This study on Salvation article goes hand-in-hand with "SALVATION: THE FREE GIFT and lists below all the scriptures I've found concerning the truth about salvation and eternal life.
"If you believe what you like in the Gospel, and reject what you don't like, it is not the Gospel you believe, but yourself." - Augustine.
Remember, excerpts from God's Word are merely pointers referencing context, and that no single scripture verse is to be isolated and used apart from its context to form or support any man's foredrawn conclusion. Also remember that all pieces of a puzzle must be assembled to complete the picture! Therefore as you read the verses below, I encourage you to:
1. First ask God to give you the wisdom to discern His Truth.
2. Read also the context from which each one was taken.
I am convinced that every truly saved, born-again believer can be reconciled to every other one on all doctrines of the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, if all are willing to embrace God's pure Truth about it. Of this I am absolutely certain: There are no conflicts or contentions in Truth!
There's only one absolute Truth about any doctrinal issue. And God does not deceive any of His children to divide the Body of Christ on any doctrinal issue; that's solely the work of Satan.
There are to be no contentions or divisions among the Body of Christ! Read the following verse from Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. This is very clear and explicit!
Now I beseech you, bretheren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. (1 Cor 1:10)
So whenever there are "believers" standing on opposing sides of the same doctrinal coin (or issue), then at least one of them is blind; one, or more likely both of them is missing a key piece of the Truth that will reconcile them into full agreement with each other! Of this, I am certain.
Therefore, we are not to read scriptures through the colored glasses of pre-conceived "doctrines", or our own fears or prejudices; we are only to read them through the clear glasses of devotion to Truth, whether it makes us right or wrong in our own previous understanding of them. Right?
Isolated verses of God's Word must not be used and "interpreted" to support any man's foredrawn conclusion, including one's own; they are only to be used as they are: simply, clearly and explicitly presented in His Word, to form the one correct conclusion on their own. Teaching God's Word is one thing; teaching my own conclusion of it is another, because then I may be pushing some agenda of my own that is not of God.
Always be willing to throw away anything you've been believing in favor of the Truth! Lean not on your own understanding ... For the natural man perceives not the truth, because it is spiritually discerned. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
Whether you're a "conditional salvationist" or an "eternal security-ist", I know that you stand always at the ready, fully prepared to counter anything anyone can come up with to counter your stance on the issue. Scholars on opposing sides of any issue are always fully prepared to counter anything the other may present. "You show me yours and I'll show you mine" is proposed by some, under the pretense of having teachable spirits. But that will get them nowhere if they remain too obsessed with defending their own understandings of the Truth to hear it.
I am certain that those who stand on either side of the conditional vs. eternal security issue (of which I am on neither side) can be reconciled to each other under the one pure and simple truth about it. But this can only happen if (and this is a big if) they are all willing to abandon their own understanding and self-assurance, drop their own assumptions, drop their own agenda, and remove any spiritual blinders.
I was once given the key truth that reconciles this issue, and could very well dispell all contentions among the Body of Christ on this issue! Here are the words that came out of his mouth: "Yes, God loves everybody. But only those who love Him are saved." Very profound!
And here is my version of it: The Lord is my Shepherd, yes; but only if I am one of His sheep!
Idol worship will make you blind to Truth and open to Satan. Are you devoted to God and His undivided Truth, or are you devoted to your own understanding or that of some other man whom you may be convinced is a "good teacher". In fact, the Bible says there is only one "good teacher" we can fully trust to be infallible:
These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. (1 John 2:26-27)
No mere mortal man is my teacher, though many may want to assume the position of teacher with me. Neither am I a teacher. All I can safely do is to present the evidence of scriptures alone. I purpose to search out and present ALL relative scriptures on any topic, as evidence of God's wisdom, without regard to the favorite ones of separatist preachers and churches.
Self-determined "teachers" of divisional doctrines, who stand on opposing sides of doctrinal issues, are predisposed by the enemy to teach and not be taught; often too puffed up and self-assured by their own knowledge, credentials, study time invested, and/or their categorically accepted conclusions of other men.
I had a pastor once who was admittedly a disciple of a highly acclaimed "teacher" and purpose driven preacher of Calvinist beliefs. I am convinced that Calvinism is a doctrine of devils. Once his ministry failed, I have a feeling that he took his blinders off once and for all and decided to search out the one reconciling Truth of God on all issues from now on. His very encouraging last words were, "I'm not sure I know anything, but Christ and Him crucified." Well, Amen Brother.
It's high time for the Bride of Christ to be completely unified under one Truth, God's Truth! Will Christ ever return for a Bride whose body parts are insistently separated one from another, polarized against each other on major doctrinal issues about Jesus and the work He did?
