Eternal Security In The Dock

St. John The Apostle

A popular doctrine in Protestantism is Eternal Security, sometimes referred to as Perseverance of the Saints. Perseverance of the Saints represents the P in TULIP, which Calvinists believe in. In Arminian circles, it is usually referred to as Eternal Security. It is also referred to as once saved, always saved. It should be pointed out that many protestants do not believe in this doctrine, among these are the Lutherans who were the original protestants.

Regardless, we should examine this doctrine in light of the scriptures, because its proponents usually cite scripture in defence of the doctrine.  I will examine a key scripture used by its proponents. Since this is a purely protestant doctrine, I will cite scripture from the ESV.

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.

-1 John 2:19

According to believers in Eternal Security, if you show up for Church for a period of time and appear to be a believer and then fall away, you were never a believer to begin with. One may have looked like a believer externally but internally they were spiritually dead. The verse supports the doctrine only if you assume that everyone that falls away was a false believer. It is true that some who fall away were never believers but believers fall away as well. Is John talking about everyone who falls away? Certainly not! He is only talking about a select group of antichrists and that is apparent by the previous verse, which reads:

Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.

-1 John 2:18

John makes clear that this is only a certain group and not everyone who falls away. The same can be said about Matthew where Christ states:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

-Matthew 7:21-23

This verse likewise selects a group of false prophets as the ones Christ never knew. Whenever these statements are made, a category is always identified whether it be antichrists, false prophets, or another group.

In fact, scripture seems to indicate that we have some say in our salvation, as per the words of St. Paul:

Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.  The saying is trustworthy, for:

If we have died with him, we will also live with him;

if we endure, we will also reign with him;

if we deny him, he also will deny us;

if we are faithless, he remains faithful—

for he cannot deny himself.

-2 Timothy 2:10-13

St. Paul keeps using the word “if we” which means that we have a say in what happens. If we deny him, he also will deny us. When he says: “if we are faithless, he remains faithful.” What a beautiful statement. Our God is always there for us.