 John 3:9

13. Philippians 2:12-13

14. Hebrews 12:5-8

15. I Corinthians 5:5; 11:30

16. Hebrews 10:14

17. Romans 3:24-28; 5:1,9; Acts 13:39

18. 1 Corinthians 1:2; 6:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13

19. Romans 4:8; 8:33; 2 Corinthians 5:19

20. Ephesians 1:7

21. John 1:29; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 2:13; 1 John 1:7,9; 2:12; 3:5; Revelation 1:5

22. Psalms 32:1; 103:12; Isaiah 1:18; 38:17; 43:25; Micah 7:18-19; Acts 13:38-39; 26:18; Colossians 2:13; Hebrews 8:12; 10:17; 1 John 1:7; 2:12

23. Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 2:21-22

24. Ephesians 5:30

25. Colossians 2:8-14

26. Ephesians 5:27

27. Ephesians 2:6

28. Romans 8:16-17

29. John 10:27-30

30. Romans 5:12

31. Romans 8:1-2

32. Ephesians 1:6

33. Jude 1; Psalms 37:28; 2 Timothy 4:18

34. 1 Corinthians 1:2

35. 1 Corinthians 15:22

36. 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:10

37. Colossians 1:28

38. 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:9

39. Romans 8:2; Galatians 2:4

40. Ephesians 1:3

41. Ephesians 1:11

42. 1 Peter 1:3-5; Ephesians 1:13-14; Acts 26:18

43. Romans 3:10-12,23; 14:23; James 4:17; 1 John 1:8-10

43.1. Isaiah 53:9, 11; 59:17; John 8:46; 18:38; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 1:9; 4:15; 7:26-28; 9:14; 1 Peter 1:19; 2:22; 1 John 3:5.

44. 1 Thessalonians 1:1

45. Romans 6:3; 8:1-2,11; 12:5; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 1:21; 5:17; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 2:6,10; Colossians 1:28; 2:7,10; 1 John 4:13; 5:20

45.1. 1 Peter 5:10

45.2. Acts 5:31; 13:23; Ephesians 5:23; Philippians 3:20; 2 Timothy 1:10; Titus 1:3-4; 2:13; 3:6; 2 Peter 1:1; 1 John 4:14

46. Luke 19:10; John 3:17; Acts 4:12; Titus 2:13-14

47. 1 Peter 1:3-5

48. 2 Timothy 1:12

49. Philippians 1:6

50. 1 Corinthians 1:8

51. Hebrews 12:2

52. Ecclesiastes 3:14

53. Romans 3:24-27; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:9

54. 1 Timothy 1:15; Romans 7:21-25

55. Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 11:6

56. Titus 3:5; Romans 4:5

57. Romans 5:9

58. Matthew 7:22-23

59. Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 5:18; 6:23

60. Hebrews 9:12

61. Romans 11:6; Galatians 2:21

62. John 3:3,18,36; 5:24; 6:28-29,47; 14:6; Acts 16:31; Romans 5:1; 10:9-10,13;

Galatians 3:22,26; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 John 5:11-13; Revelation 22:17

63. John 5:24; Romans 8:1

64. John 3:18

65. Romans 8:33-34; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 4:15-16

66. John 3:18; 5:24

67. John 6:37

68. John 11:26

69. John 6:51

70. John 6:37

71. John 3:16; 10:27-30

72. Hebrews 13:5

73. Romans 8:35-39

75. John 7:38-39; Ephesians 1:12-13; 1 John 4:13

76. 2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5

77. Ephesians 1:13-14

78. Romans 8:9

79. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Ephesians 1:12-13; 4:30

80. 1 Thessalonians 5:19

81. Ephesians 4:30

82. Proverbs 24:16; Psalms 37:24-25; 145:14

83. 1 Corinthians 10:13; James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:6-7; 5:10; 2 Peter 2:9

84. Matthew 4:1; Hebrews 4:15

85. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; 1 Peter 4:12-13; 2 Peter 3:9-13

86. 1 Corinthians 3:13-15; 5:5

87. 1 John 2:19

88. John 14:6

89. 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21

90. Ephesians 1:12-14

91. Hebrews 10:38-39

92. Matthew 5:19,22; 7:13,21-23; 8:11-12; 12:32; 13:21; 24:13,48-51; 25:1-13,25-29,34,40-41,45-46; Mark 3:29-30; Acts 1:25; 2:38; 1 Corinthians 15:1-2; 2 Corinthians 13:5; Romans 11:16-24; Galatians 5:4; Hebrews 3:6,14; 6:1-6; 9:28; 10:26-27; 12:14; James 5:20; Revelation 2:10; 3:5, 7; 12:17; 14:6-7,12; 22:14

93. 2 Timothy 2:15

94. 2 Peter 3:16