 
 
                 ETERNAL-SECURITY   VS  CONDITIONAL SALVATION
 
       When the Lord Jesus died on the cross of Calvary, one of the last
    phrases He uttered is "it is finished".  That cry has been on the lips
    of true born-again believers down through the centuries as they look
    back to the day when the Son of God poured out His life blood for
    fallen mankind.  The Christian realizes that the penalty for his sin
    has already been paid long before he was born.  Nothing can be added to
    it, or taken away.  The Greek word for "it is finished" is TETELESTAI.
    A more accurate translation in this context would be paid in full.
    According to Roman law, if a person was convicted of a crime, a
    certificate of debt was prepared which listed his offenses and the
    prescribed penalty.  This would be fastened to the door of his cell
    until the day when, having paid his debt to society, he was set free.
    The magistrate would then take this paper and write TETELESTAI across
    it, denoting that (a): justice had been satisfied and (b): the person
    could never be re-convicted for the same offenses.
         In the same way, God has written TETELESTAI across the certificate
    of debt of every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.  The apostle Paul
    wrote: "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your
    flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all
    trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against
    us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to
    his cross;" (Col. 2:13,14).
         How many of our sins were nailed to the cross with the Lord Jesus?
    The answer is all!  How many of our sins were future when the Lord
    Jesus died?  The answer again is all!  There are, however, those today
    who would agree to all of this, and yet teach that it is possible for a
    true born-again believer through sin, backlsiding, or some other means,
    to lose his salvation.  It is true that the Bible never uses the phrase
    "eternal security" as such.  It does however use some better terms
    like: eternal redemption Heb. 9:12, eternal salvation Heb. 5:9, and
    everlasting life John 3:16.
         The main objective of this study is to defend the doctrine of
    eternal security, presenting sound scriptural reasons why it is an
    important and necessary Biblical truth.  Four major topics will be
    examined in order to accomplish this.  Romans chapter 8 presents the
    calling, justification, and glorification of the believer.  Believers
    are also kept by the power of God.  Finally, believers are sealed until
    the day of redemption, and have the absolute assurance that their sins
    are forgiven.  Other areas, such as sin and holiness, will be covered.
 
 
 
                                  ROMANS 8
 
    "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love
    God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  For whom he
    did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of
    his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.  Moreover
    whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them
    he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified"
    (Rom 8:28-30).
         The salvation that is provided through the Lord Jesus Christ also
    includes glorification.  Our God who forknew us, predestined us, called
    us, and justified us, has also glorified us.  Glorification takes place
    in heaven but in God's eyes it is past tense -- already as good as
    done.  The justification that God provided takes care of all our sins:
 
 
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    past, present, and future.  God also makes us a new creature and brings
    us into right relationship with Himself.  The believer in Christ is
    secure because he can rest on the fact that God foreknew him,
    predestined him, called him, justified him, and glorified him.
         God continues in the next verse: "What shall we then say to these
    things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his
    own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him
    also freely give us all things?" (Rom. 8:31-32).
         God who paid an infinite price for our salvation is not going to
    lose any of those whom He has saved. The salvation provided was not
    incomplete or dependent on our works either before or after our
    salvation.
         God is for us therefore who can be against us?  Since God forknew
    us, predestined us, called us, and justified us, then who can prevent
    God from glorifying us?  Is there a higher court than God whereby the
    Christian can lose the justification provided by the blood of
    Christ?...No!  Who can accuse the Christian?  Who can tell him he is
    lost if God is for him?
         "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?  It is God
    that justifieth.  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died,
    yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God,
    who also maketh intercession for us" (Rom. 8:33-34).  These verses ask
    the question that since God has justified us and Christ has died for us
    then who will condemn us.  Will God do it?...No!  Will Christ who died,
    rose ,and now intercedes for us, condemn us?...No!
         Who can separate us from the love of Christ and God's salvation?
    Romans 8:38,39 answers that question.  "For I am persuaded, that
    neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers,
    nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any
    other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God,
    which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
         According to these verses nothing can separate us from the love of
    God and our salvation.  Men are unable, angels are unable, demons
    (principalities) are unable, death and life are unable, and the
    conclusion is that nothing is able to separate us from God and His
    love.  Within the list everything possible is listed that might
    separate us from God but nothing is able to do it.
         Now for those readers who say "that's true...but what about
    ourselves?".  Paul answers that when he said " nor things present, nor
    things to come,...nor any other creature".  Any other creature would
    include mankind and it would also include the individual Christian who
    thinks he can lose his salvation.  To repeat, the thrust of
    Romans 8:38,39 is: nothing...nothing...nothing...can separate us from
    the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
         This section concludes simply by stating that salvation is not
    salvation unless it includes glorification.  That is the way salvation
    is presented in Romans chapter 8. Therefore, the Christian can be
    assured that he will never be condemned: "There is therefore now no
    condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the
    flesh, but after the Spirit" (Rom.8:1).  Also, the Christian will never
    be forsaken: "...for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake
    thee" (Heb.13:5). "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I
    have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of
    the world. Amen" (Matt.28:20).
 
