Can the Righteous Fall Away? (Part 2 of 2) By Doy Moyer (http://focusmagazine.org/Articles/righteousfall.htm)
But Were They Really Saved?
Many counter what the Scriptures say by teaching that these
people who "fell away" were not really saved in the
first place. If they want to contend that a righteous person who
perseveres to the end will not be lost, then I would agree. But
to say that those who fall away were never saved in the first
place is to teach what the Bible does not. Hebrews 10:26-29 shows
this:
"For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge
of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but
a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation
which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses'
law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought
worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the
blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing,
and insulted the Spirit of grace?"
The passage discusses one who has "received the knowledge
of the truth." When this person willfully turns away, he
is said to trample the Son of God underfoot, count the blood of
the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insult
the Spirit of grace. This is a person who was sanctified (set
apart, made holy) by the blood of Christ. To say that he was not
really saved is to say that one can be sanctified by the blood
of Jesus without being saved. That immensely cheapens salvation.
Now note Hebrews 6:4-6:
"For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened,
and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of
the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the
powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again
to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son
of God, and put Him to an open shame."
This passage refers to those who were "once enlightened,"
having "tasted the heavenly gift," and have "become
partakers of the Holy Spirit." Can these things be said of
one who has not been saved? If they can be, then salvation is
cheapened greatly. The verse states clearly that they can "fall
away."
2 Peter 2 also shows the same point. Verse 1 speaks of false teachers
"who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying
the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction."
Can it be said of unsaved people that the Lord "bought them"?
Later, the text tells us that if, "after they have escaped
the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and
overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning"
(v. 20). I deny that such language could be used of those who
were never saved. To say that it does makes a mockery of salvation.
There are many other important passages to consider in this discussion, but space forbids a detailed look. Some of these are: Gal. 5:1-4; Heb. 3:7-4:11; 12:13-14; 1 Cor. 15:1-2, etc. There are really too many to list. The whole New Testament is full of warnings and exhortations to remain faithful. What good are they if, after we are saved, we cannot turn away from God and lose our salvation?
What About Security?
Because we teach that it is possible to lose your salvation, we
are charged with teaching insecurity. This supposedly will make
people deathly afraid, and there couldn't be any happiness in
our salvation. To the contrary, if, as we just considered, one
can be called sanctified, bought, a partaker of Christ and the
Holy Spirit, enlightened, etc. and yet not be saved, then there
is terrible insecurity in that. The warnings are given to spur
us on to remain faithful. A righteous person does not need to
feel insecure. But if one turns away from righteousness, then
there is no security in that. I would not want to be guilty of
teaching security to one who spurns the will of God. Would you?
We can know that we are saved. By the things that are written, we can know that we have eternal life (1 John 5:13). Likewise, by the things that are written, we can know if we are not right with God. If we turn away from the will of God, we have no security, but if we continue in His will, we are very secure. It is our choice.
The blood of Christ which cleanses our sins is always available to us if we walk in the light (1 John 1:7). Involved in walking in the light is turning from sin and confessing our sins to God (vv. 8-9). If we willfully and rebelliously turn against God, we have no more sacrifice for sin (Heb. 10:26). Until we repent and pray God for forgiveness (Acts 8:22), we can expect God's righteous indignation.
The warnings are in the Scriptures for a reason. Let us not turn a deaf ear to them. "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall" (1 Cor. 10:12). "Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away" (Heb. 2:1). These warnings ought to exhort us to faithfulness and perseverance even in the midst of great trials and tribulations. They help us understand that it is up to us. We have a choice in the matter, and God wants us to gladly choose Him. If we will, we have a great reward awaiting us in heaven (1 Pet. 1:3-5).
God Is The Standard Of Love By Leon Odom (Reprinted from The Proclaimer, http://www.tyler.net/rrcc/proclaim.htm)
God is love! Every thought, word and act of God is the expression of the love which is the very essence of His character. We are His peculiar people. A precious possession of His; born into His family and made members of His household through love, and have become partakers of His divine nature which is in love. Consequently His standard becomes ours.
In Ephesians 5:1, we read, "Be ye, therefore, imitators of God, as beloved children." And again in verse 2, "And walk in love, as Christ hath loved us, and has given Himself for us, as an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor."
"Be ye . . . imitators of God." This is an astounding demand but a very reasonable one. As He is so we must be and do, because God sets the standard for each one of His children. To be able to love as God loves is one of the proofs that we belong to Him. In 1 John 4:16 the apostle declared, "God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." We understand this to be saying that God Himself loves in and through the child He infills. What limit shall we put on the love that characterizes the child of God, however cold, unfeeling and loveless his life may be as he makes this earthly journey, or in the natural realm?
The Son lived up to the standard set by the Father in His love for us. In the same manner the Father loved Him, He loved us. "As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you" (John 15:9). And so Christ became the example for us to love in the same fashion. "This is my commandment that ye love one another, as I have loved you" (John 15:12). Let us not be intimidated by the expressions "As . . . so" as though we could not possibly love to that same extent. But rather let us worship Him who thinks we can love like that. Just as Christ has loved us, so we are to love our brethren in the Lord. Do we dare to measure our love for our brethren?
Finally, our love is tested by the things that mean the most
to us. Our whole life is made of decisions which involve the inner
man and the fleshly man. Needless to say, our reasons for doing
what we must do are based on our "seeking first the kingdom
of God and His righteousness" (Matt. 6:33). Paul declared,
"Set your affections on things that are above and not on
things on the earth" (Col. 3:2).
Reader friend, our love is tested. Can we pass His test?
"Nobody Knows!" by Greg Gwin (Reprinted from The Beacon)
It is always a big mistake to imagine that your particular circumstances are unique. Others have probably experienced the same things - and probably to a greater degree. And, it is seldom true to say "nobody knows" in regards to your troubles, your burdens, your family relationships, etc. People likely do know, because they have been through the same issues - perhaps more often and more fully than you have. Furthermore, it is a good rule to avoid using superlatives - best, worst, most, least, etc. - to describe your own situation. More than likely, there are others whose condition exceeds your own.
The big problem with this kind of thinking is that it commonly
leads to unhealthy excuse making. After all, since "nobody
knows" what I am dealing with, they can not possibly understand
how difficult it is for me. If they only knew, they would not
criticize me, expect more of me, or correct me for my sins. "They
just don't know!" --- Are you beginning to see how this flawed
thinking leads to flawed living?
Here are the facts:
"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common
to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted
above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make
a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians
10:13)
Observe:
What you are dealing with is "common to man." Others
have dealt with the same things you are dealing with and they
DO know what it's like to have such problems, pains, pressures,
etc. They have "been there, done that!"
You CAN handle it. God promises that your issues will not be so great that you become overwhelmed, unable to resist, incapable of doing the right thing.
There is a "way of escape." Look for it. Don't give in to the temptation. Resist it, and you will succeed (James 4:7).
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MONTHLY BIBLE READING: The Miracles of Jesus, Matthew, Mark and Luke.
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