THE DOCTRINE OF ETERNAL SECURITY
Definition: Eternal security is that work of God which guarantees that the gift of salvation, once received, is possessed forever and can never be lost.
Security is a biblical truth whether or not one has assurance or even if one does not believe in it. Since security rests on God’s guarantee, it’s truthfulness, then, does not rest on one’s feelings or experiences.
Assurance is the confident realization that one has eternal life.
Matthew 7:21-23
13"Enter by the narrow
gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and
many are those who enter by it. 14"For the gate is small, and the way is
narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it. 15"Beware of the false
prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous
wolves. 16"You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from
thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? 17"Even so, every good
tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18"A good tree cannot
produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19"Every tree that does
not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20"So then, you will know
them by their fruits.
21”Not everyone who says to
Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of
My Father who is in heaven. 22”Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord,
Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and
in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23”And then I will declare to them, ‘I never
knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’
Interpretation #1: A person will not get into heaven just because he believes (saying, “Lord, Lord”). He must also “do the will of the Father.”
Assumption: The “will of the Father” (v21) is a life characterized by obedience to all that the Father has commanded. It is speaking to those who live godly, holy lives.
Problem with Interpretation #1: Even if one’s good works included “prophecy, miracles, and casting out demons (which are significant works), he may still not make it into heaven. Therefore he may never be sure or have assurance of his salvation. But the scriptures say you can know for sure that you are saved (Luke 10:20, John 13:10; Romans 8:31-39; 2 Peter 1:1, I John 2:12-14; 5:13)>
Problem with Interpretation #1: If that interpretation is true, then salvation is based, to some
extent, on one’s works. Therefore, he can “boast” to some extent, because of
his contribution to his salvation. But
the Bible teaches that “no one can boast,” because salvation is a gift from God
that one receives by faith in Christ, and it is not based on one’s works
(Ephesians 2:8-9).
Interpretation
#2: When Jesus says, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom
of God,” He is referring to the false prophets who lead people away from faith
in Christ, the narrow gate. The only ones who will be allowed to enter the
kingdom of heaven are those who “do the will of the Father” which is to “enter
through the narrow gate” of faith in Jesus Christ alone. As Jesus himself said,
“I am the way… No one comes unto the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6).
Matthew 7:21-23
How does one enter the kingdom of heaven?
|
13"Enter by the narrow gate; for the
gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are
those who enter by it. 14"For the gate is
small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find
it |
What does one enter into? 20"For
I say to you, that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the
scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20 21"Not everyone who says to Me,
'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of
My Father who is in heaven. Matthew 7:21 What is the narrow gate? 23And someone said to Him, "Lord,
are there just a few who are being saved?" And He said to them, 24"Strive
to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and
will not be able. Luke 13:23-24 9"I
am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in
and out, and find pasture. John 10:9 3Jesus
answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is
born again,…, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. John 3:3, 5 6Jesus
said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to
the Father, but through Me. John 14:6 |
Why do so many miss the narrow gate?
|
. 15"Beware
of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are
ravenous wolves. |
What do false prophets do? 11"And
many false prophets will arise, and will mislead many. Matthew 24:11 What
do false the prophets cause people to miss? (see Matt. 7:13-14) |
How does one recognize a false prophet?
|
. 16"You
will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes,
nor figs from thistles, are they? 17"Even
so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18"A
good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19"Every
tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20"So
then, you will know them by their fruits. |
The “bad trees” (False prophets) produce “bad fruit”
(they cause people to miss the narrow gate). The “good trees” (true prophets)
produce “good fruit” (the help people thru the narrow gate). |
“Bad
trees” are cut down and “thrown into the fire.” What happens to the false
prophets at the final judgment?
|
.
21"Not everyone who says to Me,
'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of
My Father who is in heaven. 22"Many
will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name,
and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' 23"And
then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you
who practice lawlessness.' |
1.Notice the connections between vs13-20 and vs21-23 to show that this is a continuation of the same subject: 1) “enter the kingdom of heaven” (v13 & 21); 2) “false prophets…prophesy” (v15 & 22); 3) “Thrown into the fire”(v19) & “Depart from Me…into the eternal fire” (Matt. 7:23, 25:41). 2.
Based on the context what is “the will of My Father” that a person is to “do”
to “enter the kingdom of Heaven?” See vs. 13.13"Enter
by the narrow gate; (Jesus talked about “doing” the will of the Father to enter the kingdom of heaven in order to stay consistent with his analogy of entering through the narrow gate. Entering through a gate is something one ”does”, not something one “believes”. But what Jesus meant when he said “enter through the narrow gate” is to believe in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.) 9"I
am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved. John 10:9 "I
am the way, … no one comes to the Father, but through Me. John 14:6 Unless
one is born again,…, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. John 3:3, 5 3.Can
a false prophet “prophesy…, and … cast out demons, and … perform many
miracles”? 24”For
false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and
wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. Matthew 24:24 Why
do they do them? 4.How
does God refer to these “practices” (prophesy…, and … cast out demons, and …
perform many miracles) of the false prophet? (see v23b) 5.Jesus
said, “every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into
the fire.”(v19). What are the consequences for the false prophets “on that
day,” the final judgment? (see v23) '
Matthew 7:23
23"And
then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness. Luke 13:27-28 27and
He will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from; depart from Me, all you
evildoers.’ 28”There will be weeping and gnashing
of teeth there when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the
prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves being cast out. Matthew 25:41 41”Then
He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones,
into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his
angels; |