I thought of a couple more links to share with you. The first is an online bible tool in multiple languages and translations. Good search feature and some other good tools too:
http://biblos.com/
Here is a nice article on the "new calvinists" that I feel is pretty accurate. These men represent more or less the type of teaching you will find at my church and in the books and studies we use. It is important to clarify that they do not represent the extremes of what some refer to as Hyper Calvinism. The older extreme Calvinists sometimes did not want to evangelize or even relate to the world much. I don't think it is fair to put Driscoll, Grudem, Mahanney, Dever, Sproul, Piper, Keller, MacArthur or Mohler in that group. These men all have a passion for the Word and for the lost. They do self identify as Calvinist for the most part and rightly so. They stand clearly in the Reformation tradition of evangelical Protestantism. To condemn what these men stand for outright is inappropriate whether I fully agree with them or not.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Here is a sympathetic Christian overview of the same topic:
http://theresurgence.com/2010/
This article by Driscoll might help you understand what kind of Calvinism you are likely to encounter at Mars Hill Seattle for example:
http://theresurgence.com/2009/
If you really want to dig on the Calvinist issue, you might want to read this article. Anything on this site is pretty good, by the way.
http://www.theopedia.com/
Finally if you don't have time for anything else PLEASE WATCH THIS VIDEO:
http://www.marshillchurch.org/
More specifically about eternal security. The belief that those who are truly saved will always remain saved is also known as the Perseverance of the Saints or just Perseverance. You will generally find that all self identified Calvinists believe this as well as many who aren't sure what they are. The general concept is also referenced as Eternal Security or Once Saved Always Saved. Generally speaking, the reason it is consistent with a Calvinist perspective is this: If God does it, it's done and you couldn't undo it if you wanted to.
The non Calvinist or Arminian tends to think we have more say in our choice for salvation. Simplistically, if you chose it, you could maybe change your mind or fall away. This type of thinking may appear to be consistent with what we observe around us, but probably does not reflect God's view as spelled out in the Bible.
We are told to keep ourselves in the faith and we are told that we are kept by God for His glorious kingdom. Both have to be true.
That's my simplistic answer. For something more in depth you might start here:
http://www.theopedia.com/
BE CAREFUL! You certainly don't need to take it all in at once. If this is new material for you and you try to absorb it at one sitting you may get indigestion. And it will probably make your head hurt!
Don't let go of Jesus! He certainly isn't going to let go of you!
27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me,a is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30I and the Father are one.” John 10 ESV
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8Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 10Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11The saying is trustworthy, for:
If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he also will deny us;
13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself.14Remind them of these things, and charge them before Goda not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,b a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. 19But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” 20Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable,c he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.
2223Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24And the Lord’s servantd must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
2 Timothy 2 ESV
Rejoice in the Lord! Celebrate the Resurrection! Live in newness of Life!
Hallellujah! Maranatha!
JB
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