28/06/2026
ETERNAL SALVATION IS IN THE BIBLE, THE CONTROVERSIES AND MISCONCEPTIONS OF ETERNAL SALVATION ARE NOT IN THE BIBLE:
Hebrews chapter 5 and verse contains a very important piece of revelation for us all thus;
Hebrews 5: 9 says: And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him..
This verse of scriptures is hardly ever referenced by certain sections of the body of Christ, but it is an inspired verse of the Bible nonetheless.
As a matter of fact, some have often wished that this verse of the Bible was not inside the Bible, but this is totally ludicrous not the least because this verse of scriptures is an immutable and unchangeable part of scripture forever.
To better appreciate this singular verse of scriptures it becomes very helpful to read it in the context of the verses going before and the verses which follow after. We must always bear it in mind that the scriptures originally were not comprised of chapters and verses. Versification and chapterization are a much later development by the Bible scholarship to aid or facilitate theological studies and research.
Hebrews 5: 1-11 reads as follows:
1. For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:
2. Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.
3. And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.
4. And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
5. So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.
6. As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
7. Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
8. Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
9. And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
10. Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
11. Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.”.
The writer of the book of Hebrew opens this chapter with a discussion of the functions and role of a High Priest and the spiritual qualifications a High Priest must possess to effectively stand in that office.
The writer of the book of Hebrew then applies these things to the Lord Jesus Christ to show that He (the Lord Jesus Christ) was preeminently qualified as a High Priest albeit after the Melchisedec priesthood and not after the Levitical priesthood.
The writer of the book of Hebrew went further to explain that the Lord Jesus Christ did not impose Himself as a High Priest, but was called by God and was not even eager to die for the sins of the whole world as He prayed to God to deliver Him from death. However, God heard His prayers and helped Him to rever and obey God above every other thing unto the utterly humiliating and shameful death of the cross.
The writer of the book of Hebrew concludes this passage by stating thus:
Hebrews 5: 9
And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him..
The word perfect in the opening phrase of this verse And being made perfect is the Greek word “Teleioo” which means to complete i.e. literally accomplish, or figuratively consummate (in character), consecrate, finish, fulfill, (make) perfect.
It is the same word in Hebrews 2: 10
“10. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.”.
To understand this word, we must keep it in mind that it is a word employed by the writer of the book of Hebrews in relation to Christs suffering as the preceding verse shows clearly as follows:
Hebrews 5: 7-9
“7. Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
8. Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
9. And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;”.
That He learned obedience by the things He suffered and having completed, consummated and finished His sufferings which culminated in his death on the cross is what the opening phrase is talking about.
This is exactly the same thing the writer was describing at Hebrews 2: 10 where he wrote as follows:
“10. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.”.
He became perfect through sufferings which were consummated or finished by His death of the cross of Calvary or Golgotha if you like.
The next word, in that sentence is the word author. The word author appears in the entire Bible going by the entries in the Strongs Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible just three (3) times as follows;
At 1 Corinthians 14: 33
33. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints..
At Hebrews 5: 9
And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him..
And at Hebrews 12: 2
“2. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”.
However, the word author employed in Hebrews 5: 9 is the Greek word Aitios which means causative, concretely a causer, author.
While the word author employed in Hebrews 5: 9 is the Greek word Archegos which means a chief leader, author, captain, prince.
What this means is that the word author as used in Hebrews 12: 2 does not speak of the Lord Jesus Christ in His leadership role leading believers to a salvation whether present or futuristic, or as salvation that is to be had or obtained somewhere in the future, but as the causative agent, giver, origin or source of our salvation.
A quick check through the existing dictionaries available online reveals that to be causative is to be the cause of something, to be causative agent or factor.
The Lord Jesus therefore is the cause, origin or source of that which He gave or gives and not the devil or satan or any man no matter how famous or notorious, charismatic or spiritual, or otherwise.
The word eternal is next and the word eternal which is under consideration appears just twice under the Old Testament (at Deuteronomy 33: 27 and Isaiah 60: 15), and 45 times under the New Testament scriptures.
Generally, under the New Testament there are three words which denote the word eternal and the first of which is the word “Aidios” which appear twice at Romans 1 : 20 and Romans 2: 7, which means ever during (forward and backward, or forward only), eternal, everlasting.
The second word is the word “Aion” which appear twice Ephesians 3: 11 and 1 Timothy 1: 17 which means perpetuity, age, world, course, eternal, evermore, (beginning of the, while the) world (began, without end).
Lastly, is the word “Aionios” which appear 41 times and which means perpetual (also used of past time, or past and future as well), eternal, forever, everlasting, world (began).
The particular word translated eternal in this verse is the word “Aionios” which appear 41 times and which means perpetual (also used of past time, or past and future as well), eternal, forever, everlasting, world (began).
Essentially, this means that the Lord Jesus Christ by His sufferings which is ultimately His death He became the causative agent of that which is perpetual, forever, eternal and everlasting.
