We have three passages to consider today, all of which are familiar to many of us, that are commonly used to oppose the doctrine of the Eternal Security of the believer. In fact, they were all used recently in another online forum thread in a single comment.

Passage 1:

”For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:38-39

Quote 1:

“ ‘Anything else’ refers to powers other than one’s own will.”

It actually says, “…anything else in all creation…” It begs the question: “Did God create human will?”

Passage 2:

”My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.” – John 10:27-29

Quote 2:

“Being ‘unsnatchable’ does not disallow a person from choosing to jump out of the ‘Father’s hand’.”

According to Strong’s, ‘snatch’ (KJV uses ‘pluck’) means “to seize (in various applications): – catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force).”

Voluntary ‘jumping’ is not in the text. “…no one can snatch them…” What does ‘no one’ mean?

Passage 3:

”In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.” Eph 1:11-14

Quote 3:

”what is “predestined” is God’s plan to choose or elect anyone who desires to be “in him” or to satisfy GRS.  Thus, being “marked in him with a seal” does not abrogate MFW”

A ‘therefore’ or ‘thus’ needs to follow a correct statement. The ‘predestination reference is probably to:

“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—“ Eph 1:4-5

In the above, it states clearly that God chose and predestined ‘people’ and not a ‘plan’.

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The author of the above post makes no claim to absolute truth and also realizes that there is another implied doctrine underlying the above alleged refutations of the Eternal Security of the believer. That however, is another discussion for another time. For now, just focus on the question “What does the Bible really SAY?