Eternal Security

There are those who scoff at the idea of eternal security. There have been many books written on salvation, and on both sides of the issue of eternal security. Some believe you can lose your salvation through committing certain sins. But I think it's because they don't understand that our works have nothing to do with salvation. We are only saved by grace through faith - not what we do.

Others believe that the Bible teaches that once we are saved, we are saved for all eternity, because the act of salvation was not up to us, but entirely up to God. Our faith in Jesus Christ’s atonement for our sins is what saves us – not anything we do.

Paul, in explaining the doctrine of eternal security, talked to the Jews and Gentiles in a way that they would clearly understand because of the customs of the day.

The Romans had a custom called “liberalia”. This was a ceremony in which the father would “adopt” his own sons. Up until age 14, a child could be disowned by his father. However, the Father could choose to perform the ceremony of liberalia once his son turned 14, making the son a permanent, irrevocable heir to his inheritance. The father would remove the toga of the young boy and replace it with the “toga of manhood”, whereby the son was declared an adult son. This was an “adoption" in which the son received the rights and privileges of sonship and an absolute guarantee of his inheritance. In other words, children could be disinherited, but once adopted, their rights were irrevocable.

This is why Paul used these words to describe our permanent salvation and heirship to our heavenly Father:

“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15

"But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." Galatians 4:4-5

"And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ…” Romans 8:17

Eternal security. We who are saved have been adopted by God the Father and our heirship to heaven is irrevocable.

I’m thankful it’s up to Him and not up to me.