Eternal Security?
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1st Corinthians 1:20: “Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?”
1st Corinthians 3:19: “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.”
Wisdom can mean understanding, knowledge, enlightenment, and insight. It can also mean the discernment between right and wrong.
More and more, humanity prides itself on its wisdom. We have so much progress in every field. Society is constantly evolving to reflect the changes that occur on an almost daily basis.
Medical advancements. Genetically modified food. Artificial intelligence. Hollywood culture. Psychology. College education. Sporting events. Laws. Architecture. Technology. Republicans and Democrats. Automobiles. Facebook.
People have created many things during their time on this earth. Some of it’s been good. Some of it’s been bad. But one thing is for certain: Nothing is built to last. If it has been made by people, it will not stand the test of time. Man is quite proud of his many achievements. But truth be told, those achievements don’t amount to much. Give them enough time, and they will crumble and fade away.
1st Corinthians 3:19: “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.”
Wisdom can mean understanding, knowledge, enlightenment, and insight. It can also mean the discernment between right and wrong.
More and more, humanity prides itself on its wisdom. We have so much progress in every field. Society is constantly evolving to reflect the changes that occur on an almost daily basis.
Medical advancements. Genetically modified food. Artificial intelligence. Hollywood culture. Psychology. College education. Sporting events. Laws. Architecture. Technology. Republicans and Democrats. Automobiles. Facebook.
People have created many things during their time on this earth. Some of it’s been good. Some of it’s been bad. But one thing is for certain: Nothing is built to last. If it has been made by people, it will not stand the test of time. Man is quite proud of his many achievements. But truth be told, those achievements don’t amount to much. Give them enough time, and they will crumble and fade away.
Religion is another thing created by people. It is man’s attempt to reach and/or please God. Religion comes in many different flavors, and it brings to mind certain imagery.
Religion, no matter how bright and shiny, no matter how smooth-talking, no matter what feeling you get from it, will never save your soul. The things that man creates are fallible and weak. Religion tells you how to get to Heaven, but religion is a man-made prison. What is God’s answer to this prison?
John 6:47: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life." - Jesus Christ
Does religion please God? No.
Mark 7:7-9: “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.”
Religion is nothing more than the traditions of men. Religion is man’s attempt to achieve righteousness.
Romans 10:3: “For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”
There are people out there who think that they are righteous because of their religious ways. Because they believe that they are righteous, they hold others up to this same standard, saying that anyone who is not as righteous as them is not saved. These people hate God’s grace, because God’s grace is bestowed freely on anyone who believes in Jesus Christ. Since some people think that because of their wisdom they know how to get saved better than God’s way, they attack the doctrines of simple belief on Jesus Christ and eternal security. Do you want to see some of their attacks?
John 6:47: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life." - Jesus Christ
Does religion please God? No.
Mark 7:7-9: “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.”
Religion is nothing more than the traditions of men. Religion is man’s attempt to achieve righteousness.
Romans 10:3: “For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”
There are people out there who think that they are righteous because of their religious ways. Because they believe that they are righteous, they hold others up to this same standard, saying that anyone who is not as righteous as them is not saved. These people hate God’s grace, because God’s grace is bestowed freely on anyone who believes in Jesus Christ. Since some people think that because of their wisdom they know how to get saved better than God’s way, they attack the doctrines of simple belief on Jesus Christ and eternal security. Do you want to see some of their attacks?
Isn’t that cute? Some religious people have made cartoons to cause people who have believed on Jesus Christ to doubt their salvation. I'm gonna let you in on a little secret: Religious people who hate the idea of the eternal security of those who have believed on Jesus Christ have not gotten their doctrine from the Bible. Let me prove this. The book of Galatians was written to believers in Galatia who had been deceived by self-righteous false Christians who told them they must keep the law in order to be saved. This would be comparable to those self-righteous hypocrites today who tell you that you must repent of your sins to be saved. Let’s look at a few verses from Galatians 5.
Verse 4: “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.”
Verses 7 and 8: “Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.”
The Galatian Christians believed on Jesus Christ as they were taught to. Then some self-righteous false Christians taught them that keeping the law was necessary to be saved. The apostle Paul rebuked these Galatians for slipping back into a state of bondage to the law, pointing out that this teaching did not come from God. So where are these demands for self-righteousness for salvation coming from?
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:”
Fake Christians are the source. They have done this to pervert the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to prevent the lost person from coming to Jesus. They will one day get what is coming to them.
Galatians 5:10: “I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.”
Look at the following verse from Acts, once again dealing with certain people who were troubling those who had believed on Jesus Christ.
Acts 15:24: “Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:”
Righteousness does not come by anything man does. Righteousness comes by faith in Jesus Christ.
