Security of Salvation: Part 5

You are saved by faith alone!

 

Welcome back to my blog. We began several blogs ago a vital section on our security of salvation. This is a critical point to understand scripture. 

 

Christians have entered the gateway to a relationship with God by faith in Christ’s forgiveness for our sins by His death on the cross. Through His gracious sacrifice, God sees us without fault and completely accepted by Him (Ephesians 2:7-9; Romans 3:21-25; Romans 10:9).  

 

It is important to realize that as Christians we are SECURE in our relationship with God.  Why is this critical? We cannot grow in our faith and serve others well if we lack confidence that God accepts us.  

 

This week let us summarize by discussing a vital statement from God regarding our salvation. 

 

Christ alone is sufficient to bring us to salvation

 

God not only endorses eternal security with wonderful promises, as we’ve discussed above, but He also expresses His displeasure to those who do not believe it. This statement is supported by two main passages in Hebrews 6 and Hebrews 10. Let’s examine briefly the primary passage in Hebrews 6, which although it can be controversial, is an exciting statement to our eternal security. 

 

Here are the main points: 

• The author tells the young Hebrew believers that they should be mature by now; being teachers and able to judge quickly between right and wrong (Hebrews 5:12-14). 

• He urges them to leave the rudimentary principles of the faith dealing with issues related to their salvation (Hebrews 6:1-3). 

• He inquired how those who were saved (have known God’s gift and enlightenment and receive the spirit [all words or events consistent with salvation]) and have believed their sins were forgiven, could have another means to salvation apart from Christ (Hebrews 6:4-5). 

• Indeed, their insistence that some sin was not forgiven indicated they would want Jesus to return to the cross and submit to public humiliation again. This is not viewed favorably by God, as you might imagine (Hebrews 6:6). 

• The Hebrew Christians should have recognized their salvation as evidenced by the acts that they had already done (Hebrews 6:9-10). 

• Certainly, the wonderful security we have based in Abraham, God’s promises to him, and His confirmation by an oath, are two things that provide a sure anchor for our souls (Hebrews 6:13-20). 

 

Hebrews 10 also indicates that for those who are unsure of forgiveness there is no other means for salvation except by Christ. The author urges those who doubt their forgiveness to stop and progress in their faith (Hebrews 10:19, Hebrews 10:26-39). 

 

Certainly, we have a wonderful salvation by which Christ is sufficient to cover each and every one of our sins, past, present and future. For us to say that somehow His painful, long, suffering, humiliating and unjust death is not enough to cover all our sins is an offense to God. 

 

To review, to date we have covered now six spectacular scriptural proofs (e.g., 1 Peter 1:4-5)., beyond direct scriptural statements, of our internal security: 

• Spiritual baptism – a new person (Romans 6:2-12) 

• Justification – Declared legally innocent (Romans 3:23-26) 

• Adoption into God’s family (Ephesians 1:5) 

• God’s possession (Ephesians 1:13-14;1 Peter 2:9). 

• Perseverance by God’s power (2 Timothy 1:12). 

• God chose us to salvation (Romans 8:28-20). 

 

In summary, apart from direct statements that we are secure, we have at least six great promises as a believer because of Christ’s redemptive work on the cross, resulting in either legal or morphological irreversible changes. These assurances indicate our secure status with God: spiritual baptism, justified as innocent, God’s possession, and adopted as His children and chosen for salvation. It is our great God that causes us to persevere, not us (1 Timothy 1:12;  Philippians 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:23). 

 

Thank you for visiting my blog today. Return next time as we continue to discover the wonderful work of God in our lives through His wise and holy scripture.  

William C. Stewart, MD

For questions or to view more of our research…

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Disclaimer - This blog and its content are provided only as information. No content on the website should be taken as advice or recommendation to any personal or institutional situation. The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily either shared or endorsed by Teleios. Both the blog and the contents are subject to change at any time without notice. Although I endeavor to ensure that the blog and the content are current and accurate, it may contain errors. I do not represent that the blog or the content is current, accurate or complete, or appropriate for your specific requirements. I do not accept any liability from any person for the blog, the content or any other information (or the use of such information) I provide. I do not have a seminary degree, but I have trained myself in the scriptures to teach and provide this information. For any specific question, I suggest you contact experts in that field and or do your own research into the scriptures.   

