Tag Archives: Free Will

by Anthony Baker | March 23, 2022 · 11:42 am

6 Arguments that Support the Doctrine of Eternal Security

My Outline

bible The following is an outline for a sermon I have preached a few times. It starts off with some arguments against the “once-saved-always-saved” position. The next part lists six basic arguments in favor of the eternal security of the believer.

Please keep something in mind as you consider the outline: evidence is cumulative. In the legal world it is called the “preponderance of evidence.” In other words, one bit of evidence might not convict, but the collection of evidence pointing in that direction, when overwhelming, leaves little other choice.

Of course, this is only an outline, not the sermon. However, take what I am giving you and print it off, do your own study, and then let me know your thoughts.

“Eternal Security”

Arguments Against “Once Saved, Always Saved”

Observational – How people live that believe it.
Free Will – We are created with a will; we’re not slaves.
Scriptural* (Hebrews 6; 1 John 3:9; 5:18) *These passages, when used against the doctrine of eternal security, are most often themselves misunderstood or taken out of context.

Arguments FOR “Eternal Security”

Creational Argument: We are New Creations (2 Cor. 5:17)
1. It took a supernatural act to change us
2. We can’t act supernaturally to change us back
New Birth Argument: We are Born Again (John 3:7,16)
1. By the Spirit – Jn 3:6
2. By the Word of God – 1 Peter 1:23
3. We are not God, so we must remain “born again”
Children of God Argument
1. Born that way – 1 John 5:1; 1 Peter 1:23
2. Adopted – Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:5; Eph. 1:5
3. Abba – Gal. 4:1-7
The Possession Argument – We belong to Christ
1. Purchased – 1 Cor. 6:19-20; 7:23 (Bought with a Price)
2. Given by the Father – Jn. 6:37-40; 10:28-30
3. Will never be separated – Rom. 8:35-39
4. Romans 14:8 – For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.
5. He can keep what is His – 2 Tim. 1:12 “…for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” See also: 2 Timothy 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve [me] unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen.
The Marriage Argument
1. Ephesians 5:25-28, 31-32 – Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church…This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
2. He is faithful, even when we are not.
  1. 2 Timothy 2:11-13 “…if we believe not, yet he abideth faithful…”
  2. He is God, not man! – Hosea 11:7-9
It’s a Gift
1. 2:8-9 Gift of God, by grace
2. Romans 11:29 KJV – For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance (irrevocable)

Arguments for Eternal Security

My Outline

bible Because I just commented on a post by a fellow blogger who believes one can lose his salvation, I am re-posting this sermon outline.

The following is an outline I used a couple of years ago. It starts off with some arguments against the “once-saved-always-saved” position. The next part lists six basic arguments in favor of the eternal security of the believer.

Of course, this is only an outline, not the sermon. However, you can click below for a link to the audio.

“Eternal Security”

Arguments Against “Once Saved, Always Saved”

Observational – How people live that believe it.
Free Will – We are created with a will; we’re not slaves.
Scriptural (Hebrews 6; 1 John 3:9; 5:18)

Arguments FOR “Eternal Security”

Creational Argument: We are New Creations (2 Cor. 5:17)
1. It took a supernatural act to change us
2. We can’t act supernaturally to change us back
New Birth Argument: We are Born Again (John 3:7,16)
1. By the Spirit – Jn 3:6
2. By the Word of God – 1 Peter 1:23
3. We are not God, so we must remain “born again”
Children of God Argument
1. Born that way – 1 John 5:1; 1 Peter 1:23
2. Adopted – Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:5; Eph. 1:5
3. Abba – Gal. 4:1-7
The Possession Argument – We belong to Christ
1. Purchased – 1 Cor. 6:19-20; 7:23 (Bought with a Price)
2. Given by the Father – Jn. 6:37-40; 10:28-30
3. Will never be separated – Rom. 8:35-39
4. Romans 14:8 – For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.
5. He can keep what is His – 2 Tim. 1:12 “…for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” See also: 2 Timothy 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve [me] unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen.
The Marriage Argument
1. Ephesians 5:25-28, 31-32 – Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church…This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
2. He is faithful, even when we are not.
  1. 2 Timothy 2:11-13 “…if we believe not, yet he abideth faithful…”
  2. He is God, not man! – Hosea 11:7-9
It’s a Gift
1. 2:8-9 Gift of God, by grace
2. Romans 11:29 KJV – For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance (irrevocable)

