I know this is a very old argument, but for some reason, right now I need to settle it in my heart once again. My overall goal is to be able to bring the peace and joy of the Good News to God’s children. To free them from fear and doubt.

For the these reasons, the Lord, lately, keeps returning me to the need to prove to myself, once again, whether our salvation is secure or not.  I personally have believed for a long time that it is.  I see so many in the Body trapped in cycles of sin and I believe it is because their behavior is such a focus. Meaning, focus on sin leads me to more sin. I have been in a season of taking many back to roots of salvation and what was purchased for them. I feel like this issue of whether or not we are secure in salvation causes many to fear and is the root of these cycles.  

I was personally saved at age 8, during a Catholic mass.  The Parable of the Sower was read as part of the liturgical calendar.  No explanation was given, but I gave my heart to the Lord, asking Him to make it good soil.  He took me up on it.  No one knew I had been saved.  We didn’t talk about such things. I’m sure no one knew why I was crying.  I didn’t remember when it had happened for years, until the Lord told me.

I grew up in a very religious Catholic sect, was serious in my pursuit of understanding in it.  At some point, I realized that, according to what I had been taught, even though I was committed to a holy life, unless I walked out of a perfect confession and got hit by a bus, it was incredibly unlikely that I would go to Heaven.  Purgatory at best.  I turned away from the church and decided to do what I wanted.  That’s about when I met Bill…at the time He was Baptist.

So when I came into Protestant theology, it was through a pretty Calvinist lens.  However, like most people, I sit somewhere between Calvinism and Arianism. Frankly, part of me hates even having names to categorize those beliefs. Thankfully I was introduced to the Bible largely through Bible Study Fellowship, where denominational overtones were not allowed.  I got to hear from Holy Spirit for myself.

The most helpful thing in the Bible that I knew at the time, to help me receive grace, was the thief on the cross.  He didn’t have time to go to confession, get baptized, take communion… He simply humbled himself before the King.  In doing so, He acknowledged both his own low place and the King’s authority.  Simple.  Mercy received. Why do we think it is more complicated for us?  Is it because we have to go on living?

Over the decades of studying the Word, I have come to believe that Father is good, and that the Good News really is GOOD.  That I didn’t save myself through my efforts, so I can’t lose my salvation through my efforts either.

I see, in the OT, His remarkable mercy again and again and again…  In the NT, I know some things Paul said can lead one to believe that our salvation can be lost.  But it seems illogical to me when set against the bigger picture of Holy Spirit having come to dwell in me forever, when by this indwelling I have been brought in to the family of God and made ONE with Jesus and with the Father, when I am a new creation and the old sinful me has passed away.  

My behavior is becoming more and more like Jesus, AND I will mess up from time to time, though I no longer am a slave to it. 

Jesus is not surprised by my sin.  He didn’t die for just the sins I committed up until I got saved. 

I do question whether many people who believe they are saved, because they said a prayer, are actually saved when there is little to no fruit of that salvation. But for those who have truly given their hearts, I want to free them to understand that a good and loving Father will correct us. He will tease, cojole, give a time out, make Himself forcefully clear, even poke a finger in the chest; but never disassociate from us. 

Because of His love for us He desires holiness for us. Because we are His, set-apart, because it is so good for us, because it keeps us free, because we get to take back territory and make it holy too. But He will not turn us out of the family.  If that was the case, Israel would long ago have ceased to exist.

After generations of people growing up in families torn apart by divorce, we accept rejection as part of normal family patterns.  That form of “family” is demonstrated again and again by “pastors” who are “family” until you disagree with them.  Then you are turned out from the family.  But I digress…or maybe not.  Look at Father’s mercy to some of the most evil kings of Israel!  He didn’t turn them out, would he turn away those for who have come into covenant by the blood of His Son?

Preachers who may realize logically that Jesus died for all our sins, have a very hard time saying anything beyond ‘Jesus died for your past and present sins…they leave out future, because they are afraid they might encourage us to sin.  No good Father wants sin in His children’s lives.  It hurts everyone. He freed us from the need to sin instead.

It occurred to me this morning that King David, who was born long after the law was given, broke the law as an adulterer and murderer.  Crimes worthy of the death penalty. He broke ceremonial law in other areas. He died when keeping the law was the requirement. He was probably cleansed by the blood of bulls and goats. Yet, I don’t think anyone doubts that we will see Him in Heaven.  How is it that he receives more grace than a born-again believer?

And there are many others. Moses sinned in such a way that He was not allowed into the promised land.  But we know He is in Heaven because he showed up on the Mount of Transfiguration visiting with Jesus.  Hebrews 11 tells us that Gideon, Samson(!), David… “All these people earned a good reputation by faith”  And He is kind enough not to mention, all these people sinned.

“We have not been given a spirit of fear, but (a Spirit) of Love, power and self-control.”

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love”

I don’t think this so that I can run boldly into sin.  Of course not. But so that I can get over it when I do and press in again to His mercy, to His acceptance of me, to His loving correction.  So that by focusing on His goodness, I can become more and more like Him.  I can see others as people like me, who are forgiven and growing toward Him.

Freedom from the fear of missing the mark, freedom from the fear of losing salvation after all the years of trying, freedom from living under God’s punishment if you don’t do all the right things AND He gave us His own Holy Spirit to empower us to overcome…isn’t that what makes the Good News really GOOD?  Is that that the distinction from every religion?  Isn’t that what gives us hope?  Isn’t that what encourages us to try again and not give in to a lifestyle of sin?

Though I too can find verses that seem to support the potential of losing ones salvation, I believe the big picture of the Word of God is that our Father is incredibly merciful and will hold on to us if we offer the merest whim of turning to Him.  To me this is the same as the letter of the law versus the spirit of the law.  The exact words of the law versus the heart and intention behind the words. The minutiae versus the big glorious picture of Love.

I don’t know if this helps someone out there, but I appreciate your time to read this.  It’s ok if you don’t agree, as long as the fruit of your belief is good. Be blessed child of God!