I want to begin this study of Eternal Salvation by first  talking about Grace and past sins:

Have you ever heard the story about the person who was speeding in their car and got pulled over by the cop?  Of course the driver was worried the cop would give him a ticket for "breaking the law", but after the cop finished checking out his license and registration he only gave the driver a "warning" and told him to slow down and obey the speed limit for now on. Could you imagine what would happen if the driver (who by the good "graces" of the cop was forgiven for breaking the law {sin}) took off and sprayed rocks all over the cops shoes?  Wouldn't the cop (who had just forgiven the driver) pull him over again and this time give the driver a ticket? 

 Does this story help you see that Jesus Christ fulfilled (not removed) the Old Covenant with the Jews (i.e., the Law) and gave us all a New Covenant of Grace in which we can come to Him and ask to be forgiven of all "past" sins?  In this new Covenant He tells us to "sin no more" (don't break His laws) and to do good works and because we are under His good graces, he will forgive us of "future" sins if we again ask Him to forgive us again.  He will tell us again to not sin anymore and continue in good works. So if there is no more law (as some teach) then why would Jesus Christ have to be our constant mediator (attorney) in Heaven to God His Father? Just because Jesus Christ summarized the Law into "Love thy God with all your heart and soul" and "love your neighbor as yourself" doesn't mean you can now break His laws, e.g., steal, bear false witness, worship a graven image, take the Lord's name in vain, etc.... Remember what Jesus Christ said in Luke 6:

  Jesus Christ said things like:

or:

As you have read, Jesus Christ didn't do away with the law but He is just explaining it in a deeper way; therefore just because you have asked Jesus Christ to forgive you of your sins doesn't mean you can keep on sinning (breaking His laws) and gain entrance into Heaven.

Below are several articles regarding Eternal Security:

Eternal Security Arguments and Proof Texts

Dan Corner

This refutation to unconditional eternal security (UES) would be incomplete if the primary proof
texts and objections offered by the UES proponents were not dealt with and explained from
Scripture. The following are additional objections that were not yet dealt with in this controversy.
(Already explained were Jn. 6:64; Rom. 8:35-39; 2 Tim. 2:13 and 1 Jn. 2:19. Therefore, they will
not be dealt with here.)


OBJECTION #1. Jesus said, "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, no one can
snatch them out of my hand," Jn. 10:28. Therefore, if, having received eternal life, we could lose it
and perish, it would make Christ a liar.

"Notice a triple promise here concerning the security of God's sheep. First, Christ gives them
'eternal' life. Second, they shall 'never' perish, and third, neither shall any pluck them out of Christ's
hand."(26)

ANSWER: Jn. 10:28 is a wonderful and true promise, but only as Jesus meant it to be understood!
We must examine Jn. 10:27 carefully to understand who "them" and "they" are in verse 28 and what
the Lord was saying. It reads, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they FOLLOW me."
This is the only type of person, the one that meets these conditions, that will "NEVER PERISH,"
according to the next verse!

Did you notice the words, "they follow me"? The word translated "follow" is a PRESENT
INDICATIVE ACTIVE in the Greek, which asserts something which is occurring while the speaker
is making the statement. In other words, as long as we remain faithful and CONTINUE to follow
Jesus, He will, indeed, assure us that we will "never perish," v.28.

No such promise, however, is given here (or anywhere in the Bible) to one that would turn and start
"to follow Satan" as Paul knew could and did happen (1 Tim. 5:15)! It clearly does NOT cover
such. Some read into Jn. 10:28 the words, "under any circumstance" after the words "never perish,"
but they are NOT there! Jesus did NOT include them in his promise and neither should we!


OBJECTION #2. Can you be "born again" again?

ANSWER: This is a rhetorical question that has confused some. To be "born again" is the same as
getting saved or believing in Jesus. Therefore, if one stops believing in Jesus, then later starts
believing again, he did indeed get saved again, as Rom. 11:23 declares. Remember also the Prodigal
who became "alive again" (Lk. 15:24,32).


