Expert: Cooper P. Abrams III - 7/11/2006

Question
what does the bible say about eternal life?

Answer
Hi Tim,
   Following deals with eternal security or life of a believer.  I think that is what you are interested in.  Hope this helps...
ETERNAL LIFE OR SECURITY. Eternal life is the Bible confidence that every born again believer has perfect, complete, eternal salvation in Jesus Christ. As soon as a sinner receives Christ, he possesses full, unending salvation. To have Christ is to have a secure position before God (1 Jn. 5:10-13). Though the Bible does not use the term "security" to describe the believer's relationship in Christ, it leaves no doubt that the child of God is eternally safe in Christ. Eternal security refers only to those who are born again through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. It does not refer to hypocrites or to those who are merely dabbling in the things of Christ. Those who permanently fall away have never been born again. [Click here for chart on The Believer's Riches in Christ from A to Z.]

HOW WE CAN BE SURE TRUE CHRISTIANS ARE ETERNALLY SECURE.

1. Because of the terms used to describe salvation. "eternal life" (Jn. 3:16; 1 Jn. 5:11); "full assurance" (He. 6:11; Col. 2:2); "strong consolation" (He. 6:18); "hope ... sure and stedfast" (He. 6:19).

2. Because of what we are. All of the following are spoken of in the present tense; this is the present condition of each true believer (1) Forgiven (Ro. 4:7; 1 Jn. 2:12). (2) Justified (Ro. 5:1,9; Tit. 3:7) (3) Risen with Christ (Ro. 6:3-6; Col. 3:1,2). (4) Reconciled (Ro. 5:10). (5) Accepted in the beloved (Ep. 1:6). (6) Saved (Ep. 2:8,9; 2 Ti. 1:9). (7) Citizens of Heaven (Ph. 3:20). (8) Children of light (1 Th. 5:5). (9) Not of the world (Jn. 17:16). (10) Elect (1 Pe. 1:2). (11) Born again (1 Pe. 1:2,23). (12) New creation (2 Co. 5:17). (13) Complete in Him (Col. 2:10). (14) Sanctified once for all (He. 10:10). (15) Perfected forever (He. 10:14). (16) Passed from death unto life (1 Jn. 3:14). (17) Sanctified in Christ (1 Co. 1:2). (18) Light in the Lord (Ep. 5:8). (19) A child of God forever (Ro. 8:15; Ga. 4:4-7; 1 Jn. 3:1). (20) Made fit for Heaven (Col. 1:12).

3. Because of where we are. (1) In the heavenlies with Christ (Ep. 2:5-6). (2) In God's family (Ga. 3:26; 1 Jn. 3:2). (3) Translated into the kingdom of His dear Son (Col. 1:13). (4) Brought near (Ep. 2:13).

4. Because of what we have. (1) Peace with God (Ro. 5:1). (2) Eternal life (Jn. 3:16). (3) Sealing of the Holy Spirit (Ep. 1:12-14). (4) All spiritual blessings (Ep. 1:3). (5) Access to God (Ep. 2:18). (6) An Advocate with the Father (1 Jn. 2:1-2). (7) Eternal redemption (He. 9:12). (8) Forgiveness of sins (Ep. 1:7; Col. 1:14; 2:13). (9) Mercy (1 Pe. 2:10). (10) Eternal glory (2 Ti. 2:10). (11) Everlasting consolation (2 Th. 2:16). (12) An Intercessor in Heaven (Ro. 8:34).

5. Because of what is past. (1) The law of sin and death (Ro. 8:2). (2) Death and wrath (Col. 3:3; Ro. 6:11; 1 Th. 5:9). (3) Condemnation (Jn. 5:24). (4) Night and darkness (1 Th. 5:5).

6. Because of our promises. (1) The glory of God (Ro. 5:2). This speaks of Christ's kingdom glory (2) Redemption of the body (Ro. 8:23-24; Ph. 3:21). (3) Never perish (Jn. 10:27-28). (4) Predestinated to be conformed to the image of Christ (Ro. 8:28-29). (5) Shall appear with Christ in glory (Col. 3:3-4). (6) Not appointed to wrath but to salvation (1 Th. 5:9). (7) Delivered from the wrath to come (1 Th. 1:10). (8) Incorruptible inheritance (1 Pe. 1:4). (9) He that hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ (Ph. 1:6). (10) Shall never die (Jn. 11:26). (11) Glorious liberty of the children of God (Ro. 8:21). (12) God shall confirm you unto the end (1 Co. 1:8). (13) Eternal inheritance (He. 9:15). (14) Shall be saved from wrath (Ro. 5:9). (15) Cannot be separated from God's love (Ro. 8:31-39).

