Losing My Religion - Unconditional Security

I've pointed out already that the Bible isn't vague on the topic of perseverance. In order to be saved in the end, the Bible says that believers must persevere in the faith. Without that perseverance, there is no reason to count on final salvation. That is the "Conditional Security" side. I will point out that this side goes on to say, "So, if you don't persevere in the faith you will lose your salvation" and "It happens ... a lot." And I've already gone on record as saying that I did not concur with that suggestion. The texts that require perseverance do not say anything about losing salvation. Indeed, you won't find the phrase anywhere in Scripture.

I may be confusing you now, but the question is only made worse when you consider what the Bible has to say on the "Unconditional Security" side of the question. John had a lot to say on the subject, starting with the reason he gives for his entire first epistle:

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 5:13).

If security is conditional, how can you ever know that you have eternal life? John thinks you can. So he writes,

"He who believes in the Son has eternal life" (John 3:36).

Verb tense again. "Has". Present tense. So if salvation can be lost, then in what sense is this life "eternal"? If it can come and go, how can it be called "eternal"? (See also John 5:24; 1 John 5:11-12; etc.)

John wrote:

Everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world -- our faith (1 John 5:4).

This one places "overcomes the world" in the category of the "born of God", not those who work for it.

John also quoted Jesus several times on the topic.

"All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out ... This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day." (John 6:37, 39).

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand" (John 10:27-28).

Of note in these statements from Christ are the superlatives, the certainties, the absolutes. The "all" and the "nothing" and the "no one". There are some that the Father gives to Christ. Of them, all will come, all will be received, and none will be lost. These "sheep" are from the Father to the Son and, in His hand, impossible to remove. No one can snatch them out. That would necessarily include the sheep in question. These are absolutes.

Scripture is not vague on the topic. Clearly, repeatedly, over and over God's Word assures those who believe that He will keep them all to the end. (See, for instance, 1 Cor 1:8-9; Eph 1:13-14; 1 Thess 5:23-24; Heb 13:20-21; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 5:8-10.) Describing the New Covenant, God said, "I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me" (Jer 32:40). "They will not turn away from Me." No question. No doubt. Not gonna happen. The Bible is absolutely certain that those who are once in Christ will certainly be saved. You can be sure of it.