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Top Ten Verses Proving Eternal Security

The Clearest Doctrine in the Bible

The Bible teaches that anyone who has put their faith in Jesus as their Savior has Eternal Life, and cannot lose their Salvation. Every single sin that they have committed or will ever commit has been paid for. Here are the 10 best verses clearly showing this from the Word of God:

  • John 6:39-40
  • 1 John 5:1
  • John 10:28-29
  • Ephesians 1:12-14
  • Romans 8:38-39
  • Romans 11:29
  • John 6:47
  • John 3:36
  • 1 John 5:13
  • John 5:24

Now we will go through these one at a time to comment on them and emphasize just what makes them so remarkable:

Verse 1 - John 6:39-40

John 6:39-40

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.

Discussion

In verse 39, Jesus states that He will not lose a single one of those who the Father has given Him. Then in verse 40, He defines that group as those that believe in Jesus. This is because we, as believers, are "kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation" (1 Peter 1:5) until a fixed point in time - which we learn from verse 40, is the day of Resurrection.

This passage is also important because it defines the "will of the Father", which sheds light on the oft-twisted passage in Matthew 7:21, where we are told that only those who "do the will of the Father" will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

The will of the Father is that every believer is to be eternally secure, and will be raised up from the dead to live forever with God in the new creation. That's why we are told in 1 John 2:17 that "he that doeth the will of God abideth forever". You can only have a place in the will of God, then, if you trust Jesus Christ as your Savior.

Verse 2 - 1 John 5:1

1 John 5:1

1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

Discussion

This verse states plainly that if you believe in Jesus, you have been born again into God's family. That means that you are made a sibling of Jesus Christ by faith alone, as John 1:12 and Galatians 3:26 also attest to. It doesn't say "will be born of God", it says "is born of God", present tense. The moment you put your faith in Christ to save you, you receive the new birth.

This new birth is born of "incorruptible seed" (1 Peter 1:23), and "cannot sin" (1 John 3:9). When we die, this is all that will remain, which is why we will never sin in Heaven. The New Man within every born-again believer is therefore as perfect as Jesus Christ, and absolutely nothing can alter that, which is why we are predestinated to be just like Him after we die (Romans 8:29).

While we live on earth, this nature of our new birth struggles against our old nature (Galatians 5:17), which is the flesh of our old birth, something I cover in-depth in an article titled Every Believer Has Two Natures. The new creature that's born of God however, is incorruptible and sinless, and so obviously cannot possibly go to Hell.

The part of you that is even capable of sinning is not the real "you" that God sees, if you have been born again (Romans 7:14-20). It's merely a remnant of your first birth which has absolutely no affect whatsoever on your new nature from the new birth.

Verse 3 - John 10:28-29

John 10:28-29

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.

Discussion

Notice in verse 28 that there is not any man that can pluck a believer out of Christ's hand. Any man includes the believer themselves. Verse 29 also says that we are in the Father's hand - yet another witness to the fact that our Salvation is guaranteed by God Almighty. Those "given" to Christ are the ones being discussed (verse 29), and as we saw in John 6:39-40, this refers to believers in Jesus.

Going further, we are not only in Jesus's hand, we are a part of His hand and His body (Ephesians 5:30). For a believer to lose their Salvation would require the body of Jesus Christ to be mutilated - it cannot happen.

Verse 4 - Ephesians 1:12-14

Ephesians 1:12-14

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.

Discussion

This passage shows that every single believer is sealed with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit the moment they believe. This Holy Spirit is the "earnest" (down payment) of our inheritance, meaning that God seals us to prove that He is serious about not losing a single one of those who have trusted in Christ.

The indwelling of the Holy Spirit, then, is proof that a believer is destined to inherit in the Heavenly Kingdom of God. This is why the Bible says our "inheritance" is "incorruptible", and "reserved in Heaven" for us (1 Peter 1:4).

The Bible is replete with verses teaching that the Holy Spirit lives inside of every single believer (Ephesians 4:30, Romans 8:9: 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19: 2 Corinthians 1:22, 5:5, etc.), and this passage shows us that we are sealed until a fixed point in time - until the "redemption of the purchased possession", which refers to the Resurrection when we receive a new, glorified body (Romans 8:23).

Furthermore, we are called a purchased possession - something owned by God himself right now. This is why we are said to be "bought with a price" (1 Corinthians 6:20, 7:23), that price being Christ's own blood (Acts 20:28). The entire price for our justification has already been paid, and nothing can change that.

The Apostle Paul also acknowledges the fact in a parallel verse in Ephesians 4:30 that it's possible to grieve the Holy Spirit (due to misbehavior), but is clear in stating that even such ones are "sealed unto the day of redemption". A similar statement is made in 2 Corinthians 1:22.

Since we are sealed with the Holy Spirit, it is God Himself that secures our Salvation. Not only are we in the Son's hand, and the Father's hand, but the Holy Sprit is in us. Our Salvation is never put in our hands to keep because we aren't reliable. Instead it is kept secure by the three-fold witness of each member of the Trinity.

