Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church Lexington, KY. Pastor JOE H. HEAD
Pleasant Ridge Baptist ChurchLexington, KY. Pastor JOE H. HEAD 

ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAFE.

Text: 1 Pe 4:19 “Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls [to him] in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.” Pr 29:25 “... but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.”
Intro: Question: does this really work? Yes. However, many professed believers have refused to trust Him to do the keeping because they are so adamant that if they stray ever so much or commit some act of sin, they will lose their soul’s salvation and will be destined to spend eternity in hell unless they somehow decide to be saved a second time.
The writer of the book of Hebrews informs us of the impossibility of that, Heb 6:4 “For [it is] impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put [him] to an open shame.” Far from saying that those who’ve been enlightened can fall away and become lost, this verse affirms only that IF THEY COULD fall, they would have no second chance to exercise repentance unto salvation.
Whom do we count on to keep our souls saved? This tells us that the keeping of our soul is in the hands of our faithful Creator. The awesome task of keeping us saved is totally taken out of our hands and put into His capable ones. People have never read in the bible that it is their responsibility to keep themselves saved. That has always been God’s prerogative. Scriptures that some people site to the contrary are twisted and misinterpreted by them.
The Bible gives us ample proof of the security of a believer who is in Christ by being born again into this family relationship as children of God.
Strongly stated, a person who has been truly saved, born again, redeemed by Christ’s blood, CANNOT by any action on his part or God’s, LOSE the salvation granted to him. Our faithful creator will not allow that to happen.
Jude 1:24 “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present [you] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.” People need to realize the implications of this verse on the belief that it is possible for one to lose his salvation.
Here’s what it is: IF one can fall from grace so as to lose his salvation the implication is that Jude was wrong when he assured us that God “is able to keep you from falling....” If we can fall, GOD HAS TO LET US GO !!! Therefore, God is not all powerful after all, not omnipotent. He cannot do what he promises, therefore none of what we read in this Bible is trustworthy! ! ! And we are without hope in this world.
Jude was NOT WRONG, his inspired writing IS TRUE and it is men who are liars and false prophets who teach the falling from grace doctrine unto their own confusion and delusion.
1 Th 5:23 “.....and [I pray God] your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful [is] he that calleth you, who also will do [it].”
The majority of professing Christians assume and some firmly believe that it is possible to lose or forfeit personal salvation by some terrible sin or backsliding from one’s Christian commitment. Why so? There are at least three reasons:
A. They have known of Christians who claimed to have renounced their faith, fell into sin, or somehow lost their salvation. To prove they lost it requires proof they had it to begin with.
B. They are ignorant of the Bible teaching on this subject. Have you noticed that there are many authorities on the Bible who have never read it much less studied it intensively? Or,
C. They take an ambiguous verse somewhere and misconstrue it to mean such a thing is possible. Or take a verse totally out of context and apply it to something different from the contextual use. That is abuse of the scriptures.
When we say we are saved once and forever, we do not mean any of these next few things:
1. That we cannot sin in our flesh. We can. 1 John 1:8 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
This was written to fellow believers by John the apostle. The context is clear on that. John wrote this epistle to dispel their ignorance and fears about their salvation experience, and to help their joy in Christ to be full and satisfying.
He further encouraged them not to make a practice of sinning now that they have become Christians. But if they do sin, and they would because they are still in the flesh, their advocate, Jesus Christ, is the propitiation for those sins, (1 Jn 2.2). That means that Christ already paid the price of their remission. Based on this, we confess our sins, 1 Jn 1:9, and he forgives us of those sins and cleanses us from those unrighteous deeds.
Some weird persons now asks, “but, what if we do not confess our sins. Doesn’t this mean we would go to hell if we died without confessing them.” NO! Remember, Jesus already paid for them at Calvary. The lack of confession of them has no bearing upon the fact that those sins have already been paid for. If paid for, how could it be possible that God would send us to hell for a sin or sins which have been covered by the blood of Jesus? ? ?
What benefit then is confession of our sins? Why not just go on as if we had done no wrong? If paid for, why confess them? Why should Christians even bother to pray for the forgiveness of our daily shortcomings and sins? This has to do with maintaining good fellowship with the Father and others in the family of God and in our church. To be in fellowship with God we must admit it when we have sinned and seek His forgiveness.
Our Savior is offended by our sins. We confess them in repentance to say, “Heavenly Father, I am truly sorry for my wrong behavior. My spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak.” Jesus understands that: Heb 4:15 “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities (Gr. Weaknesses/feeblenesses); but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin.16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

