The Lord Jesus Himself has promised Eternal Salvation to ALL who call upon Him by faith; and, He will NEVER by action or inaction allow anyone to be lost from His Hand.
To hear the solid and irrefutable truth on this matter in the Lord's own words, please click the link below and listen to the introductory message for Paul's Letter to the Galatians:
Introduction to Galatians - An Irrefutable Proof of Eternal Salvation in Christ Jesus.
To hear the solid and irrefutable truth on this matter in the Lord's own words, please click the link below and listen to the introductory message for Paul's Letter to the Galatians:
Introduction to Galatians - An Irrefutable Proof of Eternal Salvation in Christ Jesus.
ETERNAL SALVATION IN CHRIST JESUS
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." -Jn 10:27-28
This page presents a clear and concise explanation that fully refutes any claims that salvation in Christ is not eternal, or that salvation in Christ may be lost through sin or personal decision of rejection.
Arguments against the permanent nature of salvation in Christ Jesus center around three assumptions that are not supported by Scripture. These assumptions are:
Three distinct points are presented on this page which clearly demonstrate that no one (neither man, nor angel, nor demon) can undo any action which has been perpetuated by God Himself. These points are as follows:
The most important passage of Scripture to remember when discussing the work of salvation in Christ is found in Ephesians 2:8&9, "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."
Only God can grant salvation by His grace. No work of man can earn it - no work of man can destroy it.
With this introduction in mind, let us now examine some of the many passages through which the Lord grants us His promise of full assurance that once we have been saved we are His for all eternity.
Principle of Promise in God
'I will NEVER leave nor forsake thee.'
Promise example #1: "There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."
In Joshua Chapter 1 we see the Lord giving promise to Joshua as he prepares to take the Children of Israel across the Jordan in to the Promised Land after the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness of Sinai. The Hebrews still face the same overwhelming odds that caused the previous generation to refuse to follow God's man, Moses, into the 'land flowing with milk and honey.' They failed to heed the principle that King Solomon would later record in Proverbs 3:5-7, and used their own reasoning and logic leading to a tragic end for the first generation saved from Egypt.
Now, as the new generation (with only faithful Joshua and Caleb remaining from the original Exodus) prepares to cross into Canaan, the Lord delivers His Promise recorded in Joshua 1:5. The key word in this passage is the word translated as 'fail.' It comes from a Hebrew word that means 'to cease', 'to fail', or to 'let alone.' The secondary word of importance here likewise is the word translated as 'forsake.' This word comes from a Hebrew root word meaning 'to loosen', 'to leave', or 'to refuse.' The Lord is being quite clear in this exchange with the new leader of the Hebrews and future general of their army, Joshua. He desires that they all be fully assured that they are to be the recipients of the land once promised to and claimed by Abraham.
Promise example #2: "Let your conversation without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."
Here, in Hebrews 13:5, the Lord equates His own faithfulness through the writer of the Letter to the Hebrews to that of the sanctity, purity, and permanence of marriage. The reference is clearly to promise given to both Joshua and to Moses before him with an additional clarification. The writer here exhorts believers to avoid covetous behavior and to be content with their belongings and status. This is because the Lord Himself is to be their (and our) provision for all things. In all we have need of, it is He who provides. This is true from the very air we breathe to the salvation that binds our souls eternally to Him.
As with the promise given to Joshua and to the Hebrews in Joshua 1:5, the Lord provides this promise as a means of strength through Him and assurance in Him. Hebrews 13:6 bears this principle out as the writer further records that the reason for this assurance is, "So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."
This promise is indeed instant, continual, and eternal, for what is the power of a promise that lasts only for a season, and then is no more? Where is the assurance, the hope, the trust, the faith, the peace, and the confidence in a promise that cannot endure all? The Apostle John writes once in his gospel record and again in his first Epistle that believers are to be fully assured of their salvation in Christ Jesus, having 'believed on His Name."
"But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." - John 20:31
"These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." - John 5:13
Promise example #3: "(For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he swore unto them."
