May 16, 2004

SECURITY FOR ALL THE REDEEMED?

Romans 4:24

   Believers during this dispensation of grace can rest assured sharing Paul's persuasion "that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height , nor depth, nor any other creation, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:37-39). This might be the best verse to clearly show the security of the believer, but it is by no means the only one, for there are many!

   The question of security has been raised as to believers in other dispensations, past and future. Is their salvation by faith alone in God's word alone, the good news proclaimed in their time, or did they have the required, added burden of works, of one kind or another? We must always read carefully when God speaks about the importance of good works, but does He ever suggest that works, whether of merciful kindness or of law, are essential or even that they might contribute something toward a righteous standing in His sight?

   Isaiah wrote, "we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteous-nesses are as filthy rags...and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away...there is none that calls upon Thy name, that stirs up him-self to take hold of Thee...but now...Thou art our Father...our Potter; and we...the work of Thy hand" (Isa. 64:6-8). Could God require such works as these in addition to His own imputed righteousness for salvation of any believer in any dispensation, past, present, or future?

   Before we learned to "rightly divide the word of truth," we went to John's Gospel for assurance of our eternal security. John 3:16 reads, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." And, "He that believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him" (3:36). Then there is John 5:24, "He that hears my word and believes on Him that sent Me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment; but is passed from death unto life." How could one suggest that anyone hearing and believing such words of the Savior could ever imagine he could be lost for any reason?

Ivan L. Burgener