Can the Righteous Fall Away? (Part 1 of 2) By Doy Moyer (http://focusmagazine.org/Articles/righteousfall.htm)
The question as to whether or not a person who is once saved can fall away and be lost eternally is a hotly debated one. The teaching that once a person is saved, he is always saved, is among the most popular in the denominational world. We want to think about it some, because the consequences of the doctrine are quite serious.
The Nature of Salvation
I believe that, in order to understand this issue, we need to understand the nature of salvation. One's view of how salvation is attained is directly connected to his view of whether or not it can be lost. The doctrine of "once saved, always saved" is really the end result of Calvinistic teachings, which begin with the idea of inherited depravity. Calvinism says that we are born sinners: The only way to be saved is to be "unconditionally elected" by God to salvation. Then, we must wait for the direct operation of the Holy Spirit to take us and save us, after which it is impossible to lose salvation. The whole theory is built on the assumption of inherited sin, which the Bible denies (Ezek. 18; Matt. 18:2-7).
The question comes down to choice. Is man's free-will choice involved in salvation? If not, then what does this say about the grace and partiality of God (cf. Acts 10:34-35)? If choice is involved, then can a saved person choose to depart from God?
The Scriptures teach very clearly that choice is involved in salvation. God has not made us robots with no capacity for choice. If that were the case, the Bible would be senseless. God gives us the choice to obey or disobey (Heb. 5:9; Jn. 12:48; Acts 13:46; Luke 9:23, etc.) We are saved by grace (Eph. 2:8), but this is not unconditional. His grace is given to those who choose to submit to His will (Titus 2:11-14; 1 Pet. 5:5-6; Jas. 4:7-10).
Can One Turn from Righteousness?
The issue before us is not whether or not a righteous person will be saved. I affirm that a righteous person cannot be lost (in his righteousness). The question is not whether or not a righteous person who perseveres to the end can be lost. Again, I affirm that a righteous man who perseveres to the end cannot be lost (Rev. 2:10). The question is, can a righteous man turn away from his righteousness? If so, what are the consequences of that turning?
Since choice is involved in our salvation, then it is possible to choose to turn away from God. I don't know of any passage which more clearly defines this point for us than Ezekiel 18. The whole chapter is significant to this discussion, but notice verse 24:
"But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die." (emphasis added)
The text states that a righteous man can turn away from his righteousness. It also states the consequences of the turning: he shall die. That alone ought to be enough to end the debate.
New Testament Warnings
The New Testament is full of warnings written to Christians
about maintaining faithfulness. The entire book of Hebrews fills
this purpose. Notice Hebrews 3:12-14:
"Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart
of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another
daily, while it is called 'Today,' lest any of you be hardened
through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers
of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast
to the end."
Note some of the points. It is possible to have an "evil
heart of unbelief" and to "depart from the living God."
They could become "hardened through the deceitfulness of
sin." And remaining partakers of Christ is conditioned upon
holding "the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the
end." Again, this is not written to alien sinners, but to
Christians. If it is impossible to lose salvation, warnings like
this are utterly meaningless. Notice Romans 11:22:
"Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on
those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue
in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off."
The severity of God came on those who "fell," and His goodness is extended to those who "continue in His goodness." Again, this is meaningless if losing salvation is impossible. Many other passages illustrate the same point.
Three-Fold Prosperity by Jim Vaughan (http://www.4gchurch.org/)
In 3 John 2, John wrote to Gaius, "Beloved I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth". In this verse John mentions three kinds of prosperity. Financial prosperity, physical prosperity, and spiritual prosperity are all three important. We need financial prosperity in order to have food, clothing, shelter, and other necessities and to have enjoyment in life. We also need physical prosperity to be in health, free from disease, pain, and disability. Most of all we need spiritual prosperity in order that our soul may be free from sin, escape the wrath of God, and have the gift of eternal life.
Neglect is the enemy of this three-fold prosperity. If we neglect financial prosperity, we may end up in poverty, in debt, and in financial ruin. If we neglect our health we will suffer with sickness and disease. If we neglect our soul we will be lost in the place of eternal punishment. "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;" (Heb 2:1-3). Neglect is our enemy in all three of these different kinds of prosperity. The greatest harm of all comes to those who neglect their soul's prosperity.
Man is a two-fold being. He has a body and a spirit (Jas 2:26). Many people care for the material needs and physical needs. They work at a job for material gain. They buy and save to provide physical needs. They take vitamins, exercise, and have hospitalization insurance to care for their health. This is good but what about our soul? How are we prospering spiritually? Paul says our body is a tent (2 Cor 5:1). Should we repair and provide for the tent and neglect and starve the occupant (soul)? Many people are feeding the flesh and starving the spirit. "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matt 4:4, Deut 8:3). The value of our soul is extremely great. If we gain the whole world and lose our soul there is no permanent profit (Matt 16:26).
John's wish (KJV) or prayer (NASB) was that Gaius would prosper
and be in health. This is important and yet it is all that most
people are interested in. Many people spend their whole lives
on nothing else. John didn't stop there. He said, "even as
thy soul prospereth". Gaius was spiritually very prosperous.
John prayed that his health and financial prosperity would be
as great as his spiritual prosperity. John was praying for three-fold
prosperity for Gaius. The spiritual prosperity of Gaius was to
be the standard for his financial and physical prosperity.
How well would we be doing if we prospered financially and physically as our soul is prospering? Do you pray this way for yourself? Would you want others to pray this way for you? What would your condition be if such a prayer were answered? Would you be in the poorhouse and completely disabled? Would you be rich, strong, and healthy? We need to consider our spiritual prosperity above all other considerations.
Destitution is an awful thing. When one is in financial straits, it is very inconvenient and often embarrassing. When one has lost their good health and has a disability or disease, it robs them of the good life that they could be enjoying. Spiritual destitution is even worse. Many are destitute spiritually but are never concerned, ashamed, or embarrassed. Death will usher them into torments (Lk 16:22-23), they will come forth unto the resurrection of damnation (Jn 5:29) and go, "Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched" (Mk 9:44). Spiritual neglect and destitution has a terrible consequence.
Have you ever noticed how the Bible describes spiritual sickness in the terms of physical disease? We can have envy which is like rottenness of the bones (Prov 14:30). Our bowels of compassion can be shut up (1 Jn 3:17). We can have loss of appetite for righteousness (Matt 5:6). We can be nearsighted (2 Pet 1:9). We can have spiritual deafness (Matt 13:15).
We need three-fold prosperity. We need to prosper spiritually and then prosper financially and physically. Would you want to prosper financially and physically as you are prospering spiritually? Could someone pray for you as John prayed for Gaius? "Beloved I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth."
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