Verse 5 - Romans 8:38-39

Romans 8:38-39

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.

Discussion

Notice that the Apostle Paul says that neither "things present, nor things to come" can separate us from the love of God. Can you tell me anything that this doesn't include? There's absolutely no conceivable action done at any point by anyone (obviously, this includes yourself) that can separate us from the love of God.

This bears witness to the truth that once someone is "sanctified by faith" (Acts 26:18) and made holy by the payment of Jesus Christ, they are safe forever, as Hebrews 10:14 says, "by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified". Once someone is sanctified, they are sanctified and perfected forever. The sanctification of the believer is irrevocable, and nothing can possibly change that.

Furthermore, why say something like this in the first place? Was there ever any doubt about God's faithfulness? Of course not. No one questions God's power to keep us saved, they question their own role to play and whether they can hold up their "part". These verses are only meaningful, then, if they are discussing the fact that none of our sinful actions, regardless of their origin, can affect our eternal destiny. Otherwise, this, and all the verses about God's faithfulness above, become trite, meaningless statements, as there was never any question as to whether God would uphold His "end of the bargain".

All of the verses in this article, then, are given by God to set your mind at ease and debunk the idea that you can lose your Salvation. They do this by emphasizing God's own faithfulness and power, as His work is the sole basis for our Salvation in the first place (2 Corinthians 5:21). You never had a "part" to do in keeping or earning your Salvation. If you had a part to play in keeping yourself saved, you would without question mess your part up. That's why God does all the work Himself, and emphasizes this to us over, and over, and over again.

Verse 6 - Romans 11:29

Romans 11:29

29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

Discussion

The verse states that God's gifts are without repentance, meaning they will never be snatched back from those to whom they've been given, and God will never relinquish His promise to someone. Why is this significant? Because the Apostle Paul calls Salvation/Eternal Life a "gift" no less than 7 times in the previous chapters (Romans 5:15-18, 6:23).

Furthermore, Salvation is called a "gift" two other times, notably Ephesians 2:8-9, and John 4:10. Even common sense says that a gift that has been given to someone cannot be taken away. It cannot have caveats or stipulations. The definition of a gift is something given for free, to keep. And the Apostle Paul affirms that here in no uncertain terms.

Verse 7 - John 6:47

John 6:47

47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

Discussion

It's a wonder how with verses like this in the Bible someone can come to any conclusion besides that Eternal Life is a free gift received by faith alone. How can Christ be more clear? He clearly states that those who put their trust in Him as their Savior have - as a present possession - Everlasting Life .

And if I have, right now, Everlasting Life, then how can I lose it? If I could lose it for any reason, could it be called everlasting? It didn't last forever! It would need to be called Probationary Life, Temporary Life, We'll See Life, Hopefully Life, or Maybe Life. If I have Everlasting Life now, I will never, ever die, no matter what, otherwise it's not everlasting. God is not duplicitous or deceptive - He says what He means.

Verse 8 - John 3:36

John 3:36

36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Discussion

Another crystal-clear statement affirming that those who believe have Everlasting Life as a present possession. The similar statement in John 3:18 says that those who believe are not condemned.

I would like to point out the obvious - the time period "Everlasting" or "Eternal" includes all of the time from when you get saved until you die. This is something that we have now, will have when we die, and will have forever after that.

The fact is that if there has ever been a person who has trusted Christ to save them who doesn't have Eternal Life, then these verses are deceptive, meaningless, inconsequential statements.

This is true despite dishonest attempts to redefine faith to mean some nondescript level of ongoing obedience (works), which as the Scriptures show, is patently absurd (Romans 4:5, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 11:6).

If (and since) Eternal Life is something that can be possessed currently, that means it's something obtained in a single moment in time. Salvation is not a lifelong process, it's an event - when you receive the new birth by faith. Did your first birth take a lifetime? No, you have a definitive birthday that you can look back on. If you put your faith in Christ alone to get you to Heaven, you have a spiritual birthday that happened in a moment in time.

Verse 9 - 1 John 5:13

1 John 5:13

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.

Discussion

Not only do we have Eternal Life as a present possession, but God wants us to know this, and be confident in this fact. John tells us that we should "know that (we) have Eternal Life" - and why? Because we "believe on the name of the Son of God". No works mentioned, because works have nothing to do with Salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 11:6, Romans 4:5).

We know that we have Eternal Life because we have trusted the Savior that God provided for us to save us from Hell through His payment for sins on the cross. We have ceased trusting in our works (Isaiah 64:6) to get us to Heaven, and instead put our trust in Christ alone to get us to Heaven.

That's why we can never lose our Salvation. All of our sins are gone, and that payment is based on the work of another person entirely - it had nothing to do with our works to begin with. When we trusted in Jesus Christ to save us, all of our sins past, present, and future were paid for and are gone forever (Revelation 1:5). When Christ died on the cross, all of your sins were future. He's outside of time, which is why He's called the "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Revelation 13:8).

