Are you saved through fruit?

John Piper thinks so:

“In final salvation at the last judgment, faith is confirmed by the sanctifying fruit it has borne, and we are saved through that fruit and that faith. As Paul says in 2 Thessalonians 2:13, ‘God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.’”

There is no such thing as final salvation. Nor is there a last judgment for believers. Jesus settled your salvation when you believed in Him.

It was already final then.

In that second of faith, you had eternal life, passed from death to life, and would never come under judgment again. That’s what Jesus promised:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life” (John 5:24).

There will be a Great White Throne judgment. But that judgment is not to decide your salvation. There is no question mark hanging over that issue. It is settled forever. You are secure forever.

Of course, there are future aspects to the salvation you already have by faith. There is a deeper experience of spiritual wholeness and health that can be yours. We eagerly wait for Jesus’ return and the establishment of His kingdom.

Piper says God will judge us according to our fruit. That is true. That will happen at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

Piper says this judgment will concern our eternal salvation. That is false. It will concern the believers’ eternal reward.

Piper quotes 2 Thess 2:13 in support of his claim. That’s actually a Rapture verse. It is a promise that Jesus will deliver the Church from the Tribulation. It has nothing to do with the uncertainty of our eternal salvation now, or that it depends on doing good works.

The doctrine of final salvation through fruit is rotten to the core.