Can A Person Know For Sure That He is Saved
and
Will Go To Heaven When He Dies?

(The Doctrine of Eternal Security)
By Cooper Abrams
1 John 5:13

• Introduction: Two important questions a person must ask:

  First: How can I be saved, have my sins forgiven, and go to heaven when I die?

  The answer is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and God will save us and give us eternal life. Note these verses:

  • Romans 10:9-10, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."

    John 3:15-16, " That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

    Romans 4:5, "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. "

    1 John 5:20, "And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life."

    Romans 5:21, "That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord."

    John 10:28, "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. "

Second: How do I know that I am saved?

• Answer: Note that in each of these passages the person who believes in Christ is said to receive "everlasting" or "eternal life." Note what God tells us through the following passage:
  • 1 John 5:13, "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. "

  The First Question deals with "Justification" and the Second Question deals with "Assurance."

  • 1. It is not a light question! There is much confusion. Some teach you cannot know you have eternal life and others teach that you can lose it. Sources of confusion come from the pulpits and doctrines of some established, prestigious denominational churches.

    Some denominations conclude that the doctrine of "Eternal Security of the Believer" is a license to sin. Nothing could be further from the truth. I know of no preacher or church that teaches and believes in Eternal Security that teaches that it gives license to sin. The truth is that the opposite is true! They all conclude with the Word of God, "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 there in?" (Rom. 6:1-2). Ask any preacher or church that teaches Eternal Security what they believe regarding sin and they will strongly condemn sin in a believer's life. It may make a good argument for those who deny that God gives the believer absolute assurance of salvation, but it has no merit in truth!

    Those who deny Eternal Security should be warned. This question deals with men's souls, and one's eternal fate. The heart of the matter is this: Is salvation by grace, the free gift of God through faith, or is it a matter of earning or working for salvation? It is a matter of one or the other and there is no middle ground. One is either by faith accepting God's free offer of salvation by grace and pleading the shed blood of Jesus Christ for his salvation, or he is offering God his filthy rags of his works to atone for sin. It is either one or the other, it is not both, or part one or the other. It is all of Christ or nothing!

    If a church or person believes a true Christian can lose their salvation then that church or person is a false because they teaching salvation by works. If you have to live a faithful life after you are saved in order to keep your salvation then your good works of faithful living is keeping you saved. Surely every true child of God wants to live for the Lord and the majority will, but their faithfulness is not keeping them saved as that is the work of God. 1 Peter 3:3-5 plainly says were are not kept by our good works, but by the power of God Himself:

    • "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 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."

    2. Where can one find the answer and be assured that what he is taught and believes is true? This question deals with men's souls, and whether a person will spend eternity in heaven or hell.

    3. The only source of information on what God has truly said can only come from the Bible. We must seek God's answer on the matter in "what saith the Lord." That is only place we can go and where we will go. The problem of confusion on this matter is because men, preachers, and denominations have appealed to logic or human reasoning instead of simply consulting God on the matter.

    Some have used the example of some who made a public profession of Jesus Christ and then returned into sin as proof a once saved person can lose their salvation. Using human reasoning they conclude that these people were saved and then lost their salvation because they now are not living for the Lord. Jesus in the Parable Sower clearly taught that when some hear the word of God, it springs up, but because of work of the Devil, false teaching or hardened hearts, it does not produce fruit. (Luke 8:4-15). These people had a "head" knowledge of the truth, but not a "heart" knowledge of Jesus Christ as their Savior and were never saved. Many respond in a moment of emotion and professed Christ as their Savior, but do not truly believe or place their faith in Jesus Christ. Because they do not truly believe they are not "born again" and receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the new nature that enables one to live for Christ. They may for a time attend church and do things that true believers do, but it is done in the flesh and because they have no root...when their is difficultly or sacrifice to be made they wane and fall away. Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Romans 10:10 says, "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

    May I suggest that such human reasoning is faulty. Why? Because of what God says. Note what God says about those who profess Christ and serve the Devil.

    "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." (1 John 3:8). Note God's further explanation of this statement:

    1 John 3:10, "In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother."

    John is not saying a believer will not sin, (See 1 John 1:8) He is saying the one who lives continually in sin and is without love for the children of God is of the Devil and is not nor ever was saved.

