GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH

UNCONDITIONAL SECURITY!
Eternal Security
Revelation 17:8

Don Fortner

The Book of Revelation opens with a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ in the midst of his churches. And it closes with a vision of all God's elect, the whole Church of the redeemed gathered before the throne of God and of the Lamb in glory. Everything in this Book, from the first chapter to the last, is written to assure us of the eternal unconditional, security and final perseverance of all who believe. God's Church in this world is an elect, redeemed, sealed multitude, whose names are written from eternity in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev. 13:8).

In Revelation 17:8, the angel tells John that all who dwell upon the earth wonder at the beast and are deceived by the great whore, Babylon, false religion, except those whose names were "written in the book of life from the foundation of the world." While others perish, they are secure. Though all others are deceived, they are secure. Though all others go down to hell under the wrath of God, those whose names are "written in the book of life from the foundation of the world" are secure. My subject tonight is Eternal Security.

I want to show you from the scriptures that – ALLL TRUE BELIEVERS ARE ETERNALLY SECURE IN CHRIST, BEING KEPT BY THE POWER OF GOD'S GRACE.

1. CAN A SAVED PERSON EVER BE LOST?
2. WHAT IS THE BASIS OF OUR ASSURANCE AND SECURITY IN CHRIST?
3. WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO DO DEPART FROM CHRIST AND FALL AWAY?
4. WHAT ARE WE TO LEARN FROM THIS MESSAGE?

I am talking about men and women who are genuinely saved by the grace of God.

• Chosen in Everlasting Love!


• Redeemed by the Blood of Christ!


• Born Again by the Power of the Holy Spirit!

I am talking about true believers, those who are "called, chosen, and faithful." Can those people, any of them, ever be lost? Can one of God's elect perish? Is it possible for one of Christ's redeemed ones to yet suffer the wrath of God? Is it possible for one who is called by the Holy Spirit, regenerated and born again by almighty grace to fall away, draw back, depart from Christ and perish at last?

Let these questions be answered not by the words, opinions, theories and doctrines of men, but by the Word of God alone, and the answer is emphatically, unconditionally, unequivocally, "No!" It is not possible for a saved person to be lost. If we hear nothing but the testimony of Holy Scripture, we cannot question the eternal security of all God's Saints.

A. Job 17:9 – "The righteous shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger."

B. Psalm 94:14 – "The Lord will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance."

C. Psalm 125:1-2 – "They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mt. Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth forever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth ever forever."

E. Jeremiah 32:40 – "I will make an everlasting covenant with them that:

1. "I will not turn away from them to do them good."
2. "I will put my fear in their hearts."
3. "They shall not depart from me."

1. In His Sovereign Providence (v. 28).
2. In His Saving Purpose (vv. 29-30).
3. In His Substitutionary Provision (vv. 32-39).

H. I Corinthians 1:8-9 – "God shall confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord."

I. I Thessalonians 5:24 – "Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it."

All of these texts of scripture tell us one thing: God's elect are eternally secure in Christ. They shall never perish. "The foundation of God standeth sure." Salvation is the work of God alone. And that which God does is done forever – (Eccles. 3:14).

II. WHAT IS THE BASIS OF OUR ASSURANCE AND SECURITY IN CHRIST?

I have shown you from the Scriptures that it is impossible for a saved person to e lost. You have the Word of God for it. Now, for the comfort and edification of your soul, let me show you why it is impossible.

A. THE PERFECTION OF GOD'S CHARACTER GUARANTEE THE ETERNAL SECURITY OF HIS ELECT – (Lam. 3:21-25).

1. His Immutability – (Mal. 3:6; Job 23:13; Jas. 1:17).
2. His Omnipotence – (I Pet. 1:5; Jude 24-25).
3. His Mercy.
4. His Love.
5. His Faithfulness.
6. His Goodness.
7. His Justice.

B. THE ETERNAL PURPOSE OF GOD, WHICH CANNOT BE ALTERED, FRUSTRATED OR DEFEATED, GUARANTEES THE ETERNAL SECURITY OF HIS ELECT.

The purpose of God according to election must stand. He will do all his pleasure. And his pleasure is the eternal salvation of his elect (Isa. 46:9-13; Eph. 1:3-14; II Thess. 2:13; John 6:37-40).

C. THE PROMISES OF GOD, WHICH ARE YEA AND AMEN IN CHRIST, GUARANTEE THE ETERNAL SECURITY OF ALL BELIEVERS – (Heb. 13:5).

1. Does he promise eternal life to all who believe? (John 3:14-16).
2. Does he promise to forgive all our sins? (I John 1:9).

D. THE FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST GUARANTEES THE ETERNAL SECURITY OF GOD'S ELECT.

1. Christ has redeemed us – (Gal. 3:13; Heb. 9:2). We cannot be unredeemed!
2. Christ has sanctified us (Heb. 10:10-14). We cannot be unsanctified!
3. Christ has justified us (Rom. 3:24). We cannot be unjustified!
4. Christ has made us complete (Col. 2:10). We cannot be made incomplete!
5. Christ has made us seated in heaven (Eph. 2:6). We cannot be unseated!
6. Christ has blessed us (Eph. 1:3). We cannot be unblessed!

E. THE PRESENT INTERCESSION OF CHRIST AS OUR ADVOCATE IN HEAVEN GUARANTEES THE ETERNAL SECURITY OF GOD'S ELECT.

1. His prayers on our behalf cannot be denied (John 17:24).
2. His advocacy cannot fail – (I John 2:1-3).

• The Seal, which Preserves.


• The Earnest of our Inheritance.

The basis of our assurance and security in Christ is not, in any way, dependent upon or determined by us. The whole basis of our security is our God, who he is, what he has done, and what he is doing for us. Our good works do not make us more secure. And our evil works do not make us less secure. Our security is Christ!

Illus: The security and welfare of sheep is the responsibility of the Shepherd.

III. WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO DO DEPART FROM CHRIST AND FALL AWAY?

I do not deny that many do depart from Christ, forsake the gospel, fall away from the faith and leave the church of God. Every pastor, every church, every believer is painfully aware of many who once walked in our company who now have left us.

• Our Lord experienced it!


• The Apostles experienced it!


• And we experience it!

A. MEN AND WOMEN DEPART FROM CHRIST AND FALL AWAY FOR MANY REASONS.

• Love of the World (Matt. 13:22).


• Trials (Matt. 13:21).


• Self-Will (Judas).


• False Doctrine (Gal. 5:1-4).


• Gradual Apostacy (Heb. 10:25-26).

B. THOSE WHO DEPART FROM US, FOR WHATEVER REASON, NEVER WERE TRULY OF US – (I John 2:19).

• It is one thing to learn doctrine, but another thing to learn Christ.


• It is one thing to have an emotional experience, but another thing to be born again.


• It is one thing to change your life, but another thing to bow to the rule of Christ.

IV. WHAT ARE WE TO LEARN FROM THIS MESSAGE?

It may depart from Christ and never know it!

Illus: "Righteous Lot!"

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