Continuing in Faith

Does the bible teach eternal security? Does the bible teach that you can "lose your salvation"? Does the bible teach that a one-time act of faith in the gospel is all that is required for someone to "go to heaven"? A more important question may be this; does a believerís view on the topic of "eternal security" have any real bearing on their practical, day-to-day Christian life? After all, being able to assimilate and explain teachings in scripture (in this writing or any other) is pointless if it is not moving believers toward Jesus (John 5:39) and perfection that produces good works (II Timothy 3:16-17). According to Jesus, "truth" is not a religious weapon to be used in the hands of the self-justifying Pharisees to condemn the masses, but rather a God-given means to set those who are in bondage free (John 8:31-58). Ask yourself honestly, "What am I more interested in; sounding and seeming right and confident in my beliefs or actually possessing Godís liberating, life-giving truth? Remember, being able to defend what we believe is meaningless if we donít possess what is true.

As way of introduction, it should be noted that this will not be a list of 50+ verses to support one side of the issue or the other. That endless battle of "one-upping" a certain view or position is shallow and flawed; it is known as "proof-texting". Once identified, it can be recognized as one of the most commonly used methods of teaching in Christianity today (ussually by way of the "topical" sermon). While delivery and content may vary, this format is typically followed;

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• A doctrine or teaching will be summarized by a seemingly scriptural title (i.e., "eternal security", "the rapture", "the trinity", etc.). Whether the title actually ever appears in scripture is, apparently, immaterial.

The now titled topic will be defined and then presented as "truth" or "the truth" concerning that area of study.

A list of scriptures will then be attached to the pre-established title and definition, giving the appearance that the "truth" had been there all along, whether that, in fact, is the case or not.

Through this method, the scriptures have been reduced to a mere religious textbook, a composite of topical studies, like an encyclopedia, full of facts and information. This is not to say that any teaching supported by proof-texting is wrong (every truth taught in Christianity must originate from and be supported by the scriptures), but there are 3 serious problems with this approach to teaching and learning the scriptures that need to be considered:

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• The student sets out to study the specific topic with the preconceived idea that what they are studying is already indeed "truth". Studying then becomes not a search for truth, but rather a quest to become more fluent in the presupposed truth youíve already acquired. Mastering doctrine and being able to defend what you believe replaces the search for life-changing, God-glorifying truth.

When faced with passages or single verses of scripture that do not support the stated "truth", bible expositors and teachers must go to great lengths to either discredit the verse, relegate it to another time period or group of people (i.e., dispensationalism), or "explain what it really means." Regardless of the tactic used, the ultimate goal is to protect the pre-established "truth" found in the proof texts.

The surrounding context is not essential and can sometimes actually be harmful while attempting to use an isolated verse to support a teaching. The bible, in a sense, is no longer a whole body of truth, fitly joined together, each truth either adding to or supporting another truth, but rather a compilation of many disconnected truths scattered throughout the entire book. The "camp" that can gather and discernibly assemble the most verses to support their "truth" wins!

Jesus said, " The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master." (Luke 6:39-40) The human teacher, through the flaunting of his education and position in supposed "Christendom", is exalted as the "master" of this topic, because he has scripture to support what he is teaching, and he teaches with fluent confidence. If a "teacher" has a radio program, has written a well-circulated book, or has his teaching recorded on an audio or video cassette, then his credibility is boosted that much more, adding strength to the assumption that he must have the corner on the truth he is teaching. The students of these self- and institution-established teachers can never attain a clearer understanding of truth than their "master", according to the principle Jesus taught in the passage referenced above. This system lends itself to an unbalanced reliance on the wisdom of men. The solution? Hold up Jesus as the HeadMaster and Truth; if the perfect student "shall be as his master", then Jesus can be the only master we are trying to mold ourselves after; he must be the Only One to whom we compare ourselves and travail to be like! This would take a great deal of humility by many teachers and institutions, and that characteristic seems to be in short supply among the prominent "bible scholars" and "scribes" of our day. In the topical system of proof-texting, Jesus, THE Word Of God, has been replaced by long, intimidating lists of bible verses.

How many would have the courage to challenge and question this most widely-used method of teaching in christianity? How many would dare to question the tactics and techniques used by intelligent men who know the bible (and scores of other great literary and religious writings)? The arm of flesh can be very deceptive; it sometimes hides itself in sincere, intelligent men who quote scripture to propogate their agenda. Will you decide to quit leaning on the arm of flesh, and cry out for truth from the Spirit of Truth? If you decide to cast off what you've been taught and how you've been taught, you may wander for a short season trying to find where you "fit in", but if your eyes are set on Jesus, you will find him to be a faithful, guiding Shepherd.