HOW DO WE KNOW THESE BLESSINGS CANNOT BE LOST?

1. The blessings of salvation cannot be lost because of the nature of salvation: (1) Salvation is by imputation and substitution (2 Co. 5:17; Ga. 2:20; He. 9:10; Ro. 3:24). (2) Salvation is positional (Ep. 1; Ro. 6:7; Col. 2:10; 3:1-4,12). (3) Salvation is a present possession (Ro. 5; 1 Pe. 2:24-25). (4) Salvation is eternal (Jn. 3:16,36). (5) Salvation is not of human merit; it is a free gift of grace which cannot be mixed with works (Ep. 2:8-9; Tit. 3:3-7; Ro. 3:19-28; 4:4-5; 11:6).

2. The blessings of salvation cannot be lost because of the results of salvation: (1) Justification (Ro. 5:1; 3:19-28). (2) Peace with God (Ro. 5:1). (3) Sure possession of future glory (Ro. 5:2; Col. 3:1-4). (4) Salvation from future wrath (Ro. 5:9). (5) Eternal life (Jn. 3:16). (6) Sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ep. 4:30). (7) Raised up with Christ (Ro. 6). (8) Passed from darkness to light (Col. 1:12-14). (9) Blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ (Ep. 1).

3. The blessings of salvation cannot be lost because of the teaching of election: Election does not destroy human responsibility (2 Th. 2:10-13; Ac. 13:46,48), but election does promise security for the believer (Ro. 8:28-39; Ep. 1; 1 Pe. 1:2-7).

4. The blessings of salvation cannot be lost because lack of good works involves loss of rewards and fruitfulness, not loss of one's eternal relationship with Christ (1 Co. 3:15; Tit. 3:14; 2 Jn. 8).

5. The blessings of salvation cannot be lost because of the person and work of Christ. The believing sinner is placed "in Christ" and stands or falls with Him (Col. 1:14; Ep. 1; He. 9:10; 1 Pe. 1:18-23; 2:6,24-25).

DOES ETERNAL SECURITY MEAN ANYONE WHO PROFESSES CHRIST IS SAVED, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY GIVE EVIDENCE OF GENUINE FAITH?

1. No, salvation demands repentance (Lk. 13:3-5; Ac. 17:30-31). Repentance means a change of mind resulting in a change of life (2 Co. 7:8-11). The person who has never changed his mind about God, sin, Christ, the Bible, etc., and who has never evidenced this changed mind with a changed life, has never repented and has never been saved.

2. No, salvation requires the new birth, and the new birth always changes a man's life (2 Co. 5:17-21; Mt. 18:3-4; Jn. 3:1-18; 1 Jn. 3:7-10; 3 Jn. 11).

3. No, salvation is evidenced by perseverance and obedience (Jn. 10:27-28; Mt. 7:17; Ro. 8:13-14; 1 Cor. 15:1,2; Col. 1:21-23; 2 Ti. 2:19; He. 3:6,14; 10:38-39; 1 Jn. 2:19; 3:3). According to these Scriptures, the one who is truly born again will persevere in Christ; or it could be better stated that Christ will persevere in him!

4. No, saving faith always produces works (Ro. 4:18-21; He. 11; Jam. 2:14-26). If one claims to have faith in Christ, but his life does not reflect the works of Christ, that one does not have biblical faith. A fruitless profession of fruit cannot lay claim to God's promises of eternal security.

DOES ETERNAL SECURITY CAUSE PEOPLE TO LIVE CARELESSLY? Eternal security does not cause people to live carelessly. The very opposite is true. The Bible teaches that the grace of God actually motivates believers to serve God with a thankful heart (Ro. 2:4; Ep. 3:14-19; Tit. 2:11-14). The more a believer understands the unfathomable love God has for him in Christ, the more he wants to please God.

