Eternal security or carnal security, which is it?

by The Elijah Messenger

"To disregard Eternal security is to take away from what happened at Calvary." Charles Stanley, Eternal Security, p 11.

This statement could be the most plausible or the most damnable. Which is it? I will endeavor to prove from the bible that the latter is true. Charles Stanley shows the readers from the forefront, that this doctrine will affect the structure in which his/her creed stands.

"The question of whether or not salvation is forever is not an isolated one. One's answer to this question affects every facet of one's theology." Ibid. 9.

This is why I felt compelled to write about the dangers in believing in this doctrine. Let us examine the Scriptures, which they use to substantiate their belief.

John 10:28

We will begin with John 10:28, "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." This scripture is one of the strongest in support of "eternal security". When Charles Stanley presents this scripture, he quizzes you with this crafty question.

"…If our salvation is not secure, how could Jesus say about those to whom He gives eternal life, "and they shall never perish" (John 10:28)? If even one man or woman receives eternal life and then forfeits it through sin or apostasy, will they not perish? And by doing so, do they not make Jesus' words a lie?" Ibid. 18.

This is a deceptive way or speaking, considering that he is subtly implying that those who do not agree with "eternal security" are making Jesus words a lie. John 10:28, does not support this crafty explanation. Charles Stanley uses this text as if it were unconditional. The conditions are laid out in verse twenty seven, " My sheep hear [hearken to] my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." Those who "hear" His "voice" and "follow" Him will receive "eternal life." The word "follow" is in the present tense, this shows that you have to be continually "led by the Spirit of God" to be accounted as a son of God. Rom. 8:14.

John 3:36; 1 John 5:13; John 5:24.

Instead of rightly dividing the word of truth people use logic to interpret the above scriptures: "When the Bible speaks of possessing eternal life, it speaks in the present tense (hath, have, etc.) - SOMETHING WE ALREADY HAVE! If we had to work or endure to keep our salvation, this could not be true." Terry Watkins, Dial-the-Truth Ministries.

When Paul said to the Philippians, " work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" Phil. 2:12. And on the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said to His disciple, " he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved" (Matt. 24:13). These and more are the conditions in the scriptures we have to meet before we inherit "eternal life". However, this does not negate being saved by grace. When we yield our "members servants to righteousness unto holiness" (Rom. 6:19)" it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Phil. 2:13). While we yield, He works in us so that grace is to produce obedience (Rom. 1:5).

Christ spoke in the present tense to show us the surety of His word. This is verified by showing the following scriptures, which states that we are to seek [future tense] and hope for "eternal life", which is given, when Christ appears with his angels to gather the elect:

To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life. Romans 2:7.

That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:7. "And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." Matthew 24:31.

What we learn from these scriptures is that immortality is yet future and it can be forfeited by our disobedience (I Cor. 6:9,10).

Hebrews 6:4-6: "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost. And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come. If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame."

These above clear scriptures should forever settle the question, whether a true believer can abandon his faith. But instead of this, men like Charles Stanley misunderstand what Paul meant to evince. If this is not his intention, I have to say he is naturally good at it! At the beginning of his thesis on Hebrews 6:4-6, his misconception is evident when he tries to prove the Arminian teaching as being false. Here are his words

"At a glance these verses do appear to support that [arminian] view." What does he mean? His explanation follows. "If the subject of these verses is salvation, believers who "fall away" can never be saved again! There is no second chance. In the author's word, "it is impossible to renew them again to repentance." This, and what he is about to say will show his stealthy way of arguing,"Traditional Arminian teaching has always provided an opportunity for a man or a woman to be born again and again-and for that matter again and again and again. Few believe that salvation can be lost and never regained." Ibid. p162.

To unravel his furtive argument, allow me to show a couple of scriptures from the bible. There are two types of sin in the bible, pardonable and unpardonable. Christ mentioned these two sins in Matt 12:31, " Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men." It is interesting to note that Paul in Hebrews 6:4-6 was speaking about the unpardonable sin. How is that? Let us look for a moment at the word "afresh" in verse 6. The number for this word in the Strong's Concordance is 388; the meaning is "to recrucify." If one reads the interlinear Bible, which is a literal translation from Hebrew-Greek to English, it will read as follow:

"…And falling away, it is impossible for them again to renew to repentance, for they again will be crucifying to themselves the Son of God, and putting Him to open shame."

