"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." (2 Peter 1:4)

If the language of the Bible is taken for its intended meaning it makes perfectly clear the fact of unconditional eternal security. It will be my purpose in this message not to interpret, nor explain, but to establish that the language of the Bible expresses only one kind of salvation Å and that is eternal salvation.

When we honestly take the Words of God concerning salvation for their intended meaning they convey the truth of eternal security.

Eternal - Everlasting

First, let me ask you to consider the words "Eternal" and "Everlasting." They are used many times in the Bible to describe the life that the believer possesses.

"That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:15)

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:24)

We are all born into this world dead in trespasses and in sin according to Ephesians 2:1.

"And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins." (Ephesians 2:1)

But, now that we have come to Christ we have been passed from death to everlasting life in Him.

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life." (John 6:47)

Eternal life. Everlasting life!! This is the "precious Promise" of God to those who believe in His Son as Savior. Just what does the words eternal and everlasting mean? The words are also used in describing our God.

"But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith". (Romans 16:26)

Forever

Forever is another word used to describe the salvation that God provided through the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ.

"For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." (Hebrews 10:14)

The dictionary uses the word "eternity" as a definition for the word "forever". God's redeemed shall "live forever". This is His precious promise. They are "perfected forever". These words are used continually to describe God's salvation that He bestows upon every believer.

GOD'S WORD SAYS THAT WE ARE:

SAVED

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18)

Yes, saved from hell forever. I like that word saved. I am saved Ä I am being saved Ä I shall be saved from any and all condemnation. Nothing can take me out of my Fathers hand.

COMPLETE

"And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power." (Colossians 2:10)

I was wounded by sin unto death Ä marred by unrighteousness Ä but in Him I found completeness. Now I have been made whole.

FORGIVEN

"I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake." (1 John 2:12)

It was not for my sake that through the mercy of God that I was forgiven, but it was for His name's sake because He always did that which pleased the father.

KEPT

"Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Peter 1:5)

I did not save self so I don't have the power to keep my self saved. I did not begin the work so I can't perform the work, but thank God He promised to do it for me.

PRESERVED

"For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they arpreserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off." (Psalms 37:28)

Just as the jelly and jam is sealed in a jar with the pressure lid, we believers are sealed by the Holy Spirit and are preserved forever and ever. He will keep me by His power until He comes for me and will never let me be defiled.

JUSTIFIED

"And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." (Acts 13:39)

What the law could not do, Jesus was able to perform in one act on the cross of Calvary and through His shed blood made me "Just as if I had never sinned."

GOD'S WORD PROMISED THAT WE WILL NEVER:

BE FORSAKEN

". . .he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." (Hebrews 13:5)

This is a promise to Joshua in the Old Testament, but it is just as true today in the New Testament, because:

"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever." (Hebrews 13:8)

Thank God for the precious promise that we will never, never be forsaken by the Lord Jesus Christ.

PERISH

"And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." (John 10:28)

God's word says that we will never thirst, hunger, be forsaken or perish. When the sinner is saved he believes these promises. Here is what God's Word says that the believer already has Ä it is now in his possession.

God's Word says, we already have eternal life, redemption, the righteousness of God, reconciliation, passed from death unto life, peace and atonement.

God's Word says, we are saved, forgiven, justified, kept, preserved and complete. They are ours now!

The language of the scriptures clearly shows that all these promises are a present possession. These promises are already realized by the believer in Christ. Again, let the language of the Word of God mean just what it was intended to mean.

If the life we received when we believe is not eternal then God lied! If the life we received is not everlasting then God lied!

Our God is eternal, everlasting, and the salvation that He gives is life eternal and everlasting! This is the language God uses to describe salvation Ä eternal, everlasting salvation. If the saved soul should ever again be lost then God lied!

GOD CANNOT LIE!

If the believer fails to live forever then God lied! If God fails to keep us then He lied! If the believer ever hungers and thirsts after salvation again then God lied! If the believer is ever forsaken then God lied! If the believer were ever to perish then God lied!

"In hope of eternal life, which God, THAT CANNOT LIE, promised before the world began". (Titus 1:2)

God that cannot lie, promised!

"And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform." (Romans 4:21)

My precious friend, if you are not a child of God this moment, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." (Acts. 16:31) †