2. Neither do we mean that we cannot stumble or fall. Falling does not mean falling out of God’s grace. That was impossible even in Old Testament understanding. Ps 37:23 “The steps of a [good] man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth [him with] his hand.”
Falling has to do with failing in our duties as Christians. Failing to keep His word, and failing to resist temptations when they come. Failing to attend church and give of our support means.
One of the most misconstrued verse in the bible is, Ga 5:4 “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.” People who use this verse as a proof that it is possible to fall from grace, do injustice to the Scripture and therefore lie and deceive others into thinking that is what it teaches.
Read the context and you will find the argument is not about the possibility that a Christian can lose his salvation. It is about Jews who taught that it was necessary to keep the law of Moses for hope of personal salvation. Paul tells them that in doing so, they have fallen from the whole concept of salvation by grace, which is salvation without our good works, but one which is by grace through faith and not of ourselves, it is a gift from God not because of our works (law keeping) lest we should boast.(Eph 2:8-9) What Christ had accomplished on the cross would have no benefit/effect for them, if they trusted in law keeping. They missed the whole point of receiving “grace” which is God’s unmerited favor without their good works being a part of it.
Our salvation is NOT by a combination of grace and works. Paul argues in Romans 11:6 that such thinking was inconceivable. To mix them makes grace no more grace. “And if by grace, then [is it] no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if [it be] of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” Grace is the unmerited favor of God. Our personal good works are not required to make grace effective. Tit 3:5 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us,....;” Neither does God save us by his mercy and grace without our working for it, and then require us to work hard to keep it.

3. Nor do we mean that God overlooks our sins and will not punish us if we fail to confess them. He deals with us by chastisement when we sin and do not confess them.
Heb 12:8 “But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye (illegitimate) bastards, and not sons.”
Ps 89:31 “If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; 32 Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. 33 Nevertheless my loving kindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.”
I Co 11:32 “But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.” Because our Savior loves us with an unchanging love, he takes his children out to the wood shed occasionally. When under chastisement we may be heard to cry out, “Lord, what did I do wrong?” But deep down, we know!

I. ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED IS A BIBLE FACT.
This is contrary to the popular opinion of people who intellectually assume certain ideas without consulting the Bible.
Our ETERNAL SECURITY is FACT, Because:
1. The believer is safe in Jesus & the Father’s hands. There is no safer place to be. Jesus own words confirm this.
Joh 10:28 “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father's hand. 30 I and [my] Father are one.” Jump out? That’s ridiculous.

2. The Lord does the saving and anything God does is forever. That was inspired preacher Solomon’s conclusion. Ec 3:14 “I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth [it], that [men] should fear before him.”

3. The Lord is merciful to the sins of His elect children. Heb 8:12 “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” He knows we will make some big mistakes, make fools of ourselves, do some ungodly things while in this life due to the weakness of our flesh. But He asks only that we repent of them and seek to have a life void of offence. Ac 24:16 “And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and [toward] men.” Ac 3:19 “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out... ”

4. Christ is the propitiation for OUR sins.
1 Jo 2:1 “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world.”
Jesus knows how we are tempted to do wrong. He was in all points tempted as we are but He was able NOT to sin. We aren’t so gifted as to be able to resist every temptation.
Paul reminds us of our own individual struggles to do right and resist doing wrong. Rom 7:18 “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.” But don’t forget, when we are guilty of doing wrong because of the weakness of our flesh, Jesus paid for it all.

5. Under no condition will Christ cast out His children.
John 6:37 “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Jesus referred to his disciples as His children. The book of Hebrews tells us that an O.T. prophesy, Isa 8.18, was fulfilled in Jesus, Heb 2:13 “And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.” Beloved if we are His children, we are safe forever. He cannot deny his own, never in a million years.

6. Believers in Jesus are sealed unto Him forever.
Eph 1:13 “In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”
Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”
2 Co 1:20 “For all the promises of God in him [are] yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. 21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, [is] God; 22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” Earnest means guarantee. This is our assurance of eternal life. A positive contract between Him and us that we will not fail to be one day where He is. Nothing in this world can keep us out of His Kingdom or out of the Heaven He has gone to prepare for us.

7. A child of God is preserved for eternity.
Ps 37:28 “For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.”
Ps 97:10 “Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.:”
Does anyone really suppose that Satan has more power than God who preserves us so as to steal us away from the Almighty?
Jude 1:1 “Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, [and] called:” What does preserve mean? It is something regarded as reserved for a particular person. Something kept. Sealed for our destiny to be with Christ.

