Month: October 2012

This will be my second entry in the “Theology” section of this blog. Over the past couple years I have come to the conclusion I need to know that what I believe has some basis in scripture, other than “I know it’s in there some where.” These posts are me laying out what I believe, and why I believe it. They are not exhaustive. I am not a theologian. People much smarter than me have been over these things and have come to quite different conclusions. That is ok. I am not trying to attack or refute any one. This is what I believe and why I believe it. As always the things I post here come from my head and as such are prone to error.

So, can a Christian loose their salvation? Just so we are clear as to what I mean by that. I mean John Doe was saved when he was 22. Had he died he would have gone to heaven. Now John Doe is 26, has turned his back on God and decided the whole gospel thing is a bunch of bunk. If he dies now he will go to hell. In answer to the question I say yes, a Christian can loose their salvation.

Hebrews 6:4-6 (NIV) It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.

Non-believers do not have the Holy Spirit (assuming my theology is correct) that is something only believers receive. If you have that and turn away you can’t come back. I say that qualifies as a loss of salvation. How does it work out? I don’t know. I am not qualified to figure out who has gone to far and who hasn’t. That is God’s job not mine.

John 15:1-7 (NIV) “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.”

The disciples were already in the vine. Christ told them to “remain” in Him. Only if you remain in Him and He in you will you bear fruit. If you don’t remain in Him you are thrown into the fire and burned. It doesn’t say “you will remain in me” it says “if you remain in me”. Remaining part of the vine is not a done deal.

Ezekiel 33:7-19 (KJV) So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live? Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth. When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it. Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live. Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal. When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby. But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby.

Of all the passages I think this one lays it out the clearest. You have the wicked and the righteous. If the wicked man continues in his wickedness he dies. If he turns from is wickedness to righteousness he lives. Likewise if the righteous man turns from his righteousness to wickedness he dies, but if he remains righteous he lives. Neither life nor death is set in stone. Both of them have an “if” attached.

These are some of the Biblical reasons I believe you can loose your salvation. I want to be clear, I don’t believe you just “accidentally” loose your salvation. I don’t wake up every morning going “Oh I hope I’m saved today.” Just as accepting Christ is not an accident, neither is rejecting Him. How does all this work out? I don’t know. How does it work out in specific instances? Again I haven’t a clue. I don’t have all the answers, that isn’t what this post is about. This post simply answers the question “Why does Eric believe he can loose his salvation?” I’m well aware I could be wrong, obviously I don’t think I am.

 

Edit 6/14/13

Romans 11:17-23 (NIV)If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.  You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.”  Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.  Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.  And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

I’m not sure I need to comment much on this passage.  We have to continue in God’s kindness or we will be cut off (after having been grafted in).  If Israel does not persist in unbelief the will be grafted in again (they were in, are now out, but can come back).