This passage which Moses shares with the Hebrews is part of a present and future prophecy in which the Lord reveals that they will face much tribulation and suffer being scattered among the nations of the world. In all this, the Lord's promise remains sure. Even through all of the evil, confusion, rebellion, godlessness, division, and tribulation, God assures the Nation of Israel that they will persevere and that His covenant with their fathers will be honored.
The writer of Hebrews, speaking of Jesus in Hebrews 13:8, extols His eternal consistency and he writes that the Lord is "the same yesterday, and today, and forever."
Christ's Sovereignty in Salvation
According to Jesus' own words as recorded in John 10:26-30, He is sovereign over all those who have been saved in His name. Furthermore, He is equally sovereign over the very act of salvation itself, being its perpetuator and its fulfillment before the 'foundation of the world' (see Revelation 13:8 & 1 Peter 1:20; compare with Hebrews 9:26). In this passage He shows Himself sovereign in five (5) ways:
His 'sheep' know Him. -John 10:26-27
In the Gospel of John Jesus identifies Himself in a number of ways, including that of the Good Shepherd. As such, His followers are often referred to as 'sheep'. In this passage, Jesus is identifying His sheep (believers) with Himself in the same manner that sheep 'know' the voice, scent, mannerisms, etc., of their shepherd. This passage does not refer to simple or casual knowledge as in the case of 'being aware' of the existence of someone or something. Rather, in it's proper and complete context, the term implies a much more intimate knowledge and understanding.
This personal 'knowledge' of Christ is spoken of in the Old Testament by the prophet Isaiah, and later reiterated by Paul in 2 Corinthians 3:3 where the apostle writes that believers are the very manifestation of God's word in Christ, "written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart."
He gives eternal life. -John 10:28
This is a recurring theme throughout the Gospel of John, as well as throughout the New Testament. Not only is Christ the giver or eternal life; but, He is the only one with the authority to do so. It is by the work of salvation wrought in Him that salvation is made possible for every individual, and is made manifest in every believer.
Nowhere in scripture is the gift of eternal life spoken of as a temporary or conditional state of the believer. While there are indeed references to the consequences of one's refusal to accept Christ as Savior after receiving the knowledge that He alone is Lord and Savior (see John 3:18; Romans 1:21-23,32) , there is no record of any believer leaving the fold once having been saved.
His 'sheep' will never perish -nor- be taken from Him. -John 10:28-29
This is a New Testament manifestation and fulfillment of the same Old Testament promise given by the pre-incarnate Christ to both Moses (Deuteronomy 31:8) and to Joshua (Joshua 1:5). In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit came and went among mankind; however, in the New Testament He comes into and dwells within every believer. His presence is no longer temporary or fleeting. He is the One whom Christ has promised to send as our Comforter (John 14:26, 15:26, 16:7), and it is the gift of His Person that is given at the moment of our salvation (see Luke 11:13; Acts 2:38). Indeed, if our power were greater than that of God, we could cast out the Holy Spirit. However, having the power to do so would violate the doctrine of God's omnipotence.
His power and authority come from the Father. -John 10:29
In John 5:30 Jesus plainly reveals that the work that He does here on earth is not of His own will, but that He seeks "the will of the Father which has sent me." Furthermore, the Apostle Paul writes in Philippians 2:6 that Jesus, "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God." These two statements together clearly illustrate that all power and authority portrayed by Jesus was directly by the will and commandment of the Father.
This doctrine of Jesus' absolute authority is further illustrated in the first two chapters of the Book of Hebrews. Specifically, verses 2:7 & 8 speak of Jesus being made 'a little lower than the angels' for a time, signifying His brief appearance among mankind as a man. Yet this same 'man' is now 'crowned with glory and honor' having 'all things in subjection under his feet.' The writer of Hebrews continues to record that there is nothing that is not under His power and authority. In fact, we learn in John 1:1-5 that it was Jesus who was not only with God at the time of Creation; but, that He in fact IS the God of Creation.
