Eternal Security and God's Pledge: A Warning
God sets His mark upon us when we enter faith in Christ as our Lord, the Son of God and Man, and places His Spirit in our hearts as an earnest money deposit, as a promise of what will come. Men make much about the eternal security of the believer, but how secure is God’s guarantee? Do we not need to fear falling? Can we bank on God’s earnest deposit upon our futures? How does this verse fit with other verses like the story of the unmerciful servant? Let’s look and see what we will.
For a long time now, officials have used seals to certify documents and, more recently, to keep their contents secret. The God Who created the universe and everything beyond it, apart from Himself, authenticates our being as children of God, giving us assurance that we belong to Him, bought and paid for by the sacrifice of Holy blood shed on the cross. He places His Spirit in us also as a pledge of what He will do and what will come. The one who remains in Christ never needs fear being sundered from the love of God.
But (it seems like there’s always at least one) what does the parable of the unmerciful servant teach us? In Matthew 18: 21—35, Jesus tells the story of a man brought before the king to whom he owed a great debt. How much did he owe? Estimates vary, but it was a truly exorbitant amount, more than most could ever repay. One source suggests a talent was worth perhaps 20 years’ worth of a day laborer’s wages. The Greek says ten thousand talents, so 20 years x 10,000 = 200,000 years of a day laborer’s wages. What does a day laborer make? Well, there are several ways we could look at it, but we really don’t need to know more than this: Nobody lives 200,000 years. The debt was more than the man could ever likely hope to repay, even if he became blessed through extremely fortunate future dealings. (Could God enable him to repay the debt? Sure, but that goes too far off the point to discuss.)
Yet, what happened to the man? He begged for the master to be patient with him, promising to repay his debt. And how did the master respond? He had compassion for the man, released him and forgave the debt. The Greek suggests He sent both away, reminding me of the way God puts our sins far away from us, either in the depths of the sea or as far as the east is from the west. The Bible never uses the phrase “sea of forgetfulness” because God doesn’t forget our sins, but He does remove them from us certainly.
However, what was the end state of the man? Condemned and handed over until he should be able to pay all that he owed. When would that be? Only God knows. The point Jesus makes is this—the man was forgiven but found his debt fully restored through his own unmerciful actions. By his willful decisions, he tossed away the reprieve granted him by the king and master. The king or master represents God in this story. Lest anyone say this is only about that wicked servant, Jesus clarifies that this would happen to each of his listeners unless they forgave their brothers and sisters from their hearts.
Some will say that, since this happens before the cross, He is speaking only under the Law, but I tell you it isn’t so. Who are Jesus’ brothers and sisters? Whoever does the will of our Father in heaven. Do you not know that we are heirs of Abraham, co-citizens of Israel, and joint recipients of the Promise? Our great Redeemer has grafted us in, in Him. Since He pruned the natural branches that He might graft us in, we ought to be careful, lest we, too, find ourselves broken off for the benefit of those who will do His will.
But it also says that nothing can separate us from the love of God—does it not? What does it actually say? Romans 8:35 asks who, which, or what will separate us from the love of Christ? Verses 38 & 39 then clarify that no being, thing, time, or event can sever us from the love of God. The list seems exhaustive and certain assurance of eternal security—I must admit. However, I am reminded of other verses by the Spirit, which we must not forget.
Hebrews 10:29 asks how sorely one deserves punishment who tramples the Son of God (His body), treats as common the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and insults the Spirit of Grace. Some say this is a non-believer, but note that it says the blood of Christ sanctified him. We must accept as a given, therefore, this person had accepted Christ as Savior, for the blood of Christ does not sanctify the unbelieving world apart from God. Do I misunderstand this verse then? How does it fit with other verses? A little after that, in verse 36, the writer of Hebrews tells his readers that they must persevere to receive what God has promised. Just a little before, verse 26 warns that if one willfully continues in sin after receiving knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins remains. Virtually every translation we look at says basically the same thing, “after receiving knowledge of the truth.” Many will proclaim that this refers to the one who rejects salvation only, but I disagree.
If we look at the Greek, we learn a couple of things the English translators fail to make clear to us. First, the word translated “receive” or “receiving” actually means more than passive acceptance. It actually means to take hold of something with aggressive or assertive acceptance. Second, the word translated “knowledge” means first-hand, experiential knowledge. You don’t get experience from turning away upon hearing the good news about Jesus. You get first-hand experience from aggressively taking hold of the truth about Jesus. So, what do we learn from this and Romans 8:38 & 39? How does that inform our view of Scripture?
When I consider the Word in these verses, you know what I don’t see in the list in Romans? I don’t see two things in the list of things that won’t separate ourselves from the Love of Christ. I don’t see our own persistent, willful sin and disobedience, and I don’t see the righteous judgment of God over His own people. Does the Bible contradict itself? No. Do people twist Scripture to support their views? Yes.
Returning to the seal and Spirit given, as described in 2 Corinthians, what do we make of that? Well, when we come into the family of God, God gives us His seal to mark us members of His family. It guarantees authenticity and keeps the contents safe. Truly, no external force can break that seal. No created being, time, thing, or event may break that bond. The Spirit acts as God’s assurance of things to come, but the language suggests it is like a pledge or an earnest money deposit one makes when buying a home. It says to the current homeowner you promise to buy the home. The deposit tells the other party to the agreement you invest your interests in the outcome of your dealings with them to show how serious you are. Even after accepting earnest money, the homeowner still wields a lot of power.
Can the Lord not keep us from stumbling? Yes, He can. He always provides a way out of temptation. He can and will deliver. But I speak as one who fell and has been restored. While I know firsthand the mercies of my King, I also know that the consequences for falling are real. I know with certainty the Spirit has warned me strictly not to presume too much, nor stray too far. I seek only to keep others from falling, too, because not everyone will rise again. Not all who fall shall be restored. God is merciful and quick to forgive. But there is a line it would be better never to cross. All I can say is that I’m glad He accepts the prodigals who run home with open heart and merry. God is good. Blessed be the Name of the Lord!
If you can accept it, our security in Christ is certain, so long as we remain in Him and He in us. Otherwise, why would Jesus teach us to pray for forgiveness of our sins explicitly and daily? Does Jesus’ sacrifice cover all of our sins? If we remain in Him and He in us, yes. But doesn’t the Bible also teach He will lose none of those the Father has given Him? Yes, but it also says that He already has kept that promise. Could it not also apply to us today? Sure, but the Bible doesn’t need anything further to be done in order for those words to hold true. We would do well to remember that Jesus also chose Judas.
Hear the word of the Lord: It will be good for the servant whose Master returns to find him engaged in the tasks given him by God. The one who knows the Masters will, who doesn’t prepare to go or do it, will be beaten with many blows. The wicked servants of the Master, who turn aside from the Way, He will sunder and assign places with hypocrites. Let him who has an ear hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Hear me, you people, you who proclaim yourself a brother or sister in Christ. On November 13, 2017, I posted on this blog warnings of that which would come if this nation did not repent—beginning at the House of God. I proclaimed signs in the heavens as confirmation of my warning. We now see a nation (and world) in crisis. If the church does not pick up the cross and walk daily after Christ, worse will come. A watchman has spoken. You would do well to heed my words. You think the rest of America must repent, but I tell you the churches must repent first. Judgment begins at the House of God!