Is Salvation Secure?
By: Pastor of New Beginnings Baptist Church, Olive Branch, MS
Salvation is the most important possession that man can own. Give a man millions of dollars and he will have plenty for a while but soon it will not be enough. Give him long life but soon it will expire. Give him all the best things and the best friends but you only make it more difficult for him to leave this life behind. How true are the words of the Lord Jesus Christ when He said in Matthew 12:15b “...for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”.
If this be the case with man, and it is, then it is of the utmost importance that we know for sure that there is a better life awaiting us when we leave this world. No greater calamity could befall man than to live out his short life here on earth and miss Heaven. 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? In James 4:14 we read, “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” It is clear that whatever we are going to do to try to secure Heaven must be done while we are still on earth.
There are many religions on earth where by man attempts to satisfy God by doing or being something contrary to his nature. Man is a sinner but God has revealed directly to man that He will judge sin and nothing short of sinless perfection will merit entrance into Heaven. (Romans 1: 18-21) Many have thought that if there is a positive ratio of sin to goodness in the life so that there is more good in the life than there is bad, then God will look on that life favorably. When we look at scripture, however, we find that the righteousness that we are hoping will tip the scale in our favor is discounted as filthy rags by God's judgment. Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Furthermore, God plainly says in Romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So we see that man is a sinner and cannot justify himself before a Holy God!
In order to understand salvation, we must understand the problem from which we must be saved. The problem with man is that he dies spiritually upon knowingly committing his first sin. Paul writes in Romans 7:9 For I was alive without, the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. Paul was never alive physically before the law was given to Moses, neither did he die physically when he sinned but just as Adam died spiritually in the day that he ate of the forbidden fruit, so also Paul was alive spiritually as a child before the commandment came to his understanding. Once the commandment came to his understanding, the sin inherited from Adam, which is the nature of all men to do, revived and immediately he died spiritually. This is not peculiar to Paul but it is the scenario of every man who reaches the age of knowing right and wrong. In Ephesians 2: I Paul writes, And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; The word "quickened" is an old English word meaning to make alive, so salvation is the act of making the spirit alive after it has died. No reform of the flesh can possibly create life in a dead spirit.
For example, suppose that a man has a wreck in a car and is killed in the crash. If we take the mutilated car in which he was killed and straighten all of its dents and repair all of its damage we still cannot bring the man back to life. Our spirit resides in our flesh and it is true that the sin of our flesh is responsible for our spiritual death but once death of the human spirit occurs, the flesh is powerless to create new life.
Because God knew this from the foundation of the world, He planned salvation for us before He created us. Jesus Christ was the Lamb of God slain before the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8). The plan was this. The sinful nature of Adam has been passed on from generation to generation through the fathers. This fact is apparent by the fact that the offspring of a man remain in his loins until the time of their birth and all of the sons and daughters of the offspring are passed on in the off springs loins until their birth (Hebrews 7).
Jesus Christ would be born of a virgin so that He would not inherit a sinful nature from Adam. He would live a sinless life and then offer His life as a payment for the sins of the race. In Isaiah 53:10-11 we read 10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. When Christ was on the cross, He paid the penalty for all of the sins of Adam's race and purchased eternal life for all who will accept it by faith.
When a man who is dead in trespasses and sins hears the gospel message as stated above and believes that what Christ did on the cross was enough to satisfy the wrath of God which was against him and confesses his sin to God asking for forgiveness and salvation, the spirit which was dead is made alive (Ephesians 2:1) and then sealed unto the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30).
Let me say here that it is only the spirit of man that is born again and sealed by the Holy Spirit. John 3:6 says 6 That which is born of tile flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. The human spirit that is born again and sealed by the Holy Spirit is rendered incapable of sinning. I John 3:9 says, 9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. The key word in this verse is “cannot”. This is not a command nor is it advice. It is a statement of fact! The human spirit is rendered incapable of sin after it is sealed by the Holy Spirit. It would be wonderful for us if the sealing of the Holy Spirit also left our flesh sinless but it does not. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 4:7 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. It is obvious that the flesh can still sin and that we still have a nature to sin. The sins of the flesh are not imputed, however, to the charge of the child of God because we are freed from the law. In Romans 4:7-8 we read, 7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. Sin has consequences in this life and we will receive or loose rewards based on the obedience that we exercise by grace in our flesh but our eternal security will not be affected by the performance of our flesh.
