An appropriate amount of righteousness is shifted from Christ's account to our account in the bank of heaven, and all our debts are paid. We are, accordingly saved. That seems to be the real problem. Our view of salvation is not adequate because it often does not understand salvation as a process of transformation of character. Salvation is not something you pick up and put down.
Salvation is transformation.
Once we acknowledge this meaning of salvation, I believe it will change our view on security of the believer. I love the image of the clay in the potters hands. Once we are in the Potter's hands, he is molding us, changing us, and he is not going to quit changing us until he has finished with us and made us what he wants us to be. He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion in the day of Jesus Christ. Suppose a housewife wants to make a cake.