Yesterday I pointed out some verses about how our salvation is secure in Christ. I want to expound on that more today, but first I want to talk about some common views people have regarding the security of salvation (or lack thereof).
1. Legalism
The first view I want to look at is a works-based view of salvation. There are those who claim to be Christians that hold to a view of salvation that demands an obedience to traditions or rules in order to obtain salvation. They say that they must do enough good works in order to be granted forgiveness and eternal life. If they sin, they have to make it up to God with good works in order to remain in a "saved" state. Even if they do well to obey all the traditions and rules, there is still no guarantee of salvation because they don't have a promise. It's like taking a test. You may think you did well, but you won't know the results of your work until the test is returned to you. I think we can all say that there is no security in this view. As Romans 4:13-15 says,
"For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression."
2. Faith and Works
Another view held by people and a few groups such as Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses is a faith-works salvation. There are two ways to look at this view. The first view is faith in Christ's work on the cross is necessary for the initiation of salvation but it's your good works and obedience to God that keep you saved. The second view is you do your best to please God to earn your share in salvation and whatever you can't earn will be made up by Jesus' work on the cross.
The first view of a faith-works salvation is dangerous because the understanding that Jesus paid the whole price for sin on the cross is lacking. If you hold to this view, you have no hope of salvation. You want to take credit for part of your salvation which is stealing directly God's glory and placing it upon yourself. You boast in earning part of your own salvation. True salvation has no room for boasting. Ephesians 2:8-9 says,
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
Good works are necessary to the Christian lifestyle, but they don't help save a person from the punishment of their sin. They complement salvation by being a testimony to the changed life that God has done in a person. They are a reflection salvation in a person, not an ingredient to salvation. Both together working for salvation cancel each other out.
The second view of the faith-works salvation, "do your best and Jesus makes up the rest", is almost just like the first view, and it's just as bad. If not, worse. I say that because it emphasizes more on the idea that good works or obedience take precedence to the cross. Jesus is basically fire insurance here as where the first view makes Jesus just the first step of salvation. Either way they both nullify substitutionary atonement (Jesus payment for all of our sin in on our behalf) and Jesus being the propitiation (satisfactory payment) for our sin. To say to God "I'm gonna do my best to please You and obey Your law. I trust that if I do that, Jesus will cover that which I couldn't obey. That way I can still do my best and get to heaven." Read Ephesians 2:8-9 again. There is still boasting in this view. There is still a stealing of God's glory and making it man's glory. Remember what Isaiah said about good works in Isaiah 64:6,
"We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away."
Our good works apart from faith mean nothing to God. In fact, they are disgusting to Him because everything we do is tainted with sin (we do everything for ourselves or others apart from the primary purpose of glorifying God). So if you think you can "do your best and Jesus can make up the rest", you are greatly mistaken. There is no way you could begin to pay off your sin with good works anyways. Da T.R.U.T.H., a Christian rap artist, wrote concerning sin, "it's too extensive, don't get defensive, God gotta list of your sin too extensive." Again, God has called us to good works, but not for salvation. Good works are fruit from salvation for the reason of glorifying God.
So where is security in a faith-works based salvation? There is none. This might make you live a better life, a life that mimics that salvation has taken place, but you will live your life in a state of bondage to good works hoping that it's enough to keep you saved or a life of pride comparing yourself to the law while not knowing the law brings wrath.
3. Faith-Based
The last view is the view the Bible teaches: faith-based salvation. This is faith alone in Christ alone for His righteousness alone (in place of my unrighteousness) apart from any works of my own. Ephesians 2:8-9 makes this very clear. Now I want to expound upon why this view has ultimate security in salvation.
A. God is the one who draws.
People do not seek God. God seeks people. Psalm 14 and Romans 3 make this very clear. Man is a depraved being. He does not seek after God to know His will or His ways, nor will he ever do so. The only reason why a person would ever believe in the Gospel is because of the supernatural drawing of God to Himself. Jesus said in John 6:44,
"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day."
Security? I think so.
B. Everyone who is drawn believes.
The whole of John 6 is an awesome example of security in salvation. Jesus teaches in one part of this chapter that everyone who is given to Jesus by God to save will be saved. John 10 is another great example of our security in Christ. Jesus said in John 10:27-30,
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one."
Those who have faith in Christ will never perish because God keeps them for Himself. What great truths to rest in!
C. Belief is an act of God.
A person can only believe by the will of God because man is completely unable to believe because of his depraved state. We've already established that no one searches after God so God has to do that work in a person Himself. John 1:12-13 should help solidify this. It says,
"But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God."
The work of salvation in you began with God. No part of your own self helped God begin this work.
D. Those who believe were chosen to believe.
Another reason why salvation is secure is because God chose those who believe to be saved. In eternity past (before God created the universe) God chose those who would believe (not based on anything they would do or wouldn't do, good or bad.. read Romans 9). Ephesians 1:3-6 says,
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved."
The work of salvation is done in a person from beginning to end by God. We have established that God chose from before time those whom He would save, that those who believe are born of God's will not man's will, and that a person can only believe if God draws him because of the complete inability of man to choose God. The saving work of God can be summed up on Romans 8:29-30,
"For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified."
Those who God predestined to salvation (through faith alone in Christ alone) are justified and glorified by God. He does everything in a person Himself for their salvation. It is nothing of ourselves. What great security this brings!
E. God will complete salvation in you.
God is the one who will finish you salvation, and there's no greater security than that. Paul wrote in Philippians 1:6,
"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."
F. Conviction of Paul
Finally, the conviction of Paul was that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Romans 8:38-39 says,
"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Rejoice in the salvation you have. It is another reason to worship God. He has done everything for you. Now live for Him and produce good works for His glory.
Blessings,
Nick
