Does the Holy Spirit not falsify eternal security in 1Tim.4:1?

STATEMENT (by someone aiming to disprove eternal security):

Eternal Security (or once saved always saved) is falsified by the Holy Spirit in 1 Timothy 4:1 as “some will depart from the faith”.

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons” - 1 Tim 4:1 ESV

MY REPLY:

You are adding your own presumptions and reasoning to that verse. The verse says there will be a departure from the faith due to deception. Nowhere does it say that these people will lose their salvation.

One can easily prove from scripture that eternal security is false outside of the grace dispensation, (Lk 9:62; Matt 16:24-25; Matt 6:15; Rev 3:16, etc), but there is no scripture that directly proves this within Paul’s grace doctrine. On the contrary, there is evidence that undoubtedly supports eternal security.

Ex.1: The scripture below refers to a man in Corinth committing gross fornication. Paul writes that the assembly should excommunicate this man for the destruction of his flesh so that his spirit might be saved. Since the man was a believer, yet carnal, he would suffer in the flesh for his deeds, even unto death, but his spirit remains sealed in Christ and by Christ’s imputed righteousness, he still belongs to God.

1Co 5:1-6  It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.  (2)  And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.  (3)  For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,  (4)  In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,  (5)  To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.  (6)  Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

Ex.2: The verses below reference the judgement seat of Christ, in which grace believers of this dispensation are judged. The scripture confirms that if a believer wastes their time in carnal living, they forgo that measure of glory in Christ’s reward in the ages to come, yet they are still saved.

1Co 3:14-15  If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.  (15)  If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

God’s grace through Christ is absolute. If you choose to believe in Jesus, God gives you the free gift of justification and life. This gift is not dependent on your actions. It is freely given because of Christ’s actions. It is not revoked because of your disobedience. It is given because of the riches of Christ’s obedience. Once you are transferred into Christ’s administration, (read Rom.5), and sealed into His Body, you are accepted of God, and you have full atonement. This is the very reason why Christ died for you, to purchase you back to God. Thinking anything less means one has far too much faith in being able to save oneself and one has absolutely no clue on how utterly depraved and lost we are without Christ’s intervention.

Rom 5:10-11  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.  (11)  And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.