Now ask our Lord Jesus to remove any spiritual blinders from your eyes, and to reveal His one Truth to you as you read through the following scriptures.
The Scriptures on Salvation
The following are scripture verses pertaining to salvation from the New Testament of the Holy Bible (King James Version, my own words in parentheses, emphasis added):
Matthew 5:17-20 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. (Note: Which He afterwards did on the cross, right?) Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Note: What is the Only Way that any man's righteousness can exceed that of the scribes and pharisees? Faith in Jesus Christ, right? Otherwise, our own attempts at being sin-free are futile.)
Mat 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good (teacher)? there is good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
Mat 22:37-40 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
John 1:12-13 But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
3:14-15 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness (see next scripture exerpt), even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Numbers 21:6-9 And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
John 3:16-18 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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
John 6:27-29 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:47-51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
John 8:42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
John 11:25-26 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
John 12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. (And what were His commandments again?)
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Romans 3:22-25 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forebearance of God;
3:27-28 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay, but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
5:1-2 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
5:8-10 But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
6:3-14 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
6:14-18 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
8:1-2 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.
10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
1 Corinthians 1:7-9 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
8:9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 Now He which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God: Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new,...
11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith (note that it doesn't say "daily"; this is a common mis-quote of those who believe in conditional salvation); prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
Galatians 2:4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God; for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
3:6-7 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, the just shall live by faith.
3:26-27 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
4:7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
5:13-14 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
Ephesians 1:4-5 According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love; Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
1:12-14 That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ;
2:13 For it is God who worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.
3:9 And be found in Him, not having mine own righteouosness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith;
Colossians 1:21-23 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight; if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard...
2:13-14 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses(note: all trespasses, not just past ones and not just ones you remember to ask forgiveness for); Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to the cross.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it.
2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
1Timothy 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
Titus 3:5-7 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Hebrews 3:12-14 Take heed, bretheren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God ... lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end. (Note for the conditional salvationist: Where is your confidence?)
3:3, 10 For we which have believed do enter into rest ... For he that has entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His.
10:22-23 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith ...Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;)
10:26 For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.
10:29 Of how much sorer punishment , suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
10:38 Now the just shall live by faith; but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
(Note: for a more complete concept of faith, read the entire Hebrews chapter 11)
James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
2:17-18, 20, 24 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works; shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will show you my faith by my works ... But wilt thou know, 0 vain man, that faith without works is dead? ... Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. (Note: Good works are evidence of faith, the result or good fruit of faith, not the justification.)
1 Peter 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ...
1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time.
1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
2:15-16 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.
3:2-3 ...but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is, and every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.
3:23 And this is His commandment, That we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
4:13, 15 Hereby know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He hath given us of His Spirit...Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself;...
5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (Note: Notice he wrote "...that ye may know you have eternal life," not that ye may hope or wish for it. Herein lies the confidence, yes?)
5:18 We know that whoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
2 John 1:9 ...He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
Jude 1:24 Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,...
Conclusion
Now maybe I'm wrong, but I sure can't find any "conditional security" in any of these, as long as I don't get an "evil heart of unbelief" and "lose my confidence and blessed assurance" in Him to complete the work He has begun in me! I trust Jesus my savior for my salvation, not my own ability to keep myself sinless. It is He who will carry me through to the end. I now rest in peace, rest in Him, having already received eternal life. You can't lose eternal life once you have it, unless you abandon it; that's the whole thing about "eternal".
I have already passed from death unto life, according to the clear, explicit, and simple Truth of God's infallible Word about His free gift. I already have the end of my confidence in Him. I'm as good as there with Him, and believe me, knowing that gives me great joy, and only makes me want to please Him more!
And I have great joy in that hope. True hope is not a "I hope I get there" hope, but a "It's a sure thing" hope, a looking forward to what I already have, because He is faithful Who promised, and He has sealed me for redemption.
I love Him for doing the work for me and not making me have to worry about doing it on my own. That's why I have such a heart to please Him and sin no more! "...I'll show you my faith by my works." - Paul
My final note to all who stand on one opposing side or the other of the salvation issue: Be careful of your evil heart of unbelief in departing from the simple Truth of the Gospel of our living Lord, and in causing any division among the Body of Christ on doctrinal issues. I urge you, brothers and sisters, to denounce any blindness to the one, simple, reconciling Truth of God, and repent of serving Satan in his attempts to divide and conquer the Body of Christ.
"If you believe what you like in the Gospel, and reject what you don't like, it is not the Gospel you believe, but yourself." - Augustine.
