Donald N. Norris

Eternal Security ~ Part 1

In my last post, we wrapped-up our series on the Christian Torah.  However, in What Does Yeshua Say About the End Times – Part 11, we left one topic hanging ~ Can Salvation Be Lost?  We were looking at the Parable of the Talents.  I stated that:

This is a topic I hope to cover in more depth in future posts.  But suffice it to say that this parable, seems to imply that a servant on the inside is thrown outside when judgment falls.  Christian churches are divided on whether a person saved by faith in Yeshua can lose his or her salvation.

Here’s what we can know from the Bible:

  • There is no security apart from Yeshua. He saves us, keeps us, and promises heavenly happiness after a life of faith and service. Only Yeshua can do that. Rest only on him.
  • The security we enjoy in God’s promises should not make us presumptuous. Don’t become cocky with God. Don’t assume that God must let you in, that you can demand entrance, that you have a right!
  • Live each day in faith, believing in God’s great promises, dedicating your time and talent to God’s work, loving your Messianic brothers and sisters, being generous with the weak and poor. Your life is secure in Yeshua, but what you do with your day is often your own choice. Make choices that please God.

In this new series, I want to answer the question for myself … Can Salvation Be Lost?

You may be wondering why this question is important to me.  Do I doubt my salvation?  I can categorically respond: “NO!”  Do I have some sick need to start a debate between the followers of this blog?  Again, the answer is: “NO!”  Am I afraid that I might have committed an unpardonable sin?  “NO!”  So why am I writing about this?  The simple answer is because elephant’s have flat feet.  Oh, wait a minute, that’s what I used to tell my kids when they asked a “why” question.  Sorry about that, old habits die hard.

The reason I want to tackle this topic is simply because I want to know in my knower and heart what it is I really believe about eternal security.

To me, I have traveled an interesting path in my walk with Yeshua.  I was raised in the Episcopal Church with all its creeds, catechisms and traditions.  All I knew from what I was taught was that if I believed that Jesus was the Son of God and that He was crucified and rose on the third day, my sins were forgiven and I would go to heaven.  I thought that was easy enough, so I bought into that belief.  I became quite religious as a result.  The problem was that I didn’t even know that I could have a personal relationship with the Lord of Lord and the King of Kings.  I don’t recall one sermon or Sunday School class on the issue of eternal security.  It wasn’t until I went through my own mid-life crisis at the age of 32 that I learned from some fellow lay Episcopalians that I could have such a personal relationship.  (See my About the Author page for more details.)

As I began to grow in my faith, I was exposed to the topic of the unpardonable sin.  It was at this time that I was exposed to the teachings of Jacobus Arminius who maintained that salvation could be lost.  It made sense to me given my understanding of man’s free will to accept or reject the teachings of the Bible.

While working at the City of Jacksonville, Florida, I began attending a Men’s Morning Bible Study hosted by First Baptist Church of Jacksonville on my way into the office.  “First B” was huge!  It covered seven (7) blocks in downtown Jacksonville.  When I went to work for the City I was told that the best parking available was in one of their three multi-story parking garages.  The study was held in one of their buildings between my parking garage and City Hall.  Needless to say, I was exposed to some of the teachings of John Calvin ~ “once saved, always saved.”   I wasn’t buying it, but it wasn’t an issue that I felt strong enough over to break fellowship.  After all, we were just doing a Bible study, the issue only came up infrequently and they readily accepted this kippah wearing Messianic Believer.

Fast forward several years to 2014 when I was asked to assist my present church develop the curriculum for a basic discipleship training program.  Rather than using some of the material readily available on the market, we wanted to develop our own to reflect the culture of our congregants.  At the time there were three of us writing on various topics.  One of mine was Assurance of Salvation.  [I’ll be using that material in a latter post.]  Big Valley Grace Community Church is currently non-denominational but has a rich history of evolving from a Brethren background and still have many Brethren in attendance.

I pointed out that getting into the topic of Assurance of Salvation would naturally lead to questions on the issue of Eternal Security, so I asked what the church’s position on that was.  Apparently, it’s a mixed bag.  So, I suggested that we present a brief description of the two main doctrinal positions on the subject and inserted the following note in the Leader Guide:

SPECIAL NOTE:  Ensure they do not confuse assurance of salvation with eternal security.  Although information is contained in the section on Eternal Security, it should only be discussed if the issue is raised by the student(s).  Remember, the topic of Eternal Security has divided many believers over the years.  As the students mature in their faith, they need to carefully meditate on God’s Word and come to their own conclusions on this issue.

I was then confronted with the issue in the Christian Torah series mentioned above.  My good friend, Wally Fry, over at Truth in Palmyra wrote on the subject recently taking a position different than my thinking.  And, just this last weekend my Pastor preached a message on Eternal Security as he was taking us through Romans.  Ok, Lord, I get the picture.  You want me to come to an understanding of what it is I personally believe on this topic.  So here we are.

