Eternal Security: Difficult Passages 1 :: By Mark A. Becker

Some Christians claim and will cite passages of Scripture they believe confirm their position that a true Spirit-indwelt believer in Jesus Christ can lose their salvation. Conversely, other Christians assert that all born-again Spirit-indwelt believers in Messiah Yeshua have Eternal Security, a doctrine that says a converted Spirit-indwelt believer who truly accepts the Lord is eternally secure in their salvation and can never fall away from the faith.

Those who have followed my writings know where I stand on this issue: Every truly born-again Spirit indwelt believer has divine Eternal Security. The Father does not make oversights when He gifts a true believer in His Son with His indwelling Holy Spirit for life!

This study series seeks to evaluate Difficult Passages that some Christians say contradict the doctrine of Eternal Security.

When it comes to our topic, we should be cognizant of the fact that there have always been three groups of people within the professing church. These three groups are born-again Spirit- indwelt believers, Carnal Christians, and False Converts. Therefore, as we have pointed out in many other studies, the student of the Word needs to keep these three groups in mind, as the Brit Chadashah (New Testament Scriptures) addresses all three groups in various passages with differing approaches and degrees that need to be discerned.

Many of these difficult passages with their proper interpretations, in most cases, are dependent upon the status of whether an individual is truly saved or not – that is, born-again Spirit indwelt believers (including Carnal Christians) and False Converts. Based upon the status of whether an individual is truly saved or not is how these passages must be recognized, understood, interpreted, and applied. This crucial interpretive consideration will become more apparent as we move along in our study.

All underlined Scripture passages are my own emphasis.

We are going to begin this study series with the following passage, as in it we see a definition of someone who falls away or departs from the faith they once professed.

1 Timothy 4:1

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils…” – 1 Timothy 4:1

The Greek for “shall depart from” is ἀποστήσονταί “apostēsontai” from 868 ἀφίστημι “aphistēmi” and, within Paul’s context, means to withdraw oneself from: absolutely to fall away.

This contextual definition goes hand-in-glove with Christ’s Parable of the Sower and the Seed, and the seed that fell on rocky soil:

“They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away (aphistantai from 868 aphistēmi).” – Luke 8:13

Clearly, this is a falling away or departure from the faith that one had previously professed. Observably, anyone who “shall depart from the faith” they once professed, “giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils,” was never saved to begin with. These deluded people would be False Converts who had false conversions within the church – and sadly, there are many!

This same word is used by the writer of Hebrews, stressing that it is “an evil heart of unbelief” that results in one “departing from the living God”:

“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing [ἀποστῆναι “apostēnai”] from the living God.” – Hebrews 3:12

There is no losing of one’s salvation in this verse, as those who fall away or depart from the faith they once professed were never saved to begin with. This is a warning that more and more False Converts will inhabit many churches in the latter times.

Two Parables

There are two parables of Christ that are often cited by those who claim that someone can lose their salvation.

The Parable of the Sower and the Seed

In this parable, Messiah speaks of four categories of people in the world who hear the Word of God with their differing responses, consequences, and ultimate outcomes in relation to salvation found in the life-saving gospel message: The Unsaved, False Converts, Carnal Christians, and Spirit-indwelt born-again Christians.

Please see our study The Parable of the Sower and the Seed for more on this parable.

Matthew 25:1-3 – The Parable of the 10 Virgins

In this parable, Christ is showing two groups of people within the professing church: Spirit-indwelt born-again believers (which would include Carnal Christians) and False Converts. Five were wise and went out to meet the Bridegroom and were taken to the marriage, while five were foolish and were shut out of the marriage and left behind.

While the oil is a symbolic representation of the Holy Spirit in Messiah’s parable, the fact that the five Foolish Virgins had taken no oil and their lamps had gone out conveys to the hearer that the Holy Spirit the five Foolish Virgins thought they had provides evidence they never had the indwelling Holy Spirit to begin with – thus, deceiving themselves and others of their profession of faith and self-declared salvation.

The parable of the five Foolish Virgins plays out practically in the many times we have witnessed a professing believer, Pastor, Bible teacher, or Christian musician who seems to have the gift of the Spirit in their lives, yet tragically falls away, denying the faith and the Lord he or she once professed. Heartbreakingly, we all have encountered this time and time again. This is the sad fate of the five Foolish Virgins when the rapture occurs.

Please see our study Matthew 25:1-13 – The Parable of the 10 Virgins for more on this parable.

In both parables, there are no hints that anyone can lose their salvation.

