"13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory." (Eph 2:13-14). Those who are in Christ cannot lose their salvation as this text is very clear to point out. Another well known passage is in John 10:28-29 where Christ declares that none can snatch us out of His hand nor the Father's hand. This is not because of our work but because of what God has done through Christ, for we did not choose Him but He chose us, that is His sheep.
In light of these marvelous passages, some have hijacked and distorted this great doctrine. This does not mean that someone can make a flippant confession of faith and then totally dismiss the commands of Christ. Truly, a changed born-again heart will be made evident by a transformed life. Those who have the Spirit of God indwelling them will bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22-23). Some will bear more fruit than others (Matt 13:23), but all believers will bear fruit. Not only will His sheep bear fruit, but they also despise their sin. Christ came to set men free from the power of sin and death (Rom 6), and He is not merely Hell insurance. He came to empower men to do what they were created to do, and that is to worship God in spirit and in truth (Jn 4:24). When that is understood rightly, then any notions of flippant confessions without true heart change are thrown out the window! Amen!
To know that we are sealed by the Spirit and empowered by Him to live a godly life is without doubt one of the greatest assurances a believer can ever have. Oh what grace God has shown to His Elect! "Unworthy! Unworthy!" we cry out. God was not obligated to bestow such blessings upon anyone, yet by His grace He has poured out such unending grace to mere men. We are so vile compared to Him, yet we who believe in Christ, "He who was delivered over because of our transgressions and was raised because of our justification," (Rom 4:25) are set free from this bondage to sin and death! Amen!
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How I wish that pastors and churches would not give false assurance to people who have uttered a prayer or shown hints of repentance without fruits of true conversion. It is a great disservice to the lost to allow them to believe they are saved.
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