In contrast to the "proof-texting" method, we will look at the scriptures in a much simpler way. We will examine some passages in the bible that do not support the idea of unconditional eternal security, or the belief that a man need only experience a one-time act of faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ to be certain of a future home in eternity with God, and that nothing can or will ever change that. This will not be an attempt to "proof-text" a belief; in order to do that I would have to exalt myself as a credible, trustworthy, and seasoned teacher in this area of study, give the topic a catchy title, ignore or discard all scripture that doesnít appear to jive with what Iím "trying to prove", and ignore the context of my isolated verses. Rather than taking the "lawyer" approach of building my evidence against the "opposition" and trying to convince the "jury" that I must be right, here is my challenge to you; Come to terms with these passages! The scriptures we will cover here are just as essential to sound, christian doctrine as John 3:16 or Romans 10:13. If you arrive at a different conclusion than I have, great! I don't claim to be nor do I believe myself to be some expert in this study. I'm a believer, like you, who, above all things in this life, is seeking to follow God with my whole heart and worship him in spirit and truth. Read this information, bow your knee before the God of Everything Seen and Unseen, and ask him to guide you into all truth. He is a Good God, he will do it! I believe these are important sections of the holy scriptures that have been ignored. By ignoring them, many christians have been led into a false sense of security, a watered down veiw of the scriptures, and an unbalanced veiw of God's nature. God bless you and guide you.

For most of my Christianity (the first 6 years anyway), I believed "once saved always saved." I spent a lot of time studying and defending this teaching. Between my own personal study and "proof-text" teaching, I put together 34 passages (made up of 69 verses) that supported my belief and I wrote them down in the front of my first study bible. I highly recommend that you look them up:

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• John 1:12, Psalm 37:28, John 3:16, Romans 9:3, John 10:27-30, Jude 1, Jude 24, John 6:37, John 14:6 w/ Psalm 51:11, Romans 8:38, Acts 15:24, Galatians 3:1-3, Psalm 121:3-8, Ephesians 1:13-14, II Tim. 2:13, Ephesians 4:30, Romans 3:19-26, Philippians 1:3-6, I Peter 1:22-23, II Thes. 2:16-17, I John 3:9, I John 5:13, I Cor. 1:8, I Cor. 3:11-15, John 5:24, I Peter 1:5, Ecclesiastes 3:14, I Samuel 2:9, Psalm 89:28-36 w/ Acts 13:34, I Corinthians 5:5, Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 13:5

These verses are still in the bible and I still believe them. I donít have to change what they "mean" or ignore them. How inconsistent and hypocritical it would be to ignore or discredit the verses that are essential to this teaching! At the same time, I cannot ignore the verses in scripture that do not support the conclusion arrived at through these limited "proof" texts. I came to believe eternal security through a system of biblical interpretation known as "dispensationalism". This method of interpretation basically teaches that the Pauline, or church and pastoral epistles, are the only writings in scripture that apply "doctrinally" to the modern-day Christian. Meaning that many good verses or "preaching texts" may be found in the Old Testament, the Gospels, Acts, and Hebrews through Revelation, but any teaching that does not seemingly line up with the doctrine found in Paulís writings does not apply to the Christian today. I personally believe that this system is anti-Christ as it was taught me, but that is not the purpose of this writing. Using the Pauline epistles, dispensationalists have established that once a man is saved nothing can ever change that. Rather than ignoring or changing the "hard" verses, dispensationalists apply any verse that does not "fit" to a different group of people, in some past or future age. I never understood how the "eternal security" verses in Hebrews (Heb. 9:12, 13:5) and the Gospels (John 10:27-30, John 5:24) could be plucked out of there context to support their doctrine, when they teach that these books were not written for the "church age" believer! But, like I said, this isnít about dispensationalism. Here are some passages about Paul and from Paul that do not support the dispensational view concerning the security of the believer.

Paul

In his letter to the saints, the beloved of God, in Rome, the apostle Paul gives a warning that isnít given much attention in light of all of the other great passages in Romans. It is this statement, "Be not highminded, but fear", found in Romans 11:20. The idea of "fear" seems to be split into 2 schools of thought among many believers today. One being, "I neednít fear anything since I have "accepted Jesus", God loves me and all is well." They almost make fear seem "un-Christian". The other line of thought being, "I believe I need to fear God because I am told to in scripture, or because heís all-powerful and deserves my reverence. But I need never fear his judgment or wrath, because my sins are forgiven, Iím washed in the blood of Jesus, and nothing, from this point on, can ever affect my eternal destiny. Sure God may be disappointed with me and "spank" me while on earth, I may lose a few rewards in heaven, or, if I'm really bad, he may "take me home early", but Iím going there no matter what; Iím saved." While this second line of thought may sound more "solid" and biblical than the first, it is only half true. What is Paul telling the "holy ones" (saints, gr.) to fear? The fact that he tells us to "fear" something eliminates the first school of thought altogether. Is he simply encouraging us, as eternally secure Christians, to fear God, simply because his position and authority require us to? Undoubtedly we should fear God, but thatís not what this passage is addressing. What are we told to fear in Romans 11:20? Letís find out.

