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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:16-18

OUR SECURITY

Today, we hear a lot about security.  Our expectation is such that it will keep our money secure, our house secure, our family secure, and it will keep our computers secure from hackers. My friends, no matter what our “expectations” may have been, 99% of the time we have been disappointed.

Overtime we have purchased many things to assist us in our daily lives and many have had lifetime warranties. I bought a faucet once that was guaranteed for a lifetime, but when it failed the company refused to replace it. The problem has been and still is, when a warranty is submitted to most companies, they do not handle that item any longer.

This happens all the time in the public.  We are promised something is guaranteed, but too often they have some wiggle room that keeps them from being obligated.

I would like to talk to you about real security.  The security I am talking about is free because the owner of this security has already paid for it himself. This security will never run out no matter how long you have it. Furthermore, there is nothing anywhere that will void this plan of security. One more thing about the owner of this security, he cannot and will not lie. This “Owner” is Jesus Christ, my friend. 

We know that every person is going to die and go to one of two places. Jesus said if we believed in him, we would live forever and never die.

And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? John 11:26

But all those who fail to believe in him will perish in the Lake of Fire for eternity. The choice is left up to each person to make their own decision whether they want eternal security or not, to keep them out of hell. 

Jesus alone promises this security.  Let me emphasize again, this security of eternal life is Jesus Christ himself.

To be saved one must hear and believe the gospel. The word salvation means in the Greek, “made whole.” We are all dead to God until we are saved or made whole.

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Ephesians 2:1

Now some people teach, and believe, one can lose their salvation.  Is that true? Is it true one can lose eternal life?  Let’s talk about that.

JESUS HAS PAID FOR ALL SIN

First of all Jesus has already died upon the cross for the sin of the whole world. Sin has already been paid for, for everyone, and God is satisfied with the payment. God does not demand sin to ever be paid for again by anyone.

In the Bible there is not one person who was ever saved who lost their salvation. Let me give you an excellent example with King David.  David was a godly man, but he sinned with Bathsheba and later had her husband put to death.  Did he lose his salvation?  NO!!!

It does not say that David ever lost salvation, but he did pray to God “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation” in Psalms 51:12-13.  Salvation belongs to God.

So even with this great sin David was never lost.  But he lost the joy of being saved. We are never saved by what we do, or don’t do.  This is very plain in the Bible.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

Salvation does not depend upon me holding out, or holding on, as some are teaching and believing. Those who believe this are attempting to rob God of his glory.

What about one of Jesus’ disciples Judas?   Did he lose his salvation?  NO!  Judas was never saved to start with.  

Jesus said in John 17:12,

While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

Judas never accepted Jesus as the Messiah.  When we are saved, we are “born again” and we become a new person in Christ.

God no longer deals with us as a sinner, but as his children.  We are now sons and daughters of God and God will from now on deal with us as sons and daughters.

When we are saved, we are “baptized” into the body of Christ, that is his church. A believer does not sin and be put back and forth like a yo - yo in and out of the body of Christ.  A person is never saved but one time.

When we sin as a son or daughter of God, if we do not repent, he will chasten us.  If we still will not heed his chastening, he may set us aside and not be able to use us. It is then that we would be subject to receive no rewards when we get to heaven.

Sometimes, God even removes a believer from this life who refuses to repent and live as they should. If this happens, they have committed the sin 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

Ananias, with Sapphira committed this sin when they lied to the Holy Spirit. They lost their lives, but they did not lose their salvation. (You can read about what happened to Ananias & Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11)

When we are saved, we are “sealed by the Holy Spirit.”  Now talk about security!!

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Ephesians 1:13

Nothing can break the power of the Holy Spirit who is God, not even sin, because sin has been paid for and put away for every believer in Jesus.  

Micah 7:19 .... and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

Isaiah 38:17 ... for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.

I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.  Isaiah 43:25

I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.  Isaiah 44:22

This does not mean we can go out and live as we please as some assume. God will not let his children disobey him without consequences.

When one is saved the Holy Spirit begins to indwell all believers and he will never leave them. This is the promise of God’s word.

John 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.  Heb. 13:5

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.  Romans 8:9

However, sin in the life of a believer will grieve the Holy Spirit. It makes the believer miserable as well because their fellowship with the Lord is broken.

MISUSED SCRIPTURE

Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.   Galatians 5:4

The little phrase “ye are fallen from grace” is often misused by those who insist one can lose their salvation.  But that phrase is talking about keeping the Mosaic Law.  All who think they are saved by keeping the law are coming short of salvation.  Salvation is by grace, that is unmerited favor to those who believe in Jesus as their savior.

2Peter 2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

This has to do with those who hear the way of salvation but refuse to accept it and return to what they had already believed before, instead of the gospel truth.

Some people just cannot, it seems, get it into their heads that all sin has been paid for. Let me share several scriptures with you.

John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Romans 6:10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

Still these diehard believers and teachers of this false doctrine cannot get this idea out of their minds that somehow if they sin a “certain sin” they will lose their salvation.

The truth is with God there is not a “little” or “certain sin”, because sin is sin to God.  But God put away all sin by the sacrifice of his son on the cross.

THE PROBLEM

I am afraid that many people who think they are saved are not saved.  This may be the heart of the problem. Becoming emotional is not salvation.  Joining a church or being baptized is not salvation.  Being a good person cannot assure someone of salvation. Salvation only occurs when one realizes they are a lost sinner, and they ask Jesus to forgive them, and then they commit themselves to him and serve him by faith.

You do not have to fear losing your salvation if you are ever truly saved.  You are not on probation either!

We are saved because Jesus has already paid for all our sins, and we will never be charged with any sin again once he is really our savior.  Still, we are sinful people, and we will sin at times.  But no sin is charged to us because Jesus has already paid for all our sins.

We will be though, be judged to see how faithful we served the Lord with the talents he gave us and the opportunities we had in life after we were saved. 

What keeps us saved is the power of the blood of the Son of God.

Ephesians 2:13 But now in Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Revelation 1:5 ... Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

So, my readers are you saved, or do you have religion?  One can lose their religion, but you cannot lose God’s salvation if you are a born again believer in Jesus Christ.

One last thing about whether you can lose your salvation or not. When someone believes they can lose their salvation, they are believing in a “works” salvation, which the Bible condemns.  Salvation is by the grace of God that no one deserves but, is given to all who trust Jesus. My friend, do you believe in Jesus today? Are you truly saved? If you are not sure, ask Him to forgive you of your sins today and repent.

Holy Father, we praise and thank you for providing salvation for sinners.  We thank you for an everlasting salvation & the hope we have in Jesus. Amen.  “Loving the Savior” Preacher