ETERNAL SECURITY
By David J. Stewart | March 2009
Deuteronomy 33:27, “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.”
Chapter 3 — Safe and Secure in the Everlasting Arms
There's a precious Christian hymn based upon Deuteronomy 33:27 titled,
"Leaning On The Everlasting Arms," which goes . . .
What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
leaning on the everlasting arms;
what a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
leaning on the everlasting arms.
Refrain:
Leaning, leaning,
safe and secure from all alarms;
leaning, leaning,
leaning on the everlasting arms.
O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
leaning on the everlasting arms;
O how bright the path grows from day to day,
leaning on the everlasting arms.
(Refrain)
What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
leaning on the everlasting arms.
(Refrain)
The Word of God comforts us greatly, giving us strong encouragement, in knowing that God's arms underlie our salvation and are everlasting arms. God's arms never get wearied. God never gets tired. Our salvation is as secure as is God. It is a mistake for those who would rob us of our blessed assurance of salvation, to ignore such powerful Scriptures as Deuteronomy 33:27.
What good or purpose would there be in the Bible making such a comforting statement as, "The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms," if salvation could be lost? Here again we clearly see that salvation is dependent upon God alone. Those who teach that salvation can be lost do not focus upon the everlasting arms of God; but rather, upon the frail, weak and often collapsed arms of men.
Moses (writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in Deuteronomy 33:27), told God's people that they had nothing to fear, because the arms of the eternal God were protecting them. Notice especially verse 29a, "Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD." What wonderful words, "O people saved by the Lord." Salvation is of the Lord! The Apostle Paul states in Galatians 3:26, "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." Amen!
Notice the precious Words in John 10:28 spoken by our Lord, "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." Here again we are reminded of the unwavering promise of God to give eternal life which CANNOT be taken away. Those who believe on Jesus "shall never perish."
Notice the words, "neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." Notice that the Bible doesn't say “Satan,” it says "men." Who are these men who would pluck God's children out of His hand? They definitely include those false prophets who teach that salvation can be lost. It is a popular teaching in Charismatic circles still that king David lost his salvation when he sinned with Bathsheba, committing adultery with her, and then having her husband murdered. Although David sinned horribly, and shamefully, David only lost the “joy” of salvation. Psalm 51:12, "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit." Notice that David called eternal life, “THY SALVATION.” It is God's salvation. Our part is simply to "BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST" (Acts 16:31).
Thank God for the everlasting arms of Jesus Christ, upon which the believer can rest assure. Romans 10:11, "For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed." This Scripture doesn't mean what many people think. It doesn't mean that one who believes on Jesus will never be embarrassed or follow from afar off like Peter did. Peter denied knowing Jesus and even cursed the Savior's name, but Peter didn't lose his salvation. Romans 10:13 is a quote from the Old Testament, from Isaiah 28:16, "Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste." In other words, those who believe on Christ will not be disappointed. The everlasting arms are beneath each and every believer and salvation cannot be lost.
A correctly understood Gospel—The GOOD NEWS that Christ DIED on the cross for our sins, was BURIED and bodily RESURRECTED three days later, salvation by grace alone through faith alone on the basis of Christ's finished work alone—mandates eternal security. On the other hand, if one is trusting in one's works or a “commitment” to perform works or to live a certain way to be saved, then salvation cannot be assured, and the doctrine of eternal security is either negotiable or is denied.