OBJECTION #3. Those that truly get saved will faithfully endure to the end and never follow
another.

ANSWER: This was not true with Saul, Solomon, Judas, the unnamed disciples of Jn. 6:66 and
many others! Furthermore, Jesus clearly taught that one could "believe for a while" then fall away
or die (Lk. 8:13)! Paul similarly taught that one could "believe in vain" (1 Cor. 15:2) and fall "away
from grace" (Gal. 5:4). Therefore, the wishful position of the UES proponent here is, again, refuted
by the truth of Scripture.


OBJECTION #4. "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has
eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life," Jn. 5:24. The verse
says "will not be condemned." Therefore, one cannot lose it!

ANSWER: The word in Jn. 5:24 rendered "believes" is transliterated as PISTEUON and is also a
PRESENT PARTICIPLE in the Greek. Therefore, the Lord is saying here that we must
 

CONTINUOUSLY BE BELIEVING the Father, that is, his testimony about Jesus, which implies
that Jesus alone is to be the focal point of our TRUST for our soul's salvation. See Matt. 17:5 cf. Jn.
14:6. We will never be condemned, as long as we keep this condition -- a continued 100% trusting
in Jesus for our soul's salvation.


OBJECTION #5. "The Bible Answer Man" is Hank Hanegraaff. He's on coast to coast radio, he
can't be wrong! He wrote the following, "And remember, eternal life comes to the believer through
faith in Christ is not life for two weeks, two months, or even two years; eternal life is everlasting
life. It begins at the moment of conversion and stretches on through the eons of time." (27)

ANSWER: Hank is right when he writes that eternal life (or salvation) "comes to the believer
through faith in Christ" and "begins at the moment of conversion." Also, it DOES remain
everlasting (or eternal) life. That can't change. However, this doesn't necessitate that we can't be lost
after we receive the "gift" of eternal life. In other words, eternal life is the "gift" (Rom. 6:23). As
long as we have the gift, we have eternal life. Moreover, as long as we have spiritual life, it is
everlasting, but according to Scripture a person once saved can still "die" spiritually (Rom. 8:13)
and miss the kingdom of God (Gal. 5:19-21)!



OBJECTION #6. We are made sons of God, not put on probation!

ANSWER: Yes, it is true that we become a son of God at the point of salvation (Jn. 1:12).
However, "We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly TILL THE END the confidence we
had at first," Heb. 3:14. This verse is also true! Better than the word "probation" would be to say:
according to Scripture, after salvation, we are sons of God with a free will and the potential of still
not inheriting the kingdom of God, because of certain sins, false doctrine about salvation and
disowning Christ during persecution.


OBJECTION #7. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever
believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life," Jn. 3:16. Jesus said "shall not perish"!

ANSWER: The word "believe" is PRESENT PARTICIPLE again! Therefore, Jesus was promising
only those that CONTINUE to BELIEVE on HIM the assurance that they "shall not perish." This
verse does NOT cover others that just "believe for a while" then fall away, as Scripture mentions
(Lk. 8:13). Remember, one can truly believe, but this doesn't mean he will always continue to
believe on Jesus in the future!


OBJECTION #8. I agree with Dave Hunt who wrote, "Salvation is the full pardon by grace from
the penalty of all sin, past, present or future...."(28)

ANSWER: Dave Hunt has done an excellent job exposing and refuting false doctrine and various
forms of subtle deceptions that plague the church. However, regarding this subject, we disagree
with him.
Yes, we are saved by GRACE. However, the rest of this argument is contrasted by Scripture! See
Peter's advice to Simon (Acts 8:22,23); Prov. 28:13 and John's teaching on this subject as cited in 1
Jn. 1:9. This is the Scriptural basis for getting forgiven AFTER initial salvation. At salvation, all sin
to that point is forgiven and forgotten (Lk. 23:42,43; 18:9-14; Acts 10:43-48; Psa. 103:12).
However, all sins afterwards committed are NOT automatically covered! If they were, then Rom.
8:13; Gal. 5:19-21; etc. would be senseless! Furthermore, Jesus clearly taught that our future sins
would not be automatically forgiven in Matt. 6:14,15!