Romans 10:4: “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”
Some people teach that you must repent of sin, do good works, and/or live your life for Christ in order to be saved. Those are man-made doctrines that disagree with the Bible, and who does the Bible say that we should obey?
Acts 5:29: “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.”
If someone contradicts the Bible, mark them and avoid them (Romans 16:17-18). I have received mostly abuse for the things I have said regarding salvation, but you know what? That only shows me that I’m right.
Galatians 5:11: “And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.”
Galatians 6:12: “As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.”
The two preceding verses say that those who teach “the cross of Christ” will suffer persecution. Meanwhile, some people teach the keeping of the law and being religious in order to be saved, for fear of teaching the truth and being persecuted. I would rather teach the truth, "the simplicity that is in Christ” (2nd Corinthians 11:3), than to teach heresies that are man-made and held as tradition.
Mark 7:13: “Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.”
It has become such a popular tradition to say that you must “repent of sin” to be saved, and yet you will find that concept nowhere in the Bible. God saves anyone who believes on Jesus Christ for salvation. Don’t like that idea? Maybe God’s grace isn’t for you. Come back when you realize that your own self-righteousness will get you nowhere. Meanwhile, I’m gonna keep on teaching the Bible way to Heaven.
How do I know I’m saved? How can you know you’re saved? I’d be happy to tell you. You believe in what God can do for you, and not what you can do for yourself. Religion is full of ideas on how to reach God. Religion is nothing but the wisdom of men. Man's wisdom is foolishness to God. In order to stump those who think they are wise, God decided to use some “foolishness” of His own.
1st Corinthians 1:21: “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”
1st Corinthians 1:25: “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”
And what exactly is preached?
1st Corinthians 1:17-18: “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is what God wants preached to the unsaved. The Gospel tells of how Jesus died for the sins of the world on a cross, was buried for three days and nights, and rose again to justify those who believe on Him (1st Corinthians 15:1-4, Romans 4:25). God made salvation simple, unlike the religions of the world.
So how can you be sure that it’s really that simple? How can you be sure that God will save you and not back out on His promise? Here are five good reasons:
1. Salvation is a gift.
(Romans 5:15-18, Ephesians 2:8-9)
2. Believers are purchased by God.
(1st Corinthians 6:20, 7:23, Acts 20:28)
3. Believers are adopted into God’s family.
(Romans 8:16, Galatians 3:26, 4:5, 1st John 5:1)
4. Believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit.
(Ephesians 1:13, 4:30)
5. God cannot lie.
(Titus 1:2, Hebrews 6:18)
Did you catch all of that?! We take out insurance policies on things like cars and homes, and yet those pale in comparison to God’s insurance policy. When one believes on Jesus Christ, God takes several precautions to ensure that that person will never be lost again. God gives the person salvation as a free gift, He buys the person with the blood of Jesus, He adopts the person into His family, and He sends His Holy Spirit to live inside that person to seal them! The Bible is the Word of God (John 1:1), and since these concepts are taught in the Bible, I have some more good news: You can trust these promises because God cannot lie! If you have believed in Jesus Christ, your salvation is a done deal. You could not even give it back if you wanted to. God has taken every precaution in order to make sure that you are forever safe.
So the next time you see garbage like the cartoon below, just remember that there are people out there who want to trouble you and take away the eternal security available to you through belief on Jesus Christ.
Verse 4: “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.”
Verses 7 and 8: “Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.”
The Galatian Christians believed on Jesus Christ as they were taught to. Then some self-righteous false Christians taught them that keeping the law was necessary to be saved. The apostle Paul rebuked these Galatians for slipping back into a state of bondage to the law, pointing out that this teaching did not come from God. So where are these demands for self-righteousness for salvation coming from?
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:”
Fake Christians are the source. They have done this to pervert the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to prevent the lost person from coming to Jesus. They will one day get what is coming to them.
Galatians 5:10: “I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.”
Look at the following verse from Acts, once again dealing with certain people who were troubling those who had believed on Jesus Christ.
Acts 15:24: “Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:”
Righteousness does not come by anything man does. Righteousness comes by faith in Jesus Christ.
Romans 10:4: “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”
Some people teach that you must repent of sin, do good works, and/or live your life for Christ in order to be saved. Those are man-made doctrines that disagree with the Bible, and who does the Bible say that we should obey?
Acts 5:29: “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.”
If someone contradicts the Bible, mark them and avoid them (Romans 16:17-18). I have received mostly abuse for the things I have said regarding salvation, but you know what? That only shows me that I’m right.
Galatians 5:11: “And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.”
Galatians 6:12: “As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.”
The two preceding verses say that those who teach “the cross of Christ” will suffer persecution. Meanwhile, some people teach the keeping of the law and being religious in order to be saved, for fear of teaching the truth and being persecuted. I would rather teach the truth, "the simplicity that is in Christ” (2nd Corinthians 11:3), than to teach heresies that are man-made and held as tradition.