Remember, excerpts from God's Word are merely pointers referencing context, and that no single scripture verse is to be isolated and used apart from its context to form or support any man's foredrawn conclusion. Also remember that all pieces of a puzzle must be assembled to complete the picture! Therefore as you read the verses below, I encourage you to:
1. First ask God to give you the wisdom to discern His Truth.
2. Read also the context from which each one was taken.
I am convinced that every truly saved, born-again believer can be reconciled to every other one on all doctrines of the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, if all are willing to embrace God's pure Truth about it. Of this I am absolutely certain: There are no conflicts or contentions in Truth!
There's only one absolute Truth about any doctrinal issue. And God does not deceive any of His children to divide the Body of Christ on any doctrinal issue; that's solely the work of Satan.
There are to be no contentions or divisions among the Body of Christ! Read the following verse from Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. This is very clear and explicit!
Now I beseech you, bretheren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. (1 Cor 1:10)
So whenever there are "believers" standing on opposing sides of the same doctrinal coin (or issue), then at least one of them is blind; one, or more likely both of them is missing a key piece of the Truth that will reconcile them into full agreement with each other! Of this, I am certain.
Therefore, we are not to read scriptures through the colored glasses of pre-conceived "doctrines", or our own fears or prejudices; we are only to read them through the clear glasses of devotion to Truth, whether it makes us right or wrong in our own previous understanding of them. Right?
Isolated verses of God's Word must not be used and "interpreted" to support any man's foredrawn conclusion, including one's own; they are only to be used as they are: simply, clearly and explicitly presented in His Word, to form the one correct conclusion on their own. Teaching God's Word is one thing; teaching my own conclusion of it is another, because then I may be pushing some agenda of my own that is not of God.
Always be willing to throw away anything you've been believing in favor of the Truth! Lean not on your own understanding ... For the natural man perceives not the truth, because it is spiritually discerned. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
Whether you're a "conditional salvationist" or an "eternal security-ist", I know that you stand always at the ready, fully prepared to counter anything anyone can come up with to counter your stance on the issue. Scholars on opposing sides of any issue are always fully prepared to counter anything the other may present. "You show me yours and I'll show you mine" is proposed by some, under the pretense of having teachable spirits. But that will get them nowhere if they remain too obsessed with defending their own understandings of the Truth to hear it.
I am certain that those who stand on either side of the conditional vs. eternal security issue (of which I am on neither side) can be reconciled to each other under the one pure and simple truth about it. But this can only happen if (and this is a big if) they are all willing to abandon their own understanding and self-assurance, drop their own assumptions, drop their own agenda, and remove any spiritual blinders.
I was once given the key truth that reconciles this issue, and could very well dispell all contentions among the Body of Christ on this issue! Here are the words that came out of his mouth: "Yes, God loves everybody. But only those who love Him are saved." Very profound!
And here is my version of it: The Lord is my Shepherd, yes; but only if I am one of His sheep!
Idol worship will make you blind to Truth and open to Satan. Are you devoted to God and His undivided Truth, or are you devoted to your own understanding or that of some other man whom you may be convinced is a "good teacher". In fact, the Bible says there is only one "good teacher" we can fully trust to be infallible:
These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. (1 John 2:26-27)
No mere mortal man is my teacher, though many may want to assume the position of teacher with me. Neither am I a teacher. All I can safely do is to present the evidence of scriptures alone. I purpose to search out and present ALL relative scriptures on any topic, as evidence of God's wisdom, without regard to the favorite ones of separatist preachers and churches.
Self-determined "teachers" of divisional doctrines, who stand on opposing sides of doctrinal issues, are predisposed by the enemy to teach and not be taught; often too puffed up and self-assured by their own knowledge, credentials, study time invested, and/or their categorically accepted conclusions of other men.
I had a pastor once who was admittedly a disciple of a highly acclaimed "teacher" and purpose driven preacher of Calvinist beliefs. I am convinced that Calvinism is a doctrine of devils. Once his ministry failed, I have a feeling that he took his blinders off once and for all and decided to search out the one reconciling Truth of God on all issues from now on. His very encouraging last words were, "I'm not sure I know anything, but Christ and Him crucified." Well, Amen Brother.
It's high time for the Bride of Christ to be completely unified under one Truth, God's Truth! Will Christ ever return for a Bride whose body parts are insistently separated one from another, polarized against each other on major doctrinal issues about Jesus and the work He did?
Now ask our Lord Jesus to remove any spiritual blinders from your eyes, and to reveal His one Truth to you as you read through the following scriptures.
