The Bible teaches that everyone who is born again by the power of the Holy Spirit is saved forever. We receive the gift of eternal life (John 10:28), not temporary life. Someone who is born again (John 3:3) cannot be “unborn.” After being adopted into God’s family (Romans 8:15), we will not be kicked out. When God starts a work, He finishes it (Philippians 1:6). So, the child of God—the believer in Jesus Christ—is eternally secure in his salvation.
However, the Bible also contains some strong warnings against apostasy. These warnings have led some to doubt the doctrine of eternal security. After all, if we cannot lose our salvation, why are we warned against falling away from the Lord? This is a good question. First, we must understand what is meant by “apostasy.”
An apostate is someone who abandons his religious faith. It is clear from the Bible that apostates are people who made professions of faith in Jesus Christ but never genuinely received Him as Savior. They were pretend believers. Those who turn away from Christ never really trusted Him to begin with, as 1 John 2:19 says, “They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.” Those who apostatize are simply demonstrating that they are not true believers, and they never were.
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I went to a Baptist church in Raleigh for several years where the “structure” of the church could be be described as a dictatorship. If you had a question concerning the Bible, the preacher told you the answer and you were chastised if you still had doubts. Parishioners were “tested” unofficially to make sure that they fell into lockstep. One of the tests was eternal salvation. I did not agree with the church’s doctrine so I gave an answer that satisfied them.
I said that I believed in eternal salvation but I lived my life as if I could lose my salvation based on my actions. The Bible teaches us that no murderers will be in heaven. I know of a story of a minister who killed one of his parishioners and was sent to prison. Was he not saved or was he saved and murdered someone? What about the following passage from Revelation 22:19
And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.
This is not a post concerning a question to distract us from our walk in life. It is a personal hope that people live their lives in such a manner to make the world a better place for future generations. Churches preach that we are filthy rags and our only hope for salvation is to accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. Since we have eternal salvation, Jesus will forgive our sins or transgressions and we will live in heaven for eternity. Is that what the Bible teaches? Why have a Judgment Day if this were true?
Or does the Bible teach us that we should become more like Christ and try to be a perfect being? C.S. Lewis has a good lecture on this topic. Imagine if everyone did the right thing when presented with choices in life instead of trying to justify their sins with “eternal salvation”. I wonder if most people know that the Sadducees in Biblical times did not believe in life after death.
What would happen if people of faith lived their lives in a Godly manner? What if decisions were made based on positive consequences, morality and honor instead of greed and power. If wishes were horses, beggars would ride. In our world, decisions are made by evil men to control us in every aspect of our lives.
I decide to walk a righteous path and fight evil because I have no choice. I will not have to make excuses to justify bad decisions or actions if I follow the path laid out by the Lord.
David DeGerolamo
Psa 4:4 Stand in awe, and sin not: Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. In my human condition born into to sin, God almighty has given us free will, serve him or serve the world. I choose to serve him and my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, even though the gate is narrow, I will not commit to apostasy.
Eternal life is a gift from God, [Ephesians 2:8], after one gets born again, [Romans 10:9,10.] However, the rewards for all eternity are earned. These are referred to as the crowns in the epistles.
The crown incorruptible, [1 Corinthians 9:25,] is given for exercising self control.
The crown of rejoicing, [1 Thessalonians 2:19,] is given to those who win others to the Lord Jesus Christ.
The crown of life, [ James 1:12,] is given to those who resist temptation.
The crown of righteousness, [2 Timothy 4:8,] is given to those who love his appearing, his return.
Finally, the crown of glory, [ 1Peter 5:4,] is given to to those who shepherd the flock.
Satan cannot steal our eternal life once we are born again but he can steal rewards that are to handed out the gathering together, [ 1Thessalonians 4: 13 -- 18.]
So, yes, we can sin all we want after we are born again. We are born with a sin nature, [ Romans 7: 21 -- 24.] We won’t lose our sonship. However we will forfeit eternal rewards that our loving heavenly Father wants to give us.
We are in a spiritual contest, [Ephesians 4: 13 18.] The battlefield is the mind, to chose to do the will of God, which results in the more abundant life, [John 10:10,] both now and for all eternity.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Quite so, salvation (justification) is carved in stone when we are saved and cannot be changed. Sanctification, how we earn those rewards, is a continuing process that only ends when we breathe our last. We don’t lose our sonship but we CAN lose inheritance and position in the Kingdom of God (Rev 21-7, Mark 9:41, !Cor 3:13-15, Mat 22;1-13, ETC,)
Quatermain has it right.
