Hi, Brandon. Thanks for taking the time to read the blog and post comments! Notice that part 2 of this blog is not from the same author.
I appreciate you expressing your views. And also thank you for taking the time to excogitate this matter. To be a careful thinkers on issues such as these we must realize that some biblical texts aren’t always so clear cut. Careful study can lead to conclusions from these texts you mentioned, which do not necessitate the idea of losing your salvation.
I shall elaborate…
I’m not sure if you’re familiar with the field of Biblical Hermeneutics (the study of accurate Scriptural interpretation) which looks more deeply at passages when it seems to be giving some sort of contradictory teaching on some particular theology. I myself am far from an expert in Hermeneutics, but I do know for certain that there are many passages in the New Testament that argue for the position of eternal security. To consider a few passages that ‘seems' to support the “loosing salvation” belief. It creates problems because it offers contradictions with other doctrines and passages throughout God's word; including salvation by faith, the sin nature of man, and why Christ went to the cross to die for our sin in the first place. According to the Scriptures true children of God are forever saved and forever eternally secure.
Matthew 10:22 does not refer to losing your salvation, but rather enduring persecution and being faithful. Matthew 18:21-25 is a parable that illustrates the power of forgiveness. It is important to note that this parable is not about salvation, for salvation is wholly of grace and is unconditionally given. To make God’s forgiveness a temporary thing is to violate the very truth of Scripture (Rom.5:8; Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:3-7). The parable deals with forgiveness between brothers not between lost sinner and God. The emphasis in this chapter is on brother forgiving brother (Matt.18:15, 21)
2 Peter 2:20-22. In verse 20 it mentions the possibility of reverting to old paganism having “escaped the corruptions of the world” through knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. It s it possible, then, from this passage, for Christians to lose their salvation? Many would answer affirmatively on the basis of this and similar biblical texts (Heb 6:4-6; 10:26) But this verse asserts only that false teachers who have for a time escaped from worldly corruption through knowing Christ and then turn away from the light of the Christian faith are worse off than they were before knowing Christ . It uses no terminology affirming that they were Christians in reality (e.g. “Sons of God”, “Children,” “born again,” “regenerate,” “redeemed”). The NT makes a distinction between those who are in the churches and those who are regenerate. (2 Cor 13:5; 2 Tim 2:18-19; 1 John 3:7-8; 2:19: “They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us… but their going showed that one of them belonged to us”)
So when Peter says, “They are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning,” the reference is to lost apostate. Verse 21 underlines the seriousness of the apostasy. And in verse 22, Peter concludes his strong denunciation of the false teachers by citing two proverbs the first is a biblical one (Prov 26:11); the second is an extrabibical. Both dogs and pigs were considered vile by the Jews. So the false teachers are unclean and return to the pagan corruption. Significantly, Jesus used the designations “dogs and “pigs” in speaking of those opposed to God and his Word. So the “dog [that] returns to his vomit” or the sow that “is washed,” “washed itself,” portrays the person who has religious “profession” or outward change without a regenerating inner change that affects his nature. Such a person soon reverts to his true nature.
As for Job 1:21 it fully reads, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gives and takes away; may the name of the Lord be praised. Here is the attitude of Job in contrast to that in the Dialogue is one of supreme faith and total resignation to the sovereign will of God. Job did not understand why but believed that his trouble came from God “The Lord gives and takes away”. Job was ignorant of what had taken place in the divine council – that God allowed the Accuser to strike thus far. But Job was right; it was the Lord who had taken away. The use of the secondary means does not solve the problem of evil, nor is it the purpose of the Book of Job to solve this logical dilemma. In a very real sense, Job’s statement of trust in God went as far as he or any human can go into solving this mystery. When Job said, “May the name of the Lord be praised” , he was using the same word that Satan used in v.11 as an euphemism with opposite meaning. It stresses how the Accuser is foiled at this point. Instead of cursing God to his face, Job praised him.
This passage response is not me, it is quoted from another person online "Gal.5:1-5 is discussing believers who are trying to please God by adding the Law to their salvation. As we well know, this approach is doomed to a big failure. In Paul’s mind there are two opposing categories of approaching God - Law being one and Grace the other. The key to these verses is found in Chapter four where Paul writes this,
Now I say, as long as an heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave, although he is owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father. So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive adoption as sons.