Security of Salvation: Part 4

 

Your Relationship with God is Secure!

 

Welcome back to my blog. Several weeks so we began a vital discussion, our security of salvation. This is a critical point to understand scripture.

 

Christians have entered the gateway to a relationship with God by faith in Christ’s forgiveness for our sins by His death on the cross. Through His gracious sacrifice, God sees us without fault and completely accepted by Him (Ephesians 2:7-9; Romans 3:21-25; Romans 10:9). 

 

What is next step? After salvation, it is important to realize that as Christians we are SECURE in our relationship with God. In providing salvation God also has graciously given us promises and positions that cannot be broken.

 

Why is this critical? We cannot grow in our faith and serve others well if we lack confidence that God accepts us. 

 

Over the last several blogs we discussed the critical concepts of our spiritual baptism, justification before God, adoption into God's family and that we are his permanent possession. This week let us examine two more incredible promises from God that confirms the permanent relationship of a born-again believer to our God.  

 

Perseverance 

 

This word is does not appear in the scriptures, however, it represents an important concept built on the fact that God Himself safeguards our salvation and not us. Therefore, we do not have to work or strive to maintain our salvation and worry that we will spoil it in some manner. Important scripture verses pertaining to God’s keeping us are 1 Corinthians 1:8, 2 Timothy 1:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:23 and Philippians 1:6.

 

God chose us to salvation  

 

This important doctrine can be a cause of heated debate. However, as always, we must look to scripture as our source of truth. The Bible tells us that God indeed chose us to come to salvation. Let us look at what scripture says. The primary verses are Ephesians 1:4,5 and 11, as well as Romans 8:28-39.

 

• Reason for God’s choosing  God had to choose us because scripture is clear that we were incapable of choosing Him because of our fallen nature (Psalms 14:1-3: 53:1-3; Romans 3:10-18). As fallen people we would not choose Him, we do not understand him we did not seek h\Him and have no capacity to do good. Consequently, for any of us to be saved God must choose and drag us to salvation (John 6:44). This is out of His mercy and grace; we do not deserve it!

 

• Attitude in choosing us - He chose us to salvation out of graciousness, love, wisdom, knowledge, for His good pleasure and to His praise of His glory (Ephesians 1:4-8).

 

• God must choose - God throughout history has had to choose His servants for His purposes and maintain a remnant of His people to testify of Him on earth; for example, Noah, Moses, Abraham, and David, along with many others. Therefore, the fact that He chose us as Christians to come to know Him is consistent with His past behavior in maintaining a witness in the world.

 

• Intent of the passages describing God’s choosing – The purpose of predestination verses in context is not to create controversy but to give the reader comfort that they are secure in salvation with God. Our salvation is apart from works.

 

Surely, we have a wonderful God who is provided for us a great salvation which is secure and embedded in his great promises that cannot be overturned. He deserves our thanks and praise every day for this kind provision. 

Join me again next time as we continue discuss the great promises that provide security in our salvation.

William C. Stewart, MD

For questions or to view more of our research…

Email     info@teleiosresearch.com 

Website http://teleiosresearch.com/

Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/TeleiosResearch

Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/TeleiosResearch 

Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh6wIbPgxeP0YvypwAn5-9Q

Disclaimer - This blog and its content are provided only as information. No content on the website should be taken as advice or recommendation to any personal or institutional situation. The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily either shared or endorsed by Teleios. Both the blog and the contents are subject to change at any time without notice. Although I endeavor to ensure that the blog and the content are current and accurate, it may contain errors. I do not represent that the blog or the content is current, accurate or complete, or appropriate for your specific requirements. I do not accept any liability from any person for the blog, the content or any other information (or the use of such information) I provide. I do not have a seminary degree, but I have trained myself in the scriptures to teach and provide this information. For any specific question, I suggest you contact experts in that field and or do your own research into the scriptures.   

Security of Salvation: Part 3

Your Relationship with God is Secure!

 

Welcome back to my blog. We began last week a series on our security of salvation. This is a critical point to understand from scripture.

