A review of the Church of Christ deception. Proving eternal security of the believer.

Here is a video link to Pastor Aaron Erhardt of Erhardt Publications and pastor of the South End Church Of Christ up in Kentucky. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEni_ID-zEo

The video shows a chart with partial verses in them. The reason Erhardt shows only small portions of verses is because he did not want you to see the context of any of them.

The chart goes like this:

"....I myself should be a castaway" (1 Cor. 9:27)

"...ye have believed in vain" (1 Cor. 15:2)

"If ye continue in the faith..." (Col. 1:23)

"Beware lest any man spoil you..." (Col. 2:8)

"...depart from the faith..." (1 Tim. 4:1)

"...some are already turned aside after Satan..." (1 Tim. 5:15)

"...departing from the living God" (Heb. 3:12)

"....come short of it" (Heb. 4:1)

"...counted the blood...unholy" (Heb. 10:29)

"...fail of the grace of God" (Heb. 12:15)

"...ye fall into condemnation" (James 5:12)

"...denying the Lord..." (2 Pet. 2:1)

This chart is designed to display scary sounding phrases to intimidate you into thinking that you can lose eternal life (the very thought contradicts the definition of the word "eternal"). There is no regard to context throughout the entire video. There is no regard to WHO is writing to WHOM under WHAT dispensation throughout the entire video. There is no regard to whether the verse is about the STANDING in Christ of the believer or practical STATE in spiritual growth of the believer.

The Bible teaches that "under grace" (church age/dispensation of grace) nobody can lose salvation because it is all in Christ (Rom. 8:29-39). Notice I said "UNDER GRACE" (Rom. 6:14, Eph. 3:2). I did not say that believers in the Old Testament had eternal security, they certainly did not (1 Chron. 28:9, Psa. 38:21, 51:11, Judg. 16:20, 1 Sam. 16:14, etc.). I did not say that believers of the Gospel of the Kingdom from Matthew 3-Acts 8 and in the Great Tribulation had eternal security, they certainly do not. Those are faith+works system as found slap through the book of Matthew, Hebrews, and Revelation. Before Peter got the Pauline revelation of the mystery he plainly said that a man must "work righteousness" to be "accepted" with God (Acts 10:35).

Those things are not the issue.

The issue (that Erhardt dodged) is must a believer have works to be saved UNDER GRACE? That is, do those in "the dispensation of grace" "under grace" when God is showing "ALL longsuffering" and "exceeding abundant" grace after Paul's conversion have to works to be saved and/or stay saved? (1 Tim. 1:11-16, Rom. 6:14, Eph. 3:2). That answer is obviously NO. Nobody under grace being saved by grace in the dispensation of grace believing the gospel of grace being justified by grace and being accepted in the Lord's grace has to do any works to be saved or stay saved. That is why it is called the "dispensation of grace".

Galatians 1:11-12 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. [Nobody preached Paul's gospel before he did]

Galatians 2:1-2 Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. [Paul taught the 12 apostles the gospel of the grace of God, verses 2:1-9]

Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. [Paul's gospel is called the gospel of the GRACE of God. It is not the "everlasting gospel" preached by an angel in Daniel's 70th week nor is it the gospel of the kingdom given to the 12 apostles.]

Romans 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. [Paul's gospel is plainly called HIS gospel, it was distinctly revealed to him and not anyone else]

Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, [ [Paul's gospel is plainly called HIS gospel, it was distinctly revealed to him and not anyone else. That is why it is called "the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery"]

2 Timothy 2:7-8  Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: [Again, the emphasis is on the PAULINE distinction of the gospel.]

1 Timothy 1:11-16 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

WHAT IS THAT GOSPEL?

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

That is it. That is the gospel. It is not believe that Jesus is the Son of God (Steve Finnell). It is not believe that Jesus is Lord and that he is risen from the dead (Steve Finnell). It is that CHRIST DIED FOR YOUR SINS, WAS BURIED, and ROSE AGAIN. The issue now is how do you "receive the atonement" (Rom. 5:11). How do you RECEIVE Christ under Grace? I'll give you a hint: And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. (Rom. 11:6)

John 1:11-13 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Acts 13:38-39 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Is there anything else? Will just faith save a man? Will that get him the indwelling of the Holy Spirit? YES.

