I Believe In the Liberty of Eternal Salvation

Eph 1:13-14

13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. NKJV

Eph 1:13-14

Eph 1:13-14

13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession-to the praise of his glory. NIV

TLB 13-14  And because of what Christ did, all you others too, who heard the Good News about how to be saved, and trusted Christ, were marked as belonging to Christ by the Holy Spirit, who long ago had been promised to all of us Christians.

14 His presence within us is God's guarantee that he really will give us all that he promised; and the Spirit's seal upon us means that God has already purchased us and that he guarantees to bring us to himself. This is just one more reason for us to praise our glorious God. TLB

Introduction

I believe eternal life is given when a person is saved. I believe eternal life is eternal. I do not believe this gift is obtained by works that we do nor do I believe it is lost by works we do.

I know some fine people who believe that they can lose their salvation. They are not ignorant people but I do believe they are mistaken. I believe the verses they use to support their position have a different interpretation. In my opinion these folks put more emphasis on their sin that on the Savior.

None of us are sinless; so does the Savior take care of the sin of His children or doesn’t He. I say He does. If a person claims to be saved and drifts away for a length of time without a desire to return I would say they were never saved. John wrote, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.” (1 John 2:19) NKJV

       13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation;

in whom also, having believed,. . . “ NKJV

A.   The . . Target of My Trusting the Savior. v 13 a

“In Him you also trusted,. . . ”

Jude 1 To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ: NKJV

John 6:39-40 39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day." NKJV

John 10:28-30 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. 30 I and My Father are one." NKJV

B.   The . . Truth of My Trusting the Savior. v 13 b

“ after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also,”

John 3:32-33 32 And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. 33 He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. NKJV

1 Peter 1:4-5 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. NKJV

Illustration

A few weeks ago the pastor of the church of God asked me if I believed a Christian had the “free will” to give back their salvation if they chose no longer to be saved. I told him my mind could not comprehend a person really knowing the Lord, and later wanting to turn his back on Jesus, and give back His salvation. I quoted 1 John 2:19 “ They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. NKJV

The question about a Christians “free will” has really stunned me. I have never thought of that before. I have come to the conclusion “a Christian does not have a free will after salvation because they have surrendered their will to the Lord. Since that time I have noted the following scriptures;

1 Cor 6:19-20 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. NKJV

Rom 14:8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. KJV

2 Cor 5:15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. KJV

Just suppose a child went to their father and said I no longer want to be your child. I am giving you back your name and I want nothing to do with you. The parent says “I will not let you do that, I will never stop being your dad. Do you think that father is better than our heavenly Father?

If born again you cannot become unborn.

Whatever would undo salvation would have to be stronger than the Lord, His Spirit and greater than God himself.

Application

Just suppose my daughter Teri decided she no longer wanted me to be her father. Do you think that would erase the fact that I am her father? Absolutely not.

Illustration

One person who believe salvation is not eternal asked do you believe you could commit a very serious sin, and suddenly die before you could confess that sin; and still go to heaven? My answer is yes I believe that because of the kind of salvation Jesus gives. That’s My Jesus!

Application

2 Tim 4:18 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen! NKJV

      “. . . in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, . . . ”

A.  The . . Procedure of Trusting My Sealing. v 13 c

      “. . . in whom also, having believed, . . . ”

2 Tim 2:19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." NKJV

      Side illus.: Why didn’t Jesus pray for Judas?

Luke 22:32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren." NKJV

      Jesus called Judas: Devil, Thief, Son of Perdition. He called His children Sheep

John 6:70-71 70 Jesus answered them, "Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?" 71 He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve. NKJV

      John 12:6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the

      money box; and he used to take what was put in it. NKJV

      John 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You

gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. NKJV

B.  The . . Promise of Trusting My Sealing. v 13 d

      “. . . you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, . . . ”

      1.   God has purchased us back to himself. The sealing extends eis (NT:1519) to the redemption and to the glory of God. (from Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament)

      2.   SEAL

      2 Cor 1:22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. NKJV

Illustration

I have written a manuscript for a book. I read if you send yourself a copy of the manuscript it will act like a copywrite, so I hold in my hand this self addressed manuscript. I sent it registered mail to my self. If I ever need to open it I will open it in front of a judge to prove it is my work. You can see I have signed my name on the back in such a way a Judge could tell if it had been previously opened. Now on a registered piece of mail the only one who can open it is the one who sent it and the one who receives it. It is sealed until the day on opening.

In salvation we are sealed unto the day of redemption. Jesus sent it to the Father and they are the only ones to open it. It is sealed until the day of redemption.

Application

      Eph 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of

      redemption. NKJV

      14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. NKJV

A.  The . . Treasure of Trusting God’s Schedule. v 14 a

“ who is the guarantee of our inheritance ”

B.  The . . Timing of Trusting God’s Schedule. v 14 b

      “until the redemption of the purchased possession,”

1 Cor 1:8 who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. NKJV

Phil 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; NKJV

C.  The . . Testimony of Trusting God’s Schedule. v 14 c

“ to the praise of His glory.”

Illustration

Several years ago a preacher named Carl Bates told this story. He was the pastor of the F B C in Charrolet North Carolina. A new preacher came into town and wan5teed to debate Dr. Bates, and he refused. The other preacher pressed the issue, and even came to a week nigh even in the Baptist Church, and hollered t6o Dr. Bates I’ll debater you anytime. Dr. Bates said “I do not intend to debate you now or at anytime in the future. The man ranted and raved, and finally said, “I see you at the judgement bar of God.” Dr. Bates, “said “you wont see me there.” The other preacher hollered “why not.”

I believe In the Freedom of Eternally Savation - Once Saved

Do you have that Liberty?