When I was in the thick of my dark times of depression, I believed my salvation was based upon my performance, not the finished work of Christ. I didn’t find peace until we attended Fellowship Bible Church in Longview, TX, where the pastor taught the doctrine of eternal security. Pastor Harvey, former pastor here at CBC, also helped me see the importance of this doctrine. If physical security affects our mental health, how much more does eternal security? My ignorance of this doctrine was a major factor in my feelings of gloom and depression.
One passage that I love to reflect on is Matt 18:21–22. It says, “Then Peter came up and said to him, ‘Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.’” As Jesus teaches, we are supposed to forgive those who sin against us an unlimited number of times. If we are called to forgive like this, how much more is Christ willing to forgive us our sins whenever and however many times we sin!? We cannot out-sin Christ’s forgiveness.
If you don’t have peace, open God’s Word so that you can better understand the grace of God. Eternal security is all throughout the Bible! My mental health is not based upon my abilities, but upon the finished work of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I hope yours is, too.
Boyd Wallace, Member