Of course if we reject the only means of salvation, God cannot renew us again unto repentance! This is clearly speaking of the unpardonable sin. John referred to this when he said, "there is a sin unto death" (I Jn. 5:16). He also states in the same verse, that there is " a sin which is not unto death", which is the one that Jesus said He would pardon (Matt. 12:31). Now with the smoke of deception cleared from our eyes, we can see the unfair use of sarcasm, which Charles Stanley uses to muddy the waters of the Arminian teaching to make it look inconsistent.

It would not be consistent if Paul was not speaking about the unpardonable sin. Although the people he addresses were not the culprit of this sin, it is clear to see from verse nine. My question to Charles Stanley and others who fall in his mold is, why would Paul go at length to warn the Hebrew Christians, if it were not possible for them to lose their salvation. In Charles Stanley's own words it is clearly shown that he knows that Hebrews 6:4-6 is talking about total apostasy:

"According to the author of Hebrews, it is impossible for persons in this state to be "brought back" (NIV) to repentance. The author points to the absolute impossibility of any outside force changing their minds: they are beyond convincing." Ibid. 166.

Compare this with what he said three pages later:

"If one takes seriously the original context of the writer's statements, it is clear that this solemn warning in no way threatens the security of the believer. Actually, it is evidence for the believer's security. If a Jew, who was awaiting the coming of the Messiah, could find salvation through Christ and then walk away from Him (Allesiter Crowley, "do what thou wilt") without the threat of losing his or her salvation, what do the rest of us have to fear?" Ibid. 169.

I will allow Ezekiel, to show you what to fear:

"But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die (the second death Rev. 20:15). When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die." Ezekiel 18:24,26.

Charles Stanley makes Christ words in Mark 16:16, sound like he that believeth not shall be saved. While the bible states " they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." II Thessalonians 2:12.

Heb 3:6 "But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end."

The use of the word "if" in this verse shows that salvation is conditional and this warning indicates a strong possibility that a Christian can "draw back" and cast away his confidence. Hebrews 10:35,38.

Revelation 3:5 "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels."

So in other words if we do not overcome through the grace of God, our names will be blotted out of the book of life. What is Charles Stanley's answer to this? He states:

"The apostle John refers to the "book of life" five other times in Revelation. From two of these passages it becomes evident that he certainly did not believe names could be erased." Ibid. 179. And then he quoted these two scriptures to prove his point:

"And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." Rev. 13:8.

"The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is." Rev. 17:8.

Although the divine plan of salvation was formulated in past eternity (Ephesians 3:9;II Timothy 1:9; Titus 1:2), it is doubtful whether a pre-mundane election of particular individuals to salvation is taught in the Old or New Testament. David did not believe the modern day fallacy that names cannot be blotted out of the book of life (Ps. 69:28). Neither did God (Ex. 32:33), Moses (Ex. 32:32), or Jesus Christ (Rev. 22:19).

Revelation 13:8, speaks about the victory of the saints over the antichrist and God's foreknowledge of it. Revelation 17:8, also expresses God's foreknowledge of those who will not accept Him, but chose rather the antichrist. God's foreknowledge did not negate the fact that names can be blotted out from the book of like. But to the contrary, it expresses His foreknowledge of who will be saved and who will be lost.

1 Timothy 1:18 "This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare. Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck."

The words that I have highlighted need to be clarified!

Conscience - an awareness of right and wrong, with a compulsion to do right. Webster's New World Dictionary, p. 133.

Faith - ". . . evidence of things not seen". . . Heb. 11:1. The only evidence we have of things not seen is the word of God. Moses as quoted by Paul shows that the words of truth or faith is the revelation of things not seen (Deut. 30:10-14; Rom. 10:5-10). Then faith is the words of God, and "whatsoever is not of faith is sin." Romans 14:23. And " the wages of sin is death (the second death)." Romans 6:23. Back to what Paul said in I Tim. 1:18,19! To put away faith and a good conscience is to put away the word of God that prompts us to do right. What was left is two apostates, which was "delivered unto Satan" (I Tim. 1:20) to share in his fate:

"Therefore I will cast thee (Satan) as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire." Exekiel 28:16.

"Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed." Proverbs 13:13.

If we do not take heed to God's plain testimonies we will be destroyed. And so far as we can see God's words does not support this false idea of perseverance. This is one of the latter day apostasies that Paul so vehemently warns us about.

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." 1Timothy 4:1. This is another clear example showing that a Christian can forfeit his/her salvation.

