Eternal security
By Jerry Batson, Th.D.
Special to The Alabama Baptist
For the past several weeks Theology 101 has considered eternal salvation in terms of a divine birth, a divine gift, a divine grip, a divine seal, a divine guard, a divine union, a divine anchor, divine decrees and divine intercession. In this concluding session we give thought to divine ability and divine promise.
The assertion of Hebrews 7:25 says God is able to save to the uttermost those who come to Him through Christ. We can understand uttermost in a temporal sense that means God saves His children not only in time but also all the way into and throughout eternity.
We also might understand uttermost in the sense of the uttermost possibility of our redeemed humanity that is unto full and final perfection. The emphasis in both ideas is upon God’s unlimited ability, authority and power.
‘Great power’
In light of this truth believers can adopt the simple yet profound declaration of the three Hebrew children who were thrown into the fiery furnace: “Our God … is able” (Dan. 3:17). Or we can make the prayer of Jeremiah our prayer: “Ah Lord God! Behold You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You” (Jer. 32:17).
Based on His divine ability God’s divine promises are precious and powerful. Security in eternity future is rooted in eternity past as indicated when Titus 1:2 speaks of the “hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.” To this might be added the truth of Romans 11:29: “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”
The divine ability of God undergirds the benediction of 1 Peter 5:10 in which reference is made to “the God of all grace who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus.” The faithfulness of God’s promises undergirded Abraham’s trust in God “being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform” (Rom. 4:21).
Divine faithfulness
A Christian’s eternal security in God’s salvation through Christ is not based primarily on a person’s ability to have great faith, but on God’s ability to keep His great promises made to those who are trusting Christ for salvation. God, who is faithful to His promises, will never disown one of His own who is trusting His Son as Savior. In another application 1 Corinthians 10:13 declares simply, “God is faithful.” In that divine faithfulness to His exceeding great and precious promises we find our eternal security firmly rooted.
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