Here Paul demonstrates that he is talking about the way we relate to God. He doesn’t mean we will fall from salvation, but from a way of relating to God by grace (i.e. there’s absolutely nothing I can do to make up for my sins) to that of the Law or works (i.e. I must keep some rules in order to be still be considered for heaven.) When Paul says that a believer has “fallen from grace” (vs4), he is saying that the believer has fallen from the more perfect way of seeking God’s will in his life to a more base (and unreachable) way. It does not mean someone had salvation and now lost it. So this passage addresses the believers’ walk more than their eternal security. "
In Luke 12:41-46 Peter responds, in his accustomed role as a spokesman for the apostles, with a question about the extent of their responsibility (vs. .41). Jesus answers, as often, with a counter question (vs. .42.) Although he says elsewhere that exhortations to “watch” apply to everyone (Mark 13:37), in this case the parable that follows (vv.42-46) show that the apostles have a special responsibility. In the illustration the “manger” or “steward” is in charge of the “servants” is a “servant” himself (vs.43) this was a common situation in that first-century society. The passage teaches the importance of faithfulness in doing the will of the master. Verses 42-46 emphasize responsibility one has for those who have been placed under his leadership.
In the passage, 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 it is about poof of salvation. Paul had come to Corinth and preached the message of the Gospel, and their faith had transformed their lives. But an integral part of the Gospel message was the fact of Christ’s resurrection. After all, a dead Savior cannot save anybody. Paul’s readers had received the Word, trusted Christ, been saved, and were now standing on that Word as the assurance of their salvation. The fact that they were standing firm was proof that their faith was genuine and not empty.
1 John 1:7 says, “but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His son cleanses us from all sin” Walk is used throughout the NT, especially in Paul’s letters, to describe the effect, not of justification, but of sanctification. Salvation is not only a change in ones legal status as divine righteousness is credited to ones account, but a change in behavior as actual righteousness is give to believers by the very indwelling presence of God’s Spirit Daily living of the Christian life is a Spirit-enabled walk.
In Hebrews 6: 4-5 we read
“It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.”
This passage is speaking to the unsaved who have heard the truth and acknowledged it, but who have hesitated to embrace Christ. These Jews had been wondrously blessed by God's enlightenment, by association with His Holy Spirit, and tasting of His heavenly gifts, His Word, and His power. And still they did not believe. The passage of 6:1-8 could be summarized this way: “You had better come to Christ now, for if you fall away it will be impossible for you to come again to the point of repentance." They were at the best point for repentance - full knowledge. To fall back from that would be extremely fatal.
Many believe that this warning is addressed to Christians; also many interpreters hold that this passage teaches that salvation can be lost. If this interpretation were true, however, the passage would also teach that, once lost, salvation could never be regained. If, after being saved, a person lost his salvation, he would be damned forever. There would be no going back and forth, in and out of grace. But Christians are not being addressed, and it is the opportunity for receiving salvation, not salvation itself, that can be lost.
We as believers in Christ never need to fear that we will lose our salvation. One cannot. The Bible is absolutely clear about that. Again here is the verse... Jesus said," My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand." (John 10:27-29).
Paul is equally clear. "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor power, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom.8:35,38-39)
"He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus" (Phil1:6) We are "to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven," and we "are protected by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1: Pet 1:4-5)
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1: 6)
I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. (John 5:24)
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30)
All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. (John 6:37)
For God's gifts and his call are irrevocable. (Romans 11:29)
If the power of God cannot keep us, nothing is dependable or trustworthy or worth believing in. A Christian has no reason at any point in his life to believe that his salvation is or can be lost. If by Christ's death we can be saved, certainly by His life of power and intercession we can be kept saved (Rom.5:10).
It is unbelievers who are in danger of losing salvation - in the sense of losing the opportunity ever to receive it. The unbelieving Jews were in great danger, because of their spiritual immaturity and sluggishness, of turning back to Judaism and of never being able to repent and come to Christ. They would be lost forever, because they had rejected, at the most vital point in knowledge and conviction, and only the gospel that could save them. There is no other salvation message they could hear, no evidence of the truth of the gospel they had not seen.
These particular Jews here, had even heard the apostles preach and had seen them performs signs and wonders and miracles (Heb.2:4). They had been privileged to behold virtually all the manifestations of His saving Word and power that God could give. They had heard it all and seen it all. They had even accepted it all intellectually. Any who are so informed, so witnessed to, so blessed with every opportunity to know God's gospel, and who then turn their backs on it - for Judaism or anything else - are eternally lost.
They not only reject the gospel, but crucify to themselves the Son of God, and put Him to open shame They had either to go on to full knowledge of God through faith in Christ or else turn away from Him, to become apostate and be lost forever. There was no other alternative. This should also answer the passage regarding Hebrews 3:6-14. If not, let me know and I can explain further.
