This Message was preached by John MacArthur, All Rights Reserved
(A copy of this message on cassette tape may be obtained by calling
1-800-55-GRACE)
(Eternal Security,
chapter 4 of 4)
Selected Scripture
Tape GC DOC-13
Lesson
Can we be assured of our salvation? To answer that we need to answer two other
questions: Is our salvation secure? and Can we experience that security? We can't answer the second without answering
the first.
The answer is yes.
But we need to support that answer biblically. I believe Scripture makes it abundantly clear that our salvation
is secure.
1. The sovereign decree of the Father
a) John 5:24--Jesus said, "He that heareth my word, and
believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into
judgment, but is passed from death unto life." That may be the most monumental statement ever made in the Bible
relative to the security of salvation.
The believer has received everlasting life and will not come under
judgment.
b) John 3:16, 18--"God so loved the world, that he gave
his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life.... He that believeth on him is not condemned; but he
that believeth not is condemned already."
On the positive side: we have everlasting life; on the negative side: we
will never come into judgment.
c) John 6:37-40--Jesus said, "All that the Father
giveth me shall come to me" (v. 37).
All whom God sovereignly chooses will come to Christ. However, that should not restrain any one
from coming to Christ because He said, "Him that cometh to me I will in no
wise cast out" (v. 37).
In verses 38-39 Jesus says, "I came down from
heaven, not to do mine own will but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will who sent hath
me, that of all that he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise
it up again at the last day." All
those chosen for salvation--all those who came to Jesus Christ--will
be raised up on the last day. Not one
will be lost.
In verse 40 Jesus sums up His teaching: "This is the
will of him that sent me, that everyone who seeth the Son, and believeth on
him, may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last
day." Whoever believes in Christ
will be raised up to the fullness of eternal life. That is the promise of God's Word.
2. The high-priestly work of
Jesus Christ
a) John 17:11, 15--Jesus prayed for His disciples in
anticipation of His departure from the world, saying, "Now I am no more in
the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name
those whom thou hast given me.... I pray not that thou shouldest take them out
of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil [one]." Since our Savior always prays in perfect
harmony with the will of the Father, we can be assured that this is the will of
God.
c) John 10:27-29--Jesus said, "My sheep hear my
voice, and I know them, and they follow me" (v. 27). The true sheep are committed to the true
shepherd. In verse 28-29 Jesus
says, "I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither
shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than all, and no man is able
to pluck them out of my Father's hand."
On the positive side we have everlasting life; on the negative side no
one will ever be removed out of his eternal relationship with the Father.
We are secured by the sovereign purpose of God and the
continual, faithful intercession of our great High Priest--the Lord
Jesus Christ. Jude 24 says, "Unto
him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before
the presence of his glory with exceeding joy." We know from the high-priestly
prayer of the Lord Jesus Christ that He is able to keep us from falling.
3. The affirmation of Scripture
a) 1 Peter 1:3-5--"[God] hath begotten us again
unto a living 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."
Our inheritance is permanent.
Whom God saves He glorifies (cf. Rom. 8:30).
b) 1 John 2:1-2--Does God's promise still hold true
when we sin? The apostle John said,
"If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous; and he is the propitiation [satisfaction] for our sins." If any man sins we have a lawyer for the
defense, Jesus Christ, who goes to the Father and tells Him not to hold any sin
against a believer because He paid sin's penalty in full.
B. Can We Experience that Security?
Can we know that we are secure? Yes. How do we know? Many claim they remember the day they signed
a card, walked the aisle, raised their hand, or were baptized. But none of those things are valid proofs
for affirming your salvation, including regular church attendance.
Why Do So Many Doubt Their Salvation?
Many people do not enjoy the assurance of their
salvation. Assurance is a more
accurate word to use in this section than security because security
refers to the facts, whereas assurance refers to the feeling of knowing you are
secure. Assurance, just like any other
blessing of God, can be forfeited through disobedience. Whenever a person is not sure if he is
saved, there are several possibilities.
First, he may not be saved.
Second, he may be disobeying God.
And third, he may be being buffeted by Satan, the liar of all liars, who
wants us to doubt what in fact is true.
Against Satan's attack the believer must affirm what Paul says in Romans
8:31-39--that no one can lay any charge to God's elect because
God has justified them.
The New Testament teaches us two ways we can experience
assurance.
1. Pure doctrine
One of the internal evidences--one of the
things that gives us a sense of knowing we're saved--is when our
doctrine is right.
a) 2 John 9--"Whosoever trangresseth, and abideth not in
the doctrine of Christ, hath not God.
