Chapter 1
Introduction
The book you are now reading comes as the result of gathering related material for many years, combined with over twenty years of reading and studying the Bible, before, during and after the years I pastored. Also, this book is the greatly-expanded version of my first book on this subject, The Believer’s Security: Conditional or Unconditional? and some excerpts from my booklet, The Gospel According to Charles Stanley. Please know that neither of them have ever been refuted with Scripture, although many Calvinists and some Reformed apologists have read them.
Since the writing of my first book, our ministry has received scores of letters regarding the believer’s security. In addition to the various radio interviews I had on this subject, I also read over the most popular books ever written from an eternal security perspective, and listened to dozens of the teaching tapes offered by various ministries. All of this exposure to this teaching has helped me to compile the most common arguments that have been communicated in defense of eternal security. These same arguments will be carefully analyzed in later chapters in the light of the Scriptures.
Letters To Our Ministry
The following letters, more so than some of the others, will show why a book like this one addressing the errors of eternal security is so important!
The first one is from a grieving mother who shared her heart:
. . . When I first came to the Lord 30 years ago, we got into an [withheld] Church which, of course, taught eternal security. Now my four oldest children believe it doesn’t matter how they live. They seem to find no problem in drunkenness and fornication, etc.
My eldest daughter, 31, tells me that I cannot be telling them or anyone they are doing wrong because I’m not to judge. I do know I am to warn and how can a loving, caring parent not want to warn the off-spring of the dangerous lives I see them living?
I believe this book could be an answer to my prayers. Thank you.
Here is an excerpt from another letter we received regarding how the teaching of eternal security has affected a person’s friend:
I think this doctrine [eternal security] is extremely dangerous. This friend of mine is married, one son, another child on the way and a girlfriend on the side that he sees several times a week. He smokes, drinks and curses. He is also one of the largest drug users and dealers in our area. This guy is always telling me that he is ready to go. Ready to meet the Lord. He even tries to witness to other people whenever he doesn’t have a drug deal or a party or a girlfriend to go to. I have seen first-hand the damage that this person is doing and it sickens me. . . . All of this because of the eternal security doctrine . . . It doesn’t matter what I say or what Scriptures I give him. He thinks he’s OK.
These are just two cases of how people have been adversely affected by this teaching that is rampantly taught with virtually no opposition at all.
One must wonder, how could such a teaching that would allow the unrepentant sexually immoral, drunkards, greedy, etc. into heaven even exist when Paul, the real grace teacher, clearly said numerous times such won’t inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:9,10; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:5-7)? God himself, speaking from his throne after the infinite work of the Lord Jesus Christ was completed on the cross, also made it clear that these types of people will have their place in the lake of fire (Rev. 21:8). In spite of this clarity, once saved always saved teaching continues to flourish.
Why Cite People’s Names?
Though it may seem wrong to some to cite people’s names, it is a practice found in the Scriptures. Scripture specifically identifies people by name in both favorable (Phil. 2:22; 2 Tim. 1:16-18) and unfavorable (Phil. 4:2; Col. 4:17; 2 Tim. 2:17,18; 4:14,15; 3 Jn. 9,10; etc.) ways. There are obvious advantages to know with certainty who is teaching what. This is why names are openly used in this book, besides providing the source of a particular teaching.
Touch Not God’s Anointed
The phrase touch not God’s anointed (KJV) has been misused in conjunction with naming people to the great harm of the Body of Christ! This phrase cannot mean: Don’t criticize or publicly refute a Bible teacher’s doctrine or actions, for David touched not God’s anointed (1 Sam. 24:10), namely Saul, but he did publicly correct him and this was done before his own army (1 Sam. 26:7-25)!
Moreover, all Christians are anointed (1 Jn. 2:20), not just the Bible teachers who don’t want you to criticize their teachings! Though uncommon in our day, this procedure of specifically identifying a person with a teaching is needed for the sake of truth. No doubt this is the reason why Paul wrote of his open confrontation with the Apostle Peter (Gal. 2:11-13).
Furthermore, the teachers cited in this book do have some excellent teachings, even though they embrace the doctrine of once saved always saved. So do not judge the soundness of this book by their teachings and advice in other areas. They are often sound which, unfortunately, makes eternal security more believable to their audience. It’s possible to have sound teachings in many areas with a horrible teaching attached! A prime example of this is the book, Reasoning From The Scriptures With The Jehovah’s Witnesses. Regrettably, this refutation to the many heresies of Jehovah’s Witnesses has the error of eternal security mixed in it too.[1] Many other books and cassette tapes on apologetics and countering cults also include the teaching of eternal security. How grieving to read or hear such, especially when the primary message is given to correct error and does an excellent job for the most part.
Personal Encounters
Just before my first book was printed, one professing Christian and unconditional eternal security proponent unashamedly admitted to me that he is sexually immoral!
This man displayed no apparent fear of hell or even of God’s painful discipline, but wanted to defend his doctrinal position on the believer’s security.
I distinctly remember a different once saved always saved adherent who was profane, an occasional drunkard and, by his own admittance, sexually immoral. Yet he clung tenaciously to his profession that he was, indeed, a Christian based on once saved always saved. (He also hadn’t been to church for years.) When I offered several Scriptural reasons why this doctrine is false, he got angry and didn’t want to hear anymore.
