The Consummating Scripture on Security -- By: Lewis Sperry Chafer

Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 107:426 (Apr 1950)
Article: The Consummating Scripture on Security
Author: Lewis Sperry Chafer


The Consummating Scripture on Security

Lewis Sperry Chafer

As the Letter to the Romans is designed to give the plan and scope of salvation by and through the grace of God which is made possible through the death of Christ, it is to be expected that that Letter will present the essential truth that the one who is saved is safe for all eternity. This Epistle is divided into three parts, namely, (1) salvation, chapters 1–8; (2) dispensation, chapters 9–11; and (3) exhortation, chapters 12–16. The first section, on salvation, may be divided into three parts. Having declared the lost estate of man in its peculiar form in the present age, the Apostle sets forth: (1) salvation for the unregenerate person which is consummated in justification (3:21 ); (2) salvation for the believer from the power of sin, or unto sanctification (6:1–8:17 ); and (3) security for those who are saved (8:1–39). From this outline, it will be seen that the portion 8:1–17 serves a double purpose, as it appears in two of these divisions. The present thesis is concerned with the security portion (8:1–39), which is built on the entire salvation revelation and consummates it with an argument for security which is both clear and conclusive. This argument closes with the Apostle’s confession of his own belief respecting the safety of those who are saved. In this respect, as in many others, Arminianism cannot claim to be Pauline. The student will recognize that, after having set forth the essential character of salvation in its two major aspects, the Apostle must answer the pertinent question whether such a salvation, which is unrelated to human merit, will endure.

This great chapter—second in significance only to John 17—opens with an all but incredible proclamation which

serves as a primary statement, the truth of which is proved by seven major arguments and these occupy the text of the chapter. This amazing, unqualified, divine assertion which it has pleased God to record and to fortify with infallible proofs is as follows: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” The added words, “who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit,” found in the A.V., are not, as recognized by all devout scholars (see R.V.), a part of this text in its original form, but have been add...

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