OBJECTION #9. "...love for the one who saved us is the greatest and only acceptable motive for
living a holy life...."(29)

ANSWER: FEAR, like love, is indeed a legitimate motive or reason for serving God! Jesus told the
Twelve when they were about to go out: "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill
the soul. Rather, BE AFRAID of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Hell," Matt. 10:28.
Furthermore, Paul wrote: "...they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do
not be arrogant, but BE AFRAID. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either," Rom. 11:20,21. Finally, remember Psa. 2:11, "Serve the Lord with FEAR and rejoice
with trembling."


OBJECTION #10. God wouldn't save a person then later send him to Hell.

ANSWER: This was not the case for Judas and Saul, the king of Israel! The real truth is God would
never force a person to continue to follow Jesus even after his faith in Jesus produced salvation.
Read and ponder Revelation chapters 2 and 3.
Furthermore, this objection is like saying, God would never give His Spirit to later take it away
from a person. This, however, clearly wasn't the case for Saul (1 Sam. 16:14).


OBJECTION #11. Our fellowship with God can suffer, but never one's relationship as a son.

ANSWER: As "adopted" sons (Eph. 1:5), we can fall away (Lk. 8:13), lose our inheritance of the
kingdom of God (Gal. 5:21), be disowned by Christ (Matt. 10:33), have our name blotted from the
book of life (Rev. 3:5), have our share in the tree of life and New Jerusalem taken away (Rev.
22:19), "DIE" because we chose to live according to the sinful nature (Rom. 8:13) and as the
Prodigal SON, become "dead" and "lost" (Lk. 15:24)! This obviously describes a much greater loss
than just our fellowship with God (or rewards), as some would wishfully like us to believe!


OBJECTION #12. Those that are saved have an inheritance that can "never perish, spoil or fade --
kept in heaven" for us (1 Pet. 1:3,4).

ANSWER: This wonderful passage of Scripture only describes our inheritance as Christians. It
doesn't say that we cannot annul it through our after-conversion activities and/or beliefs! In fact,
just the opposite was repeatedly declared by Paul (Gal. 5:21; 1 Cor. 6:9,10; 15:2; etc.).


OBJECTION #13. Jesus prayed to the Father that He would protect His disciples and that none
would be lost. Certainly, the Father heard Jesus' prayer!

ANSWER: The verse referred to is from John 17. This, however, is not a certainty of remaining
saved! In the very same prayer, Jesus also prayed for "complete unity" among the believers (Jn.
17:24). Clearly, from 1 Cor. 1:10-13, this didn't occur. Therefore, there must be some unnamed,
outside factor to consider here. Remember, it was Jesus Himself who told His disciples that they
would have to "stand firm to the end to be saved" on more than one occasion (Matt. 10:22; 24:13)
and to "REMAIN" in Him or be thrown into the fire (Jn. 15:4-6)! Also, according to Rom. 8:34,
Jesus is now praying for us from the right hand of God. This, however, doesn't mean that His
servants cannot be deceived by false teachers, grow lukewarm, fall into impurity, etc. His powerful
prayers and our free will work together. Our free will can, however, override His incredibly
powerful prayers and His will for us. This is also evident from the following: It is His will that none
should perish (2 Pet. 3:9), yet most will perish (Matt. 7:13,14), in spite of His will! This is also the
answer for the UES proponent who argues from Heb. 7:25 or Rom. 8:34 regarding Jesus' prayers
for us now.