The entire passage is written to discredit the idea that God has cast off his people, Israel, in light of the gospel being preached to and received by the gentiles (Rom. 11:1-4). Paul goes on to explain that even though a majority of the Jews have rejected the gospel, a "remnant", known as the "elect", have obtained salvation, not by any "works" they had done, but by the grace of God through the atonement of Christ (vs. 5-7). He explains to the Roman gentile believers what happened to the ones who were "blinded" (vs. 7-10), how God hardened their hearts based on their reaction to the preaching of the cross. In verses 11 through 15, Paul goes on further to explain that God had a motive behind hardening them and blinding them; "but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them (Israel) to jealousy (vs. 11)". Paul then begins to speak of these 2 groups of people, Jews and gentiles, as "branches", and God as the "root". The Jewish "branches" are called "the natural branches" in verse 21, and the gentile "branches" are called "a wild olive tree" in verse 17.

17 "And if some of the branches (the blinded Jews) be broken off, and thou (the gentile believers), being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.

20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

21 (the answer to what we, as gentile believers, should fear) For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness (is this goodness unconditional and unchangeable; NO!!) IF thou continue in his goodness: otherwise THOU ALSO SHALT BE CUT OFF."

The believers in Rome had to be rebuked for their "highminded" attitude toward their standing with God. The warning seems very clear from this passage; Paul is telling them to realize that when Godís people are guilty of unbelief, they are cut off. According to this passage, the consequence of unbelief for Godís original people, the Jews, is the same consequence to be faced by His new people, the church. The admonition that is coupled with this truth is not a passive acknowledging or a simple doctrinal understanding, but a call to fear! Fear what may become of you, gentile believer, if you do not continue in the faith of the Son of God, who loved you, and gave himself for you. Fear being cut off from your Maker through unbelief. Are you surprised to read this warning? Is the apostle being "harsh" when he warns the believer to "Take heed lest he also SPARE NOT THEE"? Have you believed one of the great deceptions of our age, that no matter how careless you are with the gift of God, you will never be cut-off from Him? You have a clear explanation, in this passage, of Godís dealings with his people when they live in unbelief. Do not be highminded, do not boast, do not be overconfident, but rather fear!

This is not the only place where Paul is connected with the idea of continuing in the saving faith of Jesus.

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• In Acts 14:22, Luke records that when Paul visited Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, he "confirmed the souls of the disciples, and exhorted them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." In Acts 13:43, it is recorded that "when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God." Why did he do this? Why didnít he take them through the doctrine of eternal security?

Paul told the believers in Colosse, "And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:"(Col. 1:21-23) This is not a "judgment seat" reference that has nothing to do with salvation. According to Paul, this is why Jesus died! Jesus has done and will continue to do his part to make this a reality. In Ephesians 5, we are told that Jesus gave himself for the church "that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." (Eph. 5:25-27) Will it happen? Will you be presented holy, unblameable, and unreproveable in heaven? Yes, "If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;" (Col. 1:21-23).

In closing his second letter to the Christians in Corinth, Paul tells them, "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?"(II Cor. 13:5). The apostle thought it was needful to tell these believers that Jesus was in them unless they were "reprobate". Was he saying that if you are "really" saved Jesus is in you, and the word "reprobate" is just another name for someone who is "lost"? Letís see:

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Reprobate - (Websterís Dictionary, 1828)

-Adj., Not enduring proof or trial; not of standard purity or fineness; disallowed; rejected. Abandoned in sin; lost to virtue or grace. Abandoned to error or in apostasy

-Noun, a person abandoned to sin; one lost to virtue or religion

-Verb, to disapprove with detestation or marks of extreme dislike; to disallow; to reject. It expresses more than disapprove or disallow. We disapprove of slight faults and improprieties; we reprobate what is mean or criminal. In a milder sense, to disallow. To abandon to wickedness and eternal destruction. To abandon to his sentence, without hope of pardon.

-Eastonís Bible Dictionary, that which is rejected on account of its own worthlessness (Jer. 6:30; Heb. 6:8; Gr. adokimos, "rejected"). This word is also used with reference to persons cast away or rejected because they have failed to make use of opportunities offered them (1 Cor. 9:27; 2 Cor. 13:5-7).

Based on the definition, you decide. Are we to ask the unsaved, in the church (?), to examine themselves to see if Christ is in there somewhere? Paul was writing to a church, telling them to evaluate their condition, and assuring them Christ indeed was in them, unless they were reprobates.

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• Are we saved by believing the gospel? Yes. What if we believe in vain, shallowly, for personal gain or without sincerity? "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;" Paul says that he preached the gospel, the Corinthian hearers received it, and now stand in that truth. "By which also ye are saved," Paul also acknowledges that by receiving and standing in the gospel the hearers are saved. Any conditions? "If ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain." (I Cor. 15:1-2)

What does this passage mean? "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."(Gal. 6:7-9) Iím convinced it means what it says. Is this salvation by works? Is Paul suggesting that sowing to the Spirit has something to do with inheriting (reaping) everlasting life? We will address this later.

In Paulís first letter to Timothy he spoke of people departing from the faith to go follow seducing spirits and devils (I Tim. 4:1). Do people that leave "the faith" to follow seducing spirits and devils wind up in Godís eternal, physical kingdom in the future? If they were never "really" saved, how can they ever "depart from the faith"? This is the "falling away" spoken of by Paul in II Thessalonians 2:3.

