Grace Evangelical Society

P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202
  • About
    • Home
    • Beliefs
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
  • Resources
    • Grace in Focus Blog
    • Grace in Focus International Blogs
    • Grace in Focus Radio
    • Grace in Focus Magazine
    • Free eBooks
    • Journal of the GES
    • Book Reviews
    • Partners in Grace Newsletter
    • Audio Messages
    • Videos
    • Email Subscription
    • Bookstore
    • Online Tracts
  • Store
    • Main Page
    • On Sale
    • Return Policy
    • Your Cart
    • Your Account
  • Events
  • Connect
    • Contact Us
    • Free Grace Church and Bible Study Tracker
    • Free Grace Jobs
    • Ministry Links
  • Donate
    • One Time Donation
    • Monthly Donation
    • Your Account
  • Search
Home
→
Blog
→
Salvation Is Final the Moment You Believe

Salvation Is Final the Moment You Believe

May 10, 2018 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - evangelism, Final Salvation, Salvation, saving faith

 

On September 25, 2017 Dr. John Piper published a blog at the DesiringGod.org website. It was entitled, “Does God Really Save Us by Faith Alone?” His answer was No!

In part Piper writes:

These works of faith, and this obedience of faith, these fruits of the Spirit that come by faith, are necessary for our final salvation [emphasis added]. No holiness, no heaven (Hebrews 12:14). So, we should not speak of getting to heaven by faith alone in the same way we are justified by faith alone [emphasis added].

Essential to the Christian life and necessary for final salvation is the killing of sin (Romans 8:13) and the pursuit of holiness (Hebrews 12:14). Mortification of sin, sanctification in holiness.

Did I mention that Piper is a Calvinist?

Of course, many Calvinists find fault with this language of Piper.

According to John 3:16-18, when is salvation final?

The answer is that salvation was final the very moment you believed in Jesus for everlasting life. There is no time of probation.

No works are necessary in order to get into heaven. At least no works which we have done. Jesus’ works, His sinless life and His finished work on the cross, are necessary, of course. But our works are not the issue. At all.

Before my senior year in college I was hoping to gain final salvation when I died. I thought I could lose salvation (if I even had it) by failing to persevere in holiness. If I’d read that quote by Piper, I’d have thought he was speaking God’s Word clearly.

Then I learned that salvation is final the very moment one believes in Jesus. The passage God used was Eph 2:8-9. I believed that day at the start of my senior year and I knew right then that I had been saved once and for all by grace through faith and that it was apart from works. I was saved that day once and for all. My search was finally over. Thank God.

Wow. What good news that is. I dedicated my life to telling others about this good news.

I know John Piper has good intentions. But he is wrong. Salvation is final the moment one believes in Jesus for it.

 

Subscribe by Email

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
Bob_W

by Bob Wilkin

Bob Wilkin (ThM, PhD, Dallas Theological Seminary) is the Founder and Executive Director of Grace Evangelical Society and co-host of Grace in Focus Radio. He lives in Highland Village, TX with his wife, Sharon. His latest books are Faith Alone in One Hundred Verses and Turn and Live: The Power of Repentance.

If you wish to ask a question about a given blog, email us your question at ges@faithalone.org.

Cart

Recently Added

February 3, 2023

Romans–Part 05–The Solution

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio. Today, Kathryn Wright and Ken Yates conclude this short series as they get to the good part of the...
February 3, 2023

Here’s Why Your February Partner’s Letter Will Be Late

We send a letter each month to those who financially support the ministry of GES. We call the newsletter Partners in Grace. We try to...
February 2, 2023

Romans–Part 04–The Problem

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio. Today, Ken Yates and Kathryn Wright continue this short series about Romans. Jumping to Chapter 3, they begin with...

Grace in Focus Radio

All Episodes

Listen to Stitcher

Listen on Spotify

Grace In Focus Magazine

Grace In Focus is sent to subscribers in the United States free of charge.

Subscribe for Free

The primary source of Grace Evangelical Society's funding is through charitable contributions. GES uses all contributions and proceeds from the sales of our resources to further the gospel of grace in the United States and abroad.

Donate

Bookstore Specials

  • Grudem Against Grace: A Defense of Free Grace Theology $15.00 $10.00
  • The Journey of Faith $15.00 $9.00
  • Confident in Christ, 2nd Edition $22.00 $5.00
  • Here Walks My Enemy: The Story of Luis (Paperback) $6.95 $3.00
  • Here Walks My Enemy: The Story of Luis (Hardcover) $13.95 $5.00
Grace Evangelical Society

(940) 270-8827 / ges@faithalone.org

4851 S I-35E Suite 203, Corinth, TX 76210
P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube