Eternal Aspects of Salvation “In Christ”
Ephesians 3:10‐11 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,
- What is an eternal purpose?
- Can it be temporary or conditional and still be eternal?
Hebrews 5:9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,
- How would you define eternal salvation?
- Can it be temporary or conditional and still be eternal?
Hebrews 9:12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
- What kind of redemption does this verse say Jesus obtained for you?
- Can eternal redemption be temporary or conditional?
- Jesus paid the price for your redemption for how long? If you could lose your redemption during your journey, was it ever eternal?
- The very meaning of the word eternal means exactly that — eternal. Eternal redemption is the only kind of redemption that Jesus died to provide and it is the only kind of redemption that the Father offers to those “in Adam” who come to Him for salvation.
Hebrews 9:15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
- Jesus is the Mediator of a new covenant.
- What is the reason for the new covenant?
- What kind of inheritance was promised by God?
- What does eternal mean?
1 Peter 5:10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
- What kind of grace has God called you to?
- What kind of glory has God called us to?
- What does Romans 8:30 tell us about those who have been called?
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- Tom Murray: “Because you have received an eternal redemption, and an eternal inheritance through an eternal salvation, you are destined in God’s Plan for eternal glory!”
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2 Thessalonians 2:16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace,
- What has God, who has loved us, given us?
- How long does that consolation last?
- When do you most need consolation? When you have behaved badly and are in a sad condition during your journey.
- Can consolation be everlasting and at the same time be temporary or conditional?
- Your eternal hope in God’s power to keep what you have committed to Him provides you with your eternal comfort or everlasting consolation.
Hebrews 13:20-21 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
- What kind of covenant has God made with you through the blood of Jesus?
- If this is an everlasting covenant, can it possibly rest upon your faithfulness, goodness, or personal discipline, during the balance of your journey?
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- God has made an everlasting covenant with you and, as the covenant-keeping God, He alone will keep you saved!
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2 Peter 1:11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
- What will be supplied to you?
- what kind of kingdom will God supply you with an entrance into?
- What does the word everlasting mean?
- Given that God will supply you with entrance into His everlasting kingdom, can your salvation be temporary or conditional during your journey?
- If God has promised you an entrance into His everlasting Kingdom, then it seems reasonable to believe that He will make sure that you make it — through your life’s journey — to the Kingdom.
John 3:14‐16 14 “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 “that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” 16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
John 3:36 “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe in the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
John 6:47 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.”
John 10:28 “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”
- Eternal life is not something you will receive at your physical death, you possess it right now in the person of Jesus Christ Who lives in you.
- The word eternal means exactly what it says: it is eternal. If eternal life is not forever; if you can lose it during your journey, it never was eternal; it was only temporary or conditional. But eternal means eternal.
- All of these verses state that you have eternal life, not temporary or conditional life.
While belief in the doctrine of eternal security is not essential for receiving salvation, it goes a far way in determining the quality of life of the believer. Notice the following passage …
- Hebrews 6:17‐19 17 Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, 18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. 19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,
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- What is hope?
- According to Google search … a feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen.
- Hope is the confidence that something God has promised (Hebrews 5:9) you will surely happen in the future.
- What is the hope that God has given you “in Christ”?
- What is the anchor of your soul in verse 19?
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- See Hebrews 5:9 and Hebrews 6:9.
- Your hope or confidence is in the future event when that all justified will be glorified.
- Your hope or confidence is that nothing in your journey, including yourself or your performance, can separate you from the love of God that is “in Christ.”
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- Why is this an anchor of your soul?
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- Because God cannot lie and he has confirmed with an oath that He will keep you secure.
- Believing that you have eternal life (right now) gives you an eternal hope for glorification and living with Him eternally.
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1. What does your being in God’s Eternal Plan mean to your security?
2. What does your possessing Eternal Salvation mean?
3. What does your Eternal Redemption mean?
4. What does your Eternal Inheritance involve?
5. What does your being destined for Eternal Glory mean?
6. How can you have an Eternal Hope?
7. What does your having Eternal Comfort mean?
8. How does God’s Eternal Covenant secure you?
9. What does your citizenship in God’s Eternal Kingdom mean?
10. What does your now possessing Eternal Life mean?
“In Christ,” you are in God’s Eternal Plan and have received Eternal Salvation.
“In Christ,” you were bought with an Eternal Redemption price.
