Introduction
Those whom God accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end. Believers may fall into sin through neglect and temptation, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, bring reproach on the causes of Christ, and temporal judgments on themselves, yet they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
Thesis: God preserves those whom He saves.
The Proof of Security
A. God loves to the uttermost, John 13:1.
B. God proposes to keep in spite of everything, John 10:28-30.
C. God intends to present us faultless before Himself, Jude 24.
D. God’s Son lives to make intercession to keep us saved, Hebrews 7:25 and 1 John 2:1-2.
E. God’s Spirit has placed us into the Body of Christ, 1 Corinthians 12:13.
F. God’s Spirit has sealed us until the day of redemption, Ephesians 4:30.
G. God’s Word guarantees that nothing, including ourselves, can separate us from Christ, Romans 8:28-29.
H. In order to lose one’s salvation, all of these works of God would have to be undone, and the Bible nowhere hints that this is possible.
The Problem of Scripture, Hebrews 6:4-6
A. Arminians believe that people described in these verses are Christians who actually lose their salvation. If this is so, notice that it is impossible to be saved a second time.
B. Some believe that this refers not to genuine believers, but to those who only profess to be Christians. Their profession falls far short of salvation. They fall away from the experiential knowledge of salvation.
C. Baptists believe that this is a warning to genuine Christians to encourage their growth and maturity. To “fall away” is impossible, since true believers are eternally secured by God. The phrase is placed here to strengthen the warning. It is like saying to a class of students: “It is impossible for a student, once enrolled in this course, if he turns time back [which cannot be done] to start the course over. Therefore, let all students go on to a deeper knowledge.”