This brings us to the word salvation employed in this verse, it is from the Greek word “Soteria” which means rescue or safety (physical or moral), deliver, health, salvation, save , saving. The applicable words which are most apt from these synonyms are the words rescue, safety and salvation.
This means that the Lord Jesus Christ by His sufferings which is ultimately His death He became the causative agent of that which is perpetual, forever, eternal and everlasting rescue, safety or salvation.
The word eternal describes or qualifies the word salvation. It is the definition or description of the very essence and nature of Salvation. The Salvation that the Lord Jesus Christ is therefore intrinsically eternal. Eternal salvation is not what some believers, pastors, churches and denomination calls it.
SALVATION IS ETERNAL AND ETERNAL SALVATION IS THE SALVATION THAT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST GIVES.
As long as it is a salvation come from Christ Jesus; the Bible clearly describes it as eternal.
Nowhere in the entire length and breadth of the Bible or the scriptures is the salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ described as any other thing than eternal. It is not a fleeting, fluctuating, start and stop, temporary, and transient salvation that is constantly and continuously in danger of being lost and found, thrown away and then recovered in an endless and vicious cycle.
It is a salvation that is perpetual, forever, eternal and everlasting.
This then brings me to the seemingly interminable or unending controversy or debate as to whether salvation is a present reality and possession of the believers, an ongoing reality or a futuristic reality after the believers die or when they get to heaven.
Stated differently, are we saved? Being saved? Or to be saved at a later futuristic date? To attempt an answer of these issues or questions will take me outside the immediate scope of the concerns and focus of this discuss and I hate to digress.
One things is however clear, the writer of the book of Hebrews describes the salvation as eternal. Such that whether now, ongoing or futuristic it is eternal, perpetual, forever and everlasting.
Salvation the one that the Lord Jesus offers it basically and ultimately eternal. The Bible states it clearly.
Lastly, we come to the phrase “unto all them that obey him. the key words “All qualifies those who obey Him while the word “him” obviously refers to the Lord Jesus Christ.
The question at this point is this: what is the meaning of that word obey as used in this verse of the scripture? That is the all-important question.
The word obey in this verse is from the Greek word “Hupakouo” which means to hear under (as a subordinate), i.e. to listen attentively; by implication to heed or conform to a command or authority, hearken, be obedient to, obey. Which in turn is related to another Greek word “Hupakoe” which means attentive hearkening, i.e. by implication compliance or submission; obedience, (make) obedient, obey, obeying.
The Greek word “Hupakouo” is itself derived from two root Greek words “Hupo” which means under, underneath, below. In comparatively, it retains the same general applications, especially of inferior position or condition, and specifically covertly or moderately.
And the Greek word “Akouo” to hear (in the various senses), give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears of), hear (hearken), be noised, be reported, understand.
The word “Hupakouo” therefore means to hear under as a subordinate or follower of the Lord Jesus Christ which by implication is to heed or conform to a command or authority.
The vexed issue is what exactly does it mean to obey as spoken of in this verse by the writer of the book of Hebrews?
One school of thought defines this obedience as faith in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. While another school of thought defines this obedience as obedience not to the gospel, but obedience to the commands, injunctions, instructions and words of Christ which encompasses everything in the scriptures including the Old Testament laws and statutes, and ten commandments.
Yet another school of thought defines this obedience this obedience as including faith in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, but which is not limited to faith in the gospel and extends to obedience to the commands, injunctions, instructions and words of Christ which encompasses everything in the scriptures including the Old Testament laws and statutes, and ten commandments.
However, whichever school of thought one belongs to; obedience to the commands, injunctions, instructions and words of Christ which encompasses everything in the scriptures is virtually impossible without the primary faith in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and the people who live or walk in obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ are people who believe in Him.
Now when the word “Hupakouo” is read along with the other related Greek word “Hupakoe” it becomes clear that what the writer of Hebrew had in mind is obedience in the sense of compliance or submission to the Lord Jesus Christ as a subordinate, follower or believer. This is more in keeping with the overall context, message and tone of the book of Hebrews which seeks to encourage the Jews to hold fast to their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
All them that obey him therefore speaks of believers and of no other class of people.
When all these analysis are put together it makes for clearer reading and a better understanding as follows: Christ Jesus by His death became the giver of eternal salvation to all those who believe in Him.
In conclusion, what this commentary has sought to achieve is to give the readers a clear appreciation of this all important verse of the scriptures top the extent that the Lord Jesus Christ suffered for us which culminated in His sacrificial death for our sins and thus became the causer, cause and giver of eternal salvation to everyone who believes in Him.
This scriptural truth when rightly understood ought to be a source of unbounded and an unending joy in every believer.
Let us pray, heavenly Father thank you for giving us the Lord Jesus Christ who suffered for us to give us a salvation that is eternal. We give you all the thanks and praise in Jesus Christ mighty name amen.
FOLA AWONUSI
14/02/2021
Word of Grace Teaching Ministry, Ibadan is an Assembly of believers with a divine mandate to TEACH the Word of God in truth, without compromise and in the demonstration of the Spirit's power.
