Eternal Security (Continued)

God's Word clearly says, "There is therefore now ______ ___________________________ to them who are _______Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). Those who believe in Christ are not ____________________________ (John 3:18 and compare John 5:24)! For a Christian to lose his salvation it would be necessary for him to be CONDEMNED! Is this possible? _______

What shall separate us from the love of Christ (Romans 8:35)? _______________ Shall tribulation?_______ Shall distress? ______ Shall persecution? _____ Shall famine? _____ Shall nakedness? _____ Shall peril? ______ Shall sword? _______

According to Romans 8:36, does God tell us that we should expect an easy life? ______ Read 2 Corinthians 11:23-28. Did Paul experience the very things mentioned in Romans 8:35? ________ Can a believer live a victorious life even in the midst of trouble and trial and suffering (Romans 8:37)? ______ Did Paul have ASSURANCE that nothing could separate him from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39)?______ What one word in verse 38 is a word of ASSURANCE? _______________________ Can an unbeliever claim the wonderful promise of Romans 8:38-39 (compare 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9)? _______ For a saved person to be lost he would have to be separated from the love of God. Is this possible? _______

What is the answer to this Biblical question: "If God be for us, who can be against us "(Romans 8:31)? ___________________ Verses 32-34 of Romans 8 prove that God is for us and not against us. Match the following statements with the correct verse in which they are found:

1.	_______	Christ died for us.
2.	_______	God the Father delivered up His own Son for all of us.	A. Romans 8:32
3.	_______	Christ makes intercession for us.	B. Romans 8:33
4.	_______	God declares us to be righteous (justifies us).	C. Romans 8:34
5.	_______	Christ rose again for us.

If the LORD is our light and salvation, do we need to fear (Psalm 27:1)? ______ If the LORD is the strength of our life then we do not need to be ________________ (Psalm 27:1). The Lord God is our refuge and strength, and a very present help in trouble and therefore we will not _______________ (Psalm 46:1-2). Because the Lord is on our ____________, we will not ___________ (Psalm 118:6). Who is our helper (Isaiah 50:7-9)? _______________________ If God is our helper, do we need to fear men (Hebrews 13:6)? _____ If the Lord is in us, do we need to fear Satan (1 John 4:4)? _____

For a believer to lose his salvation, it would be necessary for God to be against him. Is this possible? ________

8. The true believer is eternally secure in Christ because he is kept by the power of God (1 Peter 1:5).

In 1 Peter 1:5 we are told that believers are __________ by the ____________ of God through __________ unto S__________________. The word "kept" comes from a verb which means "to keep, to guard, to protect" and it is in the present tense which means that we are constantly and continually being K_________ by the P______________ of God. The verb is also in the passive voice which means that we are not the ones doing the keeping, but it is _______ who does the keeping! Does 1 Peter 1:5 say that we are kept by our own faithful living and good works? _______ We are constantly being _________ by God’s power.

How powerful is God (compare Genesis 17:1 and Revelation 19:6)? ________________________________ Is God able to save sinful men (read Matthew 19:23-26)? ______ If God is able to save us, is He also able to keep us saved (1 Peter 1:5)? _______ Whose responsibility is it to keep and guard and protect believers (1 Peter 1:5)? ___________ Is the Shepherd supposed to guard and keep the sheep or are the sheep supposed to guard and keep themselves? _____________________________________________ Is the Lord Jesus able to keep and protect His sheep (John 10:27-28)? _______ Now that we are saved, the Lord Jesus is the _____________________ and ______________________ of our ____________ (1 Peter 2:25). The word "Bishop" means "overseer," one who watches over us and protects us and keeps us from eternal harm. Christ is the Guardian of our souls!

According to Hebrews 7:25, the Lord Jesus is _________ to __________ them to the __________________ that come unto ________ through ________. He is able to keep on saving them to the uttermost. The word "uttermost" means "completely, perfectly, fully, wholly." Therefore, because of the work of Christ on our behalf, we have a perfect, complete and full salvation! And this complete salvation is forever because "He _________
______________ to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25)."

Jude tells us (in Jude 24) that God is ___________ to ____________ us from ________________, and to present us ________________________ before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy! Who was another great man of God who had assurance of God’s keeping power (read 2 Timothy 1:12)? ___________ As Paul wrote the book of 2 Timothy, did he believe that his death was close at hand (2 Timothy 4:6-8)? ______ In light of this fact, it is amazing to read 2 Timothy 4:18 and to discover that Paul had full ASSURANCE of the keeping power of God: "And the _______________ shall deliver me from ________________ evil work, and He will _______________________ me unto His ___________________________ ________________________." The verb "preserve" means "to save" and thus Paul knew that the Lord would save him unto His heavenly kingdom! Because of God’s keeping ability, our full and complete salvation is guaranteed!