    God makes provision for believers that sin. In 1 John 1:9, the believer who sins is to repent and confess his sin, and that process God will use to cleanse him from sin. However, if a believer sins and refuses to confess it God will chasten him as recorded in Hebrews 12:6-11. If that believer after the chastening God still will not repent and turn from his sin, God will take his life.

    (See 1 Corinthians 11:29-31, and 1 John 5:16)

    • "Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world" (1 Cor. 11:27-32)

    Note the last verse says that "we" referring to true believers ". . . are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world." These believers, who were not discerning of the Lord's body, were those that sinned without regard for the suffering of Christ for their sin. They knew Jesus suffered greatly to pay their sin debt, but continued to sin refusing to judge themselves and repent.

    • "If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death" (1 John 5:16-17).

    This "sin unto death" is committed by believers. The seriousness of this is seen in that other Christians who see a person blatantly sinning and refusing to repent are not to pray for the erring brother because he is in God's hands and God will certainly deal with him. Although the "sin unto death" is not identified it seems to be not one particular sin, but a lifestyle of sin. Further the admonition not to pray for this sinning believer appears to be saying that his brothers should not pray for him because it is an act of God's mercy being demonstrated in His stopping the person from his sinful life by taking his life. The Bible says that God chastens every child of His, and if you see a person, who has professed or is professing to be a Christian, and is blatantly living in sin, look at his life and make note to see if God is chastening him. If the chastening of God is not present in that person's life it is clear evidence that they are not a child of God. They may have a head knowledge of Jesus Christ, but He is not in their heart! Just claiming to be saved does not mean that a person really is saved. There are many false professions made and many people who are deceived thinking themselves to be save who actually are lost.

    "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. . . But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons." (Heb. 12:6,8)

    Those who deny that a man can truly know he is saved and can lose his salvation are teaching that Jesus made only the down payment on our salvation on the cross, and we by our good works must keep up the payments or be lost. This teaching is pure heresy.

  I. Let us Look at Biblical Examples of Those Who Had Assurance.

  • A. In the Old Testament there are many examples of those who professed they knew they were saved.
    • 1. Job 19:25-27 Job said "I know..."
      2. Psalm 23:4 David said in the "shadow of death, he had fear no evil"
      3. Psalm 17:13-15 "When I awake I will be satisfied with thy likeness" David was sure of the resurrection and of his salvation.

    B. Let's look at what Christ Himself said on the matter.

    • 1. Christ in John 17, prayed for the disciples and for those who would believe. (Verse 20) That means believers today as well. John 17:1-3, Jesus said this was life eternal.

      V9 & 11. Believers are given to Christ, by God. Jesus make the point that believers are God's, how can they be lost.
      V12 , states clearly none are lost!

      2. John 3:16, what does everlasting life mean? It simply means that everlasting life that does not end. When does eternal life begin? When one receives it!

      3. John 10:27-29. Jesus said, believers are given eternal life and no one can pluck them out of My hand. It is God Himself that keeps the believers saved! That is His promise to those that believe! If the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Savior, says once a person believes and is saved has eternal life, how can anyone call Him a liar and say that eternal life is not eternal life?

    C. We have the testimony of the New Testament.

    • 1. Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:51-58, explains the sure and absolute hope of salvation and the resurrection, when all believers will be "raptured" and taken to Heaven. Then Paul says, (1 Corinthians 15:58) "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

      Note that Paul is not telling us to work for our salvation in order to keep it, but to work because WE KNOW that our labor for the Lord is not in vain. There is a vast difference. Those who teach one can lose their salvation must ignore this verse.

      Note again what he says in II Corinthians 5:6-8. "Therefore we are always CONFIDENT, KNOWING that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord." There is no doubt expressed here concerning the fact of one's salvation! (Verse 6) "We are always confident" and (Verse 8) "we are confident."

      In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, begins with the explanation for his writing,

      " But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope." He then goes on to explain the Rapture of the body of Christ, He concludes by saying, Wherefore comfort one another with these words." (Verse 18) If a person cannot know that he is saved and forgiven then there cannot be the great comfort in knowing one is truly saved and kept saved by God Himself. There is no comfort in being told that if I do not live right, do good works, keep the faith and not sin....God will reject me and send me to hell!

