Grace Gospel 101 (Part 6): Eternal Security (Continued…)

Grace Gospel 101 (Part 6): Eternal Security (Continued…)

Start with Part 1 of the series here.

In a previous post, we learned that we can know that we have eternal life. It is vitally important that each of us have this absolute assurance. Thus, I will devote a second post to this critical topic.

Sealed with the Holy Spirit

"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, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory" (Ephesians 1:13-14).

Notice the progression in verse 13: First you hear the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; Secondly, you believe in Christ and His death for your sins; Thirdly, you are sealed with the Holy Spirit. (1. Hear the gospel; 2. Believe the gospel; 3. Sealed with Holy Spirit) Everyone who hears the gospel and believes it, is sealed with the Holy Spirit.

We often seal something so that it will be secure. We may seal a box so that the contents will not spill or be stolen. In the same way, our sealing with the Holy Spirit makes us secure. We "are sealed unto the day of redemption" with the Holy Spirit. Just as we seal the box so that it will arrive safely at its destination, so, also, we will arrive safely among those who are redeemed in heaven.

An Unbroken Chain

"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified" (Romans 8:29-30).

There is an unbroken chain in these verses. Everyone whom God foreknows, He predestinates. Everyone who is predestinated is called. Everyone who is called is justified. Everyone who is justified is glorified. There are no dropouts in God's plan! If you have been justified by faith, you will share in God's glory through all eternity. God sees you as already glorified!

Some Important Questions

Romans 8:31-35 contains some important questions that we will now consider:

Verse 31 "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?"

God is for us! Who is so powerful that they can then be against us? No one! We are secure in Christ.

Verse 32 "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"

When we were wicked, lost sinners, God gave His Son to die for our sins. We deserved hell, but He gave us salvation freely by His grace. Now that we are justified, will God withhold good things from us by taking away our salvation? This would be ridiculous, and God will never do any such thing.

Verse 33 "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth."

When we were justified by faith, we became part of God's elect. Who can condemn or bring charges against those that God has elected? If God has justified us (declared us righteous), who can condemn us (charge us with wrong)? Clearly there is no one powerful enough to overrule God's decision concerning us.

Verse 34 "Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us."

Who will condemn us? No one is more powerful than God and He has justified us. Is it possible that Christ will condemn us? This is impossible! Christ is the One who died for us and is risen again. He now makes intercession for us at the right hand of God. Clearly, He will never condemn us.

Verse 35 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?"

Who or what can separate us from the love of Christ? Several things are listed here and none of them can separate us from Christ's love. We may suffer many things in this life, but nothing can remove us from Christ's love. We are secure in Him!

The Love of God

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39).

Jesus Christ spoke to Paul from heaven. Paul wrote the things revealed to him by God. Paul lists many things here and is convinced that none of them can separate us from the love of God. In case something was left out of the list, Paul adds "nor any other creature." Clearly it is impossible for any person, angel, Satan, or any creature to separate us from God's love.

We are secure in Christ!