Beth-El Baptist Church

02/21/2010

Greg Tomlinson


Doesn't the doctrine of eternal security give the Christian license to sin?


The doctrine of eternal security is called by some as the 'once saved always saved' doctrine. While there are many different questions people raise about eternal security, its validity, and its ramifications, the question addressed here has to do with the ramification of sin continuing in the life of the professing believer. Unfortunately, some professing believers do use the doctrine of eternal security as a form of justifying their own sin and that they are to no longer obey the commandments of God.


  1. When someone say they believe in Jesus Christ, doesn't that mean they are saved?

1 Corinthians 4:2-4 Matthew 7:21-23; 15:7-9

Revelation 2:9; 3:9 1 John 2:19; 5:2-4

Romans 10:8-11 Isaiah 29:13


The reality of a person's salvation does not depend upon their claims but upon having received a renewed heart by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ. Many people have, do, and will claim to be Christian but Jesus Christ has rejected them because it is only their words that profess faith while their lives are lived out as a rejection of that faith.


  1. What is the basis of a person's salvation?

Colossians 1:12-14, 1:20-22 Ephesians 1:3-7

Hebrews 7:24-25 Romans 8:31-39

Colossians 2:13-15 1 John 1:7

Titus 2:13-15 John 10:25-30


The only legitimate basis for the salvation of a man is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. Since Jesus offered up Himself to be the atoning sacrifice and Jesus states that He gives to His sheep which hear His voice the gift of eternal life. Since it is eternal it is impossible for them to ever escape the hands of Christ or the hands of His Father. The scriptures are clear that the work of Christ is abundantly sufficient to complete the salvation of souls. It is also abundantly clear that once Jesus has set His love on someone, there is nothing in heaven or on earth that can separate him from that love which comes from God and Christ.


  1. Aren't there some sins that can remove God's acceptance?

Ephesians 1:3-7; 1:13-14; 4:29-32 1 Peter 2:5

1 Corinthians 3:11-15 1 John 2:18-19

Hebrews 13:4-5 Romans 8:15

Galatians 4:4-7


The scriptures do not identify anything that can move a person from being accepted by God to them being unaccepted by God. On the contrary, the believer that has been truly sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise has been sealed until the day of redemption. Nothing indicates that God will remove the Holy Spirit, once given, to anyone for any reason. The believer is an adopted child of God who can never be unadopted. He may displease God through sinning (grieve the Holy Spirit) but this is an issue of approval not of acceptance. Children never cease being the child of a parent, even if the parent does not approve of what the child is doing. It could very well be that the professing believer is just a professing believer and that he is now living the life of unbelief according to the condition that his heart has always been.


  1. What about the professing believer who is living in open sin?

Romans 6:1-3; 6:11-13; 6:15-18 Galatians 5:13-14

Jude 3-4 2 Timothy 4:10

1 Corinthians 6:9-12; 10:21-24


It could mean that the professing believer is not a believer. Never is the grace of God to be used to justify ones own sin. We have been called to be holy, righteous, and a blessing to those around us. The life of the believer is called to be lived differently than the life that the world lives. There is no justification for living a sinful life.