OBJECTION #14. "...if salvation from the penalty of breaking God's laws cannot be earned by
good deeds, then it CANNOT BE LOST BY BAD DEEDS" (30) (emphasis his, but capitalized
words are italicized in original).

ANSWER: This type of statement-conclusion must be carefully examined. Yes, it is true that we
don't gain our salvation by good deeds, according to Eph. 2:8,9; Tit. 3:5; 2 Tim. 1:9 and Rom. 4:4-
6. However, the conclusion is FALSE, according to MANY Scriptural passages. See 1 Cor. 6:9,10
and Gal. 5:19-21 just to mention two. Remember also the many other references cited in this study.
(Also, let's call it "sin" not just "bad deeds.")
Please note that sins such as worry and unthankfulness are not listed anywhere in Scripture as being
spiritually lethal, as drunkenness, greed, sexual immorality, idolatry, slander and lying are!


OBJECTION #15. A child cannot become unborn, and the relationship of a father and a child
cannot be ended. Once a son, always a son.

ANSWER: This argument is based on natural fact, then applied to the spiritual, which doesn't
always hold up as truth. (UES adherents frequently make this kind of mistake!) This type of error
can be demonstrated by the following facts: Before we became Christians, we were all "children of
the devil" (Acts 13:10; 1 Jn. 3:10) and "sons of the evil one" (Matt. 13:38). In other words, the devil
was our spiritual father (Jn. 8:44). However, this spiritual father-child relationship changed at the
point of salvation, according to Scripture! Aren't you glad that spiritual father-child relationships
CAN be ended?
Furthermore, many UES adherents who know the fallacy of the deification of man teaching would
be quick to reject one of their arguments which is, likewise, based on natural fact then applied to the
spiritual! That faulty argument put forth by Earl Paulk is: "Dogs have puppies and cats have kittens,
so God has little gods."(31) Therefore, this type of reasoning must be carefully compared with
Scripture.


OBJECTION #16. "...I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard
what I have entrusted to him for that day," (2 Tim. 1:12). The only way Paul could have made this
statement for himself was if he believed in unconditional eternal security.

ANSWER: Paul certainly knew that a "know-so" salvation existed and that he had it. However, we
can assume that Paul believed personally the things he wrote to others. This means that Paul knew
his "know-so" salvation at the moment could be negated in the future, as already cited.
Furthermore, Paul obviously believed God would guard or keep him. However, he also knew about
the human responsibility for this: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept
the faith" (2 Tim. 4:7). Here we see Paul believed in human responsibility too.


OBJECTION #17. A real Christian won't ever be condemned as Romans 8:1 reads, "There is
therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus...."

ANSWER: This "no condemnation" mentioned in Rom. 8:1 refers ONLY to those that are in Christ
Jesus! This can only be the case if we continue in the faith, for it's definitely possible NOT to
remain in the Son (Jn. 15:6; 1 Jn. 2:24; 2 Jn. 9). Furthermore, the K. J. V. renders the "no
condemnation" as conditional for only the ones who "walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit"!


OBJECTION #18. Phil. 1:6 declares, "Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in
you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." This proves unconditional eternal
security.

ANSWER: The New Testament declares this promise to be true ONLY in the lives of those who
meet the conditions stated elsewhere in Scripture as in Matt. 10:22; Rom. 8:13; Gal. 6:8; etc.
Also, Phil. 1:6 needs to be understood in the light of the context of that book. Phil. 2:12 declares
that this church group "always obeyed" in Paul's presence. Though not perfect, this was not a
lukewarm, worldly church group, for not only did they "always obey," they were enduring the same
types of struggles that Paul had (1:29,30), and they alone helped support Paul financially from the
very beginning and were still doing so as this epistle was being written (4:14-16).
Besides the context of the book, the immediate context of the verse CLEARLY shows WHY Paul
was so "confident," as he states in verse 6, which is really the whole basis of this favorite UES
argument. Verse 7 reads, "It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my
heart...." Note: The basis of the "confidence" mentioned in verse 6 was NOT a guaranteed eternal
security which all Christians have in common! The basis of Paul's "confidence" mentioned in verse
6 was that he had them "IN HIS HEART" -- meaning they would be aided in their personal
struggles by his heart felt prayers cited in verses 9-11. Note the same phrase mentioned in verse 6,
"until the day of Christ Jesus" is repeated in verse 10 as "until the day of Christ," which connects
Paul's "confidence" for them to his prayers for them.