WHO HAS ETERNAL SECURITY? It is important to further emphasize the fact that the doctrine of eternal security does not promise safety for anyone who merely professes Christ. In the following study we see that the Bible connects eternal security only with the true believer, the one who has been born again, and differentiates him with the mere professor. Who has eternal security--(1) Those who have been born again (2 Co. 5:17; Ep. 2:10; Ga. 6:15). (2) Those who follow Christ (Jn. 10:27-28). (3) Those who are purifying themselves (1 Jn. 3:1-3). (4) Those who love the brethren (1 Jn. 3:15). (5) Those who have an undivided, convinced faith (He. 4:10,11). (6) Those who are in the truth and continue in the truth (1 Jn. 2:19-21; 2 Jn. 1-2). (7) Those who continue in the word (Jn. 8:31,32). (8) Those who remain patient and steadfast in tribulations (He. 10:35-39). (9) those who evidence the "things that accompany salvation" (He. 6:9-12). (10) Those who maintain their confidence in Christ (He. 3:14; Ph. 1:21-23). (11) Those who are led by the Spirit of God (Ro. 8:14-15). (12) Those who are sanctified from an unrighteous way of life (1 Co. 6:9-11). (13) Those who have demonstrated their election (1 Th. 1:4-10). (14) Those who have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof (Ga. 5:19-24). (15) Those who are looking for Christ's return (He. 9:28). (16) Those who have the renewing of the Holy Spirit (Tit. 3:5-7). (17) Those who depart from iniquity (2 Ti. 2:19). (18) Those who bring forth fruit (Col. 1:7-8; Jn. 15:2; Lk. 3:9).

WHO DOES NOT HAVE ETERNAL SECURITY? (1) Those who profess but do not repent (Lk. 3:7-14). (2) Those who have mere intellectual assent (Jn. 2:23-25). (3) Those who have self-willed faith, only believing what they want to believe rather than the testimony of the Scriptures (Jn. 6:60-66). (4) Those who have religious zeal apart from the gospel (Ro. 10:1-4).

IF THE DISOBEDIENT CHRISTIAN DOES NOT LOSE HIS SALVATION, WHAT DOES HAPPEN TO HIM? (1) The sinning Christian is out of fellowship with the Lord (1 Jn. 1). (2) The sinning Christian is helped by the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Jn. 2:1-2). (3) The sinning Christian is chastened by the Father (He. 12). (4) The sinning Christian loses irreplaceable opportunities for service and fruit (Ep. 5:14-17; Mt. 9:36-38; 1 Th. 5:4-10). (5) The sinning Christian will suffer loss at the judgment seat of Christ (2 Co. 5; 1 Co. 3:11-15; 1 Ti. 6:17-19; 1 Jn. 2:28).

ETERNAL SECURITY AND PROBLEM PASSAGES

The following introductory comments offer a background for dealing with the "problem passages."

First, the few passages which present apparent problems with the doctrine of eternal security must be interpreted carefully in l ight of the context. It is a fact that the New Testament promises eternal security to the true believer. I do not believe God would have given so much plain and simple teaching on the eternal nature of salvation only to overthrow it with a couple of relatively obscure passages. We interpret the less clear passages in light of those which are crystal clear. This is a working principle which I believe is honoring to the Word of God, and it is the proper way to handle it. False teachers, on the other hand, delight in using the more obscure portions of Scripture to overthrow the plain. To interpret any of the passages you mentioned as saying that a born again child of God can lose his salvation flies in the face of hundreds of clear passages of Scripture. When the context of a Bible passage is plainly directed to the subject of salvation, there is never a question about the security of the believer.

Second, a key problem in this matter is reading the doctrine of insecurity into various passages. Most passages which are put forth to support the idea that salvation can be lost have absolutely nothing to do with such a thing if approached without preconceived ideas.

Third, let me also say that I believe that many who teach eternal security do so in an unbiblical manner. To fail to emphasize the necessity of repentance, to fail to warn the casual "professor" that profession is not the same as possession, to comfort and impart security to a professor who has no evidence of regeneration is to do injustice to the biblical doctrine of eternal security. The Bible frequently warns about the possibility of appearing to be saved while actually being lost, about coming close to salvation without actually being saved. Those of us who teach eternal security must not ignore the solemn charges of the Word of God such as John 8:47 and 1 John 3:10.

Now to some of the passages most frequently used to undermine eternal security:

JOHN 15. This passage does not necessarily say that a believer will be cast into Hell. You are reading that interpretation into it. It could be teaching that, if it were not for the fact that the rest of John's Gospel teaches exactly the opposite! Consider these passages in John--1:12,13; 3:14-18,36; 4:14; 5:25; 6:37,40,47; 10:27-30; 11:25; 17:2,3; 20:31. Whatever, therefore, the meaning of John 15:6 in reference to the child of God, it CANNOT mean that the true believer will be rejected and cast into Hell. That would make the promises of Jesus Christ to the believer into a lie. I personally believe Christ is referring here to the difference between sincere and insincere, true and false believers. He mentions such a thing in other passages in John's Gospel. Consider John 2:23-25 and 6:64. I believe John 15 is a warning that the evidence of true faith in Christ is to bear fruit for His glory.