 
 
 
 
 
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                                 KEPT BY GOD
 
 
    When the Lord Jesus said "it is finished" on the cross, that meant our
    salvation was complete and there is nothing anyone can do to add to it
    or take away from it.  This section deals with the fact that God our
    Saviour, keeps, so that none is lost. John writes about God's will:
    "And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he
    hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at
    the last day" (John 6:39).
         What the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross, He did
    totally apart from any work or effort on our part. "But this man, after
    he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right
    hand of God;...For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that
    are sanctified" (Hebrews 10:12,14).
         Therefore the Christian can be confident because God gives the
    promise: "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun
    a good work in you will perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ"
    (Phil.1:6).  Also, in 1 Cor. 1:8 "Who shall also confirm you unto the
    end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ".
    Notice, it is God who does the keeping of the believer.
         God's salvation is complete and when God does something it lasts
    forever: "I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever:
    nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth
    it, that men should fear before him" (Eccl.3:14).  When a person trusts
    Christ and is born again, it is not conditional or temporary.  God
    recreates that person's spirit and he is an eternal, new creature.
         Romans 11:29 says: "For the gifts and calling of God are without
    repentance".  This verse means that God will not save a person today
    and tomorrow change His mind and take it back.  The believer is secure
    and and can depend on the faithfulness of God.  In John 11:27-29, the
    Lord Jesus states that the believer will never perish; "My sheep hear
    my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them
    eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck
    them out of my hand.  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than
    all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand".  When
    the Lord Jesus uses words like,"never perish", and "no man is able",
    this indicates that God will use His power to keep the believer.  Also
    the Lord Jesus gives eternal life and not partial life.
         When the Lord Jesus Christ saved us, He did it to the uttermost.
    "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto
    God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them"
    (Hebrews 7:25).  Being saved to the uttermost means we are kept at the
    point of salvation through to heaven and glory without any being lost.
    The last part of the verse states that the Lord Jesus ever lives to
    make intercession for us.  The Lord Jesus constantly prays for His own
    and His prayers never fail.
         Another good example of the fact that God keeps the believer can
    be found in the upper room.  Here the Lord Jesus prayed to the Father
    that all who believed on Him would be kept and that they would see Him
    in heaven in His glory. "And now I am no more in the world, but these
    are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine
    own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we
    are....Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with
    me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me:
    for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world"
    (John 17:11,24).  When the Lord Jesus prays do you think His prayers
    get answered?  Of course they do, and the Lord Jesus prayed for all
 
 
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    believers to be kept and to make it to glory.
         Therefore, how is the Christian kept?  Is it by his walk after
    salvation or is it by God's power?  Peter answers this: "To an
    inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away,
    reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through
    faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time"
    (1 Pet. 1:4,5).  Jude also answers by saying: "Jude, the servant of
    Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God
    the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called,...Now unto him
    that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless
    before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy" (Jude 1,24).
    Again notice that the Christian's preservation, security, and keeping
    is not dependent upon himself, but upon God.
         It is good news that the Christian is kept by God's love and power
    and that salvation is complete apart from the works and merits of the
    believer.  This section has shown that the Christian does not keep
    himself, but rather it is God who keeps each believer by His power.
    Nowhere in the Bible is the Christian given the responsibility of
    keeping himself saved and maintaining, (under penalty of loss), his
    salvation.  To say that a believer can lose his salvation is a direct
    insult to the ability of God to fully save and keep His own.  It is
    also an affirmation that God did not provide a complete salvation but a
    partial one which must be merited by good works after salvation.  To
    believe in conditional salvation is to believe in gross Biblical error
    concerning what God has said is eternal and permanent.
 
 
                                   SEALED
 
         When God seals a person it is a permanent seal which no one is
    able to break.  What God has sealed man cannot break.  This section
    will show that when a believer trusts the Lord Jesus Christ as his
    Saviour at that moment he is permanently sealed by the Holy Spirit.
         The Greek word for sealed in the New Testament is SPHRAGIZO which
    means:  to stamp (with a signet or private mark) for security or
    preservation (lit or fig); by impl.  to keep secret, to attest.
    (Strongs Concordance).  The word for sealed in the Greek implies
    security and preservation.
 
