The Permanence of Salvation PART 2 Salvation is permanent because believers have been declared righteous. God is the one who determines who goes to Heaven and who does not. He has ordained that all those who trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior are justified or declared righteous. The Judge of the universe has spoken! It is settled! His verdict is clear, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us” (Romans 8:31–34). Salvation is permanent because everlasting life is everlasting. Everlasting means eternal, perpetual, forever, endless, ageless, dateless, timeless, everlasting, infinite, permanent and ceaseless. The Complete Word Study Dictionary states, “When referring to eternal life, it means the life which is God’s and hence it is not affected by the limitations of time.” The Bible says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life” (John 6:47). “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24). If everlasting life would cease, then it would not be everlasting! Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com I HOPE YOU ARE ENJOYING THIS SERIES OF STUDIES ON SALVATION. PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
The Permanence of Salvation PART 3 Salvation is permanent because God promises to never lose the one who trusts in Christ. God promises that if you come to Him by faith, He will never lose you or cast you out. What could be more assuring than this? It should settle the issue of eternal security once and for all. Jesus said, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day” (John 6:37–39). Verse 39 states the will of the Father. We are secure because Jesus promises to never lose us! If we can be lost after having been saved, then Jesus Christ is a failure and is disobedient to His Father. That, of course, is impossible. He was perfectly obedient in fulfilling the Father’s will. SALVATION IS PERMANENT. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
The Permanence of Salvation Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PART 4 Salvation is permanent because the Eternal God does not give birth to temporary children. On the human level, when you were born you became the child of your birth parents. There is nothing that can undo that relationship, and no document nor statement can ever change the reality of that physical relationship. If it is true in the physical world, why would it be any different in the spiritual realm? The idea of becoming unborn is nowhere, I repeat, nowhere, in Scripture! “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12–13). Salvation is a one-time occurrence. This could not be made any clearer than in the Gospel of John, chapter 3. Jesus said, “Ye must be born again.” He did not say “Ye must be born again, and again, and again.” Once you become a child of God, you are always a child of God! SALVATION IS PERMANENT. PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
The Permanence of Salvation. PayPal.me/donatetochurch PART 5 Salvation is permanent because eternal salvation is a gift, not a reward. Our salvation does not depend on our performance, unlike all the other religions of the world. Every single other religion in the world is based on good works of some sort, and thus on the performance of the individual. We see this in Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, and many so-called “Christian” religions, such as Catholicism, Church of Christ, Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, etc. The Bible is clear. Salvation is a gift. Let me again state the obvious; a gift is not a gift if it has to be earned. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9). Thus, we can see, if we are not saved by performance (and the Bible could not be clearer), then whether we live faithfully or not has no bearing on whether we will go to Heaven or not. Yes, of course, we ought to be faithful, but that is not the issue in salvation. Salvation is an issue of GOD’S faithfulness, not ours. If you are depending on being faithful to go to Heaven, then you are trusting in your faithfulness for your salvation. If you are struggling to hang on then you do not understand that salvation is a gift. Salvation is not something we achieve, it is something we receive, by faith. The Bible says, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18). SURELY IF WE ARE SAVED WE STRIVE TO LIVE FAITHFULLY, BUT GOD CREATED US AND KNOWS THAT WE ARE NOT PERFECT AND AT TIMES WE ARE GOING TO FALL SHORT. BUT WE WILL NOT AND CANNOT LOSE OUR SALVATION, AND NO ONE CAN TAKE IT FROM US. SALVATION IS A GIFT, WE CANNOT EARN IT. SALVATION IS PREMANENT. THIS CONCLUDES OUR MINI SERIES ON THE PERMANENCE OF SALVATION, DID YOU FIND THE SERIES TO BE HELPFUL? Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
Conduct Rooted in Character Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com 1 Peter 2:11–12 Dear friends, since you are foreigners and temporary residents ⸤in the world⸥, I’m encouraging you to keep away from the desires of your corrupt nature. These desires constantly attack you. Live decent lives among unbelievers. Then, although they ridicule you as if you were doing wrong while they are watching you do good things, they will praise God on the day he comes to help you. Colossians 3:12–17 As holy people whom God has chosen and loved, be sympathetic, kind, humble, gentle, and patient. Put up with each other, and forgive each other if anyone has a complaint. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Above all, be loving.This ties everything together perfectly. Also, let Christ’s peace control you. God has called you into this peace by bringing you into one body. Be thankful. Let Christ’s word with all its wisdom and richness live in you. Use psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to teach and instruct yourselves about ⸤God’s⸥ kindness. Sing to God in your hearts. Everything you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Conduct is what we do; character is what we are. Conduct is the outward life. Character is the life unseen, hidden within, yet evidenced by that which is seen. Conduct is external, seen from without; character is internal—operating within. In the economy of grace, conduct is the offspring of character. Character is the state of the heart, conduct its outward expression. Character is the root of the tree, conduct, the fruit it bears. I HOPE YOU FOUND THIS QUICK REFRESHER TO BE HELPFUL. PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
WE NEED JESUS Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus. Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 John 4:9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Revelation 22:21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen. THANK GOD FOR JESUS, WE NEED JESUS. PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
Security in God’s Faithfulness Deuteronomy 7:9 Keep in mind that the LORD your God is ⸤the only⸥ God. He is a faithful God, who keeps his promise and is merciful to thousands of generations of those who love him and obey his commands. Psalm 4:8 I fall asleep in peace the moment I lie down because you alone, O LORD, enable me to live securely. Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble. If the Lord be with us, we have no cause of fear. His eye is upon us, his arm over us, his ear open to our prayer; his grace sufficient, his promise unchangeable. Under his protection, though the path of duty should lie through fire and water, we may cheerfully and confidently pursue it. WE ARE SECURE IN GOD. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PayPal.me/donatetochurch PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
The Church Threatened by Trusting Intellect Proverbs 3:5–6 Trust the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths smooth. Romans 12:2 Don’t become like the people of this world. Instead, change the way you think. Then you will always be able to determine what God really wants—what is good, pleasing, and perfect. Ah, I believe that the Church of Christ suffers more today from trusting in intellect, in sagacity, in culture, and in mental refinement, than from almost anything else. WHAT DO YOU THINK? Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
GOD’S CHILDREN HAS A PROMISING FUTURE Think about this. We do not live by our place, we live by our promise. If the place I’m in screams LACK, I live by the promise of “…God… will supply all [my] needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:19, NLT) If the place I am in screams TERRIFYING, I live by the promise of… “Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you.” (Psalm 91:3-7, NKJV) If the place I am in screams ABANDONED, I live by the promise of… “Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close.” (Psalm 27:10, NLT) and “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” (Deut. 31:8, NLT) If the place I am in screams FEAR, I live by the promise of… “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10, NLT) If the place I am in screams SICKNESS, I live by the promise of… “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, Bible Verses About Future but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” (Psalm 34:19, ESV) and “He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.” (Isaiah 53:5b, NLT) If the place I am in screams GUILTY, I live by the promise of… “He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” (Psalm 103:12, NLT) and “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1, NIV)
WE MUST KNOW WHAT WE ARE ENTITLED TO AS CHILDREN OF GOD. WE CAN’T STAND ON A PROMISE THAT WE DON’T KNOW. WE MUST LEARN THE PROMISES OF GOD UNTO HIS CHILDREN.