OBJECTION #19. Samson was sexually immoral and he's mentioned as a hero in Hebrews 11.
Therefore, one can be sexually immoral, like him, and be saved.

ANSWER: It's true that Samson is mentioned in Heb. 11:32, and why he was included in this
chapter is mentioned in verse 34. This, however, has nothing to do with the conclusion that one can
be sexually immoral and be saved. The Apostle Paul, in no uncertain terms, stated that the sexually
immoral are wicked, impure, and God rejecters who will NOT inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor.
6:9,10; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:5,6; 1 Thess. 4:3-8). Furthermore, God Himself declared that the
sexually immoral will go to the fiery lake of burning sulfur (Rev. 21:5-8). Samson, David and/or
any living person today is no exception!


OBJECTION #20. Fritz Ridenour has done an excellent job showing the differences between
Roman Catholicism and true Christianity in his book, in which he also cites 1 Pet. 1:5 for support of
UES.(32) I believe both points.

ANSWER: Ridenour is absolutely correct about those differences between Catholicism and true
Christianity, including their false plan of salvation, which has misled hundreds of millions of
sincere Catholics into a dangerous, spiritual deception. For this he needs to be commended,
especially in this day of rampant, ecumenical compromise with Catholicism for the sake of personal
ministry. However, it's unfortunate that he would taint his excellent book by trying to support UES!
1 Pet. 1:5 says, "Who through faith, are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation
that is ready to be revealed in the last time." The key words in this verse are, "through faith." This
verse shows the shield of protection that believers have exists ONLY as long as we keep the faith!
The Lord taught this is certainly no guarantee, though, with His words, "They believe for a while,
but in time of testing they fall away," Lk. 8:13. Also, Paul wrote, "But they were broken off because
of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the
natural branches, he will not spare you either....sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you,
provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off," Rom. 11:20-22.


OBJECTION #21. 1 Jn. 3:9 says, "No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's
seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God." This seems clear
to me that someone truly saved can't go back to a life of sin.

ANSWER: In part, this verse deals with initial salvation, which frees one from sin's slavery and
changes his desire for sin. However, to conclude from this verse that one can't go back to a life of
sin is error as the Biblical examples of Solomon, the younger widows of 1 Tim. 5:11-15, those
referred to in 2 Pet. 2:20-22, etc. show! "God's seed," His Word, impedes sin IF HIDDEN IN OUR
HEART (Psa. 119:9-11). However, as one might not "remain" in the Vine (Jn. 15:6), God's seed
might not "remain" in the person who gets born of God! If 1 Jn. 3:9 had the meaning the UES
advocates give it, then Paul's multiple warnings to the Christians would be meaningless (Gal. 5:19-
21)!


OBJECTION #22. I believe in UES because I believe in the finished work of Christ!

ANSWER: The unnamed writer of Hebrews certainly believed in the finished work of Christ also
(Heb. 7:27; 9:26; 10:11-14)! This, however, didn't mean he believed in UES as well (Heb. 3:12-14;
6:4-6; 10:26-31)! The same can be said elsewhere about Paul (Rom. 6:10 cf. Rom. 8:13; Gal. 5:19-
21; 2 Tim. 2:12; etc.).
Such UES proponents infer that it is impossible to believe in the finished work of Christ and not
believe in UES at the same time, in an effort to immediately discredit the opposing view.
Obviously, they are wrong, according to what was just cited. The finished work of Christ is
foundational to Christianity, but irrelevant in this controversy regarding the believer's security.