At a different time, a particular perseverance of the saints pastor/teacher, standing before his Sunday School class, declared his view of Scripture as being an adulterer might still go to heaven, based on this teaching. He kept insisting that only God knows the heart and he was unable to judge whether such a man was saved or not! Could it be that this pastor doesn’t know a judgment of one’s heart is not involved, since Scripture, which is a discerner of the heart (Heb. 4:12), clearly speaks out against this behavior (1 Cor. 6:9,10; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:5-7; Rev. 21:8; etc.)?
Still another eternal security advocate told me that someone can be completely backslidden and remain saved. With emotion in his voice he endeavored to cite Scriptural proof for his statement regarding the sexually immoral. Furthermore, the first thing out of this particular man’s mouth after I stated the Bible does not teach eternal security was that my position is a work’s salvation (a common false accusation)! My answer was, “Paul, the grace teacher, didn’t believe in it. How, then, could it be a work’s salvation?” (Scriptural proof for this is cited in succeeding chapters along with other false accusations against a conditional security.)
While this book was being written, I handed a salvation tract to a woman and we briefly started to talk. She said she would be in heaven “because of eternal security.” This reflects how important this doctrine can be to some people. Rather than trusting in Jesus, some people seem to be trusting this doctrine instead. This could explain why some eternal security advocates get so angry when this teaching is refuted or even challenged. A prime example of someone getting angry came from a female phone caller on one of my radio interviews on the believer’s security. She felt this issue should not even be addressed since it is anxiety-producing.[2]
Every Night That Cole Is On The Air
While being interviewed on the radio, Donald Cole testified as to how frequently people would bring up the subject of the believer’s security on his call-in radio talk show:
But we run this program called Open Line two nights a week. I’m on with questions about the Bible and every night, this has been going on for 17 years. We started with Dial a Pastor when it was only aired locally. You may recall that. You were here at the time. And then later we shifted to the network when we went on the satellite and I recall wondering if the kind of people who would call in from around the country would be any different from those in Chicago. And within a day or two, confirmed the fact that no, they have the same basic Bible problems and the one that occurs every night even though you don’t hear it on the air every night.
Nevertheless, every night that I’m on the air, somebody, sometimes four or five people call and ask the same question. They’re concerned about Hebrews chapter 6 or Matthew chapter 12 verse 40. They’re worried about the unpardonable sin or they are afraid that they have lost their salvation.[3]
The Need Is Incredible
The need for a Scripturally based, up-to-date, fully-documented book, written from a conditional security point of view, is incredible. This is the perspective from which this book has been written.
One must also ask, whatever happened to the stress on fearing God and holy living? It seems that some are trying to justify unholy living and disobedience with Scripture. Let 1 Thess. 4:7,8 make an indelible impression on your heart:
For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit (NIV).
What you believe to be true will influence your behavior. For example, if you accepted the lie that the Watchtower Society is Jehovah’s Organization or that Joseph Smith, Jr. was God’s prophet, you would be attending a Kingdom Hall or Mormon church somewhere!
In the same way, to accept eternal security as truth will behaviorally affect you to some degree. Furthermore, because it will affect you and your example is contagious, others will likewise be influenced.
This reminds me of a growing, zealous Christian who was doing fine for about nine months after his salvation, until he accepted as truth the teaching of once saved always saved. He then immediately backslid, became very worldly and lost his evangelistic zeal! Not all eternal security proponents suffer spiritually like this, but certainly many besides the one cited have.
Just Like The Titanic
It has also been my observation that those who believe in once saved always saved are living in a false security like the people who were on board the Titanic in April of 1912 thinking it was impossible for them to go down in the ship. They rested in a security in which they firmly believed and was widely taught, but which didn’t really exist. As a consequence, the majority on board the Titanic died needlessly because of an inadequate number of lifeboats. These people would have been much better off to know the disturbing truth that a real danger did presently exist even for them!
To deny the danger, though somewhat comforting for the moment, doesn’t make it disappear. It only makes such people easier prey. This ministry doesn’t want you, your family or your friends to be the devil’s prey! That’s why this book has been written, though it’s certain that adverse criticism will come to this author because of it.
A Defense Of Jesus’ Teachings
The Believer’s Conditional Security is a Scriptural presentation and defense of the teachings of the Lord Jesus and his apostles on the subject of the believer’s security—not a defense of the teachings of Jacob Arminius or John Wesley.
Dear reader, remember this: long after every manmade, denominational creed, confession and catechism fades into dust, Scripture and Scripture alone will continue to stand as God’s eternal truth on all subjects including the believer’s security. Wise is the man, therefore, who will change his doctrine, if need be, to conform to God’s unchanging standard, even if he is greatly outnumbered by doing so, and will somehow suffer now in this life. Come Judgment Day, there will be no regrets for doing such!
The Believer’s Conditional Security maintains that we are saved by grace, salvation is a gift, eternal life comes instantly the moment we truly believe on Jesus for salvation, and righteousness is imputed by our faith in Christ.
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Notes
[1] Ron Rhodes, Reasoning From The Scriptures With The Jehovah‛s Witnesses (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 1993), pp. 302, 303.
[2] On-Line, KGNW-KLFE Radio, Seattle, WA, air date: 9/5/96.
[3] Donald Cole, Open Line, Know You‛re Saved/Eternal Security, air date: 11/11/88.