His power and authority are equal to that of the Father. -John 10:30
In addition to the Apostle Paul's statement referenced above from Philippians 2:6 regarding the equality of Jesus to the Father in power and authority, Jesus Himself makes the clear and distinct claim in John 10:30 that, "I and my Father are one." Furthermore, the writer of Hebrews in the second chapter of that epistle makes reference to a statement recorded by King David concerning the Messiah in Psalm 2:6-8 where we find first the Father proclaiming, "Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion." Next, Messiah interjects, "I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee." Lastly, the Father continues, "Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Therefore, we clearly see in both the Old and New Testaments that both authority and power of Father and Son are one and the same. Furthermore, the Apostle John gives us great hope in his gospel as he writes in John 1:12, "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons [children] of God, even to them that believe on his name." This position of being 'children' of God makes them partakers of His full inheritance both here on earth and in the blessed eternity to come.
The Effectual Seal of the Holy Spirit
There are three specific statements in Scripture apart from the words of Jesus in John 10:26-30 that clearly explain the permanence and inviolability of salvation through the work of the Holy Spirit. These are all found in the apostle Paul's letter to the Church at Ephesus and are as follows:
Of the utmost importance is the understanding that the sealing of believers to God in Christ by the Holy Spirit is by the authority of God [the Father] through Christ by the indwelling if the [Holy] Spirit. (II Cor. 1:21-22).
The Holy Spirit is the seal of every believer.
"And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." Eph. 4:30
In this passage the apostle Paul is providing the absolute assurance that believers are indeed 'sealed' to God until the day that He redeems His own to Himself. In fact, this is the very reason why believers are instructed not to 'grieve' the Holy Spirit. Since He is the One by whom believers are sealed to God in Christ, He is most precious and worthy of honor.
The word translated as 'seal' in this verse literally means to be marked for preservation. Throughout history both before and after the time of Christ's presence on earth a royal seal was used to secure a document that was marked for delivery, and could only be legally opened by the intended recipient. In this same manner believers are sealed to God, who is the intended recipient of each and every one, body, mind, and spirit. No other, not even the one who is 'sealed' in this manner has the power or authority to 'break' the seal, which would result in loss of salvation.
The Holy Spirit is the effector of the seal.
"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" Eph. 1:13
This verse portrays the clear division between the knowledge of the truth of salvation and the act of receiving Christ subsequent to that knowledge. It is not the knowledge of Christ that saves; but, it is the knowledge of Christ that leads one to salvation in Him. The process of salvation is three-fold, with the last two events taking place simultaneously.
First, individuals hear the word of truth, that eternal salvation is realized in Christ and Christ alone by His atoning work upon the Cross at Calvary.
Second, as the apostle Paul explains in Romans Chapter 10, 'faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.' One must hear before he can believe. Then, the choice must be made to 'call upon the Lord' (Rom. 10:13) and 'believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ' (Acts 16:31) in order for salvation to take place.
Third, the act of repentance and acceptance of Christ as Lord and Savior brings the immediate indwelling of the Holy Spirit whose work as Comforter and presence as divine Seal forms an unbreakable bond between the believer and God. Were the believer able to 'break' this seal, then he would be capable of undoing what God has done, and would be in effect more powerful than Almighty God Himself.
The seal of the Spirit is 'unto the redemption' by Christ.
In addition to the verses (Eph. 4:30 & 1:13) quoted in the previous two points, one additional verse, which completes the principle explanation begun in Ephesians 1:13, also applies:
"Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory." Eph. 1:14.
The 'earnest of our inheritance' referred to in Eph. 1:14 is the 'sealing' to God of the believer by the Holy Spirit as spoken of in the preceding verse. Therefore, the very hope of eternal salvation for the believer lies in the sealing of the believer by the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, the 'purchased possession' spoken of in verse 14 is the Church corporately and each and every believer individually. Christ is the ransom for the sin of mankind, made so by the Father 'before the foundation of the world' (Rev. 13:8).
Thus, the sins of each and every believer; past, present, and future; are all paid for by the sacrifice of Christ. The immediate reward for the believer having trusted in the atoning work of Christ for the salvation of his soul is the promise of eternal life in Christ Jesus which is made immediately effectual by the seal of the Spirit of God.
In His Love,
Jack B.
-Hebrews 11:1-3
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." -Jn 10:27-28
This page presents a clear and concise explanation that fully refutes any claims that salvation in Christ is not eternal, or that salvation in Christ may be lost through sin or personal decision of rejection.