He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and
the Son." True assurance is
available only to those who abide in the true biblical doctrine of Christ. If you have a wrong view of Jesus Christ,
you will not experience security in your salvation. People who follow the teachings of cults or unbiblical religions,
and do not affirm the Christ of the Bible will never experience a genuine sense
of assurance. That's why they work so
frantically to earn salvation. They try
to be affirmed by their works because they never experience assurance.
b) Colossians 1:22-23--"In the body of his flesh
through death, to present you holy and unblamable and unreprovable in his
sight, if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away
from the hope of the gospel."
Internal assurance comes when there is no deviation in doctrine--when
we affirm the Christ of the gospel and the gospel of Christ.
2. Pure living
Pure living is the key to experiencing assurance in your
salvation.
a) Righteousness
If you look at your life and see nothing but compromise
and corruption, don't be surprised if you don't have any sense of security.
(1) Bearing fruit
In Matthew 7:18 Jesus gives the following truism: "A
good tree cannot bring forth bad fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth
good fruit." If you see corrupt
fruit in your life, it's logical to assume you're a corrupt tree. It is vital that you see a pattern of holy
living in your life if you are ever to know assurance. If you don't see that pattern, there is no
way you can logically conclude that you're saved.
(2) Denying ungodliness
In Titus 2:11-14 Paul says, "The grace of God
that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying
ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly,
in this present age, looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing
of the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us that he
might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a people of his own,
zealous of good works." Salvation
teaches you to deny ungodliness.
Therefore, if you are not denying ungodliness in your life, you will
have a difficult time believing you are really saved. James says that faith without works is dead (James 2:17).
b) Remembrance
In 2 Peter 1:12 Peter says, "I will not be negligent
to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and are
established in the present truth."
"These things" refer to what Peter said in the first eleven
verses. He wanted the believers to
remember and be established in the things they already knew about their
salvation.
(1) The reality of our salvation (2
Pet. 1:1-2)
Second Peter begins: "Simon Peter, a servant and
apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us
through the righteousness of God and our Savior, Jesus Christ: grace and peace
be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus, our
Lord" (vv. 1-2).
(a) The equality of faith
Peter said we have "obtained" salvation. It is a gift, not something we
purchased. The phrase "like
precious faith" refers to saving faith or the act of believing. That faith is considered precious--it
is highly valuable. Also, it is
"like" the faith of other believers.
Everyone comes to Christ on the same terms: faith. Our Savior saves us all equally. There is no distinction (Matt.
19:30[en]20:16).
(b) The establishment of faith
Salvation is a result of "the righteousness of God
and our Savior, Jesus Christ." God
has granted us His righteousness and holiness, which is the essence of His
nature.
(c) The enlightenment of faith
God granted us His righteousness and holiness "through
the knowledge [Gk. epignosis, "deep, profound knowledge"] of
God, and Jesus, our Lord." When a
person acquires deep knowledge of God, he receives the righteousness of God and
Christ.
(2) The riches of our salvation (2 Pet.
1:3-4)
(a) The gifts
Verse 3 says, "According as his divine power hath
given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness." The phrase "divine power" means
that God, with His infinite energy, dispensed His eternal resources to us.
(b) The glory
Those resources came to us "through the knowledge of
him that called us to glory and virtue" (v. 3). God called us to glory (the essence of the life of God in the
soul of man), and to virtue (the manifestation of the life of God in the soul
of man). We have been given everything
we need and have been called to manifest the life of God within us.
(c) The grant
In verse 4 Peter says, "By which are given unto us
exceedingly great and precious [priceless] promises, that by these ye might be
partakers of the divine nature."
The apostle Paul said, "I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I
live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me" (Gal. 2:20). He also said, "Christ in you [is] the
hope of glory" (Col. 1:27). As a
result of receiving precious promises and becoming partakers of the divine
nature, we have "escaped the corruption that is in the world through
lust" (2 Pet. 1:4).
(3) The responsibility inherent in our
salvation (2 Pet. 1:5-7)
Verse 5 says, "Beside this, giving all
diligence." There's a
responsibility inherent in our salvation.
Those who advocate the doctrine of total surrender--of
merely letting go and letting God--have trouble reconciling this
verse. Peter continues: "Giving
all diligence, add to your faith."
Now he was not saying we're to do that apart from the Holy Spirit. We're to add to our faith the following:
(a) Virtue
The Greek word translated "virtue" (aret[ma]e)
refers to the excellence of a thing.
What is the excellence of any man or woman? "The measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ"
(Eph. 4:13).
(b) Knowledge
To our excellence we are to add "knowledge"
(Gk. gn[ma]osis), which refers to practical wisdom.
(c) Self-control
To our knowledge we are to add "self-control." That means we need to discipline ourselves
not to fall into old habits of sin.
