They reject the teaching from Dr. James R. White of Alpha and Omega Ministries and display it on their web site at http://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/jimwhite.htm. Dr. White is right that the written Word of God teaches eternal security. It is completely fallacious to say otherwise. We must hold to the matter of the truth of the Gospel no matter what opposition we face. The verses given do not support conditional salvation. That is, that someone could lose their salvation in the Christian life. The scriptural fact is, no one can lose their salvation IN Christ. There is abundant scriptural evidence that supports eternal security. Surely, if we reject perseverance of the saints we do much harm to the Gospel. If it is neglected, the Gospel is edited and torn to pieces. Why do depraved men and women reject the sound teaching of Scripture? They embrace a gospel that takes them away from Christ! We are told it is because of scriptural proof but it is highly unlikely that is the case at all. Let us for a moment consider the argument that is laid against us:
First Corinthians 15:2 is stated as a reason why there can't be eternal security. It is simply speaking about people who may not truly believe. There is a belief that is not a true belief. And there is a peace that is not a true peace. Everyone who holds to the Gospel firmly will never be lost. This is because of the Holy Spirit's keeping power through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Those who believe in vain are those not born again of the Spirit of God and the Word of God. Empty professors does not disprove the preservation of the saints. Surely there are empty professors in the Christian life! However, the true professors have a true possession of the Christian faith. No one can take it away. The greatest devil in hell could not take away spiritual redemption in Christ. The greatest sin in the world cannot break the power of Christ. This does not mean we ought to sin, because Peter says we ought not to use our liberty as a cover-up for evil. Instead by eternal security we realize the overflowing love of the Cross to be holy and godly people of the Word!
Colossians 1:22-23 also does not disprove eternal security. Everyone who continues in the faith of Christ from the Bible has eternal security. It is a warning to keep our eyes on Jesus. There is no cooperation touching the doctrine of monergism, but there is cooperation touching the doctrine of progressive sanctification in the Christian life. He reconciled us to the Father through His death on the Cross. This verse hardly is a proof text for conditional security. If someone continues in the Christian faith they have demonstrated that they belong to Christ. Its only by the Spirit of God and the Word of God that someone is enabled to continue on to glory. Calvinism is hardly "another gospel." Rather Calvinism is the Gospel of grace and truth. To say we do not want to live a holy life is outright foolishness. Because we belong to Christ it means we want to use His death to bring to holiness of conversation, thought and deed. The doctrine of eternal security is not a license to sin. Rather it teaches us that we belong to Christ forever and we ought to use His grace for practical holiness.
Here is a quote from the great Augustine on eternal security:
"Paul says that he is sure, not merely that he is of the opinion...that neither death nor the promise of temporal life nor any of other things he lists can separate the believer from God's love. No one can separate the believer from God; not someone who threatens death, because he who believes in Christ shall live even if he dies, nor someone who offers earthly life, because Christ gives us eternal life. An angel cannot separate us, because if an angel comes down from heaven and tells you something other than what you receive, let him be anathema. Nor can a principality, i.e., an opposing power, because Christ has...vanquished them in himself." (Bray, Gerald and Oben C. Thomas, Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, New Testament VI, Romans, InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, Illinois, pg. 242.)We can see that no power in the universe can separate us from Christ. His love is all-powerful. We ought to dwell on His love to experience the depth of riches in His awesome power. I agree with Augustine that no power can take us away from God. I would challenge anyone to a debate on eternal security. There is also additional abundant proof from the written Word of God that can be given to support preservation of the saints. Perhaps in an additional post I will cite passages from the Scriptures that support this precious truth of the Gospel. Amen.