Answer True or False:

________	It is the responsibility of sheep to keep themselves safe.
________	We are the Guardians of our own souls.
________	If it were possible for a saved person to be lost, then we would have to conclude that God is not able to keep and protect His children.
________	The Almighty God is fully able to keep His own and to preserve them unto His heavenly kingdom.
________	God must save us, but it is our responsibility to keep ourselves saved by living a faithful life and by doing good works that please the Lord.
________	I know that I am constantly being kept by God’s power and therefore I am thankful to the Lord and I desire to live a faithful life and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. I thank God for my so-great salvation.
________	God has saved me by His grace and He is now keeping me by His grace and someday I’ll be in heaven by the grace of God!
________	God has saved me by His grace but I’m keeping myself saved by my good works and righteous deeds!

9. The true believer is eternally secure in Christ because the Lord Jesus is in heaven as his Intercessor and Advocate.

Christ as our Intercessor (Hebrews 7:25)

Where is the Lord Jesus Christ today (Rom. 8:34)? __________________________ What is He doing there (Romans 8:34)? _____________________________ Who is He doing this for? ___________ Read Hebrews 7:25. Not only does Christ save completely all those who come to God through Him, but He also is always living in order to make __________________ for them! In both Romans 8:34 and Hebrews 7:25 the verb "intercede" is in the present tense, indicating that Christ keeps on making _____________________ for us. "To intercede" means "to pray for someone, to plead on someone’s behalf." Did Christ intercede on behalf of Simon Peter (Luke 22:31-32)? _____ Peter certainly had a lapse of faith when he denied his Lord, but Jesus prayed that his F____________ would not F___________. Do you think this prayer was answered? ______

In John 17:1-26 we find a wonderful example of an intercessory prayer. Who prayed this prayer (John 17:1)? __________________ Therefore, who is our Intercessor? _______________________ To Whom did Christ pray (John 17:1,5,11,21,24,25)? ____________________________________ In this prayer, did Christ intercede for believers or for unbelievers (John 17:9)? ____________________________ In what verse does Christ ask the Father to keep (guard, protect) those believers that belong to Him? _______________ In what verse does Christ ask the Father to keep them from the evil? _________ [Literally, "...keep them from the evil one (Satan)"] In what verse does Christ pray for His believers that they might be with Him and that they might be where He is? ________ Will this prayer be answered (John 14:3)? ________

If we could lose our salvation, then Christ would have to stop interceding for us! But the Bible tells us that He keeps on making ____________________________ for _______ (Romans 8:34). Therefore, is it possible for the believer to lose His salvation? ______

Christ as our Advocate (1 John 1:8-2:2)

What can you say about the believer who says, "I have no sin" (1 John 1:8)? _____________________________________________________ What can you say about the believer who says, "I have not sinned" (1 John 1:10)? ___________________________________________________________________ Is it true, according to 1 John 1:9, that when we sin we need to ask Christ to save us all over again? ______ When the child of God sins, what must he do (1 John 1:9)? _____________________________________ The word "confess" means "to say the same thing, to agree, to acknowledge." Therefore we must say the same thing about sin that God says. We must see our sin as God sees it. We must agree with God and with God’s Word that what we have done is sinful: "Yes Lord, I have sinned and done this wickedness in Your sight" (compare David’s prayer of confession in Psalm 51:3-4). When we confess our sins, what two things does God promise to do (1 John 1:9)? 1)____________________________________ 2)________________________________________

Did John write these things to us so that we would sin and live a defeated life (1 John 2:1)? ______ True or False: ________________ "If any man sin, then he has lost his salvation" (1 John 2:1). But if we do sin, then we know that we have an ___________________ (1 John 2:1). The verb "we have" is in the present tense and means, "We keep on having an Advocate." That is, He never stops being our Advocate. The word "advocate" means "one who is called to our side to help us, a helper in court, a defense attorney." Who is our Advocate and Helper and Defense Attorney (1 John 2:1)? _______________________________________________

When we sin, who is it that accuses us before the Father (Revelation 12:9-10)? _______________________________ Satan comes before God and says, "______________________ (write your own name) has sinned and done this evil deed, and because You are a holy God You ought to punish this believer and send him/her into the lake of fire to be under Your wrath forever." But we have an A______________________ (Helper) with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous One (1 John 2:1) and He pleads with the Father on our behalf: "O righteous Father, I know that ______________________ (your own name) has sinned and disobeyed the Word of God, but I died for that sin and Your wrath has already been poured out upon Me when I died on Calvary’s cross as his/her Substitute and My blood cleanses from all sin (1 John 1:7). My Father, You do not need to punish this believer because I was punished in his/her place!" Blessed Saviour! Perfect Substitute! Wonderful Advocate!