In his second letter, Paul told Timothy that he had "fought a good fight, finished his course, kept the faith" and that he was ready to die (II Tim. 4:7). I thought it was worth noting that Paul assured Timothy that he had not departed from the faith, but that he kept it. This would be irrelevant if Paul was unconditionally eternally secure.

Consider this section of Paulís first letter to the Corinthian church:

10:1 "

Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

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And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

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And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

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And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

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But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness."

-Paul is convincing the Corinthians that Godís people of old were in the same position that they are in: delivered, baptized, eating and drinking of Christ. Even in that condition, God was not pleased with all of them. He goes on to explain why:

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"Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted."

-Paul now begins a list of things that are "our examples". What are we to learn from these examples? He reveals the answer at the end.



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"Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

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Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

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Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

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Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

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Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

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Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall."

We are told that these things are our examples, written for our admonition. What is the admonition? I believe we can safely arrive at this conclusion; a believer is in the same danger of falling or being destroyed if they lust after these evil things, as was the case with Godís people of old. Does this somehow contradict the mercy and love of God? No way! The Old Testament is loaded with passages that refer to how merciful God was, especially in the context of Israel in the wilderness (see Exodus 15:13, Numbers 14:19, Nehemiah 9 and Psalm 78!). Exodus 34:17 AND Matthew 5:7 teach us that there are conditions to receiving Godís mercy. The Lord God is not ALL mercy or ALL judgment; He is equally both and perfectly balanced. Read Nehemiah 9 in light of these verses in I Corinthians to see the balance of Godís mercy and his wrath. I Corinthians 10:12 is strangely reminiscent of Romans 11: 20 ("Be not highminded, but fear!"). This passage is incomplete without verse 13.

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"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."

-What a blessing! God is faithful! If we are faced with the temptation of idolatry, fornication, tempting Christ, murmuring, or lusting after any evil thing, God has promised to never give us more than we can handle AND He promises to "piggyback" the temptation with an "escape route"! God has not left it up to us to continue in the faith, if we will trust Him and look to him and honor him, he will make every means necessary to keep us from falling (please read Jude 1:24-25 now)! Will you seek out his "exit" sign when faced with temptation or will you give in and wind up like the freed Hebrew slave who was destroyed in the wilderness?

To The Hebrews

To elaborate further on this truth of continuing in faith, letís examine a long running theme in the book of Hebrews, which actually explains how Godís people find themselves living in unbelief. Please open your heart to the scriptures. If you have believed this doctrine of "unconditional eternal security" most of your Christianity, there is a chance you are headed down this path. Not because you are a "sub-par" Christian, but because you have been trained to ignore these types of passages! Donít deceive yourself; be honest before the Lord.

The book of Hebrews starts in chapter 1 with a description of the supremacy of Christ as compared to the angels. Speaking of Jesus, verse 4 states, "Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they." Chapter 2 then starts in on a new theme, based on the truth laid out in chapter 1:

2:1

"Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we (Christians) have heard, lest at any time we (Christians) should let them slip.

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For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;

3 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;

4 God also bearing them witness

, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?"

We are shown again here another way that Jesus is above the angels. The first chapter explains that God, throughout the ages, has always had a way to communicate his message to man, whether it be in dreams (as with Jacobís ladder), or through a prophet (Elijah, Nathan, Jeremiah, etc.), or through his angels (Abram and Sara or Lot and his family in Sodom). But now, in these last days, God has expressed his will and message to man through his very own Son, Jesus (1:1,2). These first few verses in chapter 2 show us the real motive for exalting Christ so highly in the first chapter; it was to get our attention to the gravity and seriousness of obeying the message Jesus brought. We are told in the first two verses of chapter 2 that the angels, at a certain time in Godís dealings with man, had been responsible for bringing his message to man. Those who would not obey the message delivered by angels were punished accordingly. The warning is very pointed in verse 3; if the men of old who did not obey the message delivered by the lowest angels were punished, what can we expect if we neglect the salvation delivered to us by God the Son? Many Christian authors and preachers have used these verses to address people who have not believed on Jesus; they apply them to "the lost", making the first few chapters of Hebrews a "gospel appeal", instead of what they actually are; an admonition to believers. We are told to whom Hebrews is written in two clear passages in the first three chapters:

-1:3 "when he had by himself purged our sins"

-3:1 "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;"

The author of the book of Hebrews includes himself in the warning in 2:3, "How shall WE escape if WE neglect so great salvation?" It is safe to say that the author was also a Christian, and that he needed to take heed to the warning himself. So we are left with the question, "What will become of the believer who neglects this great salvation?" The author does not answer the question in the immediate context, but it is answered clearly in the chapters that follow.

Hebrews chapter 3

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"Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;"

2

"Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.

3

For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.

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For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.

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And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;

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But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end."

-Verse 6 shows a clear condition for remaining in the household of Christ; holding fast until the end.

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"Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,

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Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

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When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.

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Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.