“In Christ,” you are destined to an Eternal Glory, the basis of your Eternal Hope.
“In Christ,” you are the beneficiary of God’s Eternal Comfort.
“In Christ,” you are assured that God will fulfill His Eternal Covenant.
“In Christ,” your citizenship is now in God’s Eternal Kingdom.
“In Christ,” you now possess Eternal Life.
MORE BIBLICAL SUPPORT For The Doctrine of ETERNAL SECURITY
Hebrews 10:12‐18 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. 15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, 16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” 17 then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” 18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.
- Did you notice in verse 12 that Jesus offered only one sacrifice forever? Why only one?
- Did you notice in verse 14 that His one offering perfected you forever?
- Did you notice in verse 17 that all of your sins will be remembered no more?
- And finally, did you see in verse 18 that where there is complete remission of sins forever, there is no more offering for sin?
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- The answer to all of these questions is found in the fact that Jesus finished the work required by the Father for your eternal salvation and there is no work for you to do or add to keep yourself secure.
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- All of your sins were future when Jesus died for you at Calvary. His offering perfected you forever, not just until you commit your next journey sin.
- The very fact that Jesus’ work for you is finished, the fact that He will never need to come and die again, proves that you have an eternal salvation. If you can lose your salvation, Christ did not finish His work and He would need to come and die again for you to get you re‐saved. But He said, ʺIt is Finished.ʺ Your salvation and position is eternally secure “in Christ” and you are now free to concentrate on maximizing the quality of your journey home. Jesus’ work for your eternal salvation is finished, but your work in His service and for His glory is not finished!
- Your eternal position in God’s family or your eternal security “in Christ” rests upon the finished work of Christ. Jesus did not live, die, and rise again, to provide you with partial salvation, temporary salvation, or conditional salvation. Jesus finished all that the Father required for your eternal redemption and security. There is nothing that He has left unfinished. You are the beneficiary of His finished work by your position “in Christ.”
1. What did Jesus mean when He said, “It is finished” from the Cross?
2. What does Christ’s finished work mean for your redemption?
3. What does Christ’s finished work mean for your eternal security?
4. How does Jesus’ one sacrifice for sins forever affect your security?
5. What does your being perfected forever mean?
6. Why can God say, “your lawless deeds I will remember no more”?
7. Why is there no longer any other offering for sin for your eternal salvation?
You are secure because Jesus said, “It is finished.”
You are secure because you can add no work to Jesus’ finished work for your eternal salvation.
You are secure because Jesus’ one sacrifice was sufficient for eternity.
You are secure because Jesus’ finished work has perfected you forever.
You are secure because on the basis of Christ’s finished work God will remember your sins no more.
You are secure because there is no more any offering for sins since Jesus has finished His work for your redemption.
1 Peter 1:3-5 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
- Did you notice in verse five that you do not keep yourself, but that you are kept secure in your position by the power of God?
- If retaining your saved position “in Christ” depended upon your power to perform, you could not possibly stay secure. The good news is that your eternal security is dependent on God’s power to keep you and NOT your power or performance! God alone is the One keeping you secure and He alone has the power to keep you until the last time or until you are glorified! (Note Jude 1:24-25).
1. What does Peter mean by your inheritance that does not fade away?
2. How can your inheritance be incorruptible and undefiled?
3. What does your being kept by the power of God mean?
4. To what does your salvation ready to be revealed in the last time refer?
Your position in Christ does not fade away.
Your inheritance in Christ is incorruptible and cannot be defiled.
Your eternal position is reserved in heaven for you.
You are kept by God’s power, not yours.
Your salvation is secure until the last time or the end of time.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
- What does it mean for you to be a new creation? What old things have passed away?
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- The meaning of the word old used in this verse is not old in the sense of age, but old in the sense of former.
- The word new means present.
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- What are some of those former things about you spiritually “in Adam” that have now become new things about you spiritually “in Christ”?