MATTHEW 7:21. This has nothing to do with a believer losing his salvation. To do the will of the Father is certainly not the way to Heaven. It is the evidence of genuine faith in Christ; it is the proof of regeneration.

GALATIANS 5:19-21. This passage does not teach that a believer can lose his salvation, unless salvation is by works. Do you believe salvation is by works? This passage teaches that the genuine believer will manifest a changed life. The person who continues to be dominated by the flesh is not saved (Romans 8:5-14).

ROMANS 11:19-23. Paul is not addressing the subject of personal salvation. He is addressing the matter of the Jews and their place in the program of God. Paul is speaking in a general sense of Gentiles and of the Jewish nation. Today God has turned temporarily from the Jews and is calling a people for His name from among the Gentile nations. The day will come when God will again turn to the Jewish nation to fulfill His promises to them. Verses 24-26 make this plain. Paul is speaking in a general sense, not in a personal sense. A careful reading of this chapter illustrates this.

MATTHEW 25. The parables of the ten virgins and of the talents are given in the context of Christ's coming and of the establishment of the kingdom of God in Israel (see Matt. 25:31-34). The foolish virgins do not have to picture true believers. One has to read this into the parable. Likewise, the wicked and slothful servant of the parable of the talents does not have to picture a true believer. Again, one must read this into the parable. I believe, in light of everything the New Testament promises to the child of God, that the foolish virgins MUST be those who are unsaved. As I have said before, to interpret this otherwise is to throw multitudes of clear Scriptures into confusion. The wicked and slothful servant is not a true believer. First, he did not know the Lord. He considered the Lord "an hard man." It is obvious that he did not know the blessed Lord Jesus Christ! The fact that he is called a servant does not mean necessarily that he is saved. The Jews are called the Lord's servants, but they were not all saved (Is. 43:10). Let me also say that it is not wise to establish doctrine upon parables. The parables have one central point, and if you try to push every detail of the parable you can have all sorts of doctrinal problems.

MATTHEW 8:11-12. The "children of the kingdom" here are the Jews in the nation Israel. One of the key teachings of the Gospels is the rejection of Jesus Christ by His own people, the Jews. Time and again Christ warns and rebukes the Jews and their leaders, but most of them reject him. The first half of Matthew, in particular, documents this fearful situation.

LUKE 21:34. The context here is the Great Tribulation and the coming of Christ. Some would say that this passage teaches that we must prove ourselves in order to be worthy to escape the judgments to come. As noted in the next paragraph, such an interpretation contradicts the clear teaching of Scripture on the matter of personal salvation. It is therefore an impossible interpretation. Others teach that this verse presents a split rapture of some sort, whereby faithful believers will be taken away before the Tribulation and unfaithful believers will remain to go through the Tribulation. Such an interpretation is contrary to the teaching of the New Testament pertaining to the Translation of the saints. 1 Thessalonians 4-5 is probably the plainest passage in the Bible dealing with the Rapture. There is not a hint here that any true believer will go through the Tribulation. Contrariwise, the Rapture is held forth as a source of comfort to all believers (1 Thess. 4:18). Those who are overtaken by the Day of the Lord are contrasted repeatedly with the believers, who are "not appointed to wrath" (1 Thess. 5:1-10).

REVELATION 3:1-6. This warning is addressed, first of all, to the church of Sardis as a whole, not to individual believers. The warning that Christ would come upon Sardis as a thief refers to the fact that He would judge the church. Historically that happened. It has happened time and time again as churches have turned from the Lord and apostatized. The few names in Sardis which had not defiled their garments were the few who were truly saved. Actually, Revelation 3:6 is a proof text for eternal security. Christ promises that a truly saved person will not be blotted out of the book of life. Those who overcome are simply those who are truly born again and who therefore follow Jesus Christ because they have true faith (Jn. 10:27; Heb.6:9; Rev. 12:11). To say that this verse teaches that a believer can be blotted out of the book of life if he does not maintain a certain level of obedience is to commit two serious errors: First, such an interpretation is contrary to the method of salvation, which is by grace through faith WITHOUT works (Eph. 2:8-10; Rom. 3:24; 4:1-8; 11:6; Tit. 3:5-7). Second, such an interpretation is contrary to the promise of salvation. John 3:16 and hundreds of other verses promise "he that believeth on him SHALL NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE." Are those promises true, or are they a deception?