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So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)"

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In verses 8 through 11, the author of Hebrews reminds us of how God dealt with his people of old, when he delivered Israel from Egypt. We are reminded that even though God showed great mercy and love for his people by delivering them from the bondage of the Egyptians, he was compelled to destroy the ones who hardened their hearts in the wilderness (vs. 8). The LORD testifies that he was grieved with that generation (vs. 11), and in his wrath swore an oath that they would not enter into his rest (vs. 11), even though they had been graciously and lovingly delivered from their previous enslavement. Is not the authorís coming conclusion obvious? Why bring these things to remembrance if they have no application to Godís people now?

12

"Take heed, brethren, lest there be IN ANY OF YOU (holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, vs.1) an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

13

But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."

-We are told in verse 12 the purpose of recalling the past events in verses 8 through 11; "Take heed, brethren!" This is "neglecting so great salvation" from 2:3. As in the day of provocation, this is not one, solitary, sinful act that drives God to cut off his people, but rather a perpetual descent into a state of unbelief through sin and neglect. Do you remember the story of Godís people in the wilderness: doubting Him, striving with Moses and Aaron, whining for water, discontent with the manna, longing again for Egypt, worshipping a golden calf at the foot of the mountain? God was, and is, very longsuffering and merciful. A believer who lives in continual, willful sin and selfishness runs the certain risk of their heart being hardened by the deceit that sin carries with it. This continued state not only brings deception and hardness (vs.13), but ends in unbelief and departure from God (vs. 12). The fact that we are told to "take heed" further strengthens the concept of the deception involved in this descent. A person whose ears are not open to this truth and who is not diligent to take heed to this warning may find themselves in this very state, yet still convinced in their deceived, hardened heart that they are right with God. Please remember, in verses 8 through 11, and again in verses 17 and 18, God was so grieved by HIS PEOPLE that he SWORE they would not enter into his rest! While this descent may seemingly go unnoticed to the guilty party and cause only a slight, temporal rift on earth, God is offended and grieved and driven to wrath toward the soul that takes for granted his delivering, gracious hand. Based on the example of Godís dealings with his people in the wilderness, can we honestly believe that a Christian who departs from God through deliberate action will go to heaven, or enter into that future rest? Be honest. The next verse continues this themeÖ.

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"For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;"

-Again, as in verse 6, a condition is acknowledged, this time regarding being a partaker of Christ. What end are we to expect for the soul that does not continue stedfast unto the end? What a deception the devil has wrought to convince Christians that once a man or woman has believed on Jesus, they need not hold the beginning of that faith stedfast unto the end! If we are found at judgment not to be a partaker of Christ, what fate can we anticipate?

15

"While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

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For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.

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But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?

18

And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?

19

So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief."

-The truths discussed in verses 12 and 13 are further supported in verses 15 through 19. Through the grief and unbelief caused by sin, God swore these people would not see his rest. Why does the author mention this again? Chapter 3 ends with verse 19, and chapter 4 continues this line of thought.

Hebrews 4:1 "Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it."

-Again, we Christians are told, as in Romans 11:20, to fear the consequence of unbelief. The consequence in Romans 11:20 was being cut-off, like the unbelieving "natural branches", and the consequence in Hebrews 4:1 is not entering Godís rest, like the unbelieving Israelite in the wilderness. Unbelief, in both cases, ultimately brought separation from God. This theme is summarized later in the book of Hebrews:

Hebrews 12:25 "See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:"

- What was the end of a man who did not obey what Moses spoke while on earth? From this verse, we are told, "they escaped not". In Hebrews 10:28 we are told, "He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:" What will be the end of the believer who "turns away" from what Jesus speaks? "MUCH MORE shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven." A few verses later we see the reoccurring concept of "fear" that typically accompanies this teaching:

Hebrews 12:28 "Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:"

-After studying this theme, a controversial passage in Hebrews chapter 6 becomes very clear:

Hebrew 6:4 "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

6

If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

7

(Here is an analogy of the fruitful, abiding believer and the fruit bearing plant) For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:

8

(Here is an analogy of the fruitless, dry believer and the cursed plants of the earth) But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned."

- Denominational (or "non-denominational") guidelines, doctrinal statements, and "ministerial" peer pressure have compelled men to create many complicated explanations to teach why these verses donít say what they say. Rather than adding passages like this one to their theology, men simply ignore them, or "tell you what it really means", in order to defend their teaching of unconditional eternal security. Or, when faced with this type of passage, they will say something to this effect; "Well, Iím not sure what it means, but I know what it DOESNíT mean. It doesnít mean a Christian can be cut-off from God becauseÖ" With an honest and open heart, ask yourself, what do these verses teach? Is it possible that what you have believed to be pure, true Christian doctrine for so long is only half true? As believers, we have the Holy Spirit to teach and guide us. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you what these verses mean. Ignoring these passages is certainly not an acceptable way of handling them. We must, in total honesty, come to terms with these verses, accept them as from the throne of the Lord Jesus, let them change our theology (if need be), and then press on, stedfast in the faith of our Lord Jesus in the fear of God.

