1) Upon His Sovereign Purpose

His eternal purpose is declared (Eph 1:11-12). This eternal purpose is anchored within the veil, and confirmed by an oath: (Heb 6:17-20). It is also exemplified in the unbreakable chain of five links committed in Romans 8:

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 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 8:28-30

2) Upon His Solemn Promise

Our salvation depends upon His promise, and not our faithfulness:
Therefore it is of faith [nothing on man’s part], that it might be by grace [everything on God’s part]; to the end the promise might be sure... Romans 4:16
If it depended at any point upon human ability to continue to believe, then the promise could not be secure. The promise that those who believe will be saved is confirmed everywhere (Gen 15:6; Jn 3:16; Acts 16:33; Rom 4:23-24, et al.)

3) Upon His Infinite Power

4) Upon His “Much More” Love

His intent is love based (Cf. Rom 5:6-10): God knew when He saved us that we were totally depraved, and therefore any new manifestation of sin in our lives after our conversion can-not be any motivation to God to change His mind and with-draw His grace and His salvation (Cf. Rom 11:29; Rom 8:32, 38-39).

He saved us for reasons independent of us and outside of us. He was motivated by His electing love, and not by observation of good in the sinner.

5) Upon His Answer to the Prayer of His Son

We, as believers, are called many things in Scripture: saints, believers, elect, sheep, partakers, etc. But the title most dear to the heart of Christ is repeated seven times in His high priestly prayer (Jn 17): “those whom thou hast given me.” (Cf. Jn 17:11-12). Jesus prays that we will be kept from hell (Jn 17:15) and will be with Him in heaven (Jn 17:20, 24). [This keeping is from perishing, not necessarily all forms of inheritance.] I believe that the Father always answers the prayers of the Son (Jn 11:42).

This leads to the second basis for our security, which we will explore in the next article: “The Basis of Our Security - Part II: It (also) Depends Upon God the Son.”

If God has already justified the man who believes in Jesus, how can He lay anything to the charge of His justified one? His justification comes from the imputed righteousness of Christ and is legally ours! It is not a subject of merit, and its loss cannot be the subject of demerit. Like a father, God can and does correct His earthly sons, but they always remain sons (cf. the Prodigal Son, Lk 15:24).

God, having justified the ungodly, will not—and cannot—contradict Himself by charging them with evil. In Romans 8:34, Paul asks, “Who is he that condemneth?” and then gives four answers, each of which are taught elsewhere in Scripture, but are gathered here to underscore the unconditional security of the believer:
Jesus saves eternal Jesus saves redemption eternal Jesus saves security eternal redemption Jesus saves eternal security Jesus saves eternal redemption Jesus saves eternal security
1) Christ died;
2) He is risen;
3) He advocates; and
4) He intercedes.

1) It Relies Upon His Substitutionary Death

Who can condemn us if the penalty has already been paid? The greatest proof of eternal security is justification by faith. Justification refers to how God sees us, not how others—or even we ourselves—see us. It is entirely a forensic (legal) matter; Colossians 2:14 declares that our “Certificate of Debt” has been “paid in full”: Tetelestai! This redemption was eternal and once and for all.

2) It Relies Upon His Substitutionary Life

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. Romans 5:9-10 For more examples, see Romans 5:19; 10:4; Colossians 2:10, et al.

3) It Relies Upon His Present Session: Advocate and Intercessor

Jesus is both our legal advocate and our priestly intercessor. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25 “Saves to the uttermost” sounds pretty complete to me!

1) Upon His Ministry of Regeneration

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Titus 3:5 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are past away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

2) Upon His Baptizing Ministry

3) Upon His Sealing Ministry

Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. 2 Corinthians 1:22 Sealing: To “set a seal” was a mark of protection (Cf. Mt 27:66, on the tomb of Christ) and ownership. When the Holy Spirit seals, it is with the signet ring of the Father on our hearts. He leaves the mark of ownership. A broken seal is an indication that the protection wasn’t adequate. Can you break the seal? Can Satan?

He is also a Pledge: An earnest, or pledge, is a legal concept. It is a first installment, with which a man secures a legal claim upon a thing as yet unconsummated. It is a down payment, a deposit; an evidence of good faith, obligating the party to consummate the commitment involved. (A pledge as in Genesis 38:17ff)

In Romans 8:23, the Holy Spirit is designated as a down payment, a “first fruits,” to be followed by more. We are sealed unto that day. If one person who was born again in Christ ever fails to enter into heaven when he dies, then God has broken His pledge. No conditions are mentioned. It is a work of God and depends upon Him alone. What Kind of Assurance Can We Have of Victory? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Romans 8:35

The apostle lists seven things a believer might experience that some might think could come between a believer and Christ’s love (Paul experienced all of them).

1) Tribulation : “pressure or distress”; mentioned frequently by Paul in 2 Corinthians);

2) Distress : literally, “narrowness”; i.e., being pressed in, hemmed in, crowded;

3) Persecution: Used 10 times in the New Testament, always in reference to the gospel.

4) Famine: Used 12 times in the New Testament. The God of Elijah looks after His own.

5) Nakedness: See 1 Corinthians 4:11.

6) Peril [jeopardy, danger] : Used eight times in one verse (2 Corinthians 11:26; cf. 1 Corinthians 15:30).

7) Sword. The world hates the saints.

These things—stated in increasing intensity—do not separate Christians from Christ; instead they are part of the “all things” (Rom 8:28) God uses to bring them to conformity to His Son. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Romans 8:37