2 Peter 2:19-22 "While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire."

This is a sad yet a deplorable situation of some Christians, which was once washed through the blood of Christ. Unlike the situation in John when he said, "ye have overcome the wicked one," (1 John 2:13) oppositely they allowed the wicked one to overcome them, or as Paul admonished us to "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:21. But in this case these Christian they were overcome with evil. These Christians had "known the way of righteousness" and they had turned from it. This fact is to plain to be refuted, I will share with you one author's gymnastics around it.

"The Scripture does not say that these trusted Jesus. Many lost people know about the Gospel and about Christ. We see from verse 21 that they knew the way of righteousness. But the Scripture does not indicate that they ever walked in it." John R. Rice, Can a Saved Person Ever Be Lost, p. 7.

Let us consider verse 20 and see if this assumption is correct. Peter leaves no doubt that Christians, if not steadfast they can fall from grace. The people he was addressing in verse 20, once "escape the pollution's of the world through the knowledge of the lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." This shows that it is not mere knowledge, but an experimental knowledge, else he would not use the word "escape." Only by a relationship with Christ we can "escape the pollution's of the world." Secondly, the word "overcome" shows what Peter had in mind! People who live according to "the lust of the flesh" (1Jn. 2:16) are already overcome by Satan. Therefore, it will be illogical to say that the people to whom Peter mentioned about were not Christians.

1 Corinthians 9:27 "But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."

This Scripture should be a lamp to those who are in darkness, which believe in "security in sin", that they may be guided out from this deception. Paul, in his lifetime who practices and preaches vigorous self-denial, abstinence and mortification of the flesh (Rom. 8:12,13; Col. 3:5-10), warns us about the possibility of becoming a "castaway". The Greek word used as "castaway" is adokimos, which is translated "reprobates" in the following scripture:

"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates (Gr. adokinmos)?" 2 Corinthians 13:5. This Scripture plainly tells us that Christ is not in reprobates. And if Christ is not in us we have no hope of glory. Colossians 1:27. Decide your destiny and "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee." 1Ti 4:16.

Romans 8:35-39 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come. Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

This is another scripture that has been misused to say "sin cannot separate us from the love of God." The Bible did not say nothing could separate us from the love of God. However, the list mentioned by Paul did not include sin. Those who think when they are baptized their salvation is secure, and willfully live a life of sin, they should consider the following from Isaiah, "your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." Isaiah 59:2. Sin separates us from God, and leads us captives of Satan. "Be not deceived".

Galatians 5:4 "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace."

Another plain scripture that show that a Christian can fall from grace and forfeit his/her salvation. But it is only plain to those who have eyes to see, but here is Charles Stanley as he tries to throw sand in our eyes to obscure the plainness of it.

"Paul wasn't threatening them with the loss of salvation, just a loss of freedom (Gal. 5:1). "He didn't say they were falling from salvation. His concern was that they were falling away from God's system of grace . . ." Eternal Security, p. 141.

These following scriptures will quickly dismiss this jargon explanation:

"In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace." Eph. 1:7. If we fall from grace we will have no redemption, no forgiveness of sins; therefore we would be lost.

"Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved). For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." Ephesians 2:5,8. If we fall from grace, we would be unsaved.

"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men." Titus 2:11. No grace of God, equals a loss of Salvation. Charles Stanley understanding of grace is a disgrace!

John 15:1-6 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned."

Here we see the believer in Christ is represented as a branch. If we as believers (branches) in Christ bear not fruit (which is the fruit of the Spirit Gal. 5:22,23; Eph. 5:9) the Father "taketh away". Why were they taken away? Because they "withered" away and became dead spiritually (Eph. 2:1; Col. 2:13)! What is the fate of these Christians, who do not abide! He (the Father) "cast them into the fire, and they are burned (Rev. 20:10,15).

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Matthew 5:13.

The disciples are here represented as the salt of the earth, which they suppose to salt the earth with the gospel. Matthew 28:19,20. Faith without works is like preaching without grace. That's why Paul said, " Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. Colossians 4:6. So what happens to a Christian when he loses the grace of God, which produce obedience (Matt. 5:16). They are represented as "good for nothing" and they are just fit for "everlasting destruction." 2 Thessalonians 2:9.

1 Corinthians 3:11-15 "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble. Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."

Catholics base their doctrine of "purgatory" on these scriptures and Calvinists find support for their carnality in it also. What Paul is getting at in this Corinthians letter is explained in Jude 23.

"And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh."

We can also find another figurative example in Zechariah 3:2: "And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?"

