Eternal Security and Gospel Assurance
By Mike Gendron
Did you know over half of professing Christianity denies or rejects the Gospel’s divine promise of eternal life? Our Lord Jesus made His gracious and unbreakable promise very clear: “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life” (John 5:24). The apostle John wrote an entire epistle to show believers that we can know that we have eternal life (1 John 5:13). True saving faith is the assurance of things hoped for, and our greatest hope is eternal, everlasting life with our Savior (Heb. 11:1). Yet, Satan wants to rob Christians of their joy, peace, freedom and confidence in Christ. He persuades people to believe the lies of false teachers, rather than trust the power and promises of God found in His inspired Word. Believers are eternally secure because of God’s omnipotent power and unbreakable promises.
Power of Almighty God
Everyone who has been born again to a living hope is protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time (1 Peter 1:3-5). Not only are all believers protected by the omnipotent power of God, but their inheritance is imperishable, undefiled and reserved in heaven.
Promises of Our Great God and Savior
Our Lord Jesus promised, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out” (John 6:37). Our Savior’s unbreakable promise is confirmed by God’s will. “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:40).
Perpetual Intercession of Jesus
Our Lord Jesus “is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:25).
Proof of Christ’s Unconditional Love
Paul wrote: “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:35, 37-39).
Protection of the Good Shepherd
The Good Shepherd described His protection this way: ““My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:27-28). Jesus “is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy” (Jude 1:24). Our eternal destiny is assured because the Good Shepherd keeps us and protects us.
Permanence of Divine Gifts
The inspired Word of God assures us that the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable (Rom. 11:29). God will never take back His gracious, indescribable gift of salvation (Eph. 2:8-9)
Plain Meaning of the Word “Eternal”
Throughout the Bible, the word “eternal” is used to describe many things that are everlasting and never-ending. Everyone who believes the eternal Gospel is promised eternal redemption through the eternal Spirit, who guarantees our eternal inheritance (Heb. 9:12; Eph. 1:14). Our eternal God’s eternal purpose promises eternal life and eternal glory to His children in His eternal kingdom (Rev. 14:6; Rom. 16:26; 1 John 5:13; 1 Pet. 5:10; 2 Pet.1:11). Those who deny or reject God’s promise of eternal life need to reconsider what the word “eternal” means. They will have to answer these rhetorical questions:
• How can one who has been made complete in Christ become incomplete? (Col. 2:10)
• How can one who has been born again of incorruptible seed die again? (1 Pet. 1:23)
• How can one who is kept by the power of God ever fall away? (1 Pet. 1:5)
• How can one who has been perfected forever be found imperfect? (Heb. 10:14)
• How could God break His promise to glorify everyone He justifies? (Rom. 8:30)
• How can the Good Shepherd fail to protect and keep His sheep? (John 10:1-30)
• How can the proof of God’s unconditional love be invalidated? (Rom. 8:31-39)
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the greatest news anyone could ever hear because it offers the greatest gift anyone could ever receive! Let us proclaim it faithfully, completely, and passionately for the glory of Christ and the salvation of those who are perishing You might even want to forward this article to your friends and loved ones!