I pulled old Bibles down from my shelf yesterday. Linda and I were raised in two differing theological “camps” of thought regarding the security of believers, i.e. the doctrine sometimes called “once-saved-always-saved.” So our Bible College years were marked by a hypersensitivity to ANY portion of scripture which would speak in any manner concerning this source of “conflict” in our home. If a preacher would cross-reference a text in his sermon, which in any way spoke of the subject, we would go to the flyleaf of our Bibles and write the reference there. If any book or article we were reading addressed the subject, we quickly marked it down. Bottom line? I think we believed that we would accumulate a serious list of Bible passages on two sides of the argument and then, depending upon which one was the longer, that would be our conclusion. Pretty immature approach to doctrinal convictions…but then, we WERE pretty immature! And the evidence lives today in the flyleaves of those old Bibles.
It is not too difficult to embrace the truth that eternal salvation, including the complete eradication of sin/offenses that condemned us to eternal hell, was not possible in ”works righteousness”, but required the incredible grace of God. Salvation by grace through faith was easy to embrace. But, what about maintaining that salvation once it was received? So we argued over the meaning of “eternal life” and “forever” and all such word battles.
One BIG point of discussion was sort of like this: “How will a person be restrained from practicing major sins if they don’t have the fear that they will lose eternal life for doing the sin? What will hold them back?” Our counter to that was, “Why, if one understands the greatness and costliness of saving grace, would they WANT to go back into old sinning?” And on the argument went.
It was only as we started to grow up as Christians and mature as Bible readers that we began to understand and appreciate the truth that our salvation is never going to be secured on the basis of how well we persevere, but rather on how persevering in His love for us God is. And, that our security in eternal life rested, bottom line, on the greatness of the character of the God who purchased it and guaranteed it. Safe…because He is a great and a faithful God…period!
We affectionately labeled it “Daisy Theology”…”He loves me, He loves me not.” Kind of “cute” when it occurs on the playground. But rather devastating when it is the quandry of the believer’s heart. Salvation is by grace through faith. He is the Savior…we are the saved. He has done the work…we can do nothing to insure and secure it.
Dawn-Marie loved daisies. She would quote frequently from one of her favorite movies, “Daisies are the friendliest flower!” Yes, they do seem friendly. But they have no place in the doctrine of our eternal salvation!
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and My Father are one! John 10:28-30
He loves me. Question solved!
See you Sunday, Church!
Pastor Tom
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