Eternally Secure

And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit. You were sealed by him for the day of redemption.

Ephesians 4:30 (CSB)

The phrase " once saved, always saved " has been used, abused, and misused throughout generations. This statement has provided a sense of comfort that has led people to live as infants in Christ or to rest in a moment of walking down the aisle or participating in baptism instead of surrendering to the Lord. Eternal security is a real truth. It does exist. When a person genuinely receives Jesus as Lord and Savior in faith, then eternal security is a true promise. The apostle Paul told the church in Ephesus that believers are sealed for the day of redemption, pointing to the truth of eternal security.

Misued Eternal Security. Misused eternal security occurs when we provide false hope for others or ourselves. This false hope arises because a genuine and authentic relationship with the Lord does not exist. Instead, the individual relies on past actions, such as saying a prayer or walking the aisle. They went through the motions but never truly received Christ. As a result, they hear the phrase “once saved always saved” and fail to recognize their true state before the Lord, living with the false hope that stems from the misuse of eternal security.

Abused Eternal Security. Some individuals abuse the concept of eternal security. They use phrases like “once saved, always saved” to grant themselves permission to live however they desire. They refuse to live according to the expectations and ways of the Lord. They misuse eternal security because they rely on it for false hope. It allows them to ignore conviction and believe they are living rightly before the Lord. The act of abusing eternal security occurs when salvation is transactional rather than transformational.

Genuine Eternal Security. Eternal security offers a significant sense of hope and motivation to live faithfully when it is present in our lives. Genuine eternal security occurs when there is an authentic relationship with Jesus. Eternal security does not imply that one is perfect; rather, it assures us that forgiveness is always available, we are never alone, and eternity with the Lord awaits. We must recognize that the distinction between genuine eternal security and that which is abused or misused lies in having a true relationship with Jesus.

QUESTIONS

1. What examples and descriptions would you give for misused and abused eternal security?

2. How does true eternal security encourage spiritual growth and provide hope throughout life?