Customer Reviews

Security: The False & The True

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Christians have debated for centuries whether or not a believer in Christ is once saved, always saved. W.T Purkiser responds to a simarlly titled book written by Harry Ironside, and he concludes that instead of preaching eternal security, we should be preaching INTERNAL security. He discusses the New Testament and the Old Testament evidence, showing that the believer in Christ is secure as long as he abides in Christ.

Purkiser does a good job of championing the Arminian view against the Calvinist view. As for me, I trust Christ to carry my salvation on to completion (Philippians 1:6), and yet I also recognize that He is calling me to work out what He is working within (Philippians 2:12-13).

Read this book, along with Wayne Grudem's chapter on this subject in his Bible Doctrine book, and you will have a good overall perspective on this issue.

"Security: The False and the True" seems to be written as an answer to another book which I've not read. However, it covers a theme which is very actual even today. Book is written in 1956 with a second edition in 1974, but I'm grateful that I could read more about security of salvation in Christ. The author doesn't mention the wide spread phrase "Once saved, always saved", but the book just answers how true is that idea. Salvation as explained in the New Testament includes believing, following Christ, endurance, keeping the faith, walking in the Spirit, all of which are in present tense.

I took one star, because the author includes so many verses that the book is almost quoting from the Bible with a very little explanation (not that the Bible can't explain the subject by itself). Book doesn't include a chapter how someone could become a Christian, but starts directly with security of salvation, obviously answering another book.

If someone wants a deeper explanation on the subject, I would recommend also the books of David Pawson.

In this short work (I read it in one day), W.T. Purkiser defends the Arminian understanding of conditional security, mainly that the present tense believer is secure but to teach that so called "sinning saints" are secure is both illogical and not biblical. In this work Purkiser appeals to Scripture and also quotes from a few eternal security advocates to show whom is correct in their understanding about the security of the believer. I believe Purkiser's defense is good and his exegesis is trustworthy in defending the Arminian view.

Overall I am pleased to endorse this book and believe it is very helpful in understanding that those who remain in Jesus Christ by faith are the saved and the elect of God (2 Peter 1:10-11) and we have no fear of falling from grace in Him (Romans 8:38-39). Those who abide in sin will face His just wrath against sin (Hebrews 10:19-39) and have no assurance of eternal life (1 John 5:11).

The writing is solid, the scriptural references spot on. Not entirely sure I agree 100% with the premises. But overall it is a bit of a dry read. It's more like an essay than a down-to-earth type read.

When people come to know Christ as their Savior, they are brought into a relationship with God that guarantees their eternal security. Jude 24 declares, "To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy." God's power is able to keep the believer from falling. It is up to Him, not us, to present us before His glorious presence. Our eternal security is a result of God keeping us, not us maintaining our own salvation.

The Lord Jesus Christ proclaimed, "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can 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 10:28-29b). Both Jesus and the Father have us firmly grasped in their hand. Who could possibly separate us from the grip of both the Father and the Son?

Ephesians 4:30 tells us that believers are "sealed for the day of redemption." If believers did not have eternal security, the sealing could not truly be unto the day of redemption, but only to the day of sinning, apostasy, or disbelief. John 3:15-16 tells us that whoever believes in Jesus Christ will "have eternal life." If a person were to be promised eternal life, but then have it taken away, it was never "eternal" to begin with. If eternal security is not true, the promises of eternal life in the Bible would be in error.

The most powerful argument for eternal security is Romans 8:38-39, "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." Our eternal security is based on God's love for those whom He has redeemed. Our eternal security is purchased by Christ, promised by the Father, and sealed by the Holy Spirit.

[...]

This is the best, easiest to read, and most complete work I've seen on the Pentecostal (or Armenian) theology of salvation. Excellent book that I am so, so happy I stumbled upon!! If you are looking for a book to solidify your beliefs or are Calvinist and looking for a book to explain differing beliefs, pick this book up.

Congratulations on being the last nail in the coffin that was my faith. This book says that your salvation is in your hands. If you don't walk a certain way or think a certain way then you are doomed. I am not able to be perfect so therefore according to this book and Arminianism I am eternally damned. The thing is, it makes so much more sense than the other viewpoint, of eternal security. The Bible is like a two faced friend. In the end it is not your friend, when your soul and life is on the line, it will turn and slash you to death. In the end, we're all going to hell. This book just helps you realize the fact.