Eternal Security! What does it mean to you?

[Vine Abider]

1 minute ago, unworthyservant said:

The tenant of "Eternal Security" to which I refer is the idea that the only thing required to obtain eternal security is a simple confession of faith that may or may not be manifested in our lives or our works.

And what are we told that simple confession of faith brings us? A rebirth with His eternal life in us.

[unworthyservant]

6 hours ago, Vine Abider said:

And what are we told that simple confession of faith brings us? A rebirth with His eternal life in us.

It all depends on who you ask, thus the reason for the question. You mention rebirth. Rebirth is a concept that most folks associate with Christ's admonition to Nicodemus found in John 3:1-15. There Christ tells Nicodemus that "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." He goes on to explain further in the following verses. My question then is exactly what are you suggesting is required for that rebirth. Is it simply a confession of faith and/or some form of asking God's forgiveness or does it require a change in lifestyle from our sinful humanistic one to one based on living one's life according to the commandments of God and/or the teachings of Christ? Does one achieve eternal security even if one continues in a sinful lifestyle? Can one get to Heaven based on nothing more than a one time confession of faith?

[unworthyservant]

On 4/4/2025 at 10:09 PM, Indentured Servant said:

Perhaps one might consider, rather than trying to define a theological term not found in Scripture, to seek Scriptural assurance of what qualifies one to be assured of eternal life.

I try to define or rather ask other opinions because it's a term that's often bandied around especially by some Baptists and has several nuanced versions of dogma based on it in some form or another. So, while it's not a term I use in any context other than scholarly inquisitiveness, I feel it's good to know what others believe for many reasons.

[chirpy]

1 hour ago, unworthyservant said:

the only thing required to obtain eternal security is a simple confession of faith

Faith?

Belief is not the same as faith or is it?

The devil believes in God, and acknowledges what God has done for us, but the Devil is not going to be part of God's kingdom. The Devil, knowing God, fights against Him and seeks to keep others from entering Gods kingdom.

So, how do you see faith/belief?

 

[unworthyservant]

1 minute ago, chirpy said:

Faith?

Belief is not the same as faith or is it?

The devil believes in God, and acknowledges what God has done for us, but the Devil is not going to be part of God's kingdom. The Devil, knowing God, fights against Him and seeks to keep others from entering Gods kingdom.

So, how do you see faith/belief?

 

The passage you quote is totally out of context. I never said that "the only thing required to obtain eternal security is a simple question of faith" as a statement of fact but as part of a question on the tenant of "Eternal Security". As for how I see faith and/or belief, first let me say that I believe the example of the devil, while I understand the use to illustrate your point, is a unique outlier for comparison purposes to us mere mortals. My opinion is there are five basic groups of people on Earth. Those who have never heard the Gospel and they are becoming far less common. Second, those who have heard and denied it. Third is those that heard the word, believed, at least long enough to make a confession of faith but then returned to their sinful life. Fourth is those who heard the word, believed, made a confession of faith and are attempting to live a Christian life but are being misled by what they are being taught by false teachers and prophets. The fifth group are those who have heard the word, made a confession of faith and are doing their best to live a Christian life based on the Commandments of God and the teachings of Christ and thus are not swayed by the teachings of men. Christ said in Matthew 7:14 "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." for a reason. There are many ways that lead one down that broad path to destruction but only one way to "life" in Christ. Thus, "few there be that find it". 
 

[Indentured Servant]

21 minutes ago, unworthyservant said:

I feel it's good to know what others believe for many reasons.

Oh, as well with me.

I suppose what I was trying to convey, is that asking a general audience about a term that only people of certain denominations have been exposed to, the answer may only be limited to certain denominations.

If asked, what do you find in Scripture that assures you of salvation when you die, others can answer without the limitation of a term not used in their conversation.

Perhaps, you may have intended it for a more specific group, and, if that's the case, please forgive my intrusion. My view of Scripture may not offer a welcomed response to a theological stated question.

I appreciate your understanding.

[chirpy]

Thank you U for clarifying your view. 

[truth7t7]

On 4/4/2025 at 1:04 PM, other one said:

First we would have to come to a consensus on what security means and how it is achieved. There are a lot of people who think they have achieved it that I do not believe they have because of their fruits.   So the discussion over the past 20 or so years seams to go on and on forever and ends up that those people who so called failed, were never really saved in the first place.

My personal belief is that if a person is truly saved nothing anywhere can take them from the Father's hand.  However you can jump out...   but then again one could ask were they really there.

Ephesians 4:30KJV

30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

[unworthyservant]

3 hours ago, Indentured Servant said:

Oh, as well with me.

I suppose what I was trying to convey, is that asking a general audience about a term that only people of certain denominations have been exposed to, the answer may only be limited to certain denominations.

If asked, what do you find in Scripture that assures you of salvation when you die, others can answer without the limitation of a term not used in their conversation.

Perhaps, you may have intended it for a more specific group, and, if that's the case, please forgive my intrusion. My view of Scripture may not offer a welcomed response to a theological stated question.

I appreciate your understanding.

Good point. I guess I thought the term was well known whether one's denomination believed it or not.

[other one]

1 hour ago, truth7t7 said:

Ephesians 4:30KJV

30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

My Baptist friends would say that person was not saved. It's fruitless to discuss it with them.