8. Our life is hid with Christ in God.
Col 3:3 “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, [who is] our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”
What a precious hiding place. Yes, we died to sin when we got saved and we are not to live like that anymore. We are to count ourselves dead to a sinful life and alive unto our spiritual life in Christ. We are hidden in Him. He is our shelter in the time of storm. This is safety. No demon or devil can reach us here. He hides us in himself as a mother hen hides her chicks under her wings. We are in a comfortable safe place where worry, fear, anxiety, or alarm are just other words.
Conc.: We don’t have to settle for “if we get to heaven.” We can KNOW for sure right now. How? Take God at his word. Heb 7:25 “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Jesus will save you to the uttermost if you go to God through Him. Not try to save you,
but “save” you. Absolutely and totally, forever. Count on it.

PART 2 P.M.
II. WHAT CAN SEPARATE A CHILD OF GOD FROM THE LOVE OF GOD? The short of it. Nothing!
For a saved person to become lost again so as to go to hell when he dies, someone or some thing must have greater power to snatch him, than God has to keep him. Is that even possible? No, absolutely not! 1 Pe 1:5 “(you) Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.....” Don’t misunderstand, this does not say that “faith” keeps us. It says the power of God keeps us. Faith accepts that, faith trusts in that, faith doesn’t add anything to that, it simply embraces it.
What are some things which people feel have the potential to separate us from God’s grasp?
1. The power of the evil one, Satan. Here’s proof that Satan cannot get us back in his clutches again. 1 Jo 5:18 “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.” Jesus calls Satan that “wicked one” in other scriptures.
I know that many people will frown upon what I am about to say but an improved translation to better convey the intent of these words would be this: We know that whosoever is born of God does not practice sin; but Jesus the begotten of God keeps him, and that wicked one, Satan, touches him not.
There are reputable translators most of whom you’ve not heard of unless you’ve done extensive studying, who have similarly rendered this verse in their New Testament translations by adding words not in the Greek text, but are inserted like the italicized words of the KJV in an effort to clarify the writers meaning. This is a common necessity in translating from one language to another.
For example, the Williams translation, “but the Son who was born of God continues to keep him,”and the RSV which says, “...He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him,” and The Amplified Bible, John 5:18 “We know [absolutely] that anyone born of God does not [deliberately and knowingly] practice committing sin, but the One Who was begotten of God carefully watches over and protects him [Christ's divine presence within him preserves him against the evil], and the wicked one does not lay hold (get a grip) on him or touch [him].” Now, that’s exactly what I think this verse in KJV is saying. Yes, I am a KJV champion, but I also know that some verses are a little ambiguous and need interpretation and clarification so as to agree with other clear scriptures. Such is this one. “Rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Tim 2:15)

2. The power of Sin. Never forget, Christ has the dominion over us now. Sin does not. Ro 6:14 “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” Grace converts and sin collapses. Grace saves and sin cowers from it. Grace rules and sin submits to it. Grace reigns and sin resigns itself to have lost the battle for the soul.

3. The power of this world. Some say that the power of this world can overcome our Christian birth right and draw us back onto the road to destruction. But NO, 1 Jo 5:4 “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, [even] our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” You people believe that, don’t you? ? We’re overcomers in Christ.
4. The power of affliction. Satan thought he could get Job to curse God by the power of physical affliction. It didn’t work! We may be facing some future times of sufferings, but that cannot separate us from our Savior. Ro 8:35 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” None of these have power over us to separate us from God.

5. The power of self. Can I forfeit my salvation by rejecting it by my will? No. What about those who have made professions of faith, and later rejected it all? Heb 10:38 “Now the just shall live by faith: but if [any man] draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.” What about those who do draw back? They were never actually born again/saved, but had only an intellectual faith. A belief of the mind, not the heart. What they did by drawing from their profession proved it. They were dogs and sows whose true nature had to come out sooner or later.
2 Pe 2:20 “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known [it], to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog [is] turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.”
This doesn’t say those people were actually saved. Only that they had stepped away from the pollutions of the world due to what they had learned about Jesus Christ only to become entangled again in their old ways. Better for them that they had not gotten so close to salvation as to get there only to refuse it. The proverb explains their true unsaved condition. They were still dogs, or still sows who had never become one of the Lord sheep.
In the parable of the sower there was only one who heard the word and then brought forth fruit. Lu 8:15 “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep [it], and bring forth fruit with patience.” The others who heard were examples of the dogs and sows because when persecution, temptation, the cares and riches of this life came at them hard and fast, they bore no evidence of salvation. They turned away, they refused to follow what they had professed thus proving themselves dogs or sows.

