{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Houston's First Baptist Church","title":"The Believer and Security","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1539,"description":"In this sermon the speaker tackles the doctrine often called \"eternal security\" or \"once saved, always saved,\" asking whether a true believer can ever lose his salvation. He begins by noting the controversy surrounding the doctrine, recounting a personal anecdote about a relative who viewed the teaching as a license to sin. He then outlines his preaching series, explaining that he will regularly address how to be saved, how to know one is saved, and the biblical basis for the believer's spiritual life. He emphasizes that salvation is a one‑time, irreversible act of God’s grace, not something earned or maintained by works, and he defines being saved as having sins forgiven, a present relationship with God, and the promise of eternal life.\n\nThe sermon moves into a concise biblical exposition, focusing on Ephesians 2:8‑10, Galatians, John 3, Romans 5, 8, and John 10. The speaker stresses that grace is an unmerited gift that saves through faith in Christ’s finished work, and that good works are the result, not the cause, of salvation. He warns against adding legalistic requirements to grace, noting that falling away from grace means reverting to the law, not losing salvation. He concludes by affirming that believers are sealed by the Holy Spirit, cannot be plucked from Christ’s hand, and that the doctrine of eternal security remains firmly rooted in Scripture.","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/o5yzRQYlXr9ParDz0W15WXJmDEyj_QNDo8tzYNqSRoc/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8wN2Ew/Yjg4MTI1YTdmNDVi/Mjc2NWZiNDkwYTBi/OTU4MS5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}