Assurance & SecurityAssurance & Security

© John Stevenson, 2012

No one can know No one can know with a certainty of with a certainty of faith, which cannot faith, which cannot be subject to error, be subject to error,

that he has obtained that he has obtained the grace of God the grace of God

(Canons and (Canons and Decrees of the Decrees of the

Council of Trent, Council of Trent, Chapter 9).Chapter 9).

If anyone says that a If anyone says that a man who is born again man who is born again and justified is bound and justified is bound of faith to believe that of faith to believe that his is assuredly in the his is assuredly in the

number of the number of the predestined, let him predestined, let him

be anathema be anathema (Canons and Decrees (Canons and Decrees

of the Council of of the Council of Trent, Chapter 15).Trent, Chapter 15).

1 John 5:12-131 John 5:12-13He who has the Son has the life; he

who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

1 John 5:14-151 John 5:14-15This is the confidence which we

have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.

John 6:37-39John 6:37-39All that the Father gives Me will

come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.

John 6:40John 6:40For this is the will of My Father, that

everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.

John 10:27-30John 10:27-30My sheep hear My voice, and I

know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one."

Saved and Saved and knows itknows it

Saved and Saved and does not does not know itknow it

Not Saved Not Saved and knows itand knows it

Not Saved Not Saved and does not and does not

know itknow it

Eternal Security

Once a person comes to faith

in Jesus Christ, they will be saved no

matter whether or not they continue to

believe.

Reformed Theology

Loss of Salvation

It is possible for one to

experience a faith for a time

that is not saving faith. Such a one often falls

away after a time.

A person might come to Christ and be saved

and then, because of sin

or unbelief, might lose that salvation and

be lost.

Eternal SecurityReads the

parable of the sower and

believes that only the first one is lost while the

others merely suffer “loss of

rewards.”

Reformed Theology

Loss of Salvation

The sower pictures some

who initially experience a measure of

spiritual growth, but

who ultimately fall away and are not saved.

The parable of the sower tells of some who were initially

saved but who lost their salvation

because they did not endure.

Eternal Security

Once saved, always saved;

no matter what.

Reformed Theology

Loss of Salvation

The perseverance of God’s elect is guaranteed by the work of the Holy Spirit.

Salvation is a matter of

enduring to the end.

11stst John 2:18-19 John 2:18-19Children, it is the last hour; and just

as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.

22ndnd Peter 1:5-7 Peter 1:5-7Now for this very reason also,

applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.

22ndnd Peter 1:8-9 Peter 1:8-9For if these qualities are yours and

are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.

22ndnd Peter 1:10-11 Peter 1:10-11Therefore, brethren, be all the more

diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; 11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.

Ephesians 2:8-10Ephesians 2:8-10For by grace you have been saved

through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.