Eternal Security

“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.”   (Eph. 2:8-9)

1. If salvation were obtained by our       good        works, (but it is not!) then it could be lost by our       bad       works.
2. Eph.2:8-9 speaks about the      past        tense of salvation.
   • Salvation has          already been completed, finished          
3. The past tense of salvation is not a       process        that is carried on and is to be completed later.
4. What words or expressions indicate that salvation does not take into account human merit?         gift; grace; not of works;              
5. Note that Paul did NOT write “By grace are ye       being        saved.” Nor did he write “By grace ye        will be       saved.”Rather, he wrote that “By grace       ye              ARE      saved.”
   • The salvation Paul describes is looked upon as a:      completed              action      .
   • The tense of the word “saved” in the original indicates a past completed action with present continuing results.
6. Salvation by grace…. the kind of salvation God has planned, leaves men with absolutely no room for        boasting        .   Cf.(Rom.3:27)
   • It demands that 100% of the glory goes to       God       .   (I Co.1:29)
   • Salvation by grace means that human               merit               or human        effort        is not even a consideration on God’s part with respect to the eternal destiny of men. (Titus 3:5; Rom.4:5)
   • Paul states that salvation is a “gift of God.”  A gift is not earned.What does God say about His gifts in Rom. 11:29? God’s gifts and calling are WITHOUT REPENTENCE.  When God gives a free gift, He doesn’t change His mind!
   • In Romans 4:16, Paul states that “it is of faith, that it might by by grace, to the end that the promise might be sure to all the seed.” This promise is sure because it is of faith and by grace.
     • Paul’s point: If salvation is of faith by grace (and it is!) then it is sure!
     • If it were any other kind of salvation (of works; dependent upon human  merit even to the tiniest degree)  then salvation is NOT sure. That  kind of salvation could be lost!
     • Since human merit has NOTHING TO DO WITH eternal destiny, then salvation rests totally upon what GOD has done, and is thus sure!

   “Every argument against the eternal security of the believer is based on the human element. As God definitely and clearly excludes all human element in salvation, every one of these arguments is thereby ruled out.” (Strombeck, Shall Never Perish)