1 Corinthians 10:12

“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” – 1 Corinthians 10:12

Paul, in this passage, is reminding his hearers in Corinth of the Israelites in the wilderness and how many of them fell into sin from fleshly temptations, giving the Corinthians a pragmatic warning from Israel’s historical example.

The Greek for “he fall” is πέσῃ “pesē” from 4098 “piptō” and means to fall from a state of uprightness, to sin.

This is obviously not a falling away or departing from the faith, which only False Converts are capable of. Rather, this is a falling into sin that results from giving in to temptation, usually because the Christian is overconfident in their own steadfastness and not exclusively relying on the Lord and the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Unfortunately, Christians can and do sin from temptations from time to time, though sin in a Spirit-indwelt believer’s life should decrease the more they mature in Christ.

Paul summarizes his discourse with the following:

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

“Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13-14

There is no losing of one’s salvation in this passage; just a warning to be on guard against temptations that can lead a believer to sin, just as many in Israel succumbed to their temptations in the wilderness.

Colossians 1:23

“If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister…” – Colossians 1:23

The Greek for “moved away” is μετακινούμενοι “metakinoumenoi” from 3334 μετακινέω “metakineō,” which means to move from a place, to move away, to stir to a place elsewhere.

This is the only place in the New Testament where this word is used, and the context makes it clear that this is not a falling away or a departure from the faith that one professes, but a moving away from “the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard.” That is, a moving away from the amazing hope one usually experiences upon hearing the gospel message at conversion; a moving away from that divinely given, wonderful, and precious hope found only in Christ.

Paul is encouraging his hearers to “continue in the faith grounded and settled,” and not lose sight of their hope in Christ’s gospel message when various situations arise.

However, we can see in this passage an allusion that can speak to the three groups of people in the professing church – born-again Spirit-indwelt believers, Carnal Christians, and False Converts – which is quite common in the Brit Chadashah.

For truly, a born-again Spirit-indwelt believer will “continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel,” though at times they may falter and lose “hope” for a time, but will never fall away or depart from their faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. A False Convert, on the other hand, will not “continue in the faith grounded and settled,” and will be moved away from the hope of the gospel forever, leading up to their outward departure from the faith they once professed.

Furthermore, Paul’s warning should also be heeded by Carnal Christians, who are saved but live life generally by the flesh and not the Spirit, for they can find themselves not grounded and settled in the faith, moved away from the hope of Christ because of their carnality.

We contrasted Carnal Christians with False Converts in The Parable of the Sower and the Seed, with the following observation:

I imagine that just about every true Spirit-indwelt believer has gone through a time of being a Carnal Christian, usually in their early walk. I know I have. It is honestly a frightening and terrifying place to be, because often the spiritual manifestation between a Carnal Christian and a False Covert in all appearances and forms is a razor-thin line that only the Lord can truly discern.

These brothers and sisters urgently need our help and guidance in encouraging them to forsake the world and give themselves wholeheartedly to Jesus Christ’s gospel message and His Salvation Kingdom, loving and serving Him and loving and serving others.

They also need to heed the admonitions of both Peter and Paul:

“Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure” – 2 Peter 1:10

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” – 2 Corinthians 13:5

Colossians 1:23 encourages believers to stay strong in their hope found only in Christ. Additionally, all three people groups within the professing church can profit from the teaching of Paul if properly applied. There is no losing of one’s salvation in this passage.

1 Timothy 3:6-7

“Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.” – 1 Timothy 3:6-7

The Greek for “he fall” in both usages is ἐμπέσῃ “empesē” from 1706 ἐμπίπτω “empiptō” and means to fall into, to be entrapped by, or figuratively to be overwhelmed with.

This passage is within Paul’s instructions to Timothy on how to recognize who is worthy of the important position of bishop (overseer) within the church.

I have a question for the reader concerning verse six: What was “the condemnation of the devil”? Satan’s condemnation was his unbridled pride, which is exactly what Paul is warning against for those who would desire to take up the position of being a bishop, an overseer of the church. Even the saved are in jeopardy of being prideful, and this characteristic is not worthy of a bishop.

Another way of looking at verse six is that our adversary is also our accuser. We learn this in Revelation when Satan is cast out of his access to heaven at the midway point of the Tribulation.

“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him… for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.” – Revelation 12:9-10

Whenever we fall into sin, we fall into “the condemnation of the devil,” as he accuses us before the throne of God. Thankfully, we have our advocacy from our Lord.