Arguments against the permanent nature of salvation in Christ Jesus center around three assumptions that are not supported by Scripture. These assumptions are:
- A standard of behavior and/or belief must be maintained subsequent to salvation or the believer risks loss of salvation.
- A person who has claimed salvation for many years begins down a road that outwardly rejects Christ and is, therefore, lost in the end.
- A person who has accepted Christ as Savior at a specific point in time later makes a decision to walk away from Christ by rejecting Him as Lord and Savior.
Three distinct points are presented on this page which clearly demonstrate that no one (neither man, nor angel, nor demon) can undo any action which has been perpetuated by God Himself. These points are as follows:
- The Principle of Promise in God
- Christ's Sovereignty in Salvation
- The Effectual Nature of the Spiritual Seal
The most important passage of Scripture to remember when discussing the work of salvation in Christ is found in Ephesians 2:8&9, "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."
Only God can grant salvation by His grace. No work of man can earn it - no work of man can destroy it.
With this introduction in mind, let us now examine some of the many passages through which the Lord grants us His promise of full assurance that once we have been saved we are His for all eternity.
Principle of Promise in God
'I will NEVER leave nor forsake thee.'
Promise example #1: "There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."
In Joshua Chapter 1 we see the Lord giving promise to Joshua as he prepares to take the Children of Israel across the Jordan in to the Promised Land after the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness of Sinai. The Hebrews still face the same overwhelming odds that caused the previous generation to refuse to follow God's man, Moses, into the 'land flowing with milk and honey.' They failed to heed the principle that King Solomon would later record in Proverbs 3:5-7, and used their own reasoning and logic leading to a tragic end for the first generation saved from Egypt.
Now, as the new generation (with only faithful Joshua and Caleb remaining from the original Exodus) prepares to cross into Canaan, the Lord delivers His Promise recorded in Joshua 1:5. The key word in this passage is the word translated as 'fail.' It comes from a Hebrew word that means 'to cease', 'to fail', or to 'let alone.' The secondary word of importance here likewise is the word translated as 'forsake.' This word comes from a Hebrew root word meaning 'to loosen', 'to leave', or 'to refuse.' The Lord is being quite clear in this exchange with the new leader of the Hebrews and future general of their army, Joshua. He desires that they all be fully assured that they are to be the recipients of the land once promised to and claimed by Abraham.
Promise example #2: "Let your conversation without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."
Here, in Hebrews 13:5, the Lord equates His own faithfulness through the writer of the Letter to the Hebrews to that of the sanctity, purity, and permanence of marriage. The reference is clearly to promise given to both Joshua and to Moses before him with an additional clarification. The writer here exhorts believers to avoid covetous behavior and to be content with their belongings and status. This is because the Lord Himself is to be their (and our) provision for all things. In all we have need of, it is He who provides. This is true from the very air we breathe to the salvation that binds our souls eternally to Him.
As with the promise given to Joshua and to the Hebrews in Joshua 1:5, the Lord provides this promise as a means of strength through Him and assurance in Him. Hebrews 13:6 bears this principle out as the writer further records that the reason for this assurance is, "So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."
This promise is indeed instant, continual, and eternal, for what is the power of a promise that lasts only for a season, and then is no more? Where is the assurance, the hope, the trust, the faith, the peace, and the confidence in a promise that cannot endure all? The Apostle John writes once in his gospel record and again in his first Epistle that believers are to be fully assured of their salvation in Christ Jesus, having 'believed on His Name."
"But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." - John 20:31
"These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." - John 5:13
Promise example #3: "(For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he swore unto them."
This passage which Moses shares with the Hebrews is part of a present and future prophecy in which the Lord reveals that they will face much tribulation and suffer being scattered among the nations of the world. In all this, the Lord's promise remains sure. Even through all of the evil, confusion, rebellion, godlessness, division, and tribulation, God assures the Nation of Israel that they will persevere and that His covenant with their fathers will be honored.
The writer of Hebrews, speaking of Jesus in Hebrews 13:8, extols His eternal consistency and he writes that the Lord is "the same yesterday, and today, and forever."
