Evangelism

You Can Be Eternally Secure

Could It Be True

Could it be true that you can be eternally secure, that you can have a relationship with God that can never be lost, no matter what you might do or believe in the future? Jesus’ answer to that question is repeatedly and emphatically “Yes!”.

Everlasting Life Lasts Forever

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Jesus promises “everlasting life” to the one who believes in Him for it. Since it is “everlasting life,” it cannot last 10, 20, or 30 years, and then be lost. It has to last forever.

If “everlasting life” could be lost, it has the wrong name. Since “everlasting life” is the only kind of life God gives, then the one who believes in Him for that life is eternally secure.

Once a Child of God, Always a Child of God

John 3:3 “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Some time ago, a boy sued his parents for divorce because he no longer wanted to be their child. But there’s not a court in the world that can undo that boy’s birth—once his parents’ child, always his parents’ child.

When Jesus says, “born again,” it’s reasonable to think He expects us to compare spiritual birth to physical birth. The moment you believe in Jesus for eternal life, you are born again as a child of God. And once you become a child of God, you’ll always be a child of God.

One Drink Lasts Forever

John 4:13-14 “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

Referring to water from a well, Jesus says, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again.” Today you’ve likely had something to drink. But you will thirst again, and drink again, and again.

In contrast to physical water, Jesus speaks of “a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” He says once you drink this water [believe in Jesus for eternal life], you “will never thirst” for it again.

It’s a Done Deal

John 5:24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”

Jesus declares eternal security to be a done deal as He describes the believer’s past, present, and future.

In the past, the believer “has passed from death into life.” In the present, the believer “has everlasting life.” In the future, the believer “shall not come into judgment.” Eternal security is a done deal—past, present, and future.

By No Means Cast Out

John 6:37 “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.”

Someone might ask, “If someday I fail badly in what I do or believe, would Jesus cast me out of His presence or out of God’s family?”

Notice how Jesus clearly and emphatically answers this question. “All [no exceptions] that the Father gives Me will come to Me [believe in Me], and the one [each and every one] who comes to Me I will by no means [no exceptions] cast out.”

It All Depends on Jesus

John 6:39 “This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.”

Jesus reveals that God the Father has commanded Him to not lose one that He has given Him. Therefore, if you believe in Jesus for eternal life, your eternal security does not depend on your obedience to Jesus, but on Jesus’ obedience to the Father.

If just one person received eternal life and later lost it, then Jesus would have disobeyed the Father and not have done His will. Since Jesus always obeys the Father and always does His will, then all believers are eternally secure.

In Jesus’ and the Father’s Hand

John 10:28-29 “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.”

Jesus gives a visual picture of eternal security. If you have believed in Him for eternal life, you are in His hand and He promises He will never let you go. You are also in the Father’s hand and He promises that the Father will never let you go.

Regardless of the efforts of Satan and the world, nothing can snatch you out of Jesus’ hand or the Father’s hand. You are eternally secure.

Believers Never Die

John 11:25-26 “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die...”

If you believe in Jesus for eternal life, He promises that though you may experience physical death [“though he may die”], you will one day experience physical resurrection [“he shall live”].

He also promises that you “shall never die,” meaning you can never lose the life He gives you. You are eternally secure.

Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled

John 13:38-14:2 “The rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times. Let not your heart be troubled... In My Father’s house are many mansions... I go to prepare a place for you.”

After Jesus predicts Peter’s public denials, many would expect Him to say, “You’re in trouble, Peter. If you deny Me, you’ll lose eternal life and face God’s judgment.”

But instead, Jesus says, “Let not your heart be troubled.” He then reassures Peter, along with the other disciples, that his place in the Father’s house is secure. In these words, Jesus is teaching us that once you’re saved, you’re always saved, no matter what you might do in the future.

Do You Believe the Words of Jesus?

Do you believe the words of Jesus that you have read in this pamphlet? If so, then you have received eternal life! You are eternally secure, no matter what you might do or believe in the future. That is His repeated and emphatic promise to you.

To learn more about everlasting life and how to live in a way that pleases God, please visit the Zane Hodges Library at ZaneHodges.org

Text © 2006 by Bob Bryant and Zane Hodges

Scripture taken from New King James Version

© 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The Best News Ever

The best news ever is found in the Bible in these words spoken by Jesus,

“God so loved the world He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.”

John 3:16

Let's consider His words a phrase at a time. Jesus says, "God so loved the world." God loves everyone in the world, including you. Because He loves you, He wants you to have everlasting life which is life with God that lasts forever. If you have everlasting life, you will go to Heaven when you die.

But all of us have a problem. We have all done bad things. The Bible says, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). The person in the diagram represents everyone in the world separated from God by sin.

GOD

SIN

As the solution for our sin problem, "He gave His only Son." Jesus is God's only Son. God loved us so much that He gave Jesus, "who took away the sin of the world," when He died on the cross (John 1:29). He died for everything you have ever done wrong or ever will do wrong from the day of your birth to the day of your death. Jesus' payment for your sin is pictured in the diagram.

GOD

Next, Jesus tells you what you must do to go to Heaven. He says, "whoever believes in Him." He does not tell you to do good works, be religious, or anything else except to believe in Him for what He offers which is everlasting life. The one who believes in Jesus for everlasting life is pictured in the diagram.

GOD

JESUS

Believes

If you believe in Jesus for everlasting life, He promises you "will not perish." In other words, you will not be condemned and go to Hell when you die.

GOD

JESUS

Believes

Will Not Perish

If you believe in Jesus for "everlasting life" you have it right now. Everlasting life doesn't begin when you die. Everlasting life begins the moment you believe in Jesus for it. Jesus says, "He who believes in Me has everlasting life" (John 6:47). Since it is everlasting life, it cannot be lost.

GOD

JESUS

Believes

Will Not Perish

Has Everlasting Life

Have you believed in Jesus for everlasting life? If so, then you will go to Heaven when you die.

That's the best news ever!

Now that you have everlasting life, God wants you to grow in your relationship with Him. Here are some ways you can do this:

· Talk to Him in prayer.

· Meet with other believers.

· Read the Bible. The book of John is a great place to start.

To learn more about everlasting life and how to live in a way that pleases God, please visit the Zane Hodges Library at ZaneHodges.org

© 2006 by Bob Bryant and Zane Hodges

Revised © 2022 by Bob Bryant