Can a Christian lose his salvation? Some inevitably gravitate towards a yes, while others to a definite no. For others ‘I do not know’ or ‘I do not care’ might define them.
But how crucial is eternal security to a believer? Does scripture illuminate on this with unmistakable clarity?
The doctrine of eternal security, or perseverance of saints, or ‘once saved always saved’ can be pivotal or polarizing, depending on where you stand. In one church I attended people would snarl at the very thought of its being true.
Those who sneer at this thought believe it produces immoral Christians that take salvation for granted. Those who seize the doctrine as significant and sweet see in it the very grounds for their assurance of sanctification and ultimate redemption.
Either way, the text of scripture should tell. It is God’s word.
A Look at John 10
One of Apostle John’s meticulously detailed discourse of Jesus’ doctrine is in chapter ten of his Gospel narrative. This account is in the middle of a somewhat heightened and tense encounter between Jesus and the Pharisees.
It follows a miracle in which Jesus restores the sight of a man born blind that led up to the Pharisees furiously demanding an answer as to how He could do these things on Sabbath. While the formerly blind man believed Jesus unto salvation (9:35-38), the Pharisees snorted in unbelief.
In chapter ten, Jesus politely reminds the Pharisees that He is the good Shepherd as opposed to them who are robbers and liars.
One of the characteristics of the good Shepherd, He suggests, is securing the eternity of His sheep.
But before this, in John 10:26, Jesus tells the unbelieving Pharisees that they do not believe because they are not His sheep. Here He says something about the order of salvation that we shouldn’t miss. The point He makes is this: first, you are a sheep, then you believe.
The conjunction ‘because’ is casual. Believing does not make you a sheep; it confirms that you already are. Faith is proof, not the cause of election.
But also, notice in that verse that not everyone is Christ’s sheep. The significance of this may need separate treatment.
As Jesus continues, He mentions that His sheep hear His voice and follow Him (10:27). They can do so because they already belong to Him, even in their lostness (cf 1 Peter 2:25).
The verse that bears more directly on our discussion is v28 in which Jesus says that as a good Shepherd He loses none of His sheep. Notice that for Jesus, the believer’s eternal security is a characteristic of His nature. This truth is crucial. In effect, He is saying that if any believer were to be lost, it would reflect that Jesus is just like the hiring and robbers (cf. 10:12-13).
From this, we see that eternal security does not depend on the work or character of the Christian but on the work and character of Christ.
And lest we miss the force of this truth, Jesus makes the strongest negation possible in the Greek language. He uses a double negation coupled with a Greek subjunctive.
In Koine Greek, the subjunctive is used to express possibilities and probabilities rather than realities. When doubly negated, it conveys an impossibility in the strongest terms possible.
The statement ‘she might eat the food later’ is an English future subjunctive. Such a statement suggests that she may, or may not eat. It is a probability. If I wanted to express a reality from my perspective as the writer, I would say ‘she will eat the food.’
If I say ‘it is not possible for her to eat the food,’ then I have negated the potential of her eating. But if I stated that ‘she will never ever eat that food,’ then I would have indeed refuted such an idea in the strongest terms.
If I am all-knowing and I make that emphatic negation, then no one can refute it. If I am all-powerful at the same time, then nothing can contradict my statement.
Jesus in this text uses the strongest negation possible to deny any possibility of a believer losing his salvation. He does so as One who is both all-knowing and all-powerful.
And yet, He does not stop at this in securing the eternity of His sheep as the good Shepherd but invokes the power and attributes of God the Father (10:29-30).
He in effect says ‘they shall never ever lose their salvation. I guarantee it, and my Father does so as well. I reject such a possibility in the strongest terms possible.’
Why This is Significant
There are four things I would like to mention given the above.
One is that as I mentioned, some snort at the idea of eternal security because it risks producing immoral Christians. To them, the threat of losing salvation is a better motivator than the safety of salvation.
But I think they underestimate the difference the new birth makes in man, as well as the power of the Spirit of God to change lives. It is true that tasting the goodness of God produces in us such a pure hatred for sin than threats could ever achieve. It is also true that the inner work of the Spirit of God is ultimately effectual.
Secondly, eternal security is vital if men are to grow as joyful obedient Christians. There is more power over sin in joyful submission than there ever could be in a fearful following. Those who own pets can tell the difference between one trained by a whip and fear, and one that loves its owner.
Thirdly, eternal security is the fountain of endless joy for those who believe. For, who would not so love a Master so sweet, who effectually died for them as to secure their destiny despite their rebellion? Who would see such sacrifice as motivation to sin? Who would not fall at His feet in awe and worship?
Fourthly, eternal security emphasizes the Trinitarian nature of redemption. Those whom the Father chose in Christ before the foundation of the world, the Son died for in due time, and the Spirit sanctifies and protects to the end of the age.
The Son loses none of those the Father gave Him (John 6:39) and grants His Spirit as a down-payment for their future redemption (2 Cor 1:21-22). As I said before, if anyone were to be lost, it would reflect that He is the same as the hiring and robbers who suffer the sheep.
But we are confident of the One in whom we believed, and He will finish what He has begun (Phil 1:6).
Saint of God, rest from all your works of self-justification and self-sustenance. Rest in Christ the Author and Finisher of your Faith (Heb. 12:2). Let His joy in you become your strength against the snare of sin, and let not Satan whisper doubt into your ear.
He who called you is faithful, and He will present you spotless before God on that Last Day.
Anticipate the next article to address common scriptures raised in objection to eternal security. Also, remember to subscribe to receive these articles to your inbox!