Ephesians 1:13 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 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Galatians 3:1-3 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

So, having established the doctrine of "the gospel of the grace of God" committed to Paul, can one lose salvation once he believes that gospel? No. Under grace works have nothing to do with salvation (Eph. 2:8-9, 2 Tim. 1:9, Titus 3:4-7, Rom. 3:20-30, 4:4-25, 5:1-11, 8:8, 10:1-4, Phil. 3:1-9, etc.). It is only under other dispensations (not grace) that you are rewarded with eternal life based on works (Matt. 3, 5, 13, 16, 19, 24-25, etc.).

Here are the plain statements on eternal security of the believer:

Romans 8:
[1] There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
[2] For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
[3] For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
[4] That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
[5] For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
[6] For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
[7] Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
[8] So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
[9] But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

No believer will face eternal condemnation because they are "in Christ". We no longer walk according to the course of this world (Eph. 2:1-4), Christ is walking in us (2 Cor. 6:16) and we walk after the Spirit (as far as our STANDING "IN CHRIST" is concerned). You can be condemned/damned by people (Rom. 13:2) and you can come into TEMPORAL condemnation by God in this present life through His chastening (Heb. 12:5-8). God's chastening is temporal in this life, we cannot be eternally condemned with this present evil world....."For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world." (1 Cor. 11:31-32)

Next is Romans 8:29-39. The definitive passage for eternal security of the believer under grace.

Romans 8:
[29] 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.
[30] 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.
[31] What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
[32] He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
[33] Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
[34] Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
[35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
[36] As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
[37] Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
[38] For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
[39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Notice that we are PREDESTINATED to be conformed to the image of Christ (which occurs at the rapture, Phil. 3:20-21). That destiny is PREDETERMINED by God, it is fixed. Nothing can change that, we cannot lose our salvation. Our destiny has been predetermined.

Verse 31 plainly says that if God be for us, who can be against us? God has fixed His plan for the believer and nothing can change that.

Verse 33 is plain and simple. WHO CAN LAY ANY CHARGE TO US? We are in Christ, a member of His body, accepted in the beloved by His grace (Eph. 1:6, 5:32). No charge can be laid to us anymore than a charge could be brought against the Lord Jesus Christ. Read it in Romans 4:4-8,

"Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin."

The Lord does not even impute sin to the believer, as far as God is concerned, in our standing in Christ we are SINLESS. After we got saved no sin has been put to our account and nobody can lay any charge to us.

Verses 35-39 plainly state that nothing can separate us from the love of God. NOTHING. I did not say that Jews in the last time will not have to keep themselves in the love of God unto eternal life, they certainly do (Jude 18-21). What I am saying is that no member of the Body of Christ under grace can be separated from the love of God. The COC doesn't know how to rightly divide the word of truth.

Next we have two passages of scripture that plainly demonstrate this doctrine of eternal security.

1 Corinthians 3:
[8] Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
[9] For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
[10] According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
[11] For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
[12] Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
[13] Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
[14] If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
[15] If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.


Here we have a passage that plainly states that the UNPROFITABLE servant of Christ will be saved. This is distinctly Grace Dispensation truth, not Tribulation (Matt. 24:42-51, 25:14-30). "Under grace", every single work you have ever done could be burned up at the judgement seat of Christ and YOU still be saved (1 Cor. 3:15). This is also shown in 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10,

"For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him."

Whether we are serving the Lord or not (waking or sleeping) we will live together with Christ because He delivered us from wrath. See also 1 Thessalonians 1:10 "...Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come" and Romans 5:9 "Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him".

Next is 1 Corinthians 5.

1 Corinthians 5:
[1] It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.
[2] And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
[3] For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,
[4] In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
[5] To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

1 Corinthians 5 illustrates perfectly the doctrine of eternal security. You do not have to maintain good morals to be saved. You can live like the devil after you trust Christ and still be saved. God will chasten the believer and he will come into temporal condemnation in his FLESH, but his spirit is still SAVED. Just like we saw in 1 Corinthians 11:31-32, "For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world."

Also note that the church at Corinth was CARNAL (1 Cor. 3:1-3), full of DIVISION which the Lord hates (1 Cor. 1:13-17, 3:4, 11:18, Prov. 6:16-19), they were PROUD OF FORNICATION (1 Cor. 5:2), they mishandled the Lord's supper (1 Cor. 11:20-34), and some were doubting the resurrection of Christ (1 Cor. 15:12). Yet look what Paul said about the church at Corinth!

"Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord." ( 1 Cor. 1:1-9)

That needs no exposition. The Corinthians were the definition of carnality, yet their standing was "of God", "sanctified in Christ", "enriched by Him", and they would be confirmed unto the end and would be blameless in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ. There was "PEACE, from GOD", the Lord was not about to throw the Corinthians into hell, there was peace! (Rom. 5:1).

Next look at Philippians 1:6

"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:"

That is a plain statement on the eternal security of the believer. Either God will perform a good work in the believer until the rapture or He won't--HE WILL.

Next look at 2 Timothy 2:11-13

"It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself."

You can be denied inheritance and rewards as a saved person, but you cannot be denied salvation! Why? Because the Lord "CANNOT deny Himself". He abideth faithful whether you continue to believe in Him or not. You are justified by Christ's faith and not your own (Rom. 3:22, Gal. 2:16-20, 3:22, Eph. 3:12, Phil. 3:9). That is something all COC's deny, justification by the faith of Christ. He is faithful whether we continue to believe or not. We are "members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones" (Eph. 5:30) and if we were to lose salvation Christ would be denying Himself!

Lastly look at Ephesians 1:12-14 and 4:30.

"That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 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."

"And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."

The believer is sealed with the Holy Spirit until the redemption of his body (rapture--Rom. 8:23-24, Phil. 3:20-21, 1 Cor. 6:15-20). The Holy Ghost is the earnest of our inheritance "UNTIL" the rapture and we are sealed with Him "UNTO" the rapture even if we grieve Him. The seal of the Holy Ghost cannot be broken, it is until the rapture.

I could also talk about how we are "complete" in Christ and how all our sins are forgiven (Col. 2:10-13, Acts 13:39, etc.) but the above scriptures should be enough to prove eternal security.

Now let's review Pastor Erhardt's chart.

"....I myself should be a castaway" (1 Cor. 9:27)
(This one is classic, but the context is REWARDS and PRIZES after the race is finished. The context is ministry, not Paul's salvation. see verses 24-27)

"...ye have believed in vain" (1 Cor. 15:2)
(Vain means "empty". If you believe something "in vain" it means that your belief was not sincere and not heart belief. It does not mean "lose your salvation" as Erhardt pretends. He just thought it sounded scary and so he put it in the chart.)

"If ye continue in the faith..." (Col. 1:23)
(The context is " to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight". It is God's will to cleanse the church blameless with the word of God (Eph. 5:26), that is about sanctification and state, not standing in Christ.)

"Beware lest any man spoil you..." (Col. 2:8)
(This has nothing to do with salvation. Read Colossians chapter 2 two hundred times over and you won't find anyone losing their salvation or even a warning about losing salvation.)

"...depart from the faith..." (1 Tim. 4:1)
(Yes we can depart from the faith. What does that have to do with anything? The faith is a reference to doctrine (see context), not salvation. We cannot depart from the faith of Christ whereby we are justified according to 2 Timothy 2:11-13.)

"...some are already turned aside after Satan..." (1 Tim. 5:15)
(Like Peter in Matthew 16:23, did Peter go to hell? I don't think so! We turn aside after Satan every time we sin, such as telling a lie (John 8:44-45). Erhardt pretends that this is a reference to losing salvation. 

"...departing from the living God" (Heb. 3:12)
(Hebrews is written to HEBREWS in the "last days" (Heb. 1:1) and it was written before the Pauline revelation. The context is the gospel of the kingdom (Heb. 2:3) and those in it are not in the Body of Christ (Heb. 3:14). So what does this have to do with us UNDER GRACE IN THE BODY OF CHRIST?)

"....come short of it" (Heb. 4:1)
(Sure.)

"...counted the blood...unholy" (Heb. 10:29)
(Sure.)

"...fail of the grace of God" (Heb. 12:15)
(Can you tell us what that even means?)

"...ye fall into condemnation" (James 5:12)
(James was written before the Pauline revelation to the 12 tribes of Israel and not the Body of Christ. They are under the Law (1:12, 2:8-12, 4:11). This has nothing to do with the dispensation of grace. Not to mention that there are different types of condemnation. Temporal condemnation and eternal condemnation in hell.

"...denying the Lord..." (2 Pet. 2:1)
(Watch it Erhardt, 2 Peter is writing in regards to the "last days" and not the day of salvation (grace dispensation). See 3:3.)

--Eli Caldwell