OBJECTION #23. I know I am eternally secure because God has promised that He will never
leave me and never forsake me.

ANSWER: This is quoted from Heb. 13:5b which is taken from the Old Testament reference of
Deut. 31:6,8. Though God's promise to Israel in Deut. 31 verses 6 and 8 is that He [God] will never
"forsake" them, about ten verses later in the same chapter God predicts Israel will "forsake" Him, then in verse 17 He said, "On that day I will become angry with them and forsake them; I will hide
my face from them, and they will be destroyed. Many DISASTERS AND DIFFICULTIES will
come upon them, and on that day they will ask, 'Have not these disasters come upon us because our
God is not with us?' And I will certainly hide my face on that day because of all their wickedness in
turning to other gods." [This is a conditional promise, as the whole chapter bears out, which can be
nullified by "wickedness." If we "forsake" God by turning to wickedness, He will "forsake" us!]
What does it mean then to be forsaken by God here? When this occurred, various "calamities" came
upon them: wasting famine, consuming pestilence, deadly plague, wild beasts, vipers and sword,
according to Deut. 32:23-25. Therefore, the UES people read into this Scripture found in Heb. 13
something that is not there, for it does not even deal with an assured and guaranteed entrance into
the kingdom of God at all, but instead a promise for temporal protection and well-being only, which
can be negated by sin!


OBJECTION #24. Samson committed suicide and he went to heaven because he is listed in the
faith chapter. Therefore, we know Christians can likewise commit this awful sin and still go to
heaven.

ANSWER: Samson did not commit suicide. His prayer shows he asked God to let him die with the
Philistines, but left the matter entirely in God's hands (Jdg. 16:28-30). Unlike Samson, suicide
victims decidedly take into their own hands the termination of their own physical lives. God
honored Samson's prayer, but didn't honor Jonah's prayer for the same (Jonah 4:3) nor Elijah's
prayer (1 Ki. 19:4)!


OBJECTION #25. If I'm wrong as a UES advocate, I want to be wrong because I overemphasize
the infinite work of Christ on the cross.

ANSWER: This sounds like a good reason to accept UES or stay with this position. However, the
infinite work of Christ, as just shown, doesn't relate to this controversy about the believer's security!
In fact, many people who embrace once saved, always saved actually deny the infinite work of
Christ by denying He died for every single person who ever lived. So, this is irrelevant to the issue!
Truth is the deciding factor, which shows UES is a myth that holds its adherents in a false security
with obvious spiritual disadvantages.

End Notes

26. John R. Rice, Can A Saved Person Ever Be Lost?, Sword of the Lord Publishers, 1943, p.21.
27. Hank Hanegraaff, CRI Perspective, Christians and the Assurance of Salvation.
28. Dave Hunt, CIB Bulletin, Christian Information Bureau, June 1989, Vol. 5, No. 6, p.1.
29. Ibid.
30. Ibid.
31. Earl Paulk, Satan Unmasked, Atlanta: K Dimension Publishers, 1984, p.96.
32. Fritz Ridenour, So What's The Difference?, Regal Books, 1984, pp.44,45.

Permission is granted to copy this chapter in its entirety for free distribution.
Address: P.O. Box 265, Washington, PA 15301-0265, USA
E-mail: gospel@voicenet.com
Chapter 7 of the book, The Believer's Security: Conditional or Unconditional?
copyright 1994 by Daniel D. Corner, ISBN #0-9639076- 5-4

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mick Alexander
leeandmick@gmail.com
www.ChristianIssues.biz

The Lordship Salvation doctrine rightly refutes Eternal Security (Once Saved Always Saved) which is seducing many souls into a false hope of heaven by stating that salvation cannot be lost. Lordship Salvation means that Jesus is both Saviour and Lord of a Christian's life, not just Saviour. Because of our sinful nature, without Jesus as Lord day by day, we have no hope of keeping the command that says, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn from wickedness" (2 Tim 2:19). When Jesus is accepted as Lord (that is 'the boss') in a Christian's life it leads to holiness through conviction of sin, repentance and cleansing (1 John 1:9). We must rely on Jesus to do this day by day, otherwise we will drift back into the world of sin and be lost. This is a vital issue as "without holiness no one will see the Lord" (Heb 12:14).