         The Bible says that the Lord Jesus Christ is sealed: "Labour not
    for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto
    everlasting life, which the Son of Man shall give unto you: for him
    hath God the Father SEALED" (John 6:27).
         In Revelation Ch. 7 the 144,000 are sealed (SPHRAGIZO) with God's
    seal and in Ch 14 all of them are with the Lord Jesus Christ and none
    of them is lost.
         In the Old Testament there is an example of a sealing when Daniel
    was thrown into the den of lions: "Then the king commanded, and they
    brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions.  Now the king spake
    and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will
    deliver thee.  And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the
    den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of
    his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel"
    (Daniel 6:16,17).
        These verses about Daniel show that the seal was given "that
    the purpose might not be changed...".  Another example of sealing is
    when the Lord Jesus was buried in His tomb.  The Romans sealed the tomb
    and no man was to break that seal.
 
 
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         When a seal is given in the Bible it is given with a purpose and
    is unchangeable.  Now if the seal of a mere man is given with a
    binding, unchangeable purpose, how much more when God seals something?
    Can men break God's seal?
         The Bible also says that God seals each person with His Holy
    Spirit at the moment of salvation: "Now he which stablisheth us with
    you in Christ, and hath annointed us, is God; Who hath also SEALED us,
    and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts" (2 Cor 1:21,22).
         "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth,
    the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye
    were SEALED with that holy Spirit of promise" (Eph 1:13).  It is good
    news that when a person is born again he is sealed, because God can and
    does protect that which He seals.
         What does it mean to be "sealed by that holy Spirit of promise"?
    The answer is in John 14:16,17: "And I will pray the Father, and he
    shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
    Even the Spirit of truth;..." Notice the promise is for the Holy Spirit
    to dwell with the believer for ever and ever.  The sealing of the
    believer is a permanent, unbreakable seal.
         God's seal also guarantees our salvation because we are sealed
    unto the day of redemption;  "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God,
    whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption" (Eph.4:30).  Now if
    we are sealed until the day of redemption, does that mean that some
    will lose their salvation before reaching the day of redemption?
    No...when God says the Christian is sealed until the day of redemption,
    He means just that.  All born-again Christians will stay saved and make
    it to the day of redemption because God says so.
         In John we are told of the new birth; "Jesus answered and said
    unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again,
    he cannot see the kingdom of God.  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a
    man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his
    mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto
    thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter
    into the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and
    that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Marvel not that I said
    unto thee, Ye must be born again." (John 3:3-7).  Here the Lord Jesus
    says the believer is born of the Spirit and God's Spirit is eternal.
         Not only is the believer sealed but he partakes of the Divine
    Nature, (which also is eternal); "Whereby are given unto us exceeding
    great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the
    divine nature..."  (2 Peter 1:4).  In 1 John 2:25 God promises us
    eternal life, not partial life; "And this is the promise that he hath
    promised us, even eternal life".
         Since the Christian is chosen from the foundation of the world,
    kept by God's power, and sealed with His Holy Spirit, God refers to our
    salvation in the past tense in 1 John 5:11,13: "And this is the record,
    that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his
    Son....These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of
    the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye
    may believe on the name of the Son of God."
 
 
                             FORGIVENESS OF SINS
 
         How many sins does the blood of the Lord Jesus cover?  This
    section is necessary because in order to deny eternal security one must
    also deny the believers future sins were paid for by the blood of the
    Lord Jesus Christ.  Those who believe that a Christian can lose his
 