The Scriptures on Salvation
The following are scripture verses pertaining to salvation from the New Testament of the Holy Bible (King James Version, my own words in parentheses, emphasis added):
Matthew 5:17-20 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. (Note: Which He afterwards did on the cross, right?) Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Note: What is the Only Way that any man's righteousness can exceed that of the scribes and pharisees? Faith in Jesus Christ, right? Otherwise, our own attempts at being sin-free are futile.)
Mat 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good (teacher)? there is good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
Mat 22:37-40 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
John 1:12-13 But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
3:14-15 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness (see next scripture exerpt), even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Numbers 21:6-9 And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
John 3:16-18 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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
John 6:27-29 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:47-51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
John 8:42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
John 11:25-26 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
John 12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. (And what were His commandments again?)
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Romans 3:22-25 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forebearance of God;
3:27-28 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay, but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
5:1-2 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
5:8-10 But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
6:3-14 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
6:14-18 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
8:1-2 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.
10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
1 Corinthians 1:7-9 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
8:9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 Now He which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God: Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new,...
11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith (note that it doesn't say "daily"; this is a common mis-quote of those who believe in conditional salvation); prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
Galatians 2:4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God; for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
3:6-7 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, the just shall live by faith.
3:26-27 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
4:7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
5:13-14 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
Ephesians 1:4-5 According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love; Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
1:12-14 That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ;
2:13 For it is God who worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.
3:9 And be found in Him, not having mine own righteouosness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith;
Colossians 1:21-23 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight; if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard...
2:13-14 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses(note: all trespasses, not just past ones and not just ones you remember to ask forgiveness for); Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to the cross.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it.
2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
1Timothy 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
Titus 3:5-7 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Hebrews 3:12-14 Take heed, bretheren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God ... lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end. (Note for the conditional salvationist: Where is your confidence?)
3:3, 10 For we which have believed do enter into rest ... For he that has entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His.
10:22-23 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith ...Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;)
10:26 For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.
10:29 Of how much sorer punishment , suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
10:38 Now the just shall live by faith; but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
(Note: for a more complete concept of faith, read the entire Hebrews chapter 11)
James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
2:17-18, 20, 24 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works; shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will show you my faith by my works ... But wilt thou know, 0 vain man, that faith without works is dead? ... Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. (Note: Good works are evidence of faith, the result or good fruit of faith, not the justification.)
1 Peter 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ...
1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time.
1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
2:15-16 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.
3:2-3 ...but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is, and every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.
3:23 And this is His commandment, That we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
4:13, 15 Hereby know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He hath given us of His Spirit...Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself;...
5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (Note: Notice he wrote "...that ye may know you have eternal life," not that ye may hope or wish for it. Herein lies the confidence, yes?)
5:18 We know that whoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
2 John 1:9 ...He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
Jude 1:24 Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,...
Conclusion
Now maybe I'm wrong, but I sure can't find any "conditional security" in any of these, as long as I don't get an "evil heart of unbelief" and "lose my confidence and blessed assurance" in Him to complete the work He has begun in me! I trust Jesus my savior for my salvation, not my own ability to keep myself sinless. It is He who will carry me through to the end. I now rest in peace, rest in Him, having already received eternal life. You can't lose eternal life once you have it, unless you abandon it; that's the whole thing about "eternal".
I have already passed from death unto life, according to the clear, explicit, and simple Truth of God's infallible Word about His free gift. I already have the end of my confidence in Him. I'm as good as there with Him, and believe me, knowing that gives me great joy, and only makes me want to please Him more!
And I have great joy in that hope. True hope is not a "I hope I get there" hope, but a "It's a sure thing" hope, a looking forward to what I already have, because He is faithful Who promised, and He has sealed me for redemption.
I love Him for doing the work for me and not making me have to worry about doing it on my own. That's why I have such a heart to please Him and sin no more! "...I'll show you my faith by my works." - Paul
My final note to all who stand on one opposing side or the other of the salvation issue: Be careful of your evil heart of unbelief in departing from the simple Truth of the Gospel of our living Lord, and in causing any division among the Body of Christ on doctrinal issues. I urge you, brothers and sisters, to denounce any blindness to the one, simple, reconciling Truth of God, and repent of serving Satan in his attempts to divide and conquer the Body of Christ.
1 comment:
Hi Terry, I have a blog in my drafts ready to go for the following Monday's blog. I don't cover Eternal Security but I make a similar point. I agree with you 100% on your conclusion and about keeping things in context. Many base a doctrine on a single Scripture. I see it a lot.
Enjoyed your piece.
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