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- The following chart is courtesy of Truth Seekers Fellowship, in their Milk To Meat study …
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| Former Things “in Adam” | New Things “in Christ” |
| You possessed spiritual death or separation. | You possess spiritual life and fellowship with God. |
| You had Satan as your father. | You have God as your Father. |
| You were in slavery to your sin nature. | You have freedom to serve your new nature. |
| You had a guilty conscience before God. |
You have a cleansed conscience before God. |
| You did not have Christ living in your heart. | You have Christ living in your heart. |
| You did not have the indwelling Holy Spirit. | You have the Spirit’s indwelling and enabling. |
| You were under God condemnation. | You have justification, sanctification, glorification. |
| You could only look forward to judgment. | You have forgiveness and no condemnation. |
| You lived in fear and dread of death. | You have love and hope for eternity. |
| Your final destination was to be the Lake of Fire. | Your destination is the new heavens and earth. |
- Can you not see all that has passed away? The spiritually dead person you were “in Adam” has forever ceased to exist and the spiritually alive person you are now “in Christ” will never cease to exist.
- You can no more go back into your former position “in Adam” than a butterfly can reverse the miracle of metamorphosis and again become a caterpillar.
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- Suppose for a moment that a butterfly did return to the cocoon, what would it find? It would find an empty cocoon.
- What happened to the caterpillar that once inhabited that cocoon? It has passed away in that it has been changed into a beautiful butterfly.
- God made the miracle of metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly irreversible.
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- … and He has made your spiritual metamorphosis from being spiritually dead “in Adam” to that of being a new spiritual creation “in Christ” just as irreversible.
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- In the future when God creates the New Heavens and the New Earth, we are told that His new creation will never pass away. The former or old heavens and earth will then cease to exist forever.
- Since you are now God’s new creation, you are now eternal and you can never pass away.
- The only thing that has passed away forever is the spiritual person you were “in Adam” … like that caterpillar in the analogy.
- Your eternal security “in Christ” comes from the fact that you are a new creation and old things have passed away or ceased to exist. Your being a new creation means that the caterpillar you once were “in Adam” has been miraculously transformed into a beautiful spiritual butterfly “in Christ”!
1. How are you to understand the word “old” in 2 Corinthians 5:17?
2. How are you to understand the word “new” in 2 Corinthians 5:17?
3. Can a butterfly reverse God’s miracle of metamorphosis?
4. Can you reverse God’s greater miracle of your spiritual metamorphosis?
5. How does your being a new creation guarantee your eternal security?
You are now a new creation “in Christ” and can never pass away.
Your former position “in Adam” has passed away or ceased to exist.
A butterfly cannot reverse God’s miracle of metamorphosis.
You cannot reverse God’s greater miracle of transforming you into a new creation” in Christ.”
Your being God’s new creation guarantees your eternal security “in Christ.”
John 6:37‐40 37 “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
- Did you notice in verse 37 that Jesus said that anyone who comes to Him will never be cast out?
- Verse 38 confirms that Jesus came not to do His will but the will of His Father.
- What was the will of His Father?
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- Jesus says in verse 39 that part of the will of His Father was that He should lose nothing or no one who believes and comes to Him in faith.
- Jesus clearly says that it is His Father’s will that anyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and that Jesus was to raise that person up at the last day.
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- In order for Jesus to raise you at the last day you will have to make it to the last day. Your eternal security is guaranteed because of Christ’s complete obedience to the work of His Father.
- Your security rests in His commitment and His power to complete the work His Father gave Him, NOT your commitment or power.
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- Jesus repeatedly said that His goal in life was to do the will of His Father and please the One who had sent Him.
- Jesus did always those things that were pleasing to His Father, including His obedience in death.
- Jesus fully understood the will of His Father and set His face like a flint to finish the work that had been given to Him by His Father.
- Jesus has completed the work of redeeming you and He will just as surely complete the work of glorifying you.
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- Your eternal position in God’s family or your eternal security “in Christ” is dependent upon the complete obedience of Christ to the work of redemption that was given to Him by His Father.
- Jesus’ promise to you is “ that of all He has given me I shall lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.” His obedience, not yours, guarantees your eternal security.
1. What work did God have for Jesus to do for your salvation?
2. Did Jesus accomplish that work?
3. What work does God have for Jesus to do for your eternal security?
4. Will Jesus fail to complete His work of raising you up at the last day?
5. Would Jesus ever lose what His Father willed for Him to keep?
6. How does Jesus’ obedience to the Father’s will secure your eternal salvation?
Jesus accomplished the Father’s will and work for your redemption.
Jesus will accomplish the Father’s will and work in keeping you secure.
Jesus will never lose you now that you are His.
Jesus will raise you up at the last day in obedience to His Father’s will.
Your eternal security depends upon Jesus complete obedience, not yours.