Those who oppose Lordship Salvation say that you can accept Jesus as your Saviour only, and be saved eternally without making Him Lord of your life. They say that Jesus died for our sins, past and future, so that we can accept Him as our Saviour and then sin, even deliberately or habitually, and not lose our salvation. It's an attractive lie that tells souls they can have their cake and eat it too. This teaching makes a mockery of Jesus' sacrifice.

People who hold to the Once Saved Always Saved doctrine say that when you are saved, you won't continue to sin deliberately or otherwise. However, when questioned enough they admit that if they did, they still would not lose their salvation...exactly the same belief as those who oppose Lordship Salvation. There is endless Scripture to confirm that a person can lose their salvation...click on Perseverance Of The Saints.



                                                                           PERSEVERANCE

Perseverance in faith is required to reap the benefits of God's promises:
Rom 2:6-7 says that eternal life is the reward for the saints perseverance (patient continuance).
Heb 10:36 says we need to persevere to receive God's promises.
Rev 14:12 speaks of perseverance.
1 Tim 4:16 tells Timothy to persevere to save himself.
(The KJV uses the word patience. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines patience as perseverance)

Once again, in Rom 8:12-14, Paul gives clear warning to his brothers in Christ. This passage says that we are debtors and have an obligation to steadfastly keep from sin by the power of the Holy Spirit, otherwise we shall die. Verse 14 speaks of being 'led' by the Spirit. Being led doesn't mean that the Holy Spirit has us on a leash but that we voluntarily follow His leading. It's our responsibility to live by the Spirit otherwise we will die ... be lost. Also in Gal 6:7-8 and Gal 5:19-21 Paul is warning believers, for the second time, that they must live Godly lives if they wish to inherit the kingdom of God.

There is no doubt that we have assurance of salvation because of verses such as 1 John 5:13 & Jude 1:24 as well as the witness of the Spirit. However, we have a part to play in persevering. Persevering in faith is not works otherwise the confession and repentance required of us to be saved initially would also be works. Our initial trusting to be saved and the ongoing perseverance required of us are an internal ‘work’ of the heart and mind (Note John 6:29 regarding the work of God). We are continually urged to keep from sin, to walk in the Spirit, to persevere in faith and so remain in Jesus. God’s Spirit works within us to will us to do this. He gives us the strength to abide in Jesus, as we willingly respond to His conviction. The Spirit does not force Himself upon us or cause us to act against our will. We must choose to remain in Jesus.

Rom 8:35-39 says that nothing in Creation can separate us from God's love, neither famine, sword, angels nor demons etc. These things are all external to us and things over which we have no control. God promises to keep us through these trials as clearly stated in Heb 13:5-6. However, these verses don't speak of the internal perseverance (our control of our will) required to walk in holiness through the Spirit. We have freedom of will to do this. God never controls our will, He wills us to do ... Phil 2:13.

THE FAILURE TO PERSEVERE WILL BRING JUDGMENT
Heb 6:4-6 speaks of people being unable to be brought back (renewed again) to repentance. They were clearly saved at one stage as they shared in the Holy Spirit who only dwells in believers, as stated in Act 5:32. To be brought back to repentance can only mean that they had been repentant in the first place. You can't be brought 'back' to a place that you have never been to, you can only be brought 'to' that place.