2 THESSALONIANS 2:3. This passage warns of the great apostasy of the last days. It does not refer to a believer losing his salvation. The Apostle does not say that those who fall away are true believers. On the contrary, the true brethren (verse 1) are comforted that they are not the ones being described here. Those who fall away and turn to the antichrist are those who "received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved" (verse 10).

2 PETER 2:20-22. Though this passage is often used to prove that eternal security is not true, it actually says nothing about losing ones salvation. The context is false teachers who promote damnable heresies and deny the Lord (v. 1). It should be obvious that it is not saved men who are the focus on this passage, but hypocrites and deceivers. Any interpretation which says these are saved men who lose their salvation flies in the face of the context. The fact that "the latter end is worse with them than the beginning" and "it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness" does not imply that they were saved and now are lost. They were dogs and pigs who were unchanged (v. 22). The fact that they return to their wickedness proves that they were never regenerate. When the context is taken into account, there really is no problem in this passage in regard to the doctrine of eternal security.

REVELATION 21:8. I believe this passage contrasts the saved with the lost. The saved are overcomers (v. 20). The lost continue in their sin (v. 21). A twin doctrine to that of eternal security is the perseverance of the saints. The Bible plainly teaches that those who are truly born again will evidence their salvation and will continue on with the Lord (John 10:27-28; 1 Cor. 15:1,2; Col. 1:21-23; Heb. 6:4-9; 10:38; 1 John 3:3). The one who permanently falls away demonstrates that he did not belong to the Lord in the first place (Heb. 12:5-8). If a professing Christian murders someone, it probably proves that he was not genuinely saved. Revelation 21:8 is similar to 1 John 3:9. These passages are not talking about an act of sin but a way of life of sin. If these passages are referring to an act of sin, no one can be saved. It is obvious from other passages that a Christian can commit any act of sin, including idolatry and adultery (1 John 1:8-10). This is why we are often warned not to commit these evils (1 Cor. 6:18; 10:6,14; 1 John 5:21). Salvation is to be placed into an entirely and eternally new position in Jesus Christ. The old flesh cannot be redeemed; it can only be condemned and crucified. Our new position in Christ is that our old man is dead and we rise to new life in Jesus Christ. The law can no longer condemn us. Please study Romans 1-8 very carefully, for it holds the key to understanding salvation properly, as well as the proper place of sin and the law in the Christian's life. Salvation requires perfection, and the only perfection that we can ever have is that which we receive from Jesus Christ because of the Propitiation He purchased on Calvary. Even one sin will keep me out of Heaven, but, praise God, I do not have any sin in Christ. He has taken it all away forever.

Those who do not believe in eternal security like to present various real-life or imaginary situations which they believe to prove their point. One person wrote to me and mentioned a well-known evangelist who once was a firey fundamentalist-type preacher but now has become a Charismatic and who has begun to accept Roman Catholics Charismatics as genuine Christians. The reader asked, "Are you saying that he's still saved and is going to heaven or, because his salvation is permanent, he still has a chance to repent?"

The answer is that I don't have revelation about any person's eternal condition, and I have never tried to figure such things out. That is God's business. I know this, though. A man can preach the Gospel and rebuke liberalism without necessarily being born again. I'm not saying that this particular person is not born again. I am saying that it is possible that he is not, and I am saying that I simply do not know. Let me also say that I don't know that this person has rejected the Gospel. He has accepted certain Charismatic doctrines and practices that I believe are unscriptural, but it is the Gospel that saves a man, not what he believes about tongues or healing or ecumenism or many other things.

I do not profess to be able to answer every question which can be raised on this subject. No man can. Eternal security, though, is a Bible doctrine that has satisfied and blessed my heart for 21 years. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

HOW THE BOOK OF HEBREWS TEACHES ETERNAL SECURITY

Some think the book of Hebrews poses unanswerable problems for the doctrine of eternal security, but the opposite is true. In the following ways the book of Hebrews strongly affirms this Bible doctrine:

1 Christs Purging promises security (Heb. 1:3).

2 Christs Rest promises security (Heb. 4:10).

3 Christs Hope promises security (Heb. 6:17-19).

4 Christs High Priesthood promises security (Heb. 7:25,26).

5 Christs Blood promises security (Heb. 9:12,26; 10:14). (1) We have eternal redemption through His blood (Heb. 9:21). (2) Sin is put away through His blood (Heb. 9:26). (3) We are sanctified once for all through His blood (Heb. 10:10). (4) We are perfected forever through His blood (Heb. 10:14).

6 Christs Covenant promises security (Heb. 8:12; 10:16-19).

Cooper Abrams
Romans 12:1-2
http://bible-truth.org