The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 7:14-17 14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. Notice the distinction made in this verse 17 between the spirit and the flesh. Paul identifies with the flesh and declares that the sins of his flesh are not a function of his spirit. The Bible tells us in Ecclesiastes 12:7 speaking of physical death, 7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. It is for this reason and this reason alone that Paul writes in Romans 8: 1-4, 1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death . 3 For what the law could not do, in that it ,was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Lest we should fall into the trap of believing that it is our responsibility to "walk after the spirit" and that anything less than that would constitute falling from grace, Paul writes in Romans 8:5-9; 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his. The one criteria for being "in the Spirit" in regard to this passage is to be born again. If you don't have the Spirit dwelling in you, you are lost. If you do have the Spirit dwelling in you, you are in the Spirit and all of the promises of this passage apply to you.
The reason that Christ set up salvation the way that He did is because if there were anything left to be done to gain salvation, we would never be able to be saved. We could never stop sinning and if we did, we would still be dead spiritually. If there were any sin that could make us die spiritually after we had been born again, we could never be born again the second time unless Christ died on the cross a second time and He is not going to do that again. (See Hebrews 6:4-6)
Salvation is totally the work of God and is totally a product of grace without the performance of our flesh. Many have concluded that if that were the case that the best way to live would be to sin all that we can so as to get the best of this life and then get to go to heaven too when they died. This is faulty reasoning for two reasons. First, sin is destructive to the human flesh. To desire to sin is like desiring to have cancer. Sin is not your friend; it is the means of all of the suffering in the world. Secondly, the bible teaches that God places a desire in the heart of everyone that He saves to be holy. In John 3:2-3 we read, 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
If you have never received eternal life from the Lord you can do so now by confessing to Him that you are a sinner. Ask Him to forgive those sins and ask Him to save you. The Bible says in Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Faith must take hold of that promise and claim it. Do you believe that what Jesus did on the cross was enough to satisfy the wrath of God that was against you? Then trust in His provision of eternal life and be saved today!
If this be the case with man, and it is, then it is of the utmost importance that we know for sure that there is a better life awaiting us when we leave this world. No greater calamity could befall man than to live out his short life here on earth and miss Heaven. 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? In James 4:14 we read, “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” It is clear that whatever we are going to do to try to secure Heaven must be done while we are still on earth.
There are many religions on earth where by man attempts to satisfy God by doing or being something contrary to his nature. Man is a sinner but God has revealed directly to man that He will judge sin and nothing short of sinless perfection will merit entrance into Heaven. (Romans 1: 18-21) Many have thought that if there is a positive ratio of sin to goodness in the life so that there is more good in the life than there is bad, then God will look on that life favorably. When we look at scripture, however, we find that the righteousness that we are hoping will tip the scale in our favor is discounted as filthy rags by God's judgment. Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Furthermore, God plainly says in Romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So we see that man is a sinner and cannot justify himself before a Holy God!
In order to understand salvation, we must understand the problem from which we must be saved. The problem with man is that he dies spiritually upon knowingly committing his first sin. Paul writes in Romans 7:9 For I was alive without, the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. Paul was never alive physically before the law was given to Moses, neither did he die physically when he sinned but just as Adam died spiritually in the day that he ate of the forbidden fruit, so also Paul was alive spiritually as a child before the commandment came to his understanding. Once the commandment came to his understanding, the sin inherited from Adam, which is the nature of all men to do, revived and immediately he died spiritually. This is not peculiar to Paul but it is the scenario of every man who reaches the age of knowing right and wrong. In Ephesians 2: I Paul writes, And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; The word "quickened" is an old English word meaning to make alive, so salvation is the act of making the spirit alive after it has died. No reform of the flesh can possibly create life in a dead spirit.