 
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    salvation are saying that past and present sins are forgiven when a
    person is saved.  However, forgiveness for future sins is conditional
    and is dependent upon the Christian.  If a person continues in sin
    without repentance, there comes a time, (not defined), when he has
    sinned too much and he loses his salvation and becomes an unsaved,
    unforgiven sinner again.  He is then un-born again and un-adopted by
    God.  There are two schools of thought embraced by those who believe in
    conditional salvation at this point: (1) Some believe the person is now
    lost and it is impossible for him to be renewed again to repentance and
    re-saved. (2) Others believe that if that person repents and turns back
    to God with all his heart, he can be re-forgiven, re-saved, born again
    again, re-adopted by God, and restored as a new creature again.
         This section will show the error of conditional salvation as it
    relates to sins, forgiveness, and the righteousness of the believer in
    the Lord Jesus Christ.
          The salvation that God provided cleanses from all sins, not just
    a few.  Paul writes in Eph. 1:7 "In whom we have redemption through his
    blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace".
    Also, "...the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin"
    (1 John 1:7).  These verses state that the blood of the Lord Jesus
    cleanses us from all sins.
         Now how many sins are "all"?  Does "all" include past sins?  Does
    "all" include present sins?  Does "all" include future sins?  According
    to Websters dictionary "all" is defined as: the whole amount or
    quantity of; as much as possible; the whole number or sum of.
    Concerning sins "all" would include the whole amount of sins and
    exclude none.  This means "all" sins would include all the sins of a
    Christian from birth to death (past, present, and future sins).
         The Bible says: "...when he had by himself purged our sins, sat
    down on the right hand of the Majesty on high" (Heb.1:3).  "...but now
    once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the
    sacrifice of himself" (Heb.9:26).  "As far as the east is from the
    west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us"
    (Psalm 103:12).  Notice these verses include all sin, not just a few.
         God says that He not only forgives our sin, but he wills not to
    remember them any more.  "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy
    transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins"
    (Isaiah 43:25).  "...for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will
    remember their sin no more" (Jer.31:34).  "This is the covenant that I
    will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my
    laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; and their
    sins and iniquities will I remember no more" (Heb.10:16,17).
         The Bible also teaches that God imputes His righteousness to all
    that trust in the Lord Jesus as Saviour.  "For he hath made him to be
    sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of
    God in him" (2 Cor.5:21).  "For what saith the scripture? Abraham
    believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness....But to
    him what worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly,
    his faith is counted for righteousness....And therefore it was imputed
    to him for righteousness.  Now it was not written for his sake alone,
    that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be
    imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the
    dead" (Rom.4:3,5,22-24).
         God has dealt with the sin of the believer because the penalty and
    all judgment for sin was put on the Lord Jesus Christ at the cross.
    God now deals with the Christian as one of His children.  He deals with
    His children in discipline and not by judgment and eternal
    condemnation.
 
 
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                               CHRISTIAN LIVING
 
 
         Does the fact of eternal security give the Christian the right to
    sin and rebel with no call of holiness and righteousness on his life?
    This section will deal with the lifestyle of the Christian and sin in
    the Christian's life.
         Firstly, God commands His people to live separated, righteous, and
    holy lives before a Christ-rejecting world.  "Wherefore come out from
    among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the
    unclean thing; and I will receive you" (2 Cor.6:17).  "But as he which
    hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
    Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy" (1 Pet.1:15,16).
    "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.
    Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live
    soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world"
    (Titus 2:11,12).
         However, Christians are not perfect and those who say they have no
    sin are liars (see 1 John 1:8).  When a Christian sins God wants him to
    do two things: (1) admit he has sinned, and (2) repudiate that sin.
    God gives a promise in 1 John 1:9; "If we confess our sins, he is
    faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
    unrighteousness".  Notice that this verse does not say the Christian is
    to ask for forgiveness.  Forgiveness of sin is a settled fact through
    what the Lord Jesus did on the cross.  This verse refers to the
    fellowship of the believer with God.  When a Christian sins, a barrier
    of guilt comes up between the Christian and God.  This verse is God's
    provision for removing that barrier so the Christian can resume his
    close walk of fellowship with God.  John says that it is not God's will
    that His children sin, but if they do, their sin is taken care of: "My
    little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not.  And
    if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
    righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours
    only, but also for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2:1,2).
         In light of God's provision for sin in the believer's life, does
    this mean that the Christian can go out and sin as much as he wants
    with no consequences?  Paul answers the sin question in Romans 6:
    "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may
    abound?  God forbid.  How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any
    longer therein?...Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that
    ye should obey it in the lusts thereof....What then? shall we sin,
    because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.  Know ye
    not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye
    are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto
    righteousness?...For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free
    from righteousness.  What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye
    are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death"
    (Rom.6:1,2,12,15,16,20,21).
         In 1 Corinthians Paul gives an example of a believer who got
    involved in gross sin and would not repent.  According to those who
    profess conditional salvation, that person would be lost.  However, the
    Bible gives the following different outcome: "It is reported commonly
    that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so
    much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's
    wife.  And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that
    hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.  For I verily,
    as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as
    though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, In
 
