Eternal security (Once saved always saved)

I have been discussing this issue with a Jehovah's Witness, this is my response to a post she made.



Allow me to give you my reasoning for believing in eternal security (once saved always saved).
First lets look in James 2. Beginning in 14 James writes, "What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?" He then continues on to describe a scene of a naked and hungry brother or sister (in the faith), and a “believer” that says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled." However this “believer” does nothing for them, this is showing that the believer has “faith” but no works to back up the faith. “But do you not know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?” In verse 18 it is written, "Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."
Thus works are the overflow of faith in the believers life, works alone cannot save one, but one can be justified by faith through works, "Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?"
Another passage that I stand firmly in is John 10:28-30, "And I gave them eternal life and they shall never perish: neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are One." “No one is able to snatch them out of My hand.” Meaning no one can take one’s salvation away from one, not even the one that has the salvation; because My Father who is greater than all holds them tightly in His grip.
Now I cannot espouse to think that I can overcome the creator of the Universe in saying, “I can pull myself out of His omnipotent grip.” That would be making God nothing more than a weak man, which is nothing short of blasphemy.
Yet another verse is that of Romans 8:30, “Moreover whom He predestined these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified (sanctified).” Not only does this verse present God as the initiator of faith, but also the finisher of the work of salvation. Revealing that there is a plan for those that are “called” from beginning to end. Not a plan that is contingent on the mere whim of mortal, broken, fallen man, but a plan that relies wholly on the Immortal, Whole, Creator of the Universe.
One final verse that I feel speaks completely for itself is John 6:39, “This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.”
To take this one step farther, this just makes sense. It is logical. That God would begin and finish the plan of salvation, instead of leaving it up to a fallen people of debase minds. We praise God as great, and worthy of praise, the Creator, the Savior by Whom grace came and saved, mercy was poured out, and salvation was made possible. But we would not dare to give God the glory that He is due for being able to hold us firmly in His grip! “He holds my life! And I praise Him for that, but He cannot hold my salvation!” That is blasphemy!

Jim Gaffigan- Cake

God is the greatest gift of the Gospel in and above all things

This is a quote from Jonathan Edwards taken from John Piper's "God is the Gospel."
"The redeemed have all of their objective good in God. God himself is the great good which they are brought to the possession and enjoyment of by redemption. He is the highest good, and the sum of all that good which Christ purchased. God is the inheritance of the saints; he is the portion of their souls. God is their wealth and treasure, their food, their life, their dwelling place, their ornament and diadem, and their everlasting honor and glory. They have none in heaven but God; he is the great good which the redeemed are received to at death, and which they are to rise at the end of the world. The Lord God, he is the light of the heavenly Jerusalem; and is the 'river of the water of life' that runs, and the tree of life that grows, 'in the midst of the paradise of God.' The glorious excellencies and the beauty of God will be what will forever entertain the minds of the saints, and the love of God will be their everlasting feast. The redeemed will indeed enjoy other things; they will enjoy angels, and will enjoy one another: but that which they shall enjoy in angles, or each other, or in anything else whatsoever, that will yield them delight and happiness, will be what will be seen of God in them."

"For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to Him be the glory forever. Amen" Romans 11:36