While the expression “eternal security” is not found in the Bible, it is certainly taught throughout the Bible.  Let’s consider the words of the Lord Jesus in John 10:27-28 where He states, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them ETERNAL LIFE; and THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”  The term “eternal life” refers to a life that NEVER ENDS.  It if could ever end, then it would not have been eternal in the first place.  The promise of eternal life is that “they shall never perish.”  NEVER PERISH!  Again, the very meaning of the term indicates the impossibility of that life ever ending or that the believer will ever perish.  To enforce that truth, the Lord assures us that no one can pluck the believer out of His hand. 

We read in John 3:36 that, “He that believeth on the Son HATH everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”  (The word ‘everlasting’ is the same Greek word that is translated ‘eternal’ in John 10:28).  This shows us that the believer on the Lord Jesus Christ has everlasting/eternal life RIGHT NOW.  While our bodies will one day cease to live, our spirit and soul will go on to be with the Lord…continuing in the life the Lord has given us through faith in Him. 

Can someone with eternal life still backslide?  Well, the word ‘backslide’ is not found in the New Testament.  We find the word ‘backslider’ in the Old Testament in Proverbs 14:14, “The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.”  Jeremiah confessed on behalf of the Lord’s people in Jeremiah 14:7, “O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it for thy name’s sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee.”

According to the definition of the word, the backslider is one who retreats or goes backwards.  Can a true believer go backwards in his Christian life?  Can a true believer revert to his old ways and lose his intimacy with the Lord?  Yes.  It is very possible for a believer to take his eyes off the Lord and fall into sin.  Backsliding can be caused by many things, however, whatever the sin might be that leads us away from God, it must be dealt with honestly and brought before Him in repentance so our relationship with Him can be restored. God loves us and wants us to be close to Him. Even when we sin against Him, He promises to forgive.  1 John 1:9 tells us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  When we sin against the Lord (and ALL sin is sin against the Lord) we should acknowledge that right away, repent of it and confess it to the Lord.  He will forgive us and cleanse us from all the unrighteousness we have committed. 

We absolutely must always fight against backsliding, but if we do backslide, we know that when we renounce our sin and return to God, there is forgiveness and reconciliation.  To resist the urge to wander away from the Lord, we are exhorted in Galatians 5:16, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”  It is by continuing with the Lord and His truths that we are able to resist the temptation to walk in the flesh.  If you have truly put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as your savior, you are eternally saved…and nothing can change that.  However, we must follow after the Lord to maintain that intimate fellowship with Him that gives us the power and desire to live for Him.  (CC)  (624.2)