“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” – 1 John 2:1

And our follow-up question to verse seven: What does it mean to “fall into reproach and the snare of the devil”? Well, Satan, as the great deceiver, can tarnish a bishop’s testimony and witness if they do not “have a good report of them which are without” the church when they are in the world. A bishop’s testimony and witness out in the world must be consistent with what that bishop projects within the church. If there is conflict with how a bishop behaves in the church versus how he behaves in the world, then the bishop has fallen “into reproach and the snare of the devil” and is unworthy of this important position within the church.

Paul’s warning should not only be directed at those who desire the office of bishop – that of being susceptible to pride and falling into sin and reproach from them that are without – but a warning to all of God’s children!

There is no suggestion of anyone losing their salvation in this passage; just a warning to church leaders in how to choose their bishops wisely.

1 Timothy 5:15

“For some are already turned aside after Satan.” – 1 Timothy 5:15

The Greek for “turned aside” is ἐξετράπησαν “exetrapēsan” from 1624 ἐκτρέπω “ektrepō” and means contextually to turn away from one in order to follow another.

This verse is in Paul’s discourse on widows, particularly young widows. Note how Paul leads into this verse concerning some young widows:

“Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man.

“Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.

“But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; Having damnation [Paul’s “judgment”], because they have cast off their first faith.

“And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

“I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.” – 1 Timothy 5:9-15

Paul’s warning is that young widows are very susceptible to “casting of their first faith” in their walk with Christ and becoming women who partake in idleness as tattlers and busybodies, “speaking things which they ought not.” This is another example of one following the leading and guiding of the Spirit versus one living carnally in the world, fulfilling the lust of the flesh (Romans 8:4-8).

By doing these things, these young widows essentially “turn aside after Satan” instead of keeping “their first faith,” which would be in serving their Lord only. The contrast is essentially that older widows would generally seek to serve the Lord exclusively after their husbands had died, but, with younger widows, there was a conflict of this interest as their desires would be to remarry (which is not wrong, of course, and is what Paul eventually encouraged) and/or doing and speaking those “things they ought not” to. These are very harsh words on the part of Paul concerning some young widows within the church at that time who were turning away from serving Christ exclusively and then following “after Satan” – our adversary – in doing and speaking these “things which they ought not.”

Now it should be noted that if any young widow persisted in their turning aside after Satan in doing and speaking these “things which they ought not” after being rebuked, ultimately departing from the faith they once professed and rejecting Christ, they would be showing themselves to have been False Converts all along. (Outwardly, some may not have been believers in the first place, but their deceased husbands were; therefore, their widowhoods were still entrusted to the church on behalf of their deceased believing husbands.)

However, since all truly born-again Christians still have a conflicting spiritual battle raging between their spirit and their flesh because of their inherent sin-natures, many of these young widows, after being rebuked by church leadership and redirected back from doing and speaking “things they ought not,” just as any Christian who falls into sin for a time, would find themselves back on track in fulfilling their God-given callings and repenting from their foolish past behaviors and deeds.

While the language seems difficult (and it is certainly harsh), this verse has nothing to do with anyone losing their salvation; only a warning against young widow’s temptations to turn their attentions away from their walk of faith and toward the adversary in doing and speaking “things they ought not,” with Paul’s commandment and admonishment for them to “marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully,” which is their God-given roles and responsibilities as young widowed women. The admonitions applicable to False Covert and outwardly non-believing young widows of believing deceased husbands are also evident.

Revelation 3:5

“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” – Revelation 3:5

In every letter to the seven churches, Christ refers to “him/he that overcometh” (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26, 3:5, 12, 21). Does Christ’s references imply that there will be those who are truly born-again Spirit indwelt believers who will not “overcometh”? Absolutely not. Those that “overcometh” will be those who are truly born-again and Spirit indwelt. Remember, God does not make mistakes when He gifts true converts with His Holy Spirit.

But how does one “overcometh? Take note of the following passages.

Jesus is the One who overcame the world on our behalf:

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33

The Apostle John wrote his first epistle to reassure and give practical assessments for the professing Christian to honestly scrutinize their own position in Christ.

“I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.

“I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.” – 1 John 2:12-14

Those who have “overcome” are those whose “sins are forgiven… for His Name’s sake…, have known Him that is from the beginning…, have known the Father…, the Word of God abideth in [them], and have overcome the wicked one.” These are all evidences of born-again Spirit-indwelt believers, just as those who will “overcometh” in the seven churches of Revelation will also be born-again Spirit-indwelt believers.

