Once you are saved are you always saved? If you are struggling with the idea that you can lose your salvation, consider Christ’s own words on the matter in John 6:37-40.
John 6:37-40 NASB “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. [38] “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. [39] “This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. [40] “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”
One cannot make this clearer than Christ has, but there are some interesting things to note. Verse 37 is the “topic sentence” if you will. It is a stand-alone verse concerning the issue of eternal security in Christ. Christ says ALL that the Father gives to Him will come to Him and ALL that come to Him will not be cast out… certainly! Not only does He say He will not cast anyone out, in verse 39 He says He will not lose anyone either.
Christ will not cast anyone out.
No one who has come to Christ will be cast out by Christ’s actions nor will they be cast out because of their own actions or the actions of another.
Christ will not lose anyone.
No one who has come to Christ will be lost by Christ’s actions or because of their own actions or the actions of another [John 10:28-29, Romans 8:38-39].
Conclusion:
- All the Father gives to Christ will come to Christ [37]
- Those who come will not be cast out [37]
- Those who come will not be lost [39]
- All of those who come will have eternal life [40]
So what does this mean for you as a believer in Christ?
Christ will not cast anyone out nor will He lose anyone who comes to Him. Christ will not cast you away by His action, nor will He lose you because of your own actions or the actions of another. You, Christian, are secure in Christ. He promises.
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P2ALM 
11 responses to “The Eternal Security of the Believer In Christ [John 6:37-40]”
Again, the fact that one of Jesus’ own disciples Judas, was lost goes against the idea that no one can be lost. Habitual sin; i.e. the practice of sin; not just occasional sin, may cause one to forfeit one’s salvation.
EVERYONE who PRACTICES sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him. Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who PRACTICES sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. No one who is born of God PRACTICES sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother. [1 Jn 3:4-10]
i don’t see that it could be any more clear than Jesus’ own words:
There’s no insecurity here. Judas was “lost” because God never gave him to the Son and so Jesus never knew him.
churches are full of people who outwardly do Christian things but inwardly are not born again. without being born-again, no “good thing” matters. our works are an outward expression of an inward reality.
I am in accord with you that our works don’t save us but are an outward expression of an inward reality as James puts it this way: “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone” [James 2:24]. We disagree though whether a genuine believer can lose their salvation. Consider that James also says “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” [Jas 2:17]. So if it is true that faith without works is dead – which it is – what does that say then about faith marked by disobedience? Since faith without works is dead, should not faith without obedience also be dead? That’s why the passage you quoted says only those who DO THE WILL of the Father will enter heaven – those who remain disobedient don’t enter heaven.
Your claim that Judas was lost because God never gave him to the Son is inaccurate. The Father did indeed give Judas to the Son as written in John 17 where Jesus prays for his disciples. “I have revealed you to those whom YOU GAVE ME out of the world. They were yours; YOU GAVE THEM TO ME and they have obeyed your word” [Jn 17:6]. “None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled” [Jn 17:12]. These scriptures clearly indicate that all of the disciples including Judas were given by the father; yet in spite of that, Judas was lost.
brother, its really hard to defend Christ better than He. i can’t. His words stand. do you really think Judas was born-again?
Jesus says, “and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.” If He doesn’t mean it, what does He mean? [John 10:28 NASB]
The Bible states that Judas was indeed a believing disciple: “Judas was one of us and shared in the ministry with us” Acts 1:17. Moreover the Bible declares that he was one of the “elect” as the Father himself gave Judas to the son in John 17. Finally, your quote of John 10:28 is often used to defend eternal security but in fact – it proves the opposite. Verse 28 needs to be understood in the context of the verse immediately preceding it. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (Jn 10:27). In other words, those who will never perish and not get snatched out of Jesus’ hand are those who HEAR the shepherd’s voice and FOLLOW Him. No such assurance is offered to those who do not hear and follow God.
Actually, Scripture makes it clear that Judas was never saved:
Being counted among the disciples and sharing in the ministry doesn’t mean someone is saved. Churches are full of people who are in ministry but are not saved, unfortunately.
You’re not going to find verses later in the Bible that contradict Christ’s own words. He is the Word and the plumb line to judge all other Scripture in matters of unclarity. I made my case above with Christ’s own words and none are clearer or more decisive. When Christ says “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out,” and that it’s God’s will that “of all that He has given Me I lose nothing,” that exactly what He means. And thank God for it!
Thanks…I was up at 3am reading this. I have a struggle from time to time with assurance, much as you used to. I was a member of a church that taught that Jesus saves you but then you have to stay perfect to remain justified. I lived with so much condemnation and fear but I had no idea there was any other way of thinking until I married a Baptist and went to a Baptist church. Needless to say, there was some confusion and real anguish at times. I believe the Lord took me through a process over the years to bring me to truth concerning his grace and what has been particularly helpful was the truth that Christ is our great high priest who always makes intercession for us. I’m not still in the faith 30-plus years after being born again because of my own will-power, but because of the ability of God to keep his own. The problem with me is, though, that I have been so traumatized in the past that I read the word and some of the passages of scripture that sound like we can lose our salvation, still can plunge me back into fear as I study them. I just have to get through those times and press on. One thing I wanted to mention is that in the church I was a member of, there were some who, like me were so discouraged and burdened with trying to live up to what was being preached, that they left the church and some are not doing well. Actually, the pastor of the church eventually left the ministry and I cant help but wonder if he finally was too discouraged because he couldn’t live up to what he was preaching. I think it is one of the hazards of leaving grace out of your theology. Not that these who left the church aren’t saved but they have had to go through some dark and difficult things. Just me thoughts on the subject.
“I’m not still in the faith 30-plus years after being born again because of my own will-power, but because of the ability of God to keep his own.”
Amen, sister! a very poignant statement. i’m glad to be able to help people who struggle with this. one thing that has helped me is going to Christ’s words first. He’s the plumb line by which we are to judge all other Scripture. in other words, we’re not going to find something in Scripture that contradicts what He said. so, those verses that might make it sound like a person can lose their salvation should be interpreted in light of Christ’s words on the matter. if Christ says we can’t, those verses can’t teach we can. they are teaching something else. setting Scripture against itself is never fruitful. do you know what i mean?
here’s something to think about: God causes all things to work together for the good of those He called. you were called. so, how would you losing your salvation work out for your good?
blessings and thanks for sharing!
Thank you…some very good points to ponder. In all my study on the subject of eternal security, I never heard anyone explain what you did about considering Jesus’ words first. Very helpful.
Julie
PS- I was reading your response to the person who talked about Judas being saved….I was just reading this morning about the last supper, when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and Peter wanted to refuse…Jesus told him that all of his disciples were already “clean,” except one…the one who was to deceive him. Pretty plain, if you ask me.
Julie
yes, and it is even more clear here: