4 - You Can Be Saved by Continuing in the True Grace of God
SAVED ETERNALLY, BUT UN-CONDITIONALLY?
Because the prophet Isaiah said, “The Lord’s hand is not so short that it cannot save.” (Is 59:1), then we can be sure that God can reach down far enough to save us out of the pit of our own sins; a pit that we ourselves cannot save ourselves from. But in the very next verse it says, “But your iniquities [sins] have made a separation between you and your God.” (Is 59:2). So while it is true that God has the power to save you, even eternally, it is also true at the same time that sin can cause you to be separated from God, lost eternally, if you continue in it. You must keep this in mind as you consider the following verses.
“They shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand... no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” (Jn 10:28, 29) Therefore, both the Son and the Father can absolutely save their followers from being lost. But whose hand are you in. From these verses alone it seems that a believer can never be lost or lose his salvation. Was Jesus teaching un- conditional salvation, once saved always saved, when He said that his followers shall never perish? Whose hand are you in? There are only two hands to be in, the Lord’s hand or the Devil’s hand. Truth is in the hand of the Lord. Deception is in the hand of the Devil. Is it of the truth or of the lie to think that you can be once saved always saved? If it is of the lie, then you are in the hand of the Devil.
DID JESUS TEACH ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED?
(A) Jesus Notified the Saved That He Can Erase Their Names from the Book of Eternal Life
Jesus said to the church in Sardis: “I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. Remember therefore what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. If therefore you will not wake up, I will come like a thief and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you. But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with me in white; for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life...” (Re 3:1-5)From those verses we can see that Jesus is willing to erase a believer’s name from the book of life; the book of salvation, if they fail to repent; if they fail to overcome sin. Sin has always separated God’s people from God. Continuing in sin will separate believers from God. For example, “If we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain terrifying expectation of judgment, and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries.” (He 10:26, 27) According to those verses, if you continue in sin after you have received the truth, then Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross will not save you. Instead you can expect to be judged with fury, God’s greatest anger.