The Problem at Hand

Chapter 1.
The Problem at Hand

One of the great characteristics of the Bible and the words of Jesus is the simplicity and yet the depth of the statements we find in Scripture. It is certainly one of the marks of inspiration. Jesus spoke in terms that children could grasp and yet theologians could never exhaust.
With this truth in mind, the greatest of all issues is salvation. It is simple to grasp and enter into, yet the depth of it is inexhaustible. Paul was speaking for all of us when he said,

"Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift" (2 Corinthians 9:15).

The word "unspeakable" means "incapable of being adequately expressed or uttered, unspeakable, inexpressible, unutterable, ineffable." We can never find the words to completely describe the greatest gift of all, biblical salvation. Jesus made the terms of salvation very clear when He said,          "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believes on me hath everlasting life" (John 6:47).
The most famous verse in the entire Bible, spoken from the lips of our Savior, makes it abundantly clear,

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

This one condition was proclaimed not only through the lips of Jesus, the Son of God, but also through John the Baptist, John the apostle, James, Peter, Paul and countless others down through the ages who were faithful with this great message.
Jesus also went on to say that He would never lose us once we have come to Christ by faith. He said,

"All that the Father gives me shall come to me; and him that comes to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day" (John 6:37-39).

Believers are secure forever in Him. This is truly eternal security, and it is all in Christ. This wonderful reality changes lives and excites people both here and now and on into eternity. It is such awesome news! It is so powerful, pure and simple. Often, the first response of a new believer to his personal salvation is to share this good news with those closest to him. No wonder Paul said,

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek"        (Romans 1:16).

Unfortunately, as the new believer starts attending a church or a Bible study, innocent in the faith and seeking the truth, often times what was pure and simple starts getting more and more complicated by teachers and preachers who have lost sight of this salvation by grace. Or, it becomes confusing through teachers and preachers who have never actually been saved themselves. The assurance of salvation can begin to fade as the new believer begins hearing things such as this:

• "If you are really saved, you will hate the things you once loved and love the things you once hated."
• "If you haven't forsaken all of your sin, you were never really saved to begin with. You had a head belief and not a heart belief."
• "If you haven't repented of all of your sin, you are not saved yet. You have to really 'mean business' with God and repent of all of your sins."
• "If you are still desiring the things of the world, you are probably not saved."
• "You can't go to heaven if you are hanging on to the world."
• "If Christ is not Lord of all, He's not Lord at all."
• "If you come to church with a sour or negative disposition, don't fool yourself into thinking you are going to Heaven."
• "If you are not tithing, you will not go to Heaven."
• "If you are practicing sin, you are not saved."
• "If you've grown cold towards the Lord, you were probably never truly saved to begin with."
• "If you do not endure and persevere as a Christian to the end of your life, you were never a real Christian to begin with. All true Christians endure to the end."

It should be emphasized at this point that when we trust Christ, we DO receive a new nature, and with that the power to overcome sin and live victoriously for the Lord, as we certainly should do. Ephesians 2:10 is crystal clear on this.

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto (for the purpose of) good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them"          (Ephesians 2:10). (parenthetic text & italics added)

But is this a guarantee that we will live a victorious Christian life?
If we were to accept the challenges expressed above by those often well-meaning teachers and preachers, then we all would have to doubt whether we are saved or not at times because we all fail at one time or another.

In view of such statements, several questions must be asked:

1. Are the statements of these teachers biblical?
2. Does God want us to be living in uncertainty and doubt, questioning whether we are His children or not?
3. How much failure, if any, can there be and still have the assurance of Heaven? 
4. Or put another way, how faithful do we need to be to be sure of Heaven?
5.  For in reality they pose the same question.
6. What if we don't endure to the end, but die in a backslidden condition?
7.  Will we end up in Hell?

Again, let me reiterate, the Bible is crystal clear that God wants us to live holy lives by the power of His Holy Spirit. But is victory a guarantee in the life of every Christian?
And if not, how much "fruit" needs to be manifested to prove that we were truly saved to begin with?
This produces tremendous confusion and unrest. Whatever happened to 1 John 5:13?

"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" (1 John 5:13).

In reality, if what many preachers are saying is true, then who will be saved?
If what they are saying is not true, then where did the false ideas come from?
 Is salvation a gift or not? Does man have the ability to choose anything for himself?
These are serious questions that must be addressed. Let's now proceed into our study.

Secure Forever: God's Promise or Our Perseverance?.