Over the course of the next several posts, we will be examining the topics of election, free-will, assurance, apostasy, eternal security, Calvinism, Arminianism, Universalism, grieving the Holy Spirit, unpardonable sin, backsliding, and any other topic that seems germane to what we are discussing.  And, I hope that we will discuss this topic in the comments section.

I am not a theologian by any stretch of the imagination.  I’m just one beggar on the road of salvation willing to share a morsel of bread with my fellow travelers.  My goal is not to convince you of any particular position of this topic, but to share with you my journey as I discover what I believe and why.  I’m fortunate to have an extensive electronic library of commentaries and books on theology which I will be drawing from in addition to the most important resource, God’s Word.

May God richly bless us on our travel together.

Click here for PDF version.

18 comments

  1. A year ago in May of 2015 I posted on the topic of which you struggle here today – that of eternal security. I’d like sharing that post with you and your readers. It is “Is Eternal Security biblical?” If you and your followers wish to view it, please, click the following address: http://wp.me/p26QNa-2e4

    I believe, Donald, you and your readers will be pleased with your findings.

    May the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob bless you and yours always.

    Yours in Christ;
    Michael

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  3. Well, Don I am glad to see this study started, and again I thank you so much for the link. I, of course, agree with MIchael on this topic.

    I am really excited to see this unfold in writing, your journey, that is.

    Liked by 2 people

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  5. You were not kidding (in one of your comments to me) that you were about to take a dive – so to speak – into some treacherous waters. I believe the Lord is leading us both in this direction because of our apparent love and appreciation for simplicity. We teach in a manner easy for people to grasp.

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    • Thanx for stopping by Patrick and your kind words. I’m just a beggar sharing a loaf of bread with my brothers and sisters on the road of redemption. Hopefully, at the end of this series I will really know what I believe and why.

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  6. You asked Donald do we have Eternal Security, yes as confirmed in our hearts by The Holy Spirit. We remember that God knows those who are His and has from Eternity and He tells us not one of us will be lost or He would not have chose us to be conformed into the image of Jesus His Son, who is One with Him in The Godhead

    Understanding God’s Truth does not come from books or from others but from Jesus our only Teacher. (Matthew23:8-10KJV) Having asked for we receive His Wisdom which none of us were Born with and His empowering through The Holy Spirit, He leads us into all Truth, which is confirmed in the Scriptures below and there is more Scripture on the link if needed.

    God’s Wisdom…..

    Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing therefore get Wisdom and with all thy getting get understanding.KJV

    James 1:5-6 If any of you lack Wisdom let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in Faith nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.KJV

    Luke 11:13… how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?KJV

    1 Corinthians 2:9-16 But as it is written Eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that Love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the Spirit which is of God that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth but which the Holy Ghost teacheth comparing spiritual things with Spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are Spiritually discerned. But he that is Spiritual judgeth all things yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the Mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him? but we have the Mind of Christ.KJV

    1John 2:26-28 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you and ye need not that any Man Teach you but as the same anointing Teacheth you of all things and is Truth and is no lie and even as it hath Taught you ye shall abide in Him.KJV

    Matthew 10:26-28 Fear them not therefore, for there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed and hid that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness that speak ye in Light: and what ye hear in the ear that preach ye upon the housetops (KJV)

    God’s Wisdom – http://freedomborn.wordpress.com/2012/05/07/the-gaining-of-wisdom/

    Christian Love and Blessings – Anne.

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    • Anne, thanks for the lengthy response. I know that you put a lot of time into it. Let me assure you that I know that my personal security is secure. The purpose of this series is to discover the why’s and the wherefore’s. As you will learn, I will be getting more into the Word of God as we progress through this journey. I’m just now laying the groundwork for the controversy that has divided the Body of Believers for the last 500+ years.

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      • Yes I know Don and this is the same with other Truths in Scripture but The Holy Spirit does not say one thing to one person and something different to another when it contradicts but He may share something with you that you can share with me or me with you but it will always be confirmed in Scripture. Paul asked who did they follow, Man or Jesus Christ.

        Yes today many Trust in what they have been taught in error or what they think and not what God tells us and I was the same, I knew Jesus in my head but not my heart, so how could I understand His Truth which is based on His Eternal Love.

        Philippians 2:1-3 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of Love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be Like-Minded, having the same Love, being of one accord, of One Mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

        God’s Love brings Unity not division Don, He tells us there will be differences in the Church but we are not to argue or even agree to disagree but to bring them to Him and He will show who is in error with the confirmation of Scripture, which is only fully understood by His Wisdom and empowering which we ask for and receive.

        1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same Mind and in the same judgment.

        Philippians 3:14-16 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be Perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, where to we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

        2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be Perfect, be of good comfort, be of one Mind, live in Peace and the God of Love and Peace shall be with you.

        To fall into Sin is forgivable Don but to fall away by rejecting Jesus is not forgivable, it is only through Him we can be forgiven, to say there is another way to God is Blaspheming The Holy Spirit, who confirms there is not and He does not lie. Salvation is a free gift which we will show we have.

        Thank you Don, I will look forward to your next message, Blessings – Anne.

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