For example, suppose that a man has a wreck in a car and is killed in the crash. If we take the mutilated car in which he was killed and straighten all of its dents and repair all of its damage we still cannot bring the man back to life. Our spirit resides in our flesh and it is true that the sin of our flesh is responsible for our spiritual death but once death of the human spirit occurs, the flesh is powerless to create new life.
Because God knew this from the foundation of the world, He planned salvation for us before He created us. Jesus Christ was the Lamb of God slain before the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8). The plan was this. The sinful nature of Adam has been passed on from generation to generation through the fathers. This fact is apparent by the fact that the offspring of a man remain in his loins until the time of their birth and all of the sons and daughters of the offspring are passed on in the off springs loins until their birth (Hebrews 7).
Jesus Christ would be born of a virgin so that He would not inherit a sinful nature from Adam. He would live a sinless life and then offer His life as a payment for the sins of the race. In Isaiah 53:10-11 we read 10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. When Christ was on the cross, He paid the penalty for all of the sins of Adam's race and purchased eternal life for all who will accept it by faith.
When a man who is dead in trespasses and sins hears the gospel message as stated above and believes that what Christ did on the cross was enough to satisfy the wrath of God which was against him and confesses his sin to God asking for forgiveness and salvation, the spirit which was dead is made alive (Ephesians 2:1) and then sealed unto the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30).
Let me say here that it is only the spirit of man that is born again and sealed by the Holy Spirit. John 3:6 says 6 That which is born of tile flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. The human spirit that is born again and sealed by the Holy Spirit is rendered incapable of sinning. I John 3:9 says, 9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. The key word in this verse is “cannot”. This is not a command nor is it advice. It is a statement of fact! The human spirit is rendered incapable of sin after it is sealed by the Holy Spirit. It would be wonderful for us if the sealing of the Holy Spirit also left our flesh sinless but it does not. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 4:7 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. It is obvious that the flesh can still sin and that we still have a nature to sin. The sins of the flesh are not imputed, however, to the charge of the child of God because we are freed from the law. In Romans 4:7-8 we read, 7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. Sin has consequences in this life and we will receive or loose rewards based on the obedience that we exercise by grace in our flesh but our eternal security will not be affected by the performance of our flesh.
The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 7:14-17 14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. Notice the distinction made in this verse 17 between the spirit and the flesh. Paul identifies with the flesh and declares that the sins of his flesh are not a function of his spirit. The Bible tells us in Ecclesiastes 12:7 speaking of physical death, 7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. It is for this reason and this reason alone that Paul writes in Romans 8: 1-4, 1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death . 3 For what the law could not do, in that it ,was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Lest we should fall into the trap of believing that it is our responsibility to "walk after the spirit" and that anything less than that would constitute falling from grace, Paul writes in Romans 8:5-9; 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his. The one criteria for being "in the Spirit" in regard to this passage is to be born again. If you don't have the Spirit dwelling in you, you are lost. If you do have the Spirit dwelling in you, you are in the Spirit and all of the promises of this passage apply to you.
The reason that Christ set up salvation the way that He did is because if there were anything left to be done to gain salvation, we would never be able to be saved. We could never stop sinning and if we did, we would still be dead spiritually. If there were any sin that could make us die spiritually after we had been born again, we could never be born again the second time unless Christ died on the cross a second time and He is not going to do that again. (See Hebrews 6:4-6)
Salvation is totally the work of God and is totally a product of grace without the performance of our flesh. Many have concluded that if that were the case that the best way to live would be to sin all that we can so as to get the best of this life and then get to go to heaven too when they died. This is faulty reasoning for two reasons. First, sin is destructive to the human flesh. To desire to sin is like desiring to have cancer. Sin is not your friend; it is the means of all of the suffering in the world. Secondly, the bible teaches that God places a desire in the heart of everyone that He saves to be holy. In John 3:2-3 we read, 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
If you have never received eternal life from the Lord you can do so now by confessing to Him that you are a sinner. Ask Him to forgive those sins and ask Him to save you. The Bible says in Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Faith must take hold of that promise and claim it. Do you believe that what Jesus did on the cross was enough to satisfy the wrath of God that was against you? Then trust in His provision of eternal life and be saved today!