Hebrews 6:10-12 "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that everyone of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through FAITH AND PATIENCE inherit the promises."

- After speaking of Godís promise to Abraham to multiply and bless his seed, we are given an example of someone who through faith and patience inherited the promise:

6:15

"And so, after he (Abraham) had patiently endured, he obtained the promise."

-In verse 12 we are told to be followers of men, like Abraham, who have gone before us to show that if we continue in the belief of Godís promises to us, we are sure to inherit them. What can we suppose would have happened if Abraham, after maybe 25 years of waiting for the fruition of Godís promise, had not patiently endured? What can we suppose will happen to the Christian who does not continue patiently in faith? Will he or she obtain what God promised? If God required faith AND patience from Abraham, does he require less from a Christian? Consider these verses from Hebrews 10:

36

For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

37

For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

39

But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul."

-God give us the grace to grasp these truths and make them part of our Christianity! Was the author of Hebrews preaching "salvation by works"? It is certain that a man today would be accused of preaching "salvation by works" if he were to make these verses as much a part of a sinnerís response to the gospel as Romans 10:13. Nearly every evangelical Christian in America can quote Romans 10:13 from memory; why arenít verse like these so burned into our hearts and mind? According to these verses, more than a one-time act of "calling on the name of the Lord" is required for a sinner to inherit eternity:

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• Patience (vs. 36)

Doing the will of God (vs. 36)

Living by faith (vs. 38)

Not drawing back (to the world, sin, or our old life; reprobation!) (vs. 38, 39)

A continued belief that results in the salvation of the soul (vs. 39)

Is believing on Jesus Christ a "work", something you do to be saved? If you say it is, then you believe in "salvation by works". If you say it is not, then how is continuing in that "belief" considered a "work"? It is certain and clear from the scriptures that a man is not saved by works, but in contrast, by faith. So what is this supposed contradiction? We have a great two-fold error at the heart of this conflict:

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• The word "believe" in Christianity has been reduced to acknowledging and agreeing to the facts of the gospel: You need only to acknowledge and agree Jesus died for your sins, acknowledge and agree he is the only way to heaven, and then pray to let God know you acknowledge these facts and agree with them. This is "the gospel" that leads over 80% of the people polled by Newsweek in our country to brand themselves Christians; they "believe" in Jesus.

"Works" has been defined as anything that seems to conflict with the inaccurate definition of "believing" stated in point 1! A famous catch-phrase that summarizes this teaching is "we are saved by faith plus nothing". In reality, the faith they claimed to be saved by is not the faith the Bible describes and the nothing they brag about not needing is exactly what is missing in their faith!

Romans 4:5 says " But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." Ephesians 2:8-9 could not be stated any clearer, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Without making things too complicated, what is faith? Is it a process of acknowledgement and agreement to facts? Not according to James 2:

14

"What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?"

-Can faith that is simply professed but not proven by good works save a man?

15

"If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

16

And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

17

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone."

-Just like paying lip service to the need of another brother or sister may sound spiritual and right, so may the profession of a "Christian". But if the profession is not then followed by action, by actually helping the brother or sister, then there is no profit. If patient fruit bearing and good works of zealous obedience to the Lord Jesus do not follow the profession of Christianity, then the faith is a dead faith.



20 "But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?"

26 "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."

-Is a man saved by dead faith?

Here ís a good "contradiction in the Bible":

James 2:24 "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only."

Romans 3:28 "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law."

-Either the bible contradicts itself, these passages are written to 2 different groups of people, or the verses shed light on one another and balance each other out. James 2 gives the definition of a true, saving faith; it works! If what you are calling "faith" does not produce life and action and fruit, it's dead! True saving faith begins with repentance, a simple act of trust in the finished work of Jesus, submission to him as Lord, and continues in that faith with good works backing up the profession, or fruitbearing. Romans 3:28 is the conclusion of Romans 1:1 to Romans 3:27. The deeds of the law can no more save a man than faith without works can. What is missing in the 21st century definition of faith? Obedience. Romans 1:5, "By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:" Romans 16:26, "But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:" I Peter 1:2, "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:" This is a very exhaustive topic, but if your eyes are opened to it, you will see it all over the New Testament.

"How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?"

According to the scriptures, we won't. God save us from the unscriptural, shallow gospel.

Jesus

At the end of his sermon on the mount in Matthew 7, Jesus said that a wise man is one whose life is built on His teachings; the wise man has a solid, unshakeable foundation (Matt. 7:24-25). A foolish man, according to Jesus, is one who hears the words of Christ, but does not build his life upon them; anything built on this foundation, according to Jesus, is destined for a great fall (Matt. 7:26-27). As pertaining to our topic, we may safely say this; if the principles of unconditional eternal security are not supported by the teachings of Jesus Christ, then the teaching is built on an unstable foundation. Letís look at what Jesus had to say about the security of the believer.

