7. Conclusion

The security of the believer is a Biblical doctrine of great spiritual value to the those who have accepted Jesus Christ by faith. The safekeeping of the Christian by God, and not by our performance (works), allows the believer to truly experience salvation rest in Christ.

The believer's life in Christ is said to be everlasting or eternal. That is, it will never end, (John 3:16; Romans 6:23). Believers will never perish, nor will anyone be able to pluck them out of the Father's hand (John 10:28-29). They are said to be "kept by the power of God" (1 Peter 1:5); kept for Jesus Christ (Jude 1). Christ declared that all who believe have eternal life, and shall not come into condemnation (John 5:24). He is able to save them to the uttermost" (Hebrews 7:25).

The entire Trinity is involved in the safekeeping of Christians. The Father has given believers to the Son (John 17:9), the Son has asked that they be kept (John 17:11, 20), and the Holy Spirit dwells within every believer forever (John 14:16; 1 Corinthians 6:19). These revealed truths are according to God's divine purpose and promise. Passages which seem, to some, to contradict eternal security are found to be related to rewards, chastisement, and the fact that an absence of good works reveals a lack of genuine faith (Philippians 2:12-13).

Those who believe in conditional salvation must now consider whether they, in fact, have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Could it be that some are trusting in their own performance in the Christian life to keep their salvation rather than trusting in the finished work of the Jesus on the cross? The conditional view of salvation not only denies God's word, but it also produces a legalistic, fear-inspiring, and experience-oriented Christian walk. How can one share the riches of God's grace to the unsaved when he believes his own salvation is not sure?

If good works are necessary to maintain faith, and the maintenance of faith is necessary for salvation, how can one avoid the conclusion that believers are saved by their good works?

"And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life." (1 John 5:11-13)

The apostle John wrote this so that we as Christians may know in our hearts and minds that eternal life is ours now since we have accepted Jesus Christ by faith. Such an assurance supplies the basis for joyful prayer and fellowship with one another, and provides us with the knowledge that God loves us. A knowledge that tells us we do not have to work in order for God to save us. We cannot work for salvation or take the smallest bit of credit for it. It is solely by the grace of God.