• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Christian Concepts

Bringing your Potential to Light

  • Start Here
  • Insights
  • About
  • Subscribe

Eternal Security – Why or Why Not

December 2, 2018 by Matt Pavlik 1 Comment

I believe all born-again Christians have eternal security. I know this can be a subject for debate. I welcome your comments so we can have a lively, in-depth discussion.

When interpreting the Bible, it is important to look broadly (across many scriptures) and narrowly (in the immediate context of a verse). Also, everything written has an intended audience. The Bible has two main audiences: the Christian and the non-Christian. The Christian should approach the Bible as someone who is already saved and interpret every verse from this perspective. For the true believer, there is no condemnation (Romans 8:1). I wrote about this several weeks ago: Interpret The Bible With Your Christian Identity. The non-Christian should feel conviction for their sin and need for the Savior.

The question of eternal security is a positional one. Whether you believe you can lose your salvation or not, we should all be able to agree on what it takes to become a Christian. Then you should be able to evaluate whether or not you are saved at the present moment. If you’re saved today, then let’s not worry right now if you weren’t saved yesterday.

The process of gaining salvation requires putting your faith (actively believing) in Christ’s work on your behalf. You can’t provide any “work” other than your faithful belief. Salvation is a gift. Gifts are received not earned.

Ephesians 2:8-9 makes this clear:

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.

If someone can lose their salvation, there must be an equally clear procedure of how that happens. I suppose someone could return the gift, but I’m not sure why anyone would want to do that. Otherwise, I can’t think of any other way to lose salvation. If you can lose salvation by not working hard enough at it, then this makes salvation sound like a trap: it’s easy to step in, but once you’re in, you have to work increasingly harder to stay in, otherwise, you’ll be kicked out. But then is it easy or hard to get back in again? Besides being confusing, this seems to go against the Gospel message and many Bible passages.

I plan to explore this topic for several weeks and maybe even months. For now consider Jesus’s words:

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

—Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus is saying that salvation is process of finding rest for your soul.

Whether you agree or disagree with my belief, please share your comments and ask questions.

Matt Pavlik on FacebookMatt Pavlik on LinkedinMatt Pavlik on PinterestMatt Pavlik on Twitter
Matt Pavlik
Matt Pavlik
Christian Counselor - New Reflections Counseling
Matt Pavlik is a licensed professional clinical counselor who wants to see each individual restored to their true identity. He has more than 15 years of experience counseling individuals and couples at his Christian counseling practice, New Reflections Counseling. Matt and Georgette have been married since 1999 and live with their four children in Centerville, Ohio.

Matt’s books, ToIdentityAndBeyond.com, ,ConfidentIdentity.com and MarriageFromRootsToFruits.com, contain practical exercises that help God’s truth spring to life.

Filed Under: Eternal Security, Identity

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Dawn says

    December 2, 2018 at 9:36 pm

    I totally agree with this.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Supercharge Your Living With A Prayer Journal
  • Addiction Is About Control
  • Overcommunicate To Save Your Marriage
  • Freedom Can Save A Marriage
  • How To Ensure Your Empathy Is Healthy

Never miss an insight

Recent Comments

  • Supercharge Your Living With A Prayer Journal - Christian Concepts on Journaling Keeps Your Heart Healthy
  • Dawn Blevins on Be Imperfect But Live Strong Anyway
  • Be Imperfect But Live Strong Anyway - Christian Concepts on Addiction Is About Control
  • Dawn Blevins on Addiction Is About Control
  • Addiction Is About Control - Christian Concepts on Be Imperfect But Live Strong Anyway

Topics

  • Abuse
  • Core Longings
  • Counseling
  • Dating
  • Desire
  • Eternal Security
  • Fear versus Faith
  • Feelings
  • Forgiveness
  • Gender
  • God's Kingdom
  • Grace
  • Growth
  • Healing
  • Heart Attitude
  • Hope
  • Identity
  • Longing for God
  • Marriage
  • Publishing
  • Purpose
  • Self-Care
  • Self-Image
  • Self-Worth
  • Shame
  • Significance
  • Suffering
  • Theology

Archives

  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • September 2017
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • June 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • February 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009

Footer

Follow

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

© 2003–2021 · New Reflections Counseling, Inc. · Christian Concepts Publishing · Privacy Policy