 

Christians have entered the gateway to a relationship with God by faith in Christ’s forgiveness for our sins by His death on the cross. Through His gracious sacrifice, God sees us without fault and completely accepted by Him (Ephesians 2:7-9; Romans 3:21-25; Romans 10:9). 

 

However, after salvation, it is vital to realize that as Christians we are SECURE in our relationship with God. In providing salvation, God also has graciously given us promises and positions that cannot be broken.

 

Why is this critical? We cannot grow in our faith and serve others well if we lack confidence that God accepts us. 

 

Last week we discussed the important concept of our justification before God; that He sees us without sin based on the forgiveness by faith through Christ. This week let us examine two other great promises that point to our permanent relationship with God that cannot be broken. 

 

Adoption 

 

When a family legally adopts a child, the new family member gains all the rights and privileges of a naturally-born offspring (2). In other words, their new status in the family is permanent and cannot be overturned. What great security to the adopted child! 

 

• Likewise, in the ancient Greek and Roman worlds, generally comparable to our own society, adoption provided permanent legal status for a child that could not be overturned (3). 

 

• The Apostle Paul states our status as adopted children into God’s family in four separate places in his epistles, indicating the importance of our assurance following accepting Christ as Savior through faith (Romans 8:15,23; Ephesians 1:5; Galatians 4:5). Consequently, we are children of God, adopted into His family with legal protection and a permanent status. What a great promise! 

 

God’s possession 

 

The wonderful story of our being the possession of God starts in Exodus 19:5-6 when our Father told the redeemed Israelites that He intended them to be a kingdom of priests, a holy nation and His special possession. However, they failed in their commitment to God and sinned against Him. Therefore, they did not become the kingdom of priests or holy nation that God desired. Nonetheless, God will keep His promise to Israel – that the nation will be His eternal possession (Psalm 89; Psalms 132:11-17; Romans 11:26-29). 

 

• However, through Christ’s death on the cross, He redeemed us (purchasing us at the cross) and thereby enabled us to become a kingdom of priests, a holy nation and His special possession (1 Peter 2:9). 

 

• The Spirit’s sealing – We are marked as God’s possession at salvation when the Holy Spirit is given to us as God’s down payment to completing our full redemption (Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9). This is a great promise and is a part of the results of our belief to salvation by faith alone in Christ’s substitutionary work on the cross (Ephesians 2:8-9). 

 

• Seals were used in the ancient world as a legal means to make a document official. If a king had gave a new order, molten wax might be poured on the document to seal it and the king’s signet ring pressed into the wax. The king’s symbol in the wax would tell the carrier or the recipient that the contents of the document were the king’s will and breaking the seal inappropriately or ignoring the order was done at a person’s own peril (4). 

 

• We are sealed by our King and it reflects the same legal and unbreakable character as ancient law. Further, the Spirit seals us throughout our whole life on earth as God’s own possession, until we go to heaven. Importantly, all those who believe by grace in Christ’s forgiveness on the cross are Christians and possess the Spirit and the seal (Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9). 

 

Thank you for visiting my blog. Surely, we have a wonderful God who has provided for us a great salvation which is secure, embedded in his great promises, that cannot be overturned. He deserves our thanks and praise every day for this kind provision. Join me again next time as we continue discuss the great promises that provide our security in our salvation. 

 

William C. Stewart, MD

For questions or to view more of our research…

Email     info@teleiosresearch.com 

Website http://teleiosresearch.com/

Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/TeleiosResearch

Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/TeleiosResearch 

Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh6wIbPgxeP0YvypwAn5-9Q

Disclaimer - This blog and its content are provided only as information. No content on the website should be taken as advice or recommendation to any personal or institutional situation. The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily either shared or endorsed by Teleios. Both the blog and the contents are subject to change at any time without notice. Although I endeavor to ensure that the blog and the content are current and accurate, it may contain errors. I do not represent that the blog or the content is current, accurate or complete, or appropriate for your specific requirements. I do not accept any liability from any person for the blog, the content or any other information (or the use of such information) I provide. I do not have a seminary degree, but I have trained myself in the scriptures to teach and provide this information. For any specific question, I suggest you contact experts in that field and or do your own research into the scriptures.