 
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    the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and
    my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an
    one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be
    saved in the day of the Lord Jesus" (1 Cor.5:1-5).  Notice that the
    penalty for the Christian's rebellion is not the loss of salvation but
    the destruction of the body that the spirit may be saved.  His spirit
    "may" be saved means that he is saved and will still go to heaven.  If
    there is any question about the word "may", look at 1 Cor.15:28: "And
    when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also
    himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may
    be all in all".  The word "may" in this verse does not mean, maybe God
    will be all in all or maybe He won't.  It means He will be all in all,
    just as the rebellious Christian is saved even thought his body should
    be destroyed by Satan.
         What about great Christian leaders or workers who appear to be
    saved, but reject their faith and walk away from the Lord Jesus?  Is
    this not an example of someone forfeiting their salvation they once
    possessed?  The Bible answers this question and says that person was
    never saved in the first place.  The proof is the fact they left the
    Lord Jesus Christ. John writes: "Little children, it is the last time:
    and as ye have heard that anti-christ shall come, even now are there
    many anti-christs; whereby we know that it is the last time.  They went
    out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they
    would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they
    might be made manifest that they were not all of us" (1 John 2:18,19).
          The final question is about Judas Iscariot.  Was he not an
    example of someone who was saved, but lost his salvation?  The answer
    is No; he never was saved according to the Lord Jesus Christ. "Jesus
    answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
    He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should
    betray him, being one of the twelve" (John 6:70,71).  When the Lord
    Jesus washed the feet of the twelve, he said the following: "...He that
    is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit:
    and ye are clean, but not all.  For he knew who would betray him;
    therefore said he, Ye are not all clean" (John 13:10,11).  Judas had
    every opportunity to be saved but refused.  He was chosen in God's
    foreknowledge that scripture might be fulfilled.
 
 
 
                                  CONCLUSION
 
 
         To conclude, we have shown that throughout scripture the security
    of the believer is upheld.  Only by ignoring God's promises for
    justification, sealing, and keeping; or by pulling verses out of
    context, can the doctrine of conditional salvation be professed.  We
    have shown the fact that God glorifies all that He justifies.  We have
    also seen that God has promised to preserve and keep each believer by
    His power and faithfulness.  It is also good news to know each believer
    has been sealed by the Holy Spirit, has complete forgiveness and
    remission of sins, and has been imputed God's righteousness.
         In light of all this, the reader must now consider whether he in
    fact has trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Saviour and Lord.  Could
    it be that some are trusting in their own performance in the Christian
    life to keep their salvation rather that trusting in the finished work
    of the Lord Jesus on the cross?
 
 
 
                                     Page 8
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
         It must be emphasized that a "conditional" view of salvation not
    only denies God's Word, but it also produces a legalistic, fear-
    inspiring, and experience-oriented Christian walk.  How can one share
    the riches of God's grace to the unsaved when he believes his own
    acceptance hangs by a tenuous thread?
         It is hoped that this study has brought the reader to a better
    understanding concerning the fact of eternal security.  For further,
    in-depth information an excellent tape series is available by
    John McArthur Jr.  It can be obtained by writing:
    In Canada: Grace to You        In USA:  Grace to You
               Box 100                       Box 4000
               Montreal,Que.                 Panorama City, California
               H4K 2J4                       91412
 
         To close, the following is God's simple plan of salvation for
    those who do not know the Lord Jesus as their Saviour and Lord, or who
    do not have 100% assurance that if they died today, they would go to
    heaven.
 
    The Bible says:
 
    FOR ALL HAVE SINNED: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory
    of God;" (Rom 3:23).
 
    SIN HAS A PENALTY: "The soul that sinneth, it shall die...."
    (Exek 18:20).  "For the wages of sin is death;..." (Rom 6:23). "And
    death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.  This is the second
    death.  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was
    cast into the lake of fire" (Rev 20:14,15).
 
    THE LORD JESUS PAID THE PENALTY: "But he was wounded for our
    transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of
    our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed"
    (Isa 53:5).  "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we
    were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom 5:8).
 
    YOU MUST RECEIVE THE LORD JESUS: "But as many as received him, to them
    gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on
    his name:" (John 1:12).
 
                              SINNERS PRAYER
         Lord Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner deserving death.  I ask You
    to come into my life to forgive and save me.  I now receive You as my
    Saviour (trusting in You ALONE to  save me) and my Lord (making you my
    Master and committing my life to you).
 
                               ASSURANCE
    "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and
    this life is in his Son.  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that
    hath not the Son of God hath not life.  These things have I written
    unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know
    that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the
    Son of God" (1 John 5:11-13).
 
    By A. Yusko and E. Prior
    THE SEED SOWERS, P.O. Box 2513, Stn. F, Scarborough, Ont. M1W 3P2
    The Seed Sowers Computer BBS 24Hrs  (416) 498-5259, or 498-5962
 
                                     Page 9
 
 
 
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