-In Matthew 13:3-9 and 18-23, Jesus teaches of the sower and the seed. Please keep in mind what Jesus said to his disciples concerning this parable in Mark 4:13, "Know ye not this parable? And how then will ye know all parables?" Jesus said understanding this parable of the sower and the seed is required to understand what He taught in all other parables. The parallel passages for this parable are found in Mark 4 and Luke 8. In this parable, Jesus describes 4 responses to the gospel:

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• The way side (vs. 4), or the hearts that do not understand, or receive the word (vs. 19). They are understood to be unconverted.

The stony places (vs. 5), or "he that heareth the word, and anon (immediately) with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. (vs.20-21)" Luke chapter 8 says it this way "They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away." (Lk 8:13)

The thorny places (vs. 7), or "he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. (vs. 22)"

The good ground (vs. 8), or "he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. (vs. 23)" Luke chapter 8 says it this way "But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience." (Lk 8:15)

What is Jesus pointing to as the key to understanding all of his parables? The way side hearers do not profess to believe the word preached. This is usually not a real point of contention, as many will agree these are not Christians, neither do they profess to be. While it may be debated that the thorny place hearer never actually believed the word preached, it should be pointed out that, according to the passage, the pleasures of this life, the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches will prevent fruit bearing in the hearer. Jesus also mentions that they bring forth no fruit unto perfection, implying that there is a form of godliness in this person, but no power. The stony place hearers, on the other hand, not only hear the message, but receive it and believe it, and not passively, but with joy! The gospel truly is "good news" to this group of hearers. They may, for a season, even tell their friends and family the wonderful truth they have heard and believed. But, according to the scriptures, the newfound faith also carries with it tribulation, persecution, and temptation. As recorded in Luke, they do not endure this hardship, and eventually fall away. If no other clear conclusion can be drawn, we at least know this; that hearing the gospel, receiving it with joy, and believing it does not necessarily secure the hearers eternal future. In order to "fall away", one must first attain a desirable position to fall from. If the hearer was "never really saved", what do they "fall away" from? Do they "fall away" from almost becoming a Christian? King Agrippa almost became a Christian in Acts 26:28. Was he a stony place hearer? Not hardly. What is the primary difference between this stony place hearer and the good ground hearer?

•
•
•
• Â

Both hear the word (vs. 5 and vs. 8)

Â

Both receive it, or make it personal (Luke 8:13 and Mark 4:20)

According to Jesus, the only difference between the good ground hearer and the stony place hearer is that the first brought forth fruit with patience by continuing in what he heard and keeping it (Luke 8:15) while the latter "falls away" from the faith, not enduring the hardships of Christianity (Luke 8:13). Did not Jesus further clarify this teaching in Matthew 10:22 and Matthew 24:13 when he said, "He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."? There is no hope of understanding the whole of what Jesus taught until we come to terms with this key parable.

-In John 8:12-32, Jesus addresses the Pharisees and unbelieving Jews after the incident with the woman caught in adultery. Here are some of the things he testifies to them:

Vs. 12 "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

Vs. 23-24 "Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins."

Vs. 28-29 "When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him."

Vs. 30 "As he spake these words, many believed on him."

Vs. 31-32 "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

If a "one time act of faith" is all that is required for salvation, why didnít Jesus simply rejoice that the people responded to his words by believing on him? Would it be out of place in our present state of Christianity to address a new believer the way Jesus did in vs. 31? Imagine, an unconverted man coming into your church, hearing the gospel, believing it, and praying to ask God to forgive him and save him. How is this person typically handled? Jesus did not take these believers and put them in a "new converts" class in Sunday school, or have them stand up in church to confess their new faith. His first interaction with them after belief was to admonish them to "continue in his word." Later, in the 51st verse of the same chapter, speaking to the same group of people that believed on him, Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep (obey) my saying, he shall never see death."

-In Matthew 5, the first chapter of Jesus' sermon on the mount, we are told who is being addressed in verse 1; he separated himself from the multitudes and spoke to his disciples. At the end of his great discourse, it seems that the crowd grew, for in 7:28 "the people were astonished at his doctrine:" But at the beginning, it was Jesus and the 12 men he would intimately spend the next 3 years with, the ones he chose to represent him, to preach his kingdom, and to build his church. Along with some other essential truths that are all but vanished from modern day Christianity, we find a key truth in verse 13:

Matthew 5:13 "Ye (the disciples of Jesus) are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men."

Jesus said that even his own disciples would run the risk of being "good for nothing" if they lost their savour. Luke 14:35 says, " It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." As an active, believing disciple of Christ, we have a "flavor" that seasons the world around us. Jesus said it was possible to lose our flavor, or effectiveness, and wind up good for nothing, cast out, trodden under the foot of men. If Jesus had to warn Peter, Andrew, James, Judas, Philip, and the others of what would become of them if they lost their savour, why would we not extend this warning to ourselves? Was John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, more likely to become "good for nothing" than a 21st century disciple of Jesus? This is the Christianity of the scriptures.

