Eternal Security is a True Christian Doctrine

Eternal SecurityThe coined phrase for this concept “once saved always saved” almost sounds like a silly mantra that Christians will use sometimes in describing the all encompassing salvation they have obtained. I say obtain rather than attain because no amount of labor is required of an individual to acquire salvation, but it is an acceptance of grace given by the Lord Jesus Christ. I personally used to cringe slightly when I would hear Christians use “once saved always saved”, “or once in grace always in grace”, because I thought it was an easy way out. I thought it was a way for Christians to not feel guilty when someone they knew became a Christian, and then fell away from Christ. I thought it was an excuse for them to not have to confront their former believer in love, and was their way of just brushing the problem under the rug. Unfortunately some Christians do this. Also equally as unfortunate is that I believe these Christians in doing this are sinning.Scripture So does eternal security have any biblical backing? Does the bible say anything about it one way or the other? One thing for sure the bible does talk about is God’s love and blessings will be withheld from a Christian who is not walking with Christ. However never does it say the Christians actual salvation, if truly once obtained, is lost. Let’s examine some scripture and see what God has to say about this issue.1st Corinthians 3:11-1511 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.This is a fantastic piece of scripture showing us that once we have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and being then saved, have a foundation that cannot be destroyed. That foundation is our salvation, and our salvation is Jesus Christ. Now it does say if you live a life (building your house on the foundation) that is not for God, it will be burned up and destroyed. If you live your life for God you will be building your house with gold, silver, and costly stones. In other words your house will stand the test of fire. Now if your house burns, the foundation will still be there as in verse 15. Here it says you will still be saved, but it will be as though you were barely escaping the fire. Moving on to a more difficult passage of scripture. One that at first looks like it unmistakably puts a dagger in the heart of eternal security, but actually is a testament to the truth behind it.Hebrews 6:4-64For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.First thing we have to identify in the passage is in verse 4 where the author uses the word “those”. In all of the surrounding scripture he uses the words we, and us, to describe him with the Jewish converts who were the recipient of this letter. So in using the word “those” he was making a hypothetical statement which is further identified a little bit later in verse 9: 9Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. So the question is, can one hypothetically lose or forfeit their salvation if they have fallen away? Well if this passage did read like that, then it would describe that once you lost or forfeited your salvation, you could never receive it again. So a new phrase would emerge of “once saved and then lost, always lost”.So if someone does not progress to spiritual maturity does this mean they will lose their salvation and be damned? Well the scripture reads that it is impossible, because then it would require you to be in a way re-saved, which would require Jesus to be re-crucified. Since this is impossible, and since it would be a disgrace (contempt) to Jesus due to it implying that his crucifixion is not all-sufficient, his one and only crucifixion IS sufficient for all of your sin, and all of your salvation. In fact later in the same chapter we have a confirmation of our eternal security.Hebrews 6:13-2013For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, 14saying, "Surely I will bless you and multiply you." 15And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. 16For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. 17So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.So when one swears on something higher than themselves (God), the oath is final for confirmation. God also guarantees it with his oath as shown in verse 17. So since God enters an oath with the saved person, it would then be impossible for you to lose your salvation because it would require God to break his oath, and in doing so would mean that God would lie. Verse 18 clearly says God cannot lie, and therefore we have a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul. TheologyNow my opponent stated he would argue more from a theological perspective which is fine. However the scripture I have shown I think solidifies my case for the truth behind eternal security. To give some theological thought to this however I think one can also realize that eternal security would be a wise decision by God to give us. If we didn’t have eternal security, if our salvation could be taken, lost, or forfeited, then Christians everywhere would live in fear. Never knowing whether their faith had waned enough to not qualify them for salvation, or if their sin began to pile up enough to disqualify them would create a fear driven body of Christ. Christ came not to give us darkness, but light, strength, and courage to be able to stand and say “Yes I’m a sinner, but through grace, and grace alone am I saved!” With eternal security having our backs we can stand up in confidence to preach the word knowing that our souls can give testimony to the eternal Holy Spirit that lives and works through us. I think it is an amazing demonstration of God’s love to forgive us over, and over, and over, and over, and over again. Even once we are his children and we sin against him, he forgives us, no matter the sin. If you are saved, become a strong Christian, and then turn your back on Christ for 20 years, as soon as you turn around there he is ready to forgive you and bring you back to his love. Not only ready to forgive, but already has done so every step of the way securing you in his kingdom. Without this message of hope and love what really is the point in telling people that their sins can be forgiven? Gods love and forgiveness only has one condition, and that is to believe in the one he sent, our Lord Jesus Christ. No other conditions are applied to his limitless love.Con good luck in your rebuttal, but I do hope you grow to to understand this message!