Mark 7:13: “Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.”
It has become such a popular tradition to say that you must “repent of sin” to be saved, and yet you will find that concept nowhere in the Bible. God saves anyone who believes on Jesus Christ for salvation. Don’t like that idea? Maybe God’s grace isn’t for you. Come back when you realize that your own self-righteousness will get you nowhere. Meanwhile, I’m gonna keep on teaching the Bible way to Heaven.
How do I know I’m saved? How can you know you’re saved? I’d be happy to tell you. You believe in what God can do for you, and not what you can do for yourself. Religion is full of ideas on how to reach God. Religion is nothing but the wisdom of men. Man's wisdom is foolishness to God. In order to stump those who think they are wise, God decided to use some “foolishness” of His own.
1st Corinthians 1:21: “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”
1st Corinthians 1:25: “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”
And what exactly is preached?
1st Corinthians 1:17-18: “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is what God wants preached to the unsaved. The Gospel tells of how Jesus died for the sins of the world on a cross, was buried for three days and nights, and rose again to justify those who believe on Him (1st Corinthians 15:1-4, Romans 4:25). God made salvation simple, unlike the religions of the world.
So how can you be sure that it’s really that simple? How can you be sure that God will save you and not back out on His promise? Here are five good reasons:
1. Salvation is a gift.
(Romans 5:15-18, Ephesians 2:8-9)
2. Believers are purchased by God.
(1st Corinthians 6:20, 7:23, Acts 20:28)
3. Believers are adopted into God’s family.
(Romans 8:16, Galatians 3:26, 4:5, 1st John 5:1)
4. Believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit.
(Ephesians 1:13, 4:30)
5. God cannot lie.
(Titus 1:2, Hebrews 6:18)
Did you catch all of that?! We take out insurance policies on things like cars and homes, and yet those pale in comparison to God’s insurance policy. When one believes on Jesus Christ, God takes several precautions to ensure that that person will never be lost again. God gives the person salvation as a free gift, He buys the person with the blood of Jesus, He adopts the person into His family, and He sends His Holy Spirit to live inside that person to seal them! The Bible is the Word of God (John 1:1), and since these concepts are taught in the Bible, I have some more good news: You can trust these promises because God cannot lie! If you have believed in Jesus Christ, your salvation is a done deal. You could not even give it back if you wanted to. God has taken every precaution in order to make sure that you are forever safe.
So the next time you see garbage like the cartoon below, just remember that there are people out there who want to trouble you and take away the eternal security available to you through belief on Jesus Christ.
Do you want to see how pointless this cartoon is? I would be happy to show you. First, let's look at the actual verse being referenced, and we will look at the correct version from the King James Bible.
Romans 11:22: "Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off."
This verse was addressed to Gentiles (non Jews), teaching that if they continue in God’s goodness, then God will show goodness to them. Look at the verse directly following it:
Romans 11:23: “And they (Jews) also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.”
How do you continue in God’s goodness? You give up your unbelief! This applies to Jews and Gentiles, and nowhere in the previous verses is there any mention of the possibility of losing salvation. This cartoon is just another classic example of a religious person misinterpreting Scripture and trying to build an argument on a nonexistent foundation.
When you see a cartoon like the one above, take a moment to feel sorry for the person who made it, and be thankful to God that He made salvation so simple. God loves the sinner. God hates sin, but He loves the sinner. God sent His Son to die for the sinner. Don’t let anyone tell you that you must be religious in order to be saved. God loves you and will save you the second you believe on Jesus Christ. Religion is of men. Salvation is of God. Religion is from man's wisdom. Salvation is from God's wisdom.
Galatians 3:8: “And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.”
Romans 5:6: “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”
1st Timothy 1:15: “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”
Romans 11:22: "Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off."
This verse was addressed to Gentiles (non Jews), teaching that if they continue in God’s goodness, then God will show goodness to them. Look at the verse directly following it:
Romans 11:23: “And they (Jews) also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.”
How do you continue in God’s goodness? You give up your unbelief! This applies to Jews and Gentiles, and nowhere in the previous verses is there any mention of the possibility of losing salvation. This cartoon is just another classic example of a religious person misinterpreting Scripture and trying to build an argument on a nonexistent foundation.
When you see a cartoon like the one above, take a moment to feel sorry for the person who made it, and be thankful to God that He made salvation so simple. God loves the sinner. God hates sin, but He loves the sinner. God sent His Son to die for the sinner. Don’t let anyone tell you that you must be religious in order to be saved. God loves you and will save you the second you believe on Jesus Christ. Religion is of men. Salvation is of God. Religion is from man's wisdom. Salvation is from God's wisdom.
Galatians 3:8: “And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.”
Romans 5:6: “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”
1st Timothy 1:15: “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”