6.The power of the darkness of this world. Eph 5:8 “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now [are ye] light in the Lord: walk as children of light:” 1Pe 2:9 “But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” No amount of darkness can quench the light of a single spark. The darkness of this world has no power over us. We don’t live there anymore. A real believer CANNOT ever again be a part of the darkness of unbelief.

7. The power of a multitude of things. Rom 8:36 “As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” No, we are more than conquerors in all of them. Doesn’t that sound like once saved, always safe? ?

III. FURTHERMORE, THE BELIEVER IS SECURE BECAUSE:
1. Salvation is all by God’s grace and none of ourselves. Ro 4:4 “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Tit 3:5 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”

2. We have already been given the gift of eternal life.
*We know we have the Son. Having Him we also have eternal life. 1Jo 5:11 “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; [and] he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” Hear the words of Jesus to Martha in Joh 11:25 “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: (the margin says, “though he die, he shall live again”) 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” In Joh 10:28 we are told that we’ve been given eternal life and cannot perish, “And I GIVE unto them eternal life; and they shall NEVER perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand.”
*We know we have passed out of death. Joh 5:24 “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.”
*We know that the sins of our flesh are NOT CHARGED against a child of God. Rom 4:8 ‘Blessed [is] the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” Ro 8:33 “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? [It is] God that justifieth.”
*We know that God will accept us as faultless in Christ before His almighty presence. Don’t let the devil fool you by pointing to your present imperfect condition. Jude 1:24 “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present [you] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,”
We are faultless in Christ. We are robed with His righteousness. We are covered by his blood. When the Father looks at us, He does so through all that Christ is. We are perfect in Christ, how could we not be presented faultless before the Father? 2 Co 5:21 “For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
*We know that we have been foreknown, elected, and predestinated to be conformed to the image of God’s son. That cannot fail unless God is dethroned. Is that likely?
Eph 1:3 ‘Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly [places] in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; [even] in him: 11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”

Conc.: falling from grace is a lie promoted by the devil. Those who believe it are being deceived and deluded and kept from having the joy of assurance of personal salvation.
Paul Prather the religious writer for Herald Leader and church pastor, said recently in his article that he had a lot of questions to get answered by the Lord when and if he gets to heaven. “IF!” Red lights flashing, horns sounding, alarms going off, wheels screeching. Oh, I know, he’s one of those who is NEVER quite sure he is living righteously enough to be personally worthy to get into heaven when he dies. “IF” he gets to heaven, wow! I’m glad I am not in his shoes with that big uncertainty about heaven. I know whom I have believed in. Don’t you?
We don’t have to settle for “if we get to heaven.” We can KNOW for sure right now. How? Take God at his word. Heb 7:25 “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Jesus will save you to the uttermost if you go to God through Him. Not try to save you, but “save” you. Absolutely and totally, forever. Count on it.
Jesus knows all things, right? If he knows that we could get lost again after he saves us, why would he bother to save us in the first place? JESUS SAVES AND KEEPS WHAT IS HIS. Want more proof?
Joh 17:6 “I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. 7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. 8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received [them], and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. 9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. 10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. 11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we [are]. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition (Judas); that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil(one, wicked one, Satan).” If this is the true meaning, and I believe that it is because it is consistent with other verses, and Jesus always gets His prayers answered for God “to keep us”, this is assuring us that Satan cannot steal us away from Jesus. No sheep of the Lord will ever be in hell. No sheep will ever return to being a goat. No sheep can ever become a sow, or a dog. NO SHEEP IS CAPABLE OF DRAWING BACK. To me, that sounds like ONCE SAVE, ALWAYS SAFE. ONCE IN GRACE, ALWAYS IN GRACE. ETERNAL SECURITY. PRESERVATION OF THE SAINTS.

Click on the MP3 Amazing Grace icon. 

The music will continue as you visit other pages in our site.  If you wish to click on any other audio file you must CLOSE this one first.

Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace.mp3
MP3 audio file [20.9 MB]

Revelation 11:17 "Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned." 

 

SERVICES:

SUNDAY MORNING:

Bible Study 9:30
Worship 10:30

 

SUNDAY EVENING:



Choir Practice 5:00



Men’s Prayer 5:15



Evening Worship 6:00

 

WEDNESDAY EVENING:

Men’s Prayer 5:15

Sermon 6:00

Print | Sitemap
© Earl Thomas