These and sundry others figurative expressions show the narrow escape of the believers in Christ from the power of Satan. The trial of our faith which is "much more precious than of gold" (I Pet. 1:7) will stand the test of the present and future trials. Rev. 3:10. False religion (wood, hay and stubble) cannot stand upon the foundation of Christ but the one who is deceived, if ignorant will be saved because "the time of this ignorance God winked at." Acts 17:30. That's why the Bible councils us to value instructions, knowledge, wisdom and understanding more than gold or silver. Because as the "fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts" and "without holiness no man can see God". Proverb 17:3; Hebrews 12:14.

So then 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, does not promise a Christian salvation while pursuing a life of sin, in the same context there is a warning to the Corinthians.

" If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are" (verse 17). The purpose of Christ coming to this earth is the "cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9; Matthew 1:21. This is Christ offer for those who are graduated from the save in sin school.

" I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, (faith which worketh by love Gal. 5:6) that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, (which is the righteousness of the saints Re 19:11) that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, (so you can see the deception of "eternal security") that thou mayest see" (the true nature of this doctrine). Revelation 3:18.

Ephesians 1:13,14 "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise. Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."

The immutable principle is laid out by Christ in Mark 16:16, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." The Ephesians met this condition that is why they were saved and sealed with the Holy Spirit. Trusting and believing precedes the sealing of the "Holy Spirit". Another scripture that has been misused is 2 Corinthians 1:21,22

"Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God. Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts."

These Christians were "established" because they followed the advice of Paul. "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." Ephesians 4:30. If we "grieve not the Spirit of God" our seal will remain until "the day of redemption."

1 Corinthians 5:1 "It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife."

The "Calvinist" believes that since this fornicator belongs to "the church of God at Corinth" (I Cor. 1:2), his salvation is secure although he is accounted as a fornicator. Paul said, "they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Galatians 5:21. Just because the fornicator was from the church of God it does not mean that he was of God. Paul states, " for they are not all Israel, which are of Israel. Romans 9:6. Secondly, Paul warns the Corinthians "not to have company with fornicators" (verse 9).

Since this is so clear, what causes most people to believe that the person spoken of in 1 Corinthian 5:1 was destined for heaven? Most of the confusion stems from verse five, when Paul wrote to the leaders,

"to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus."

So then man's logic kicks in and assumes that since the person's spirit was saved, a Christian could be a fornicator and yet be saved. I was discussing this scripture with a professor of philosophy who was taught in the school of "once save always saved." I asked him about the word "may be" in verse five and does it imply to mean assuredly or possibly. His reply was assuredly, so I pointed him to a parable in Luke 20:13 which has a similar usage of the word "may be".

"Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him. But did they? Verse fourteen has the answer they said, " come, let us kill him."

And they did! So from this scripture we see that maybe means that there is a possibility that he would be saved. Paul counsels the elders of the church to "put away from among yourselves that wicked person." Verse 13. This was to make him reconsider his course and repent. In 1 Corinthian 5 gives no support to teach one can be secure while practicing such gross sins.

In Charles Stanley's book on page 128-29, he states he was giving a series of lectures on the subject of rewards. This lecture was basically saying that if you live a reckless life as a Christian you can still go to heaven but you will get a lesser reward. He notices a young man, a leader in the youth department, who for the most part lived like the world. The preaching had an impact on him so he decided to share his "spiritual pilgrimage" with Charles Stanley. Below are the words spoken from that young man:

" I was always under the assumption that as long as a person had trusted Christ, and knew he was going to heaven, that was pretty much it. I figured that in heaven we would all be equal. That being the case, I really didn't see any point in giving up anything down here. What difference would it make? When you began talking about rewards I was shocked. I had never heard anything like that before. All of a sudden I started thinking about every-thing I did. I began to realize that every moment counted. I quit drinking. I quit going to parties. I started inviting my friends to church. Everything changed. I guess before that, I really wasn't motivated." Ibid.

At the surface everything sounds fine. This young man had a good dose of sobering preaching, which motivated him to reform. People might even say that only a doctrine of God could produce such obedience. However, let us go over some of the things this young man said by beginning to ask these questions.

What made him start thinking about every thing he did?

What made him think that everything counted?

What made him stop drinking and partying?

Why did he invite his friends to church?

What motivated him to do all of these acts?