      Can there be any comfort to those who do not know if they are saved or not? Is there any comfort in knowing one day you will die and you can never be sure if you will wake up in heaven or in hell! What was God's purpose in giving us these wonderful verses of a sure and absolute hope if it is not true and we could displease God and He would forsake us? Yes, God says we can know that if we believed, we will be resurrected.

      2. 2 Timothy 1:12, Paul says to Timothy, "For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." Note Paul's says he KNOWS, and is PERSUADED that GOD, (not Paul) would keep that which he had committed to Him. Paul believed God's promises of salvation, and Paul accepted and committed his soul to God. Paul was absolutely sure he had been forgiven and was saved.

      Paul knew too, that he was not sinless (see 1 Timothy 1:15). He said he was the chief of sinners, yet God forgave him all his sins past, present and future the day that Paul believed.

      3. Romans 8:1, God tells us through this passage, "there is therefore "NOW" no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. That word "now" is an important word. "Now" refers to the period after one believers, meaning after a person believes in Christ, there is no longer any condemnation. Why? Because God has forgiven him.

      What a great absolute assurance God gives us in Romans:

      • "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? Who shall lay any thing 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. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 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" (Rom. 8:31-39).

      4. Romans 5:1-2, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace..rejoice in hope of glory of God." This is a key verse in the matter! There can only be peace for the believer who knows he has eternal life and is forgiven. There is no peace apart from one's assurance of his salvation. Greek word "peace" ei pece means " to anticipate with pleasure, or confidence"

      5. 1 Peter 1:5. "Who are kept by the power of God, by faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." One is not said to be kept by his works in which we all fail, but by the power of God.

      6. 1 John 3:14, "We know we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren." John says we can KNOW we passed from death to life. Never does the Bible say a person who has been given "live" in Christ loses it.

      1 John 5:13, "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that you may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God"

      7. Hebrews 6:11-12, "We desire that every one you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of the "hope unto the end." The writer of the Book of Hebrews, encourages believers and desires to show them with diligence the hope of the full assurance the believer has in his salvation. Verse 11 establishes the reason for verses 1-10.

      Therefore God is not saying that it is possible for a person to be saved and lose their salvation, but saying that "if" it were possible then Christ would have to be crucified all over again. It is not saying it is possible to be saved and then lost, but showing why it would be impossible to lose salvation. The passage is establishing the fact that it is impossible to be lost once Christ has saved us, because that would mean that Christ would have to be crucified again in order for a person to be saved again if they were lost. Christ was crucified once for all as Hebrews 10:10 says, "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." Note in Verse 12 the word, "slothful" which comes from a derivative of word "illegitimate" as an illegitimate son, or of uncertain origin. He is saying, "Do not act like an illegitimate son (lost person), because as you know you are a child of God, do not be lazy or uncertain."

      Note that Verses 17-18 state that God has made an oath concerning our salvation and a "made solemn promise." This is God solemn oath is that all that trust in Jesus Christ are eternally one saved. He up lifts us with the assurance..."We might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the "hope" set before us..."

      Verses 19-20 say, "Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek." Clearly these two verses absolutely assure the Christian who has truly put his faith in Jesus Christ that he is eternally saved.

      In Hebrews 6:4- 6, clearly it teaches that it were possible to be saved and then to be lost it would be impossible to be restored. This verse teaches that "if" it were possible to lost one's salvation then the principle would be stated, "ONCE SAVED AND LOST ALWAYS LOST!" However, the point is that it is impossible to lose what God freely gave you and can be correctly stated "ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED."

      Interestingly, all those that teach that you lose your salvation also teach you can saved again. They teach that by repentance and good works one can get it back again. This directly contradicts God's word as stated here because this passage emphatically states that if one could lose their salvation it would be impossible to restore them again. Also, these false teachers that teach you can lose your salvation never address how much sin one must commit to lose eternal life. Thus their members flounder in a sea of doubt never being sure if they are accepted by God or not.

      What is the basis of God's accepting a person and forgiving him? Clearly, the scripture says it is based upon what Jesus Christ did on the cross. If a person by faith believes and receives Christ as their Savior...they receive eternal life and if it is eternal it cannot be lost. A person is not saved by any work or works they do and salvation is purely an act of God's grace in giving the "gift" of salvation to those who will believe and accept it. Ephesians 2:1-10 states:

      • 1 ¶ And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
        2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
        3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
        4 ¶ But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
        5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
        6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
        7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
        8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
        9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
        10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
        • Romans 5:17-19 states the basis, "For if by one man's offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."

