Eternal Security

From Textus Receptus

Eternal security, also known as "once saved, always saved" is the belief providing Christian believers with absolute assurance of their final salvation. Its development, particularly within Protestantism, has given rise to diverse interpretations, especially in relation with the defining aspects of theological determinism, libertarian free will and the significance of personal perseverance.

Before the Reformation, belief in forms of eternal security were anecdotal. Besides, in the early 5th century, the Augustinian soteriology view of predestination by predetermination emerged, though it did not endorse eternal security. By the 16th century, this concept became integrated into the theology of John Calvin and other reformers. Calvinist circles initially embraced eternal security as one of the practical interpretations of the doctrine of "perseverance of the saints". Over time, the term became a synonym of the Calvinist doctrine of perseverance independently of its practical interpretations.

In the early 20th century, eternal security started to become a defining doctrine of the Southern Baptist traditionalism. Around the same period, it also became part of Plymouth Brethren theology. Those two forms represents its predominant forms today. In the 1980s, the Free Grace movement voiced this doctrine independently of the notion of personal perseverance, with subsequent variations emerging such as the "Hyper-Grace" teaching.

Definition and terminology

Definition

Eternal security is a doctrine providing believers with absolute assurance of their inevitable final salvation. These veiws include:

(1) Some believe that if one does backslide it is sure evidence he was never truly converted.

(2) Others believe that a soul once saved will be finally saved, though in the meantime he does fall away, for God will get him in some way and he will not be lost.

(3) Still others believe that our sins, past, present, and future, are all forgiven and that we will go to heaven no matter what we do after conversion. All three classes argue that once a person is born again he can never be lost."

The concept of "eternal security" emerging around 1900 within different Evangelical groups, represents its current prevailing form within Protestantism. "By the nineteenth century, under the impact of evangelism and missions, the doctrine of perseverance of the saints was falling into disrepute. In two branches of evangelical Christianity the terms that began to replace "the perseverance of the saints" were "the security of the believers" and "eternal security"."^[1] Indeed, the first documented occurrences of the terms supporting this concept were "security of the believers" in 1873 within Southern Baptist circles and "eternal security" in 1913 within Plymouth Brethren circles. This predominant form entails an unconditional eternal security which is not grounded on a Calvinist theology.

Eternal Security proponents will quote the following verses to support their position.

1 John 5:13

References

1. Moody, Dale (1990). The Word of Truth: A Summary of Christian Doctrine Based on Biblical Revelation. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing.

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