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Eternal Security

Once Saved Always Saved

     Hi.  Well weve got another good mailbag
question today.  The question is about eternal security or as a lot of
us understand the phrase once saved always saved.  The question is this:
During our Thanksgiving Day dinner our family had the discussion about the
once saved always saved topic.  What are your thoughts on this?  If
we can just say a prayer and get to Heaven as it is taught in so many places
what is the point of discipling after Christ?

     This a great question, one that I think a lot
Christians need to be asking and one that I think a lot Christians misunderstand.
 Let me begin by saying that once we become Christians the goal is repentance
from our Sin and to glorify God, not just to be saved, not just making into
heaven, but to repent from our sins and to change.  As a Christian we are
to change.  This is all over the Bible: repentance is key to becoming a
Christian.

     Now when it comes to eternal security I really
don't like the phrase once saved always saved.  Because, as we look at
people we see people who supposedly come to church, get saved and they fall
away.  From our standpoint it doesn't look like people once they get saved
they're always saved.  It just doesnt seem to work.  But from Gods
standpoint it's true, because it relies on God and not us.  I prefer the
phrase eternal security.  Look, Romans 8:38 says this:  For I am
convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the
present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything
else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that
is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

     Now I dont know about you but that verse sounds
to me like its pretty hard to go out of the grasp of God.  If you've truly
accepted Jesus Christ none of those things can separate you from him.  Now
unless you think that you're stronger than angels or demons or God or all the
powers and Creation I dont see how we can separate ourselves from God either.
 Because salvation doesnt rely upon what we do, any decisions that we
make, or any way that we live.  It relies upon the grace of God only.  If
it relied upon how we lived and acted all of us would be going to hell and thats
the reality of it.  Were only saved when God chooses to show us mercy
for those things that weve done wrong.  That mercy comes whether were
doing it now or going to do it in the future  it covers every sin weve made.
 Of course part of the question was does this mean we can just say a prayer
and get into heaven and dont have to worry about how we live anymore?  That's
not what talking about here -  this is one of the biggest misconceptions
of eternal security.  True Christians - those people who have eternal security
- are not going to live their lives doing whatever they want.   Because
their lives are dedicated to pursuing God, pursuing Jesus Christ.  You
understand: true eternal security pushes us into a relationship that is deeper
and deeper with Jesus Christ, not just a prayer and walking away.  True
eternal security means that we love Jesus and pursue him with all our hearts.
 Do some people walk away and are still be saved?  Yes, I believe
this problem is the case.  But the point isn't that we go where we want
to  the point is that God has great mercy.  His mercy is more powerful
than any action I can do!   And I just praise God for that.

     This been Jeff Piepho for the Revolution mailbag