Print this pageConcepts of Eternal Salvation
Elder J. W. Patterson
Whom He Justified - By One
Is the eternal justification of God's elect by one or by many? The phrase "whom he justified," (Romans 8:30) conveys the idea that justification is by one.
Again, "Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth" (Romans 8:33). It is God (singular), not God and man (plural). The phrase, "It is God that justifieth," declares that the justification that works together with foreknowledge, predestination, and calling, is a justification that is by one. The justification of eternal salvation involves the blood of Christ. God's elect are justified eternally by the blood of the everlasting covenant. "Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him" (Romans 5:9).
Some may frown on the use of connecting the work to make the elect just with the act of declaring the elect just. Elder W. S. Craig writes, "But justification is not a work of degrees. Because it is a single act of redeeming grace and is instantaneous and complete. They whom God justifies are perfectly delivered from all charges of guilt and condemnation of the divine law. And finally, they will be fully delivered and rescued from all the terrible bondage and curse of sin. Justification is most intimately connected with redemption, for redemption is actually the procuring cause of justification. 'Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus'" (Romans 3:24).
The scriptures prove that the great success at Calvary was accomplished by one and not by many. Consider the many scriptures that prove this.
"For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified" (Hebrews 10:14).
-"...much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many" (Romans 5:15).
"...much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:17).
"...by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous" (Romans 5:19).
"And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold; therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me" (Isaiah 63:5).
"Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high" (Hebrews 1:3).
The phrases "by one," "Mine own arm" and "by himself" seal the proof needed to assure that eternal justification is by one. God foreknew and loved His elect by Himself. He predestinated them to an adoption, inheritance and conformation by himself. He calls/regenerates them by himself, and He justified the elect by himself. Thus far, the things that work together for the eternal salvation to God's elect have proved to be by one. What about glorification?
Them He Also Glorified - By One
Hopefully, all can agree that the one and only voice that raised Lazarus from the dead shall be the one and only voice that raises the dead and glorifies the elect at the last day. Two verses should be sufficient to test the concept by one concerning eternal glorification.
"For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself" (Philippians 3:2(i-21).
"Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice" (John 5:28).
The phrases "them he also glorified," "Who shall change our vile body," and "shall hear his voice" contain the pronouns he, who and his. The pronouns show the singularity of Him that shall glorify the elect and therefore prove that the concept of by one holds true for glorification. God's foreknowledge and love for His elect is by one, His predestinating them to an adoption, inheritance and conformation was by one; His calling/regenerating the elect is by one, His justifying the elect was by one; and His glorification of the elect is by one. The things that work together for the eternal salvation to God's elect have proven to be by one. What about gospel salvation? Is it by one or by many?
Gospel Salvation - Is By Many
Gospel Salvation involves preaching the gospel, hearing the gospel, believing the gospel, remembering the gospel, being baptized, taking communion, contending for the faith, giving as the Lord has prospered, forgiving, praying, persevering and a number of other things mentioned throughout the scriptures. Does the concept by one hold true for gospel salvation? Rarely. Gospel salvation is almost always by many.
God employs men and gospel laborers as the means for gospel salvation. "For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe" (I Corinthians 1:21). God divinely calls men to preach the gospel. Paul says that God has called men to preach the gospel and that this gospel treasure is in earthen vessels. Consider a passage of scripture that describes this divine calling to the ministry.
(II Corinthians 4:5-12) "For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. (verse 6) For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (verse 7) But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. (verse 8) We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed, we are perplexed, but not in despair; (verse 9) Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; (verse 10) Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. (verse 11) For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. (verse 12) So then death worketh in us, but life in you." Although some may apply this text to the new birth, a better application would be the gift of the ministry. Throughout this chapter the Apostle makes a distinction between the ministry and the laity (ourselves and your servants; death in us and life in you, etc.). This divine and heavenly call to the ministry is described as hath shined in our hearts (the preacher's heart). It is given for what purpose? "To give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." Paul again writes about this special gift and its purpose, "And hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: whereunto I am appointed a preacher" (II Timothy 1:10-11). Gospel preachers and the light they carry in earthen vessels is the context of both passages; i.e., to preach Christ and Him crucified.
In the following scriptures, Paul describes gospel ministers as "labourers together" with God. The scriptures teach that more than one is involved in gospel salvation.
"For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building" (I Corinthians 3:9).
"I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase" (I Corinthians 3:6).
Who and what else play a role in the preaching and spreading of the gospel? Saints praying for the ministry, worshipers meeting on the Lord's day, laborers building meeting houses, people contributing money, individuals duplicating tapes, radio broadcasters making announcements and a host of others are involved in gospel salvation. Preaching the gospel is not by one, but by many.
Gospel salvation also involves obedience. Obedience involves both the will of God and the will of man. The Apostleincludes both wills when explaining obedience to the church at Philippi.
"Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Philippians 2:12-13).
Paul reminds the church at Philippi that they had always obeyed him. He commands them to continue to obey and cooperate with God by working out (man's will) what God works in (God's will). Paul knew that gospel churches were not robots; and in order to have gospel salvation, the church must submit to her head and grieve not the Holy Spirit. They must work out that which God works in by following the leadings of the Spirit and exercising the ability and potential that God gives to His church and kingdom.
The previous text can be (and often is) applied individually without harming the scriptures. However, the contextual phrases "my beloved," "sons of God," "lights in the world;" and "you all" should cause one to pause and look again at the text to see if Paul is addressing individuals separately or the church collectively. The context "as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence" is addressed to the church collectively and Paul is encouraging a young church that has matured to keep pressing on.
As mothers, grandmothers and babysitters are necessary for young children, so are devoted evangelists necessary to stay and watch over newly planted churches. As children become responsible and begin to obey when parents are not present, so must a church begin to "edify itself in love." Full maturity is when children "always" obey "much more" in their parents' absence. This growing and maturing process is likewise experienced in the growth of newly planted churches. Paul is telling the church collectively that they had come to this place of maturity and they now needed to spread their wings and fly on their own, (work out your own). He assures them that God is still working in His church (collectively) "both to will and to do of his good pleasure" because "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" and "it shall stand for ever" (Matthew 16:18; Daniel 2:44). Therefore, the gospel salvation that is to be found in the church is found in the obedience of many. The concept by one fails when tested with gospel salvation which is almost always by many.
CONCLUSION
All three concepts, (identical, once only, and by one) hold true for eternal salvation. The scrip tures teach that eternal salvation is identical...what happens to one of God's elect happens to each and every other elect; that eternal salvation is once only ... the five things that work together for eternal salvation happen once and only once, they never repeat themselves; and that eternal salvation is by one ... God (by Himself) did, does and will do the five things that work together for eternal salvation to God's elect.
Gospel salvation cannot wear any of the three concepts tested thus far. Since the concepts tested have proven true for eternal salvation and untrue for gospel salvation, there is more than one salvation taught in the Bible. That being the case, eternal salvation is to be rightly divided and kept very distinct from gospel salvation.