Click on the link below to listen to the audio. As you might be able to tell by the opening remarks, I believe it was a sermon we needed, but the devil was opposing. Nevertheless, hearts were encouraged.

https://riversidesermons.sermon.net/main/main/20657994

28 Comments

Filed under Bible Study, Preaching, salvation

Tagged as bible study, Free Will, salvation, Theology

by Wally Fry | July 5, 2017 · 8:00 am

Jesus Paid It All and the Payment Was Enough for Everyone

A guest post by Wally Fry

jesus saves

Allow me to preface this with the statement that I understand not all agree with this position on this topic. The truth is, several thoughts on this seem to be quite well supported Biblically, and we simply have to conclude that no one can lay claim to their position being proven absolutely by God’s Word. It does, however, represent what I believe to be true based on my reading and hopefully correct illumination by the Holy Spirit.

When Jesus paid it all, He paid it for all of us. Jesus’ sacrifice was sufficient to cover the sin of every human past, present and future. Before readers get alarmed, please understand I am not saying that everyone from the past was saved, nor am I saying that all will be saved now or in the future. In fact, the majority of people from the past, people now and those who live in the future will not be saved and enter Heaven. The sad truth is the majority of humankind will spend eternity separated from God in a place of torment called Hell. So, please do not misunderstand; I am not espousing some form of Universalism, where everybody ends up in Heaven.

What am I saying then? I am simply saying that the quality of Jesus’ sacrifice and payment on the Cross was enough for all humanity to escape the penalty of their sins. Jesus’ payment was not just for an elect group of people whom God the Father has preselected in eternity past to be eternally with Him in Heaven. Not everyone will agree with that statement, of course, but this is what the Bible teaches.

God’s gift of salvation through the death of His Son Jesus Christ is available to all, but not all will accept it. Even though it is a free gift, there are terms under which we must accept. What are the terms? Repentance toward God for our sin and belief in His Son Jesus Christ. We must agree with God that our sin is wrong; we have to understand what we deserved as punishment for those sins. That covers repentance toward God. Then we must believe that God, in the form of the man Jesus Christ, came to Earth to pay on our behalf. Not only that He died, but He rose after three days dead thereby conquering sin and death. If we do that and call on the name of the Lord, we will be saved as we clearly learn in Romans 10:13.

How can we know that this salvation is available to all, and that our failure to have it is not because God denied it to us but because we refused it?

To understand this, we have to start at the very beginning. Because of the rebellion of Adam and Eve, we are all sinners by nature and choice. It is never a question of if we sin, but only a question of when. The Calvinists have it right on this point, really; we are so totally depraved that we are not even capable on our own of wanting to be saved from our sin. The sinful state we are born into is made clear in Romans 5:12 and 5:13, which teach us that sin and death entered into the world by one man, Adam.

We do not want to be saved, as we love our sin more. Left to our own devices, we would never seek God. Romans 3:10 and 13 tell us that not only is no one righteous, but none of us seek God. Romans 8:7 is yet more dire, teaching us that not only are we the enemies of God, but we are not even capable of accepting the things of God. In John 6:44, Jesus taught that no one would come to Him unless the Father drew them.

So even though we are not desiring or capable of seeking God, God has made provisions for us in order that we may overcome our inability. In Matthew Chapter 19 after the rich young ruler left disappointed, Jesus pointed out to His disciples how difficult it was for a man to be saved. When asked who could be saved, Jesus replied that with men it is not possible, but with “God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:25,26) So, we see that we would only respond to God if He draws us. The good news is that we hear Jesus say in John 12:32 “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” God also draws all men unto Himself through the light of Jesus Christ; John 1:9 teaches us this light lights all men.

