Little Red Book Ministry

The real scriptural truth on this subject, however, is that no man is responsible for keeping himself saved. This responsibility, as we have seen, has been laid on the Lord Jesus Christ (John 6:39; 2 Timothy 1:12; Romans 8:31–39). Additionally, since his soul is sealed by the Holy Ghost until the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30), it cannot be touched by sins committed in the body (Romans 7:15–25). Therefore, once a man is saved, there is no way he can lose his salvation. The cause of an improper viewpoint is a lack of understanding of how the body, soul, and spirit are differentiated in the Bible. The body of a saved man sins, but it is primarily a mechanical unit which can be cleaned and rebuilt as a glorified body fit for eternity. The salvation offered by Jesus Christ does not primarily apply to the body. It is the soul that cannot be saved again if it is lost, since it is the part that has been washed in the blood of Christ, justified by the Father, and regenerated by the renewing of the Holy Ghost. The spirit, as we have seen in lesson 8, is never able to sin and so has no culpability. Christians who don’t accept eternal security normally presume that sins committed after salvation are charged against the entire trinity of body, soul, and spirit. Their viewpoint is a result of unwarranted assumptions made in lieu of serious Bible study on the issue.

V. The Effects of an Improper View of Eternal Security
A. Effects on those who do not accept eternal security as a doctrine
Some of these people spend too much time wondering if they are currently saved. Since we all sin after we are saved and we all have periods of spiritual flatness or coldness, Christians who do not understand their security are frequently tormented by doubts about their salvation. They believe there is a line of demarcation somewhere that God has neglected to tell us about. If one crosses over it, however inadvertently, they have to get saved all over again. These poor people live in a constant, paralyzing state of self-doubt and fear.

B. Effects on those who accept eternal security as doctrine but have wrong heart attitudes
1. Those who say: “Since I’m saved, I can relax my standards a little” God will chastise these people
1 Corinthians 11:32; Hebrews 12:5–11

2. Those who say: “Since I’m saved, I can do whatever I want” God will severely chastise those who commit great sins
Acts 5:1–10; 1 Corinthians 11:24–30