Years ago, I was sitting in a gym’s steam room with several other guys, and two were discussing Eternal Security, whether you can lose your salvation. After a while I asked them if they both believed John 3:16 was true. They both agreed it was. Then I asked if God gave us eternal life and took it back because we sinned or something, was it really eternal and is John 3:16 was wrong?
We can know we’re saved. The same apostle John that penned the gospel wrote this:
1 John 5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.
Throughout Scripture, we are told we will have eternal life if we accept Christ as Lord of our lives. We can be confident in that. There is an old issue, though, is Hebrews 6:4-6:
For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit,and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come,and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.
This is often interpreted as Christians can lose their salvation. The denominations that believe this tend to shy away from the rest of the passage which says once you’ve lost it, you can never regain it. They will instead welcome the repentant back into the flock.
Every time I read this passage I think of Simon Magus in Acts 8:9-24. We’re told Simon heard the gospel and believed, he had been enlightened, had tasted the heavenly gift, he had even shared in the work the Holy Spirit was doing, tasted the goodness of the Word and had heard of the powers of the age to come.
Sin was found in Simon, though (vs 20-24). In fact, the Apostolic Father, the disciples of the apostles, often used Simon as an example of a false teacher and a false disciple. Simon went on to become the leader of a heretical Gnostic group.
So, it is very possible, the church can have false members who have heard the message of the gospel and act like Christians in every way but have not really turned over their lives to Christ. Sometimes it’s just ignorance. The person doesn’t understand making a commitment to Jesus as Lord of their life is required for salvation. They pray, they attend church, they give, they even serve, yet the Holy Spirit does not live in them. They’re not evil, just uninformed. We need to do better to be sure everyone understands all that is involved in the salvation message.
Sometimes, a person might enter into a church to “network.” A lot of professionals benefit from having a large number of people trusting in them and church membership lends to their credibility. Yet, there is no dedication to the Lord, only to the bottom line.
Most people, though, in our Bible believing churches are sincere children of God (John 1:12). I believe Simons represent a very small portion of the congregations. It is too easy to be noticed there. So, we shouldn’t go looking for Simons under every pew. They are not the rule.
Sincere children of God can know their salvation is assured and sealed by the Holy Spirit:
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption (Eph 4:30).
Why is this important?
We Christians should be confident in our relationship with God. Once we give our lives to Christ, our fate is sealed. One of Satan’s most effective tools against the Christian is doubt. If he can “sterilize” us, he’s happy.
I heard a message today about the ark of Noah. Once inside the ark, the door was closed, those inside were sealed and safely included in God’s salvation from the flood. It is the same for us. Once we are sealed by God the Holy Spirit into His body, no power can ever break that seal?
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 8:38-39)
Believers Armed and Dangerous 