(d) Patience
To self-control we're to add "patience"
(Gk., hupomon[ma]e). That means
we're to persevere in what is right no matter the cost.
(e) Godliness
To patience we're to add "godliness" (Gk., eusebeia),
which is reverence and awe of God.
(f) Brotherly kindness
To godliness we're to add "brotherly kindness"
(Gk., philadelphia).
(g) Love
To brotherly kindness we're to add love, which is
unselfish service rendered on behalf of others.
(4) The result of our salvation (2 Pet.
1:8)
In verse 8 Peter says, "If these things [virtue,
knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and
love] be in you and abound." That
means those things should be increasing in a believer's life. We will not attain perfection until we see
Christ, but that should be the direction you're moving in.
If those things Peter mentioned in verses 5-7
characterize your life, "they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor
unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (v. 8). I can't think of anything worse than a
barren and unfruitful Christian. Verse
8 implies that you can possess the divine nature and the exceeding precious
promises of God, have escaped the corruption of the world, know God through
Jesus Christ, have the righteousness of Christ imputed to you, and have all
things pertaining to life and godliness, yet experience times of barrenness and
unfruitfulness in your life. Why? Simply by not adding the things of verses 5-7
to the substance of your faith in the power of the Spirit.
The point of this verse 8 is clear: When those characteristics
are not increasing in your life, you become indistinguishable from an
apostate. Therefore, you will have no
sense of assurance because you won't be able to see any difference between
yourself and an unbeliever.
(5) The rest of our salvation (2 Pet.
1:9-11)
(a) The loss of eternal
perspective
i) Blindness
In verse 9 Peter says, "He that lacketh these things
is blind and cannot see afar off."
The Greek word translated "afar off" is the basis for the
English word myopic, which means, "to be nearsighted." A person with myopia has lost his ability to
see into the distance. Peter's point is
that the believer has lost his eternal perspective. All he sees is what is immediately before him. Spiritual myopia focuses on the passing
things of the earth. Paul refers to
man's blindness in a different context in 2 Corinthians 4:4: "The god of
this age hath blinded the minds of them who believe not." Unbelievers are totally blind, and a
believer appears no different when his focus is on the world.
If you can't see the things of verses 5-7 in your
life, you have lost your eternal perspective.
If you aren't being fruitful, you have become trapped in the world's
environment.
ii) Forgetfulness
The believer with spiritual myopia "hath forgotten
that he was purged from his old sins" (v. 9). The Greek word translated "purged" (katharismos)
refers to a cleansing from the sins of the past. So Peter is saying that a person who has spiritual myopia will
have forgotten that he was saved.
Assurance in a believer's life is directly related to an
increase in the spiritual graces outlined in verses 5-7.
(b) The life of eternal reward
In verse 10 Peter says, "Wherefore the rather,
brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do
these things, ye shall never fall."
Believers don't want to live without the assurance of their salvation,
so it's imperative for them to make sure of their calling and election. Then they won't fall from their sense of
security.
The Greek text of verse 11 is best translated: "For
so richly will be supplied to you entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ." If you
add the things of verses 5-7 to your life, you will make your calling and
election sure, you will not fall from your confidence, and you will receive all
that is coming to you (when you meet Jesus Christ).
If you regularly participate in such fellowship, that's a
sign you are a Christian (cf. Heb. 10:24-26). First John 1:3 says,
"That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may
have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with
His Son, Jesus Christ." We have
fellowship with God the Father, God the Son, and everyone who has fellowship
with the Father and the Son. When you were
saved you entered into fellowship with Jesus Christ and His redeemed
people. If you have shared in the
prayers, praises, and testimonies of God's people, that's an indication you
belong to Him.
First John 1:8, 10 says "If we say that we have no
sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.... If we say that we
have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." If you have a continual sensitivity to the
sin in your life and are in awe of holy God, that's an indication you are a Christian.
First John 2:15 says, "Love not the world, neither
the things that are in the world. If
any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." If you love the system of the world and all
that it stands for, that indicates you are not a Christian. However, if you have a basic hatred of the
evil in this world, even though you may fall into its trap now and then, that's
an indication you are a Christian.
First John 2:3-5 says, "By this we do know that
we know him, if we keep his commandments.
He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar,
and the truth is not in him. But
whosoever keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected; by this
know we that we are in him."
First John 3:2-3 says, "Beloved ... it doth
not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that, when he shall appear, we
shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even
as he is pure." If you love Christ
and eagerly await His coming, that indicates you are a Christian.
First John 3:5-6 says, "Ye know that he was
manifest to take away our sins, and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not; whosoever sinneth hath not
seen him, neither known him." A
true Christian will experience a decreasing frequency of sin in his life.