Christ's Sovereignty in Salvation
According to Jesus' own words as recorded in John 10:26-30, He is sovereign over all those who have been saved in His name. Furthermore, He is equally sovereign over the very act of salvation itself, being its perpetuator and its fulfillment before the 'foundation of the world' (see Revelation 13:8 & 1 Peter 1:20; compare with Hebrews 9:26). In this passage He shows Himself sovereign in five (5) ways:
- Believers know Him.
- Believers receive eternal life in Him.
- Believers can never be taken from Him.
- His power and authority in salvation is given Him by the Father.
- His power and authority in salvation is equal to that of the Father.
His 'sheep' know Him. -John 10:26-27
In the Gospel of John Jesus identifies Himself in a number of ways, including that of the Good Shepherd. As such, His followers are often referred to as 'sheep'. In this passage, Jesus is identifying His sheep (believers) with Himself in the same manner that sheep 'know' the voice, scent, mannerisms, etc., of their shepherd. This passage does not refer to simple or casual knowledge as in the case of 'being aware' of the existence of someone or something. Rather, in it's proper and complete context, the term implies a much more intimate knowledge and understanding.
This personal 'knowledge' of Christ is spoken of in the Old Testament by the prophet Isaiah, and later reiterated by Paul in 2 Corinthians 3:3 where the apostle writes that believers are the very manifestation of God's word in Christ, "written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart."
He gives eternal life. -John 10:28
This is a recurring theme throughout the Gospel of John, as well as throughout the New Testament. Not only is Christ the giver or eternal life; but, He is the only one with the authority to do so. It is by the work of salvation wrought in Him that salvation is made possible for every individual, and is made manifest in every believer.
Nowhere in scripture is the gift of eternal life spoken of as a temporary or conditional state of the believer. While there are indeed references to the consequences of one's refusal to accept Christ as Savior after receiving the knowledge that He alone is Lord and Savior (see John 3:18; Romans 1:21-23,32) , there is no record of any believer leaving the fold once having been saved.
His 'sheep' will never perish -nor- be taken from Him. -John 10:28-29
This is a New Testament manifestation and fulfillment of the same Old Testament promise given by the pre-incarnate Christ to both Moses (Deuteronomy 31:8) and to Joshua (Joshua 1:5). In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit came and went among mankind; however, in the New Testament He comes into and dwells within every believer. His presence is no longer temporary or fleeting. He is the One whom Christ has promised to send as our Comforter (John 14:26, 15:26, 16:7), and it is the gift of His Person that is given at the moment of our salvation (see Luke 11:13; Acts 2:38). Indeed, if our power were greater than that of God, we could cast out the Holy Spirit. However, having the power to do so would violate the doctrine of God's omnipotence.
His power and authority come from the Father. -John 10:29
In John 5:30 Jesus plainly reveals that the work that He does here on earth is not of His own will, but that He seeks "the will of the Father which has sent me." Furthermore, the Apostle Paul writes in Philippians 2:6 that Jesus, "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God." These two statements together clearly illustrate that all power and authority portrayed by Jesus was directly by the will and commandment of the Father.
This doctrine of Jesus' absolute authority is further illustrated in the first two chapters of the Book of Hebrews. Specifically, verses 2:7 & 8 speak of Jesus being made 'a little lower than the angels' for a time, signifying His brief appearance among mankind as a man. Yet this same 'man' is now 'crowned with glory and honor' having 'all things in subjection under his feet.' The writer of Hebrews continues to record that there is nothing that is not under His power and authority. In fact, we learn in John 1:1-5 that it was Jesus who was not only with God at the time of Creation; but, that He in fact IS the God of Creation.
