The Faithfulness of God – Secure in His Hands
In the previous article, we emphasised the importance of continuing in the faith and living out the reality of one’s profession in Christ. Paul writes, “. . . in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard” (Colossians 1:22-23 ESV). In this passage, as in many others, the Holy Spirit sets a condition (“continue in the faith, stable and steadfast”) for receiving the blessings of salvation – the blessings of our present status as those declared righteous before God and the blessings of our future deliverance from sin's presence. These blessings clearly depend on our perseverance in faith. This prompts important questions: Does our responsibility imply that salvation can be lost? Does our eternal security rely on our own efforts?
Salvation: By Grace, Not Works
The Bible is clear: salvation is not achieved by works. If it were, we would have reason to boast before God (Romans 4:1-2). Instead, as Paul explains, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness” (Romans 4:3 ESV). Similarly, the sanctification process as we grow in holiness, depends on faith. Paul exhorts believers, “So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11 NLT). Salvation is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-9) and as believers we rely entirely on God’s grace, yet, we are also responsible to live daily in dependence upon Him.
Salvation: Past, Present, and Future
It is important to recognise that Scripture presents salvation as a threefold reality:
Past: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8 ESV). A Christian can look back with confidence, knowing they have been saved from the judgement of sin through faith in Jesus Christ.
Present: “. . . you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you” (1 Corinthians 15:2 ESV). Through their new relationship with Jesus, believers are empowered to overcome the power of sin in their daily lives.
Future: “Having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him” (Romans 5:9). The ultimate assurance for God’s people is, that in heaven, they will be completely free from the presence of sin and its consequences.
While we may currently enjoy a standing of perfect righteousness before God, our daily experiences remind us that our standing and our struggle are not the same. As Christians, we battle with sin and are called to put to death the deeds of our sinful nature (Romans 8:13; Galatians 5:24; Colossians 3:5). Yet, we live with the confident expectation that one day this work will be complete, and we will finally be free from the presence of sin in our lives. The ongoing battle with sin does not nullify the truth that a person is saved, or that they will ultimately be in heaven, for salvation is a past event, a present reality, and a future hope.
The Security of the Believer
The Bible affirms the believer’s security in Christ. Jesus Himself said, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one” (John 10:28-30 NLT).
The Lord Jesus had previously shown His divine power to preserve all those entrusted to His care so, regarding the disciples, He could say, "During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold" (John 17:12 NLT). Judas, however, was not a true believer despite his outward profession and the Lord did not commit Himself to keeping Judas (cp. John 2:24-25) because he was never truly saved. The other eleven disciples were different; they were genuinely saved, and the Lord entrusted Himself to them, ensuring none of them were lost. Although their faithfulness came at a great personal cost, not one of them denied the faith.
This security does not rest on our strength but on Christ’s unfailing power and promises. Paul echoes this: “The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29 ESV). Again, he teaches that God called, justified, and glorified believers, all in the past tense (Romans 8:29-30), as though every aspect was already accomplished for every believer.
We experience salvation at conversion and subsequently we come to understand that we were part of God's plan even before the foundation of the world. It is because we are included in God's eternal plan that we can be confident, from the moment of conversion, that we will also share in His future glorification of the Lord Jesus (2 Thessalonians 1:10). We are assured that our standing before Him is based on His eternal purposes (Ephesians 1:4), not on our own efforts. God’s work in salvation is absolutely unshakeable.
God’s Faithfulness to Complete His Work
Paul’s confidence in the believer’s perseverance lies in God’s faithfulness, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). From the moment of new birth (John 3:3), God sustains and protects His people: “who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful” (1 Corinthians 1:8-9).
This certainty rests on God’s ability to keep us: “to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Saviour, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever” (Jude 24-25).
Nothing Can Separate Us from God’s Love
Paul’s declaration offers unparalleled assurance: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? . . . For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come . . . shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:35-39). For those who are “in Christ”, whose faith is evident through a life of increasing conformity to God’s will, nothing – not even death – can prevent them from experiencing the fullness of salvation and eternal life.
God’s Sovereign Work and Our Responsibility
While believers are exhorted to continue in the faith, the Bible assures us that God, who calls and justifies, will also sanctify and glorify. “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day” (2 Timothy 1:12).
This dual perspective – our responsibility to persevere and God’s sovereign ability to preserve us – offers profound assurance. We are kept, not by our ability to hold fast, but by “the power of God through faith” (1 Peter 1:3-5).
Conclusion
The gospel proclaims a salvation that is complete and secure. For those who have trusted in Christ, the promise is clear: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish” (John 10:28). While believers must continue in faith and obedience, the New Testament consistently points to God’s unfailing commitment to His people. Our confidence rests not in ourselves, but in the God who calls, justifies, sanctifies, and in whose sight we are already seen as glorified (Romans 8:30).