It was selfishness! This aspect of Charles Stanley's doctrine appeals to the selfishness of man. Why? What motivated this young man was rewards. This young man was captivated with the idea of gaining a better rank in heaven. Knowing this he quickly reformed. The sad point of all this is that the "save in sin" school teaches that if this individual died while knowing that drinking and partying is wrong, he would still go to heaven, but he would be in a lesser rank than the one who obeys. The bible states, " Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?" Galatians 6:9. Charles Stanley believes that the Christians who are in a lesser rank in heaven will in his own words be "weeping and gnashing their teeth" for some time and when God thinks they had enough He would comfort them and he quoted Revelation 21:4 to support this. For the full details of this preposterous teaching see pages 124-128 of his book Eternal Security.

This teaching is a bridge to lead you to another damnable doctrine call "Universalism" which teach that all the wicked will be reformed from hell and then taken to heaven. This includes Hitler, Stalin, Lenin etc. These people are recorded in history as committing murder and crimes to gross to utter. The bible states that no murders will not enter into the kingdom of God. Revelations 21:8. What if I told you that if Hitler, Stalin and Lenin only trusted Christ for the forgiveness of their sins and continue living as they did and die, they would go to heaven. I would deserve to hear a strong rebuke and my attention should be pointed to these following scriptures:

" For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." Romans 8:13.

" For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them." Ephesians 5:5-7.

" For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23.

This rebuke should be pointed were it deserve to be on Charles Stanley. Why! Consider the following:

" The debate is over whether or not a man can be on his way to heaven one minute and on his way to hell the next. To answer that question, we must understand exactly what sends a person to hell. As we have seen, sin alone is not enough. . . . It takes more than simply sinning to get to hell. . . . It is not lying, cheating, stealing, raping, murdering, or being unfaithful that sends people to hell. It is rejecting Christ, refusing to put their trust in Him for the forgiveness of sin." Ibid. 70.

So in other words if Hitler, Stalin and Lenin did put there trust in Jesus he would of give them license to "lie, cheat, steal, rape, murder etc. This is like saying Christ came to earth to die to give Christians a license to sin. While people who do not trust in Christ are condemned because they do not accept this license that permit them to sin and still be accounted righteous. This same doctrine made the reformer John Calvin put Michael Servetus to death in 1553. Michael Servetus challenge John Calvin beliefs and instead of refuting it with scriptures he played the role of Rome. This is what Rome did in the dark ages to the great Protestant John Huss. Christ foresaw all of this that's why he said " whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service" (John 16:2). Why? Christ gives the answer in the next verse " because they have not known the Father, nor me."

This scripture above all others should be seriously considered. The Jews, who professed to know the Father and boasted of their Messiah to come. But not knowing the ways of God they crucified their expected Messiah. Paul said, "For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge." Romans 10:2. The reason why there would be no more sin in the new earth it is because we would be " full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea." Isaiah 11:9. David said " Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." Psalms 119:11. Christ who is the word of God (John 1:1,14), gives us grace which teaches us:

"that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world." Titus 2:12.

So when Christ prayed to the Father to "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth" (Jn. 17:17), the word of God will "effectually worketh also in you that believe." I Thessalonians 2:13. Not because a sincere Christian falls into sin that means he is not saved. In such case " we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" I John 2:1. But in the same verse his advise to us is "my little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not." We are to make use of the grace, which God has given us.

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16. Christ is able "to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy." Jude 24. The books that we have reviewed on the subject of "Eternal Security" is what Paul calls "another gospel." Galatians 1:6. This is "doctrines of men" (Col. 2:22) which its origins is trace back to devils. I Timothy 4:1.

" For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." II Corinthians 11:13-15.

On one side of Charles Stanley mouth he is telling us that a believer can abandon his faith and still retain his/her salvation and on the other side of his mouth he is telling us that there is no pardon for a person who dies in unbelief. Here is his contradiction:

". . . Believers who lose or abandon their faith will retain their salvation . . .." page 94.

"Although there is no unpardonable sin, there is an unpardonable state-the state of unbelief. There is no pardon for a person who dies in unbelief." Page 133.

Conclusion

As I weighed the facts on this issue of "Eternal Security," it became crystal clear that this doctrine is from the devil himself. The essence of this doctrine is on par with the twentieth century Satanist Alliester Crowley, when he said, "Do what thou Wilt".

This ungodly teaching is not in accord with the gospel. The gospel "is according to godliness." I Timothy 6:3.

"Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." 2 Timothy 2:19.

"Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober." I Thessalonians 5:6

"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." I Thessalonians 5:23. AMEN

siracus@idirect.com