Eternal Security

     The eternal security of the saints is interchanged with the perseverance of the saints or the preservation of the saints; that is, God keeps His own from utterly falling away.  That means God keeps His own despite opposition or discouragement.  The ultimate reason why they are eternally secure is not because of their strength or commitment; however, it is because of the preservation of Christ through the Spirit in them.  The Gospel of John tells us that through Jesus’ promise to the Father and His people we will never perish.  Jesus asked that His people would preserve to glory; that is, to be in heaven with Him.  He continues to intercede for His own and it is impossible that His prayer would go unanswered to His Heavenly Father.   In Romans 8 Paul rejoices that he has present and future security with the saints in and through Christ.  Paul blesses God that God will continue His work that He has begun.  The regenerate is saved through faith and obedience to the end as God keeps them to Himself.  All professors are not necessarily truly Christians but all possessors are truly Christian.  If we try to live in our own strength we will fail but if we live by the power of the Spirit we will avail.  False professions will not be acknowledged but only those who truly possess Christ.  We ought to be considered with holiness of heart and love of neighbor.  Only these can know that they are born from above!  Eternal security should not lead to arrogant living and careless presumption; however, the born again person may backslide and fall into sin; however, the Spirit of holiness convicts us of our sin so we would be restored to a holy righteousness.  The Spirit gives us a greater confidence in the Son when He restores us back from our sinning; that is, we are given a greater trust in Him then ever before.
     The London Confession of Faith of 1689 states,

Chapter 17: Of The Perseverance of the Saints

1._____ Those whom God hath accepted in the beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, and given the precious faith of his elect unto, can neither totally nor finally fall from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved, seeing the gifts and callings of God are without repentance, whence he still begets and nourisheth in them faith, repentance, love, joy, hope, and all the graces of the Spirit unto immortality; and though many storms and floods arise and beat against them, yet they shall never be able to take them off that foundation and rock which by faith they are fastened upon; notwithstanding, through unbelief and the temptations of Satan, the sensible sight of the light and love of God may for a time be clouded and obscured from them, yet he is still the same, and they shall be sure to be kept by the power of God unto salvation, where they shall enjoy their purchased possession, they being engraven upon the palm of his hands, and their names having been written in the book of life from all eternity.
( John 10:28, 29; Philippians 1:6; 2 Timothy 2:19; 1 John 2:19; Psalms 89:31, 32; 1 Corinthians 11:32; Malachi 3:6 )

2._____ This perseverance of the saints depends not upon their own free will, but upon the immutability of the decree of election, flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father, upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ and union with him, the oath of God, the abiding of his Spirit, and the seed of God within them, and the nature of the covenant of grace; from all which ariseth also the certainty and infallibility thereof.
( Romans 8:30 Romans 9:11, 16; Romans 5:9, 10; John 14:19; Hebrews 6:17, 18; 1 John 3:9; Jeremiah 32:40 )

3._____ And though they may, through the temptation of Satan and of the world, the prevalency of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of means of their preservation, fall into grievous sins, and for a time continue therein, whereby they incur God's displeasure and grieve his Holy Spirit, come to have their graces and comforts impaired, have their hearts hardened, and their consciences wounded, hurt and scandalize others, and bring temporal judgments upon themselves, yet shall they renew their repentance and be preserved through faith in Christ Jesus to the end.
( Matthew 26:70, 72, 74; Isaiah 64:5, 9; Ephesians 4:30; Psalms 51:10, 12; Psalms 32:3, 4; 2 Samuel 12:14; Luke 22:32, 61, 62 )