Sermon Prepared by James A McCullen
Email Preach Him with Dr. Jim

Once Saved – Eternally Saved
Eph 1:13-14

NKJV 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

NASU 13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation -- having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory. NASU

NIV 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 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 can lose their salvation. The 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 rmphasis 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 lenghth 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

1. Once Saved – Eternally Saved because of Trusting My . .

Savior. v13 a -b

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." V

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
In my prayer time I have been asking the Lord to increase my faith. I asked Him for some very practical ways to express faith and see Him work. I believe He told me to do two things. One matter related too going door to door in my visitation. The other related to listening to the Bible on tape as I drive around in ministry opportunities.

I have done both of those before but not with a specific act of faith. I visited with faith that God's work
could be accomplished as I visited, and I listened to scripture expecting God to speak to nme thropugh His word. God spoke to me specifically through those time of listening. I felt His presence and guidance as I went door to door. I noted several home where I received a cordial reception. One such place the Lady worked with one of our members and she told her how much she appreciated my visit.

I went back and in the course of the visit just began to share the message of dsalvation. When I finished I asked this Lady (Linda Yont) if what I had shared made sence. She said "yes, so I asked if she would
be welling to receive Christ into her life, and she responded "yes." I then askled if she would like to do it right now and she again said "yes." I led her ion the prayer and she magan to shake and weep, then she said I have the peace I have been looking for. I asked "do you know for certain you have eternal life," and she again responded "yes."

Application

This lady placed her trust in the Savior and He gave her peace.

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

2. Once Saved – Eternally Saved because of Trusting My . .

Sealing. v 13 c &d

“. . . 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

1. 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

2. Jesus called Judas: Devil, Theif, 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
Ranchers in West Texas make it their practice to round up all their year-old calves each
spring for branding. The calf is held down, the branding iron is heated red hot, and the
brand is placed on its flank. The brand is the rancher's mark of ownership. No one can
dispute that the calf belongs to him.

In the same way God has placed his mark of ownership on us by the sealing of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is God's mark of ownership, authority, and security over us. No one can remove
us from his ownership 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

3. Once Saved – Eternally Saved because of Trusting His . .

Schedule. v 14

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 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 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
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.

I believe In Once Saved – Eternally Saved

because of Trusting My . . Savior.

because of Trusting My . . Sealing.

because of Trusting His . . Schedule.