Security: The False and the True

There is no question in the mind of any true child of God about the fact of his security in the Father's keeping. To say that those who do not accept one particular theory concerning Christian security are therefore without such assurance is incorrect. I do not have to be told that I cannot under any circumstances take my own life in order to be free from fear of suicide. The security of the real Christian is complete and entire, wanting nothing.

There are, however, some very false and therefore very dangerous notions abroad as to the nature of Christian security. A false security is worse than none at all, for it breeds carelessness and unfounded confidence. True security demands knowledge of the conditions on which it rests. "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" (1 Cor. 10:12).

It is our firm conviction that any teaching regarding the security of the believer which allows for deliberate disobedience to God in the "Christian" life is a travesty on the Bible. Any doctrine which offers hope to the backslider that his salvation is assured apart from a personal repentance and return to the Lord is false security. Unfortunately, many who teach what is popularly known as "eternal security" teach exactly that, as numerous quotations from their writings would show. This teaching is dangerous and unscrip-tural. True security demands complete repudiation of such a doctrine.

No attempt is made here to cite authorities, although care has been taken to copy word for word the passages indicated in quotation marks. It is primarily our desire to see what "saith the Lord." All Bible quotations are from the King James Version, but a check of the more recent versions will indicate that the teaching of no passage is materially altered in any good translation.

We propose to study some of the great security promises in order that their truth may safeguard our souls and keep us from presumptuous sins. "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee" (Ps. 119:11). In this way we shall know the true security promised to all of God's children. It is not our wish to be argumentative, although argument is involved when contrasting points of view are set against each other.

Our title for this booklet is an obvious paraphrase of the title of Dr. Harry A. Ironside's book, Holiness: the False and the True, a book ably answered by Henry Brockett in Scriptural Freedom from Sin (Kansas City, Mo.: Beacon Hill Press, 1941). Brother Ironside did not believe in the Wesley-an doctrine of holiness, nor can I accept his theory of security. A more complete examination of the issues in Christian security has been made by R. A. Shank in his volume entitled Life in the Son. Coming as it does from evangelical circles traditionally supporting the doctrine known as eternal security, its thorough refutation of this theory is the more impressive.