If we could lose our salvation, then Christ would have to stop being our Advocate. But the Bible says that "if any man ________, we keep on having an ____________________ with the ______________" (1 John 2:1). Will Christ stop being our Advocate and Helper? _____ Is it possible then for us to lose our salvation? _______

Read carefully 2 Samuel chapter 11 where we are given the account of David’s great sin. Read 2 Samuel 12:1-14 also. What two wicked deeds did David do (2 Samuel 12:9)?
1) __________________________________________________
2) __________________________________________________

In 2 Samuel 12:1-14 find the verse where David confesses his sin: Verse _______________. In Psalm 51 we have David’s prayer of confession following his great sin. Find the two verses in which David confesses his sin: Verses ______________Did David pray, "Restore unto me Thy salvation" (verse 12)? _______ Did David lose his salvation because of this great sin? ______ What did David lose (verse 12)? _________________________________________

Note: Are you experiencing the JOY of your salvation? If not, then perhaps there is sin in your life that needs to be confessed. Read Psalm 139 and pray the same prayer that David prayed in verses 23 and 24. Psalm 51 and Psalm 32 would also be good to read. Another helpful passage is 1 John chapter 1 and the first two verses in chapter 2. Notice especially 1 John 1:4—that your JOY may be full!

10. The true believer is eternally secure in Christ because God will complete the great work of salvation which He began in him (Philippians 1:6).

In Philippians 1:6 what word is a word of assurance? ________________________ Paul was fully persuaded that the One who had _____________ a good work in these Philippian believers would also ______________________ it (finish it, complete it) until the _______ of ________________ ____________________. Who was the One who began this good work in the lives of these believers? ________ Who is the One who keeps on working in them (Philippians 2:13; Hebrews 13:20-21)? __________ Will He finish this work (Philippians 1:6)? _______ Is God able to finish what He begins (Jude 24; 2 Tim. 1:12; Hebrews 7:25)? _______

What great event are believers waiting for (1 Corinthians 1:7)? ____________________________________ What great event are believers looking for (Titus 2:13)? ________________________________________________________ How do we know that this great event will take place (John 14:1-3)? _______________________________________

Were the believers in Corinth mature and healthy and growing (1 Corinthians 3:1-2)? ___________ Was the Corinthian church a united church or a divided church (1 Cor. 1:10-13; 3:3-4)? ___________________________________ Did all of the members of the Corinthian church live holy and pure lives (1 Cor. 5:1,13; 11:29-30)? ______ And yet, in spite of all their failures and sins and problems, we are amazed to discover that in 1 Corinthians 1:8 Paul tells these believers that the Lord Jesus shall _______________ them unto the ________ so that they would be _______________________ in the _________ of our Lord Jesus Christ! Is God able to finish the good work that He has begun even in Corinthian believers? _______ Even in you? _______

Philippians 1:6 and 1 Corinthians 1:8 both mention a certain day. What is this day called? _________________________________ We learn in 1 Corinthians 1:7 that this "day" will come to pass when what great event takes place? _______________________________________________________

1. _______	God begins His work in me.	A.	Philippians 2:13; Hebrews 13:21.
2. _______	God is working in me right now.	B.	1 Corinthians 1:7-8; Phil. 3:20-21.
3. _______	God will finish and will complete this great work.	C.	Acts 16:31; John 6:29; Ephesians 1:12-13; 1 Corinthians 6:11
4. _______	God delivered me, He is delivering me right now, and He will deliver me! (This speaks of our great salvation – past, present and future!)	D.	2 Corinthians 1:10

God’s eternal purpose is to conform us to what (Rom. 8:28-29)? ___________________________________________ When will God’s purpose for us be fulfilled (1 John 3:2)? ________________________________________________ According to 1 John 3:2, why will we be like Christ on that day? _______________________________________________ Does God want us to see and behold the Lord Jesus even now (2 Cor. 3:18)? ________ How can we see Christ today (Luke 24:27, 44-45; John 5:39)? _______________________________

If it were possible for a true believer to lose his salvation, then God’s eternal purpose to conform him to the image of Christ would have failed! Is this possible? _____ When God purposes to do something, will that purpose be fulfilled (Isaiah 14:27; 46:10-11)? _______

We have now finished studying ten reasons why the true believer is safe and secure in Christ forever! There are many other reasons why this is so, but these ten reasons are enough to show that the Bible clearly and most certainly teaches the eternal security of the children of God! Are you thankful for such a great Saviour and such a great salvation?

CHAPTER 8