His power and authority are equal to that of the Father. -John 10:30
In addition to the Apostle Paul's statement referenced above from Philippians 2:6 regarding the equality of Jesus to the Father in power and authority, Jesus Himself makes the clear and distinct claim in John 10:30 that, "I and my Father are one." Furthermore, the writer of Hebrews in the second chapter of that epistle makes reference to a statement recorded by King David concerning the Messiah in Psalm 2:6-8 where we find first the Father proclaiming, "Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion." Next, Messiah interjects, "I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee." Lastly, the Father continues, "Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Therefore, we clearly see in both the Old and New Testaments that both authority and power of Father and Son are one and the same. Furthermore, the Apostle John gives us great hope in his gospel as he writes in John 1:12, "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons [children] of God, even to them that believe on his name." This position of being 'children' of God makes them partakers of His full inheritance both here on earth and in the blessed eternity to come.
The Effectual Seal of the Holy Spirit
There are three specific statements in Scripture apart from the words of Jesus in John 10:26-30 that clearly explain the permanence and inviolability of salvation through the work of the Holy Spirit. These are all found in the apostle Paul's letter to the Church at Ephesus and are as follows:
- The Holy Spirit is the seal of every believer. (Eph. 4:30).
- The Holy Spirit is the effector of the seal. (Eph. 1:13).
- The seal of the Spirit is 'unto the redemption' by Christ. (Eph. 1:14, 4:30).
Of the utmost importance is the understanding that the sealing of believers to God in Christ by the Holy Spirit is by the authority of God [the Father] through Christ by the indwelling if the [Holy] Spirit. (II Cor. 1:21-22).
The Holy Spirit is the seal of every believer.
"And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." Eph. 4:30
In this passage the apostle Paul is providing the absolute assurance that believers are indeed 'sealed' to God until the day that He redeems His own to Himself. In fact, this is the very reason why believers are instructed not to 'grieve' the Holy Spirit. Since He is the One by whom believers are sealed to God in Christ, He is most precious and worthy of honor.
The word translated as 'seal' in this verse literally means to be marked for preservation. Throughout history both before and after the time of Christ's presence on earth a royal seal was used to secure a document that was marked for delivery, and could only be legally opened by the intended recipient. In this same manner believers are sealed to God, who is the intended recipient of each and every one, body, mind, and spirit. No other, not even the one who is 'sealed' in this manner has the power or authority to 'break' the seal, which would result in loss of salvation.
The Holy Spirit is the effector of the seal.
"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" Eph. 1:13
This verse portrays the clear division between the knowledge of the truth of salvation and the act of receiving Christ subsequent to that knowledge. It is not the knowledge of Christ that saves; but, it is the knowledge of Christ that leads one to salvation in Him. The process of salvation is three-fold, with the last two events taking place simultaneously.
First, individuals hear the word of truth, that eternal salvation is realized in Christ and Christ alone by His atoning work upon the Cross at Calvary.
Second, as the apostle Paul explains in Romans Chapter 10, 'faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.' One must hear before he can believe. Then, the choice must be made to 'call upon the Lord' (Rom. 10:13) and 'believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ' (Acts 16:31) in order for salvation to take place.
Third, the act of repentance and acceptance of Christ as Lord and Savior brings the immediate indwelling of the Holy Spirit whose work as Comforter and presence as divine Seal forms an unbreakable bond between the believer and God. Were the believer able to 'break' this seal, then he would be capable of undoing what God has done, and would be in effect more powerful than Almighty God Himself.
The seal of the Spirit is 'unto the redemption' by Christ.
In addition to the verses (Eph. 4:30 & 1:13) quoted in the previous two points, one additional verse, which completes the principle explanation begun in Ephesians 1:13, also applies:
"Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory." Eph. 1:14.
The 'earnest of our inheritance' referred to in Eph. 1:14 is the 'sealing' to God of the believer by the Holy Spirit as spoken of in the preceding verse. Therefore, the very hope of eternal salvation for the believer lies in the sealing of the believer by the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, the 'purchased possession' spoken of in verse 14 is the Church corporately and each and every believer individually. Christ is the ransom for the sin of mankind, made so by the Father 'before the foundation of the world' (Rev. 13:8).
Thus, the sins of each and every believer; past, present, and future; are all paid for by the sacrifice of Christ. The immediate reward for the believer having trusted in the atoning work of Christ for the salvation of his soul is the promise of eternal life in Christ Jesus which is made immediately effectual by the seal of the Spirit of God.
In His Love,
Jack B.
-Hebrews 11:1-3
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