You may have heard that, some months back, California law regarding shoplifting was changed. Now, stealing merchandise worth $950 or less is just a misdemeanor rather than a felony. The result is that law enforcement generally doesn’t bother to investigate any shoplifting cases in which less than $950 in merchandise is stolen, and if there are charges, prosecutors dismiss them. As you might guess, shoplifting is on the rise in California.
Now, imagine for a moment that you live in California, and you overhear a conversation between two people. One says: “Did you know we can get away with some very significant shoplifting?” and the other replies: “Yes! As long as the value of what we take is $950 or less, there are no consequences!”
Would you surmise that you were hearing a conversation between two upstanding citizens who are guided by inward moral convictions? I suspect not. Rather, you would surmise that you were listening to two people who are very likely to shoplift that day. People who are guided by inward moral conviction would never speak enthusiastically of an opportunity to steal someone else’s property—a violation of the second greatest commandment and the Golden Rule. On the contrary, they would only speak negatively about it.
Now, as odd as it may seem at this point, apply that principle to professing Christians who believe in “once-saved-always-saved,” also known as “unconditional eternal security.” They are often talking about the wonderful fact that it is impossible to forfeit salvation because of God’s amazing grace, and that no sin can keep them out of heaven. Whether they are right or wrong in their belief, their hearts are being revealed. Clearly, they are happy with the prospect of being able to sin with impunity. Or to say it another way, they are glad they can—without fear of any significant consequence—do what offends God, sends other people to hell, and drove nails through Jesus’ hands and feet. That is no exaggeration. Perhaps even more tragic, they are happy they can do what demonstrates that they do not love the Lord. Recall that Jesus said: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments…. He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me” (John 14:15, 21).
Again, imagine hearing a conversation between two professing Christians. One says, “Did you know we can sin and have no fear of forfeiting our salvation?” and the other replies: “Yes! No matter how we live our lives, we are guaranteed heaven!” Would you surmise that you were listening to two people who hated sin, were striving to avoid it at all costs, and who loved God with all their hearts? Of course not. Rather, you would surmise that you were listening to two people who are very likely to sin, and who have embraced a theology that makes allowance for it.
And that is what is at the heart of the doctrine of unconditional eternal security. It is an undeniable license to sin. It attracts those who desire such a license.
Recall that Jesus also said: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter” (Matt. 7:21). He then doubled down on that same warning by foretelling that He will say to many on the day of judgment, “Depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness” (Matt. 7:23). How could anyone who claims to believe in Jesus advocate the idea that sin has no eternal consequences as long as we “believe in Jesus”? If you believe in Jesus, you must believe that sin has eternal consequences, because that is what Jesus said!
Thus, we cannot help but wonder: Why are some professing Christians always trying to convince others of their belief in “unconditional eternal security”?
Why are they not rather talking about how much they love God and how they are striving to prove it by obeying Him, and how terrible they feel when they miss the mark until they confess their failure and receive His forgiveness?
Why the focus on an alleged grace that diminishes the gravity of sin—something so offensive to God that only the cruel death of His sinless Son could make atonement for it?
Why is there no concern that their doctrine might lead others to take sin lightly, or ignore their guilt, or feel no urgency to make confession or ask forgiveness?
Whose example, among the New Testament authors—who consistently warned their readers against sin, calling them to be “holy” and “blameless” (Eph. 1:4; 5:27; Phil. 1:10; 2:15; Col. 1:22; 2 Pet. 3:14; Jude 24)—are they following?
All questions well-worth considering.
Once you have repented, believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, and been born again, all that you want to do is obey Him—every second of every day. You will become His bond-servant who will live to please Him. You will no longer be gravitating towards false-grace teachers—wolves in sheep’s clothing—as you grasp for excuses for your private and public sins. Their teaching will be utterly repulsive you, as it is to God Himself.
If you will repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, you will be truly born again, and you will know it experientially, and not just because your pastor told you that you were born again. You will have truly discovered “the treasure hidden in the field” (Matt. 13:34), worth giving up everything to possess. Don’t wait another second!