“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he [the Holy Spirit] that is in you, than he that is in the world.” – 1 John 4:4

And if there is any doubt…

“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” – 1 John 5:4-5

Here is the glorious reward for all born-again Spirit indwelt believers who “overcometh” because of their faith in Jesus, the Son of God:

“He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” – Revelation 21:7

Conversely – and certainly a dire warning to all professing Christians within the churches to “make [their] calling and election sure” (2 Peter 1:10) – those who do not “overcometh” in the church are and were False Converts who were never born-again and never had the indwelling Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9).

There is no hint to anyone losing their salvation in these passages.

The Epistles of Peter, James, and The Book of Hebrews

The epistles of Peter, James, and the book of Hebrews are uniquely directed specifically towards Israelites as opposed to professing Christians in the churches – Israelites and Gentiles – that Paul, John, and Jude addressed in their letters.

It is vitally important that the student of the Word understands that these epistles are first and foremost an outreach to all Israelites in the known world at the time the authors wrote their letters. They desired, as Paul did, to help lead as many Israelites as possible to Messiah Yeshua.

These teachings tend to revolve around the concepts already established in the hearts and minds of the Israelites and how they perceived and understood the Word of God (Tanakh) that they were very familiar with, and how the chosen people of God interpreted the Judaism they practiced.

Critically, in these epistles, the student of the Bible needs to assess each passage while attempting to discern whether the authors are directing their message to the Israelites as Hebrews only, or as professing members already established within the church, saved by grace through faith in Messiah Yeshua. The difficult passages can often be best understood as relating uniquely to the recipient Israelites – how they understood the oracles of God through their interpretation of Judaism and the Jewish Scriptures – contrasting Israel’s ancient past and how their ancestors responded to God and His revealed Word with how the Israelites of the writer’s day should be responding to the New Covenant they preached.

The analogies the authors are presenting in each of their epistles are first and foremost an effort to lead the recipient Israelites to saving faith in Messiah Yeshua, as well as edifying and encouraging those who professed to have already accepted Messiah Yeshua as their Lord and Savior.

2 Peter 2:20-22

“For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.” – 2 Peter 2:20

Peter is addressing False Teachers that invaded (and will continue to invade) the churches of Christ, though one might not know it from this one single verse. Peter begins chapter two with the following words that reveal to us who he is specifically targeting in 2 Peter 2:20…

“But there were false prophets also among the people [of Israel], even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.” – 2 Peter 2:1

Given that these False Teachers comprehended “the knowledge of the Lord,” and would “have escaped the pollutions of the world” through that understanding – had they truly believed with their hearts (Romans 10:9-10) – their end now is worse than the beginning when they did not know “the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

False Teachers are always representative of False Converts who also infest the church; thus, False Teachers, as False Converts, never had saving faith in Jesus Christ to begin with.

Here are Peter’s concluding two verses that follow 2 Peter 2:20.

“For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.” – 2 Peter 2:21 (“For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required…” – Luke 12:48)

As observed above, these False Convert False Teachers were delivered the truth by born-again preachers and teachers, and they knew and understood “the way of righteousness,” but they turned “from the holy commandment” that they heard so they could deceive the Lord’s flock and draw disciples after themselves.

“But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.” – 2 Peter 2:22

A perfect depiction of those who reject the revealed Word of God, as False Converts/False Teachers, who, after they have known and understood the truth, go on to reject that precious gospel in favor of deceiving people for dirty lucre and gain, addicted to lusts of every kind. The Brit Chadashah speaks much about these wicked men, virtually in every epistle.

These False Teachers were never saved to begin with; therefore, there is no losing of one’s salvation in this passage.

2 Peter 3:17

“Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.” – 2 Peter 3:17

The Greek for “ye also, / fall from” (which is the literal order of the original language, “being led away ye also fall from your own steadfastness”) is ἐκπέσητε “ekpesēte” from 1601 ἐκπίπτω “ekpiptō” means to drop away; specially, be driven out of one’s course; figuratively, to lose, become inefficient: — be cast, fail, fall (away, off), take none effect.

Contextually, to fall from a thing, to lose it, is the idea behind this Greek phrase.

The Greek for “steadfastness” is στηριγμοῦ “stērigmou” from 4740 στηριγμός “stērigmos” – used only this one time – and means stability (figuratively): — stedfastness, firm condition, steadfastness: of mind.

Again, False Teachers are the subject in this verse. The warning is for those who might be led astray by the false teachings of False Teachers.