Closing

The bible teaches that a believer should certainly have total assurance of eternal life. How can we have this assurance? You may be gaining your assurance now from a list of verses that someone has taught you. Anytime you "doubt your salvation", you simply open you bible to one of your favorite eternal security verses and assure yourself that everything is "ok". As you spend more and more time in the scriptures, you may run into verses that challenge your actual standing with God. What to do? Well, get out the list of "eternal security" verses, read a few, and assure yourself (using the bible, mind you) that the condemnation, uneasiness, unsettledness, fear, and uncertainty that haunt you are just the devil or your "sinful flesh" trying to get you to doubt God. Is anything wrong with this cycle? How long can guilt and uncertainty be buried by "doctrine"? Should a believer have more than a list of verses to obtain and continue in assurance? Yes.

One of my favorite verses in the bible as an advocate of eternal security was I John 5:13, which says "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." This verse was shown to me to prove that a person can and should know that they have eternal life. For years, as I began to get involved in preaching the gospel, this was one of my favorite verses. I would take a sinner through the "Romanís Roadí or some other "salvation formula", lead them in a "sinnerís prayer", and then immediately take them to this verse to show them what the verses says; that if they believed on Jesus (and really meant it), then they can be sure that they have eternal life. Is that what the verse is saying? No. Many "believers" have a false assurance of salvation because they know the bible teaches assurance, not because their life testifies of salvation. What does the verse say?

"These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God..". What "things" is John talking about? Heís closing his letter and referring to the whole letter. What were the "things" that John wrote in his letter to give believers total assurance of eternal life:

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• Walking in the Light (honest, open fellowship with other believers, the Father, and His Son) - 1:6-7

Recognition and confession of sin - 1:8-10, 3:20-21

Keeping Jesusí commandments - 2:3-6, 2:24, 5:2-3

Real, practical, tangible love for the brethren - 2:7-11, 3:10-23, 4:7-13, 20-21, 5:2

Not loving the world - 2:15-17

The inner witness of the Sprit of God - 4:13, 5:6-11

Continuing in what we believed in the beginning - 2:19-29

"..that ye may know that ye have eternal life and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." If our lives are not characterized and filled with "these things", then we can never have real assurance. Please donít misapply and misappropriate scripture to build a false assurance that, upon further examination, is not scriptural after all! According to the apostle John, believers are to have lives, not just bible verses, that testify of their salvation. John Wesley did not believe in eternal security as it is taught today. He was a well known Armenian, a old sect of christianity that stood against the doctrine of eternal security. Did he believe in assurance of salvation? Here is an excerpt from a letter written from John Wesley to his mother:

"If we dwell in Christ and He in us (which He will not do unless we are regenerate), certainly we must be sensible of it. If we can never have any certainty of our being in a state of salvation, good reason it is that every moment should not be spent in joy, but in fear and trembling, and then undoubtedly we are, in this life, of all men, most miserable. God deliver us from such a fearful doctrine as this!"

If your life does not testify of salvation, then I have no right to offer you a false sense of security. If your life is not bearing the fruit described in I John or on that "narrow way" as you grow in Jesus, you have a legitimate reason to doubt your salvation. If your life is still characterized by dominant fleshly and worldly pleasures and passions, the Holy Spirit will not give God-breathed assurance of eternal life. You may believe the good news of Jesus Christ, but there is still a great need of godly sorrow and repentance in your heart that will lead to salvation not to be repented of (II Cor. 7:10).

If you have the assurance described in I John but believe that you are eternally secure, that even if you were hardened by sin and departed from God, you would still "go to heaven", then you are in danger. The danger you are in is described in the first passage we discussed in Romans 11. You believe you are unconditionally "kept by the power of God" by a "one-time act of faith" 5, 10, or 20 years ago, when in fact the scriptures say you are "kept by the power of God through faith (I Peter 1:5)." Your continuing faith is the open lifeline through which Godís keeping-power flows. You believe that the "act of faith" at the beginning of your christian walk will suffice at judgment, when we are told in I Peter that the end of our faith is what will determine the salvation of our soul (I Peter 1:9). You believe that because you are "in Christ" you can never be separated from him, when in fact Jesus said "Every branch IN ME that beareth not fruit he (the Father) taketh awayÖ If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. (John 15:2, 6). Entering into Christ without abiding, or continuing, in Him and bearing fruit will ultimately end in fire. You believe that being "saved" is all that Jesus requires, when he said clearly in Revelation 2:10 "be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." In closing, I would like to pose a challenge to you, the reader. The scriptures contain 7 letters written to the church from Jesus himself. It only took the church 60-70 years to start backsliding and heading in the wrong direction, and Jesus had some instruction for his erring bride. These letters that Jesus dictated to his church through the apostle John are found in the book of Revelation, chapters 2 and 3. Forget everything you've been taught about doctrine, forget your preferences and denominational statements, forget everything for just 1 hour, open these chapters up, read them, pray through them, and ask yourself this, what is Jesus saying to his church? What is the heartbeat of his warning? Do these letters support the idea that no matter how "off track" a believer may get, God is still obligated to let him into heaven, as long as he was really saved? Apply these letters to yourself, let Jesus speak to you through his epistles to the church, and take heed to his instruction. I trust Godís Spirit will guide you into all truth.