          Hebrews 9:14, "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

          1 John 1:7, "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. "

          Ephesians 2:16 "And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: "

        God's offer of salvation is total, complete and final. It was promised on the basis of the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross as he suffered and shed His blood for man. Man's salvation is not based on his good works.

        How could a man by good works, keep a salvation that he was not able to work for or earn for himself in the first place?

    II. God's Sure Offer of Salvation.

    • A. Acts 8:26-40. Is the account of the salvation of the eunuch. The eunuch believed and was given eternal life. He surely did not work for it and it was given him based on his believing in the Good News of the death, burial and resurrection which Philip has explained to Him.

      B. The Spirit of God prepared the way, as the eunuch read the Bible.

      • 1. V29 The Spirit sent Philip.
        2. V31 The one the Lord sent explained the Scriptures.
        3. V35 Philip preached to him "Jesus."
        4. V36 Question? "What doth hinder me to be baptized?" Philip's answer: "If thou believest with ALL thine heart!" The Eunch then professed "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."

        5. Then in obedience, the eunuch was baptized, not to be saved but as evidence of it.
        6. Note V39..He went on his way rejoicing. If he did not understand that he had received eternal life there would be nothing to rejoice about. If he understood that his salvation could be lost, instead of rejoicing he would have been placed under a great burden. How can one rejoice in salvation knowing that you just might lose it if you do not work enough or be faithful enough or commit some sin? C. When God told the Nation of Israel that He would never forsake them what did He mean? (see Deuteronomy 4:31, 14:27, 31:6-8, Joshua 1:5, 1 Chronicles 28:20, Hebrews 13:5) Israel forsook the Lord over and over, but God kept His promise and to this day has not forsake them. The even crucified their Messiah, but God's promises to them were unconditional. He did not say to them IF you do this I will never forsake thee. He said emphatically, "I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE NOR FORSAKE THEE" and He never has. Even at this moment in time we are moving toward the Tribulation, His Second Coming and the establishment of the promised Millennial Kingdom."

        God's offer of salvation is freely given to all who will receive Him in faith and He unconditionally saves them and gives them eternal life because He wills to do so. He does not save or base the continuation of salvation based on one's works or merit. Dear friend take confidence in the fact that if you truly believed with your heart, repenting our your sins, you are God's child and He has forever saved you. You sins, past, present and future are under the blood of Jesus Christ. Do you see what that means....all you sins and failures are forgiven the moment you believe and are saved.

        The church, preacher or person who tells you can be saved and then lost is a liar and they call God a liar. Believe God!

        • "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 13).

      Conclusion:

      Today you can be saved and have eternal life, and the sure peace of knowing you are. That is God's promise!

      Simply believe, place your trust in Christ and let him save you. God assures us that all who believe will be saved! And He further explains that our salvation is eternal and begins the moment we put our trust in Him.

      Christian maybe struggling with doubts...if you have, and do trust Christ...be assured God Saved you.

      Salvation is not based on one's feeling. I may sin and if I do as a child of God I will sorry for it. I surely will not feel good when I sin. But, God has forgiven me, even before I sinned. He did not save me because I deserved it or was good enough, stopped committing sin or was worthy. In fact no one is worthy to be saved, because we "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Rom. 3:23)

      "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Roman 5:8. You see while I was a sinner God loved me and Christ died for my sin. That is so very clear. Further, after I believed and received Jesus Christ as my Savior, I still am not worthy of his Grace and Love!!! I never will be. Yet, He still loves me and still forgives the same way he did when I was first saved. I can no more win God's favor by my good works now as I could before I was saved.....! It is His love and Grace that keeps me saved. I will fail him, yet he will never every fail me.

      My friend if some church, denomination or preacher has told you, that once you have truly believed and placed your trust in Jesus Christ, that you can then lose it....they are teaching you false doctrine. My I suggest that you find a good Bible believing church to attend that teaches and loves the Word of God such as we Independent Fundamental Baptist do. Truth as the Bible teaches will save, and God will never bless false doctrine or error.

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