The connotation of this verse again seems to be dependent upon the individual, and the application may be considered a dual warning to both born-again Spirit-indwelt believers (which would include Carnal Christians) and False Converts.

When it comes to a truly born-again Spirit-indwelt person, they may for a time be “led astray” by the teachings of False Teachers and “fall from [their] own stedfastness,” but they will never fall away and depart from the faith, denying their Lord and Savior.

On the other hand, False Converts will be “led astray” by the False Teachers and “fall from [their] own [perceived] stedfastness,” departing from their professed faith they never truly had.

The end-result of each person will be dictated by the eternal standing of the individual – truly saved or False Convert – both of whom may be “led astray” by False Teachers, but there is absolutely no reason for anyone to believe that Peter is promoting a teaching that a born-again Spirit-indwelt person can lose their salvation in this verse.

Peter concludes his teaching with the following encouragement to those who are truly saved:

“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” – 2 Peter 3:18

Hebrews

[We will be discussing the book of Hebrews in our next two study articles, Eternal Security: Difficult Passages 2 and Eternal Security: Difficult Passages 3.]

James 5:19-20

“Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” – James 5:19-20

The Greek for “do error” is πλανηθῇ “planēthē” from 4105 πλανάω “planaō” and in context means to be led aside from the path of virtue, to go astray, sin.

The Greek for “convert” is ἐπιστρέψῃ “epistrepsē” from 1994 ἐπιστρέφω “epistrephō” (the same word for “converteth”) which means, in context, to cause to return, to bring back.

In context of our passage is the attempt to cause to return or the bringing back of one who does “err from the truth.” What that truth may be is not specifically defined, but it is obviously a sin, or a missing of the mark in the Christian’s walk.

The Greek for “shall save” is σώσει “sōsei” from 4982 σῴζω “sōzō” which means, in context, make well, heal, restore to health (including spiritual healing), to deliver from judgment.

Henry Morris, in the Henry Morris Study Bible, had the following to say on this passage:

This verse can properly be considered an incentive for soul-winning in general. In context, however, it seems to refer primarily to the particular case being discussed – that of a professing Christian whose sin has resulted in divine chastisement in the form of sickness. As long as he persists in his sin, refusing to confess and forsake it, he is in danger of eventually being consigned to physical death (note 1 Co 5:5; 11:30; 1 Ti 1:20). This is probably the “sin unto death” mentioned in 1 John 5:16. There is thus a great need for concerned Christian friends to try diligently to “turn him back” (the meaning of “covert”) from the dangerous course he is traveling. It is even more urgent if his professed faith in Christ was not genuine in the first place. He then needs to be saved not only from physical death but also from eternal, spiritual death.

[Note: Unfortunately, though thankfully rare, a truly born-again Spirit-indwelt believer can find themself in a sin that they just cannot for whatever reason break free from, which can result in the “sin unto death.” We addressed this truth and the serious ramifications of this dire situation, along with what Henry Morris observed in his notes above, in QFTBOC: God’s Chastisement of His Children, under the subheading The Ultimate Chastisement: A Sin Unto Death.]

As we can see, very similar to our passage of 2 Peter 3:17 above, and many other passages we have and will look at in this series, the end-result in how we are to understand and apply James’ proclamation is entirely dependent upon the state of a person’s salvation who did “err from the truth.” – saved or unsaved, born-again Spirit-indwelt believer or False Convert – which, ultimately, only the Lord can truly know.

There is no implication in this passage that anyone can lose their salvation.

Conclusion

We pray this first installment of Eternal Security: Difficult Passages has been helpful to the Bible student in understanding that the doctrine of a born-again Spirit-indwelt believer’s Eternal Security in Christ Jesus is an absolute. Please remember that if any professing Christian falls away from their profession of faith and denies Messiah Yeshua as their Lord and Savior, they were never saved to begin with; they were False Converts.

If the reader has any other difficult passages in the books of the Brit Chadashah concerning the Biblical doctrine of Eternal Security that they would like to share with me, please email me. If we get enough passages that would warrant a fourth installment in this series, we will include them in a new study, Eternal Security: Difficult Passages 4.

Epilogue

Truly born-again Spirit-indwelt believers in Jesus Christ are kept eternally secure in the hands of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit by the same grace that saved us in the first place!

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

“My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.” – John 10:27-30

May we all keep Answering the Call of The Great Commission, and giving an answer to every man and woman who so desperately needs Jesus and asks us, “Why Am I Here and What Is It All About?”

Love, grace, mercy, and shalom in Messiah Yeshua, and Maranatha!

***

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