First John 3:14 says, "We know that we have passed
from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death." Then in verses 16-17 John says,
"We ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whosoever hath this world's good, and
seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his compassions from him, how
dwelleth the love of God in him?"
First John 3:22 says, "Whatever we ask, we receive
of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing
in his sight." Answered prayer is
the result of keeping God's commandments and doing what is pleasing in His
sight. So if you're seeing answers to
your prayers, that indicates you are a Christian.
First John 3:24 says, "By this we know that he
abideth in us, by the Spirit whom he hath given us." John also says, "By this know we that
we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit" (1
John 4:13). The Spirit in us cries,
"Abba, Father" (Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6). Although you may be experiencing doubt at the present time, if
you can look back and see the Spirit's leading in the past, that's an
affirmation that you belong to God.
First John 4:1-6 says, "Believe not every
spirit, but test the spirits whether they are of God; because many false
prophets are gone out into the world.
By this know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that
Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God; and every spirit that confesseth
not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God; and this is that
spirit of antichrist, of which ye have heard that it should come, and even now
already is in the world. Ye are of God,
little children, and have overcome them, because greater is he that is in you,
than he that is in the world. They are of the world; therefore speak they of
the world, and the world heareth them.
We are of God. He that knoweth
God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. By this know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of
error." A true Christian does not
fall prey to false teaching about Jesus Christ, the doctrine of salvation, and
other basics of the faith.
First John 5:1 says, "Whosoever believeth that Jesus
is the Christ is born of God." Why
should you believe that? Because the
Bible, which proves itself to be the Word of God, says so.
The devil doesn't attack the tares; he attacks the wheat
(Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43).
Philippians 1:28 says, "In nothing [be] terrified by your
adversaries, which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of
salvation." When you are attacked
by the enemy, remember that he is judged, but you are saved.
Focusing on the Facts
1. How does the
Bible affirm the security of our salvation (see pp. 1-2)
2. What does
Jesus say about everlasting life (John 3:16, 18; 5:24; see p. 1)?
3. According to
John 6:37-40, what happens to those who have been chosen for salvation
(see p. 1)?
4. What does
Jesus Christ do when we sin? Why is He
able to do that (see p. 2)?
5. What are
three reasons some people don't have an assurance of their salvation (see p.
3)?
6. What are the
two basic ways that the New Testament teaches us how to experience the
assurance of our salvation (see pp. 3-4)?
7. Why do those
who do not affirm the Christ of the Bible never experience a genuine sense of
assurance (see p. 3)?
8. Why is it
important for a believer to see a pattern of holy living in his life (see p.
4)?
9. What does
"like precious faith" mean (2 Pet. 1:1; see p. 5)?
10. What are the
riches of our salvation (see pp. 5-6)?
11. What have
Christians been called to (2 Pet. 1:3; see p. 6)?
12. What are we
to add to our saving faith? Explain
each (see pp. 6-7).
13. What should
be the direction of your life (see p. 7)?
14. How can you
possess the realities and the riches of salvation yet still experience times of
barrenness and unfruitfulness (see p. 7)?
15. What happens
when you don't add to your faith the things mentioned in 2 Peter 1:5-7
(see p. 8)?
16. What happens
when you add to your faith the characteristics mentioned in 2 Peter 1:5-7
(see p. 9)?
17. Why is
fellowship with Christ and His people an indication of salvation (1 John 1:3;
see p. 9)?
18. Why is
sensitivity to sin an indication of salvation (1 John 1:8, 10; see p. 9)?
19. Why is
answered prayer a proof of salvation (1 John 3:22; see p. 10)?
20. Why doesn't
a true Christian fall prey to false teaching (1 John 4:1- 6; see pp. 10-11)?
21. Why is an
attack on our faith an indication of our salvation (Phil 1:28; see p. 11)?
1. Read Romans 8:28-39. In a short paragraph, explain the security you have as a
Christian. What verses indicate the
sovereign decree of God in your salvation?
What verses indicate the high-priestly work of Christ? Find other scriptures that affirm Romans
8:28-39. Which ones stand out to
you? Memorize one of them.
2. List the twelve tests of assurance (see pp. 9-11). On a scale of 1-10, rate yourself in
regard to how each test affirms your security.
Why do you have a low rating in some areas and a high rating in
others? Read 1 John 3:19-21. Does your heart condemn you in some of those
areas? Read Romans 8:1. Who is greater than your heart? If Jesus Christ is your Savior and Lord you
are no longer condemned. Is He your
Savior and Lord? Prayerfully consider 2
Corinthians 13:5.
Added to the John MacArthur Collection located
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