Verse 10 - John 5:24

John 5:24

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.

Discussion

Yet another statement that proves that we have Eternal Life as a present possession. And notice - we shall not - future tense - come into condemnation. This hearkens to many passages we've already discussed, especially Romans 8:38-39.

Also notice that the one who believes "is passed" from death unto life. It's a completed operation, not a lifelong process.

In no circumstance can we come into eternal condemnation in the future, because we are washed clean of all our sins in the blood of Christ (Revelation 1:5: 1 Corinthians 6:11). Never again can we be condemned, regardless of what takes place, because we are redeemed by the Savior.

What about murder? Paid for. Moses killed a man and hid him in the sand. Paul was an active participant in putting Christians to death when he was a leader of the Pharisees. Adultery? Paid for. David committed adultery, got the husband drunk, and then had him killed. Lying? Paid for. Peter denied Jesus and told people he didn't even know who He was. Abraham lied everywhere he went and led people to believe that his wife was his sister because he was afraid they'd kill him. Idolatry? Paid for. Solomon (as far as we know) died an idolater, and he wrote three books of the Bible.

Suicide? Paid for. Sampson killed himself and he's listed as one of the heroes of the faith in Hebrews chapter 11. Theft? Paid for. Jesus looked to the dying thief and says "today you'll be with me in Paradise". Drug and alcohol abuse? Paid for. Noah and Lot got blackout drunk, and Lot slept with his own daughters. As you can see, the Bible is not like other "holy books" which hide their heroes' sins. The Bible is brutally honest in it's depiction of even the best of men, which is why David says "every man at his best state is altogether vanity" (Psalm 39:5).

Yet despite my sins, I am washed clean forever, and as far as God is concerned, I am as white as snow (Isaiah 1:18). This forgiveness was purchased by the suffering and death of Jesus Christ, and His resurrection confirmed the purchase and secured our redemption.

We reap what we sow in this life (Galatians 6:7), and God will chasten us if we misbehave (1 Corinthians 11:32, Hebrews 12:6) just like any good father would, but as far as our eternal, judicial standing before God is concerned, we are as spotless as Jesus Christ. Our new birth that made us a son/daughter of His is, eternally speaking, all that He sees.

Blessings in this life, earning eternal rewards in Heaven (1 Corinthians 3:14-15), and avoiding God's chastening here on earth, are the motivations given to a Christian to live righteously. Threatening His children with Hell is never something that God uses to "motivate" you anywhere in either Testament, as such a thing is absurd and impossible.

Logically, if you could lose your Salvation, then if God loved you at all, He'd take you home to Heaven the moment you believed. He wouldn't leave you in a precarious situation for decades, dangling your soul over Hell the whole time. In such a situation, living a long life would be a tremendous curse. The doctrine that you can lose your Salvation doesn't even make sense on basic logical grounds.

Conclusion

I hope you are confident in your assurance of Salvation, as that was the point of this article. If you have trusted Christ to save you, you have Eternal Life, and that life, by the basic definition of the word "eternal", and many Biblical proofs, can never, ever be lost. As far as God's concerned, you are as righteous as Jesus Christ, having God's very own righteousness imputed to you (Philippians 3:9).

Every Christian denomination which teaches that you can lose your Salvation nullifies faith alone. They may even espouse faith alone for Salvation - but common sense says that if your actions can cause you to lose that Salvation (or "prove you never had it" - same consequence, same emphasis), that's not faith alone. That's faith plus behavior.

It's also important to mention that "faith" really just means believing something is true. Belief in Jesus is simple trust in Him, instead of yourself, for Salvation from Hell/entrance into Heaven. Beware of attempts to redefine faith to mean "works", keeping in mind the clear distinction between the two made in Romans 4:5 and Ephesians 2:8-9:

Romans 4:5

5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Ephesians 2:8-9

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Once you are saved, you are always saved, and that applies even if you stop believing altogether (2 Timothy 2:13), as believing false religions/false doctrine is a work of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-20) which any believer is susceptible to.

The teaching that you can lose Salvation demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of what happened at Calvary. Jesus paid for all of your sins. Once He saves you, He doesn't need your help keeping you saved. It's not a cooperative effort. He either does it all from start to finish, or you are your own savior. Grace is completely nullified if it requires any work on your end:

Romans 11:6

6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

Now please, stop worrying about losing your Salvation! When those thoughts arise, throw them in the garbage, and remember the promises discussed above, rather than turning your thoughts to your behavior, which will never approach perfection. Most Christians live in constant uncertainty and fear, because they are never taught any of this. This is why this is such a vital doctrine, and I hope that this article has shown you that's it's also a doctrine firmly rooted in the Word of God.

Further Reading

I wrote a short book entitled Eternal Security - Ten Biblical Proofs, which expounds this doctrine in much greater detail. It's available to read, always for free, by clicking here.