2 Pet 2:20-22 tells us of people facing judgment after having once known Jesus. They had escaped the pollution of the world through knowledge of Jesus (2 Pet 1:3), but have returned to the mire. If they are going back, then they must have left it in the first place. Only Jesus could have initially saved them from the corruption of the world to which they have returned, as Rom 8:7 makes clear.

In Matt 5:13 Jesus tells his disciples, who are the salt of the earth, that if they lose their saltiness they will be cast out. Only the saved are disciples of Jesus and He warned them against going back into the world.

John 15:6 speaks of branches cast into the fire because they failed to abide. Only a saved person is a branch in the Vine.

In Matt 10:32-33 Jesus tells the disciples that He will deny (disown) them if they deny Him. This is repeated in 2 Tim 2:12-13 where Paul says that if we endure (suffer) then we will reign with the Lord, but if we deny Him, He will deny us.

OTHER VERSES SHOWING THE POSSIBILITY OF SALVATION LOSS
2 Pet 3:17 urges us to take care of the secure position from which we can fall. The onus is on us. There would be no care about falling, nothing to guard against, if we go to heaven no matter what we do.

Jam 5:19-20 speaks of a brother becoming a sinner and being brought back to repentance, saving him from death. A human effort is involved here. God puts the responsibility on man. The prodigal son, in Luke 15, is an example of this; he had died (spiritually) and was made alive again, saving him from death. Heb 3:12-14 warns brothers not to turn from the living God but to hold firmly till the end.

Even Timothy is warned to watch himself and persevere in his life and doctrine to ensure his salvation (1 Tim 4:16).

In 1 Cor 9:27 and 2 Tim 4:7 Paul speaks of his efforts, fighting the good fight and keeping the faith, so that he wouldn't be castaway.

SOME OBJECTIONS ANSWERED
In Eph 5:18, we are told to be filled with the Spirit. From the Greek text, the word 'filled' is better translated 'continue to be filled.' Likewise, 'believe' in John 3:16 has a similar tense, meaning that we need to 'continue to believe' or 'go on believing' in order to receive eternal life. In other words, we must persevere in believing. Jesus made this obvious in John 15:6 when He said, "If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned."

In John 10:27-28 Jesus promises to protect those who hear and follow Him. Following requires an effort of will, it's not automatic. The verses speak directly of Jesus' power to protect the believer against anyone or any man plucking a disciple from His hand. He doesn't say that an individual can't leave of his own free will but that no person can snatch him from His hand. Jude 1:24 only tells us that Jesus is able to keep us from falling, not that He will, regardless of our actions.

Regarding being sealed with the Spirit: Scripture plainly says that the Holy Spirit is given to us as a witness and a guarantee of our salvation until the day of redemption ... Eph 1:13-14 & Rom 8:16. His Presence convicts us of sin, leading us to repentance and holy living … Rom 8:3-4 and Tit 3:4-8. However, Scripture also plainly says that if we fail to co-operate with the Spirit we will be lost ... Rom 8:12-13.

FINALLY
The 'ifs' in many verses and the simplicity of verses such as John 15:6 and Matt 5:13 cannot simply be ignored. Like the Israelites of old, obedience (following God's laws) is required to reap the benefits of a promise as stated in Isa 1:19-20. Note the clear warning, to the righteous, in Ezek 33:12-13. We are saved by Grace, through faith and to remain saved we must persevere in that faith to be kept from deliberate, ongoing sin or face a Christ less eternity.

No one can live a sinless life but we must be kept from the type of sins which are listed in Gal 5:19-21. 1 John 2:1-2 says that Christians should not sin but if we do we are to take it to Jesus in repentance and He will forgive us and cleanse us of it as stated in 1 John 1:9. The word 'if' in this verse is critical ... if we don't confess, we won't be forgiven. The choice is ours. If anyone reading this has asked Jesus to be their Lord and Saviour but has un-confessed sin, please get on your knees and take it to Him in heartfelt repentance. He's waiting.

Jesus said, "he who stands firm to the end will be saved" Mark 13:13.

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