Eternal Security vs Conditional Salvation

ETERNAL SECURITY vs. CONDITIONAL SALVATION (Adopted, June 2012)

How much confidence can a person have in his eternal destination? Once you say you believe in Jesus Christ, is your salvation secure no matter how you behave? What if you change your mind and say you no longer believe? Our position at Southside Christian Church is that this is an important issue, but not an essential doctrine foundational to the church. When discussing this issue and other similar issues, we would be wise to remember a popular Christian slogan: "In doctrine unity, in opinion liberty, in all things love."

We believe that a person is saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:8). A person who does not have faith in Christ, or is living in rebellion against Him, should not expect to be saved, regardless of his past (Heb. 3:8,12; 10:26; 2 Pet. 2:20-22). Some will say that such a person "was never saved in the first place," because God knew in his Sovereignty that the person would reject Christ in the end.

Whether the person was saved then lost, or never saved in the first place, is not clearly addressed in Scripture, and both sides of the debate can point to Scriptures to defend their position. The Bible says God is Sovereign and knows the future. But the Scripture also warns the saved person against falling away (2 Tim. 2:12-13; Heb. 2:1; 3: 12; 2 Pet. 2:20-22; 3:17). The argument may simply be semantic because the end result is the same on both sides: a person who once believed but has become apostate is not saved. Nearly all Christians agree on this point. Some believe that once you are saved you may live an unrighteous life or even reject Christ without losing your salvation; but they are ignoring a vast amount of biblical evidence to the contrary, and such teaching has dangerous consequences.

Because of the Scriptures mentioned above and others warning the saved person against falling away, the primary teaching of the leadership at Southside has been that it is possible for a person to lose his or her salvation through rebellion. Salvation is the free gift of God, available to all, and God desires that all be saved (1 Tim. 2:4). Every individual has the choice to accept or reject God's offer of forgiveness. Once a person is saved, their salvation cannot be lost through one sin, or even a series of sins. But, as Hebrews 10:26 says "If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth," we may get to a point where our hearts are so hard that we reject Christ and want no part of his salvation any more, at which point, "no sacrifice for sins is left." Jesus said in John 3: 16, "Whoever believes in [God's Son] shall not perish but have eternal life." The word "believes" in the original Greek is in the present tense, denoting continual action. Whoever "continues to believe" will have eternal life. Someone who believed as a youngster but rejects that belief in later life should not expect to be granted the promise of eternal life. God is not going to force anyone into heaven against his or her will.

The traditional teaching at Southside in this area has been one of conditional salvation: you are saved as long as you continue to believe and unless you become an unbeliever or "apostate" (one who rejects his religion). But a person is not required to agree with the leadership's position on this doctrine in order to become a member. However, we do require leaders and teachers to teach our position on this matter.

Rest assured, your salvation is secure, as long as you remain in faith. Your God is big enough to forgive your sins.