Concepts of Eternal Salvation
Elder J. W. Patterson
Once Only Salvation
The second concept of eternal salvation to be tested is once only salvation. The premise is that the things that work together for the eternal salvation to God’s elect happen once only. "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." (Romans 8:29-30).
- whom he did foreknow
- whom he did predestinate
- whom he called
- whom he justified
- them he also glorified
The concept of once only will also be tested with the things that constitute gospel salvation (conditional time salvation). If the concept of once only holds true for eternal salvation and not true for gospel salvation, then one must conclude that there is more than one salvation taught in the scriptures.
The following scriptures are presented as proof that the Holy Spirit does qualify a salvation, redemption, life, judgment, and inheritance that are eternal.
"And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvatfon unto all them that obey him" (Hebrews 5:9).
"Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." (Hebrews 9:12).
"As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him." (John 17:2).
"Of the doctrine of haptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment." (Hebrews 6:2).
"And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance." (Hebrews 9:15).
As a way of review, the first concept of eternal salvation was identical salvation; that is, what happens to one of God’s elect in eternal salvation happens to all of God’s elect. The all things of Romans 8:28-30 were used to see if the concept of identical salvation held true for each of those things that work together for the eternal salvation to God’s elect (foreknowledge, predestination, calling, justification, and glorification).
The concept of identical salvation held true in each of the five things that work together for eternal salvation to God’s children. God’s foreknowledge and love were proven to be identical to each and every one of his elect. God’s predestination "unto the adoption of children", "to be conformed to the image of God’s son", and to an eternal "inheritance" was proven to be identical for each of his children. It was proven that God calls all of His elect in the new birth according to His time, His place, His will, and always between conception and death; as God calls one of His elect, He calls each and every other elect. It was proven that God’s justification is identical to all of His elect; each of God’s elect is justified by His blood. The glorification of God’s elect was proven to be identical, although some of God’s elect will not experience resurrection, yet all shall be changed and glorified. The concept of what happens to one happens to all held true in each of the five things working together for eternal salvation. Eternal salvation is identical salvation to each and every one of the thousands of millions of God’s elect.
The concept of identical salvation was then tested with things that constitute conditional gospel/time salvation. The concept DID NOT hold true for gospel salvation because some of God’s elect hear the gospel and some do not; some are baptized and some are not; some persevere and some do not. Since the concept of identical salvation held true for eternal salvation and not true for gospelsalvation, the conclusion was that there is a clear distinction that must be made between eternal salvation by the blood of Christ and gospel salvation by the blood of the Apostles.
This second concept of eternal salvation (once only salvation) will likewise be tested using the same five things contained in Romans 8:29-30 that work together for the eternal salvation to God’s elect. It will also be tested with things that constitute gospel salvation or conditional time salvation. If the concept of once only salvation holds true for eternal salvation and not true for gospel salvation, then again, one must conclude that there are at least two clearly distinct salvations taught in the Bible.
Eternal Salvation Is Once Only Salvation
The second concept of eternal salvation to test is once only salvation. Are the five things that work together for the eternal salvation to God’s elect ever repeated? Do they ever happen twice? If any of the all things that work together for the eternal salvation to God’s elect (Romans 8:29-3O) occurs twice, then the concept of once only is not true.
Whom He Did Foreknow — Once Only
God’s people are very prone to forget. Even the greatest of saints that are most thoughtful of others do forget. They forget others. They forget names, circumstances, and needs. How is it with God? Has he ever forgotten any of the thousands of millions that belong to Him? The prophet says He does not.
"Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, vet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me." (Isaiah 49:15).
"Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me." (Isaiah 44:21).
The Lord describes his special connection and knowledge to his people in terms such as "yet will I not forget thee" and "thou shalt not be forgotten of me." The Lord does not forget those that belong to him. For the Lord to foreknow his elect twice, he would have to forget them once. The scriptures declare that God does not forget His elect.
Even when God’s children forget Him, He does not forget them. Ephraim forgot the Lord. "Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone." (Hosea 4:17). But the Lord did not forget Ephraim. "Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD." (Jeremiah 31:20).
When God’s children walk contrary to the ways of their Maker they can expect His rod with stripes. Nevertheless, God’s lovingkindness towards His chosen remains. "If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments; If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him. nor suffer my faithfulness to fail." (Psalms 89:30-33).
Some people fall in and out of love and the love of many ends at the grave. However, God’s love is described as an everlasting love and he foreknew his elect with that same love. "The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love:" (Jeremiah 31:3).
One of the greatest gospel comforts to the saints in light is to know that God’s lovingkindness towards His people is everlasting. In order to foreknow His elect twice, God would have to forget them once. To forget them once, His love would have to cease for a season. The scriptures assure the burdened soul that God’s love is everlasting and that He never forgets His chosen. Therefore, He cannot foreknow His children twice. God fore knew His elect once only.
Whom He Did Predestinate — Once Only
The following scriptures are those containing the word predestinate. It is very important to use the Bible to define the meaning of predestination.
"Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will" (Ephesians 1:5).
"In whom also we have obtained an inheritance being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will," (Ephesians 1:11).
"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called:...." (Romans 8:29-30).
One should readily see that the scriptures teach that God predestinates people and not events — predestinated us. we...being predestinated, whom he did predestinate. These people have been predestinated unto the adoption, an inheritance and a conformation.
To be continued...
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