Atonement is not limited. It is available to all men. Scholars get around this clear teaching of Scripture by spinning what the Bible says when it says “all.” Of course any word can have more than one meaning including that one. But nothing in the context of any of the verses below suggest that “all” is limited in any way.

Hebrews 2:9, Jesus did “taste death for every man”
Hebrews 10:10 teaches Jesus body was offered “for all.”
John 12:47, Jesus came to save the World
Romans 5:8, Jesus died for sinners
Romans 5:18, Jesus free gift is offered to “all men”
Romans 8:32, Jesus was delivered up for “us all”
Isaiah 53:6, he bore the iniquities of “all”
2 Corinthians 5:14-15, Jesus died for “all”
2 Peter 2:1, Jesus even died for false teachers and liars doomed for Hell.

So, there you have it. It’s available to everyone. No one is denied it. Repentance toward God and belief in The Lord Jesus Christ and it’s yours.

12 Comments

Filed under Bible Study, Christianity, Faith, salvation

Tagged as election, eternity, Free Will, Jesus, salvation

by Anthony Baker | January 11, 2017 · 3:13 pm

Let’s End the Election vs Free Will Debate

The years and years of debate between the seemingly polar-opposite doctrines of election and free will can now come to an end. Free coffee and donuts for all.

I submit to you two words:

Divine Ireconcilibility.

You’re welcome.

11 Comments

Filed under Bible Study, Christian Unity, Christianity, God, Theology, Uncategorized

Tagged as Calvinism, election, Free Will, God, salvation

by Anthony Baker | April 19, 2016 · 11:37 pm

Arguments for Eternal Security

My last post – the one about not having excuses not to go to church – certainly stirred up some comments, didn’t it? When you have the time, why not peruse them for some additional pondering material.

This post, being written as I am recovering from a 24+ hour stomach virus, may prove to be even more comment stimulating.

By the way, did you know one can lose 7 pounds in just 24 hours?

My Outline

bible The following is the outline I took to with me to the pulpit Sunday morning. It starts off with some arguments against the “once-saved-always-saved” position. The next part lists six basic arguments in favor of the eternal security of the believer.

Of course, this is only an outline, not the sermon. But just looking at the outline, what are your thoughts?

“Eternal Security”

Arguments Against “Once Saved, Always Saved”

Observational – How people live that believe it.
Free Will – We are created with a will; we’re not slaves.
Scriptural (Hebrews 6; 1 John 3:9; 5:18)

Arguments FOR “Eternal Security”

Creational Argument: We are New Creations (2 Cor. 5:17)
1. It took a supernatural act to change us
2. We can’t act supernaturally to change us back
New Birth Argument: We are Born Again (John 3:7,16)
1. By the Spirit – Jn 3:6
2. By the Word of God – 1 Peter 1:23
3. We are not God, so we must remain “born again”
Children of God Argument
1. Born that way – 1 John 5:1; 1 Peter 1:23
2. Adopted – Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:5; Eph. 1:5
3. Abba – Gal. 4:1-7
The Possession Argument – We belong to Christ
1. Purchased – 1 Cor. 6:19-20; 7:23 (Bought with a Price)
2. Given by the Father – Jn. 6:37-40; 10:28-30
3. Will never be separated – Rom. 8:35-39
4. Romans 14:8 – For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.
5. He can keep what is His – 2 Tim. 1:12 “…for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” See also: 2 Timothy 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve [me] unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen.
The Marriage Argument
1. Ephesians 5:25-28, 31-32 – Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church…This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
2. He is faithful, even when we are not.
  1. 2 Timothy 2:11-13 “…if we believe not, yet he abideth faithful…”
  2. He is God, not man! – Hosea 11:7-9
It’s a Gift
1. 2:8-9 Gift of God, by grace
2. Romans 11:29 KJV – For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance (irrevocable)