There are 2 Kingdoms. The Kingdom on Earth yet to come and the Kingdom of Heaven forever and ever. Your salvation is secure in the Kingdom of Heaven but your position in the Millennial Kingdom yet to come is not. You can and will be excluded from the Kingdom to come if you live a sinful life after being saved. You may even spend time in the lake of fire for your disobedience. You’re expected to do something with your salvation, here’s where working out your salvation with fear and trembling comes in. It also explains the parable of the talents where the Master expects a return on His investment.
Look up the doctrine of millennial exclusion. It’s the only way you can make sense of how God will deal with the carnal and pew warming Christians. When I discovered this lost church doctrine it immediately brought the whole of scripture together. God is faithful to save sinners forever and ever but until the forever and ever time comes he still rules His kingdom with a rod of iron.
That’s scary stuff and that’s why you won’t find church’s teaching on this doctrine.
I now know why I disagree with you on almost everything, your theology is flawed. Works based salvation will earn you eternal damnation. You can never earn your salvation, if you could why did Jesus pay the price for our sins and inability to save ourselves?
I understand that eternal salvation is not based on works. I am saying that salvation should never be an excuse for bad behavior and sin.
I’m happy to hear that. It will answer many of life’s questions if we get that straight. Antinomianism is wrong the same as a legalistic works based salvation is.
Good stuff David, Thank you
Thank you for the insightful article.
Here is a hypothetical question:
Suppose you have two people, from religious traditions A and B.
Both people grow up only ever having been taught a certain view, A or B. Both people equally love the Creator and exhibit the fruit of the Spirit in their lives (Galations Ch. 5).
Both of them eventually pass on.
Keeping in mind the idea that “PEOPLE TEND TO RELATE TO THEIR CONCEPT OF GOD THROUGH THE RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS THAT WERE EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO THEM DURING THEIR FORMATIVE YEARS,” would they not both find themselves in the Creator’s arms?
TFO
You didn’t mention their “religions”. “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; NO ONE comes to the Father but through me.” -- Jesus John 14:6
Good medicine for the soul: Stay away from politics.
It’s not the individual that left the church, it’s the church that left the Christ. Allowing homosexuality, prosperity and other sin into the pulpits, the congregants by default apostate from the Christ to follow religion -- . It takes more than reciting a few lines to be saved. Belief, true soul captivating belief, enlightenment. That takes time and commitment. We live in the land of instant gratification, even our salvation has to be available in the express lane.
True, I think the best example of an apostate is that thing currently sitting on the throne in the Vatican
Be careful with Got Questions.org as they are purely Calvinistic in their views and doctrine and they believe God chooses who will be saved and who won’t and we really have no say in it and it goes on from there so any topic concerning salvation you have to keep their doctrines in mind.
Romans 9?
In the matter of apostasy, the parable of the sower comes to mind.
Matthew 13
Holiness Unto the Lord is Our Watchword and Song…
i believe Bonhoeffer called it cheap grace.
“Cheap grace means grace sold on the market like cheapjacks’ wares. The sacraments, the forgiveness of sin, and the consolations of religion are thrown away at cut prices. Grace is represented as the Church’s inexhaustible treasury, from which she showers blessings with generous hands, without asking questions or fixing limits. Grace without price; grace without cost! The essence of grace, we suppose, is that the account has been paid in advance; and, because it has been paid, everything can be had for nothing. Since the cost was infinite, the possibilities of using and spending it are infinite. What would grace be if it were not cheap?…
Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.
Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble; it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him.
Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock.
Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: “ye were bought at a price,” and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.”
Bonhoeffer was an inspired man. I often wonder what the world would be like if the Nazis had not executed him two weeks prior to the end of WWII. Our churches here practice and espouse cheap grace which is the point of this article. People who are truly saved would not accept evil, morality or sin in their lives. As our founding fathers stated: if the church was doing its job, we would have moral citizens and by extension, moral politicians.
It is my hope that many are not yet saved. This would explain a lot. They have only payed lip service and have not as of yet experienced True repentance.
Incarnate God leads us to quite a different understanding.
Ran across this video a few days ago, perhaps some people would gain from it? Who is He?
Jesus Christ and Christmas | Paul Washer, Voddie Baucham, John Macarthur and R. C. Sproul