Can I Lose My Salvation? - Part Four
When discussing eternal security, it’s vital we look at not only what salvation means to our future standing but also to our present status. While salvation promises us a future home in Heaven, there are aspects of salvation we experience the moment we surrender our lives to the Lord.
1) We are sealed.
From the moment we accept Christ as our Lord, we are sealed unto the day of redemption. That means not only are we marked by a seal (in the form of the Holy Spirit) that cannot be removed but we are also sealed in the sense of security. The seal cannot be broken nor can it be taken away.
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. - Ephesians 4:30
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, - Ephesians 1:13
Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. - II Corinthians 1:21-22
2) We receive the earnest of the Holy Spirit.
An earnest is a portion of money or goods given as a pledge or down payment as an assurance that the full amount will be subsequently paid. But here’s the thing about an earnest: it’s nonrefundable. If you put down an earnest on a property and then back out of the deal, your earnest is not returned to you. At the moment of salvation, we believers receive the Holy Spirit as an earnest, a pledge that all of God’s promises concerning Heaven and everlasting life will be met in the future. Just as with any other earnest, the Holy Spirit cannot be returned and was never intended to be returned.
Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. - II Corinthians 5:5
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. - Ephesians 1:13-14
Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. - II Corinthians 1:21-22
3) We are seated in Heavenly places.
This one is a little trickier to wrap our brains around, but according to the Scriptures, when we are saved, we are seated in heavenly places in the spiritual sense. Yes, our bodies are still here on earth, but our spirits are at home in heaven with our Lord. One day, when the Lord returns, our bodies will be raised to meet him in the air, but until then, our spirits are seated there awaiting that reunion day. To lose our salvation would require that our spirits--after dwelling in heaven--be returned to us here on earth. Once again, this is impossible, and the Bible gives no claims to support this theory.
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: - Colossians 1:12-13
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. - Ephesians 2:5-7
Each of these “events” takes place the moment of salvation—we become sealed with the Holy Spirit, we receive the earnest of the Holy Spirit, and we are spiritually translated to sit in heavenly places. To lose salvation, one would have to undo each of these points, which is impossible. Not only that but to even suggest that one can do such a thing is nothing short of calling God dishonest and untrustworthy. It is impunity to His honor. God is just and true, and once He has promised something, He will see it through.