Lesson 2
Jude
Maintaining
the Faith Entrusted to Us
10 Proofs
of Eternal Security! Once Saved, Always
Saved
1. Position in Christ:
Rom.
a. All members of the human race stand in one of two
positions: "in Adam" or
"in Christ." 1 Cor. 15:22
b. Must recognize that it is possible that a person may never
change positions. From being in Adam to being in Christ.
c. It is possible to change positions one time:
2. Logical result of salvation: Rom. 5:9,10;
3. Anthropomorphism teaches
Eternal Security: John 10:28-30;
We're held by
God's hand, Omnipotence will never let go.
4.
Experiential approach: 2 Tim 2:11-13
Rabbit trail
Note: 2 Tim 2:11-13 Parallel passage dealing with this
promise of security in Him!
(series
of "If" conditional clauses followed by conclusions)
1.
"if (1cc) we
died with Him" (aor) notes
our positional identification with Him, occurs at the moment of salvation. (Rom
6:5)
Conclusion: "we shall also live with Him"
(predictive future,
suzaw suza,w) speaks of being in His
presence, living with
Him.
This verse is an
uncompromising statement of the absolute assurance that every believer
possesses of living with Christ in the future.
Any interpretation
of vs:12-13 that denies or lessens in any way the
certainty of the assurance of all believers future life in the presence of
Christ is wrong, not biblically based.
2. Life is Scrutinized for Possible Reward 2:12
- Paul is in the context seeking to motivate Timothy and by
application, every believer of the C/A to be consistently faithful to the Lord
in his life. Makes a difference now as well as in
eternity.
Z. Hodges notes related
to this context "neatly balances" Christian certitudes with Christian
responsibilities."
1st conditional statement "if we endure," pres = dominating factor in one's life; u`pome,nw
this verb is used to describe patient endurance while dealing with the
circumstances of life, the pressures of the day.
- If we are endure, we are promised here in the conclusion, that this endurance
will lead to special reward over and above the promise of vs:11, living with
Christ, made to all!
2nd
conditional statement "if we deny Him, He will deny us."
- If we deny Him;
like if we endure; 1cc
pres = dominating characteristic is one of denial of truth, dvpt in the life of
believer; clearly life would not be characterized by endurance.
This unrewarded
believer "will still live with
Christ!" As
- So it’s a denial of reward not of salvation, living with Christ!
3. 2:13 Still Secure in Spite of Scrutiny.
This verse affirms
that the absolute security of all believers is based on the faithfulness of
God.
The "if"
clause: "If we are faithless"
describes the condition of those who in context are regenerate people,
the unfaithful soldier; faithlessness is not in saving faith but in living out
the word, walking worthy, patiently enduring in the tough situations of life! (application of
truth)
The conditional
clause: "He remains faithful; for
He cannot deny Himself."
The unfaithful
believer is assured here that despite his failures, God keeps on remaining
faithful. (gnomic pres. always true) Why?? How?? For He cannot deny Himself.
Where is the
believer from the point of Salvation? In Christ!
What does the
believer possess? Imputed righteousness
of Christ! Eternal life!
He cannot deny you
the believer without denying Himself!
So what do we find
here? Between the 2 pillars of certainty, vs:11 if
we have died with Him we shall live with Him and vs:13 "He remains faithful for He cannot deny Himself" lay 2
alternatives both being possibilities for our life.
Not only is this
passage a tremendous promise of security in Him but also a promise that should
motivate us to walk worthy of our calling, glorifying Him in our daily life!
5. Family
approach: John 1:12; Gal 3:26
1) By
faith in Christ Jesus, we are born into the family of God, and once we are born
into the family of God, there is nothing we can do to get "unborn"
out of the family of God.
2) In
a similar manner, once you are born into the family of God, you are a member of
God’s family forever. Perhaps
a disobedient member, but no-less a member of the family of God.
6. Body
example: 1 Cor. 12:13,21
The point is this:
1) For the body to
be one (whole), it must have all it's members: fingers, toes, eyes, ears, etc.
2) Every believer
is a member of the Body of Christ.
3) Once a member is
added to the Body of Christ, God never amputates (cuts-off) any of the members;
otherwise, the Body would not be one (whole).
4) You may be a
blind eye, a deaf ear, a sore toe, or a withered hand, but you are still a
member of the Body of Christ.
5) The Body of Christ
will be presented to God the Father as a whole Body, a complete Body, at the
coming of Christ (the rapture).