The Condition of Faith
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Friday, January 9, 2009
Pastor Brian Cook
Matthew 24:11-13 “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”
For several years I have diligently studied an ongoing debate between two theological camps separated by a river of dispute regarding man’s role and God’s role in salvation. Although, this debate will not be settled here in this article (nor can it be) I can say that I have finally settled it in my own mind. This debate centers on the five points of Calvinism with the question of eternal security or perseverance of the saints being the focus of my attention here. I have discussed my conclusions with the Senior Pastor of our church and he has approved them as being consistent with our doctrinal position.
Understanding that Calvinists as well as non-Calvinists can both hold to the doctrine of eternal security or as some erroneously call it, “once saved always saved”, I have come to the conclusion that the Bible is not ambiguous at all in regards to this doctrine. There are many verses that seem to support the position of those who believe a Christian can never lose their salvation. I would like to examine several of them here.
1 John 5:13: “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.” Those who hold to “once saved always saved” would say that this verse teaches that we can “know” that we have eternal life. I would agree with that, but they would also say that since this life is “eternal” it can never be lost or taken away. Notice the language of the following verses:
John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
John 5:24: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
John 10:27-28: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
It might seem clear from these few verses (there are many more like them) that “everlasting life” is not something that can ever end or ever be taken away from the Christian. However, it seems just as clear that with every proof text given to support the position of “once saved always saved” that there is also a condition given and that condition is always faith.
You see, I do hold to the doctrine of eternal security for the believer, but I do not hold to the doctrine of “once saved always saved”. In my mind these two are not the same thing at all. The Bible is clear that in order to have eternal life you must have faith. Faith is the condition to possessing eternal life and a Christian who has faith in Christ for salvation is absolutely secure in that salvation. The Bible makes many promises of eternal security to the believer, but it does not make the same promises to those who do not have faith or to those who no longer trust in Christ for their salvation.
Many of the proof texts used to support “once saved always saved” are surely taken out of context. What I mean by that is that if we read these verses in context we will realize that many of them (some would argue all of them) are made to the Church corporately, the Body of Christ as a whole, not to individuals. Take, for example Philippians 1:6 which says “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ”. This verse is often used to say that we as individuals are promised an end result of salvation in Christ. It is teaching no such thing.
The Apostle Paul was writing to the Church at Philippi, not to specific individuals. He was saying that God began a “good work” in the Church at Philippi, which is included by faith into the corporate Body of believers throughout the whole world. There is eternal security for the Church and the Bible is clear that our individual position within the Church is conditioned upon our faith in Christ.
The first verse we looked at which seemed to support that once an individual is saved they are always saved was 1 John 5:13. When we read this in context we will find that, again, this is a promise made to the Church, the Bride of Christ as a whole.
1 John 5:11-13 “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 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.”
Verse 11 states that God has given to “us” eternal life. When read in context, we must agree that the “us” referred to is plural; it is the Church. If we continue to read we will find out where we can get this “eternal life”. The text says that eternal life “is in His Son”. Eternal life is “in” Christ. So what the text is really saying is that if we are in Christ by believing in Him, we have eternal life. If we are not in Christ and we do not believe in Him then we do not. Eternal life is obtained by our faith in Christ Jesus, the Son of God.
Here is the question that must be answered: “If one ceases to be ‘in Christ’ are they still guaranteed salvation?” Jesus said in John 15:5-6 “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 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.” The word Jesus used for “abide” means to continue or remain. Clearly, the implication is that if you are no longer continuing in Christ then you will be cut off or cast away.
This same imagery is taught by the Apostle Paul in Romans 11. Paul uses the illustration of an olive tree for Christ and its natural branches (unbelieving Jews) were cut off because of their lack of faith and the unnatural branches (believing Gentiles) were grafted in because of their faith.
Romans 11:17-23: “And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.”
In verses 20-21 we are admonished to fear because we, like the natural branches, could also be cut off if we no longer continue and abide in Christ by faith. Paul also wrote to the Church 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: 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” (Colossians 1:21-23). Notice that Paul clearly says that Christ will present us “holy and unblameable and unreprovable in His sight if ye continue in faith”. What is the condition Paul is describing? It is the condition of faith.
Eternal security is conditioned by continuing in faith. This is not a work. We do not maintain our salvation by works; we are saved by grace through faith. Faith is the opposite of works. Ephesians 2:8-9 says “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.” Many times the Apostle Paul stressed the distinction between faith and works (Rom. 3:27; 4:3) as being opposites and as such, one who does not work but believes, cannot boast in his works for salvation for it is all of faith.
Paul also writes in Romans 5:1-2 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Paul is telling us that justification comes by faith and access to the grace of God also comes by faith. So, if we no longer have faith it follows that we have no longer have neither His justification nor His grace. This is a frightful thought, but a sobering one as well.
Finally, let me say that I have not concluded that we can lose our salvation simply by committing a particular sin because if we say we do not sin then the truth is not in us (1Jn. 1:8).I do believe that we are being “kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation” (1 Peter 1:5). Salvation is not an abstract object that we can lose such as our car keys, it is described in the Bible to be more like a marriage relationship (Is. 54:5; Eph. 5:20-33).
So, if we cannot lose our salvation by misplacing it, and God has promised that He will never leave us or forsake us in our relationship to Him (Heb. 13:5), what happens if we choose to leave and forsake Him? What then? What becomes of our relationship to God? Marriage is a covenant which requires that both parties remain faithful to each other. When one party becomes unfaithful and abandons the other, then the marriage is lost and the relationship is severed.
So, if we are not able to lose our salvation in the abstract sense or by sinning and God will always remain faithful in His love towards us (Rom 8:35-39), that leaves only one way of destroying our relationship to God and being cut off from salvation in Christ. That would have to occur through the act of apostasy. Apostasy is the “act of rebelling against, forsaking, abandoning, or falling away from what one has believed” (Holman Bible Dictionary).
It would seem meaningless to me, that the Word of God would give so many warnings to New Testament believers against apostatizing if it were not possible to do so (Matthew 24:10;Luke 8:9-15; Acts 20:30;1 Timothy 1:19-20;4:1; 2 Thess. 2:3;Hebrews 2:1-4;3:7-4:13;6:1-20;10:19-39;12:1-29;2 Peter 2:20-21; 3:17;Jude 1:5).
Therefore, I have concluded that the Bible is explicit that there is a condition of faith required in order for one to be eternally secure in their salvation and it is by that faith alone that we are promised to be among the great multitude of God’s elect which are redeemed in Christ Jesus on the final day.
For several years I have diligently studied an ongoing debate between two theological camps separated by a river of dispute regarding man’s role and God’s role in salvation. Although, this debate will not be settled here in this article (nor can it be) I can say that I have finally settled it in my own mind. This debate centers on the five points of Calvinism with the question of eternal security or perseverance of the saints being the focus of my attention here. I have discussed my conclusions with the Senior Pastor of our church and he has approved them as being consistent with our doctrinal position.
Understanding that Calvinists as well as non-Calvinists can both hold to the doctrine of eternal security or as some erroneously call it, “once saved always saved”, I have come to the conclusion that the Bible is not ambiguous at all in regards to this doctrine. There are many verses that seem to support the position of those who believe a Christian can never lose their salvation. I would like to examine several of them here.
1 John 5:13: “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.” Those who hold to “once saved always saved” would say that this verse teaches that we can “know” that we have eternal life. I would agree with that, but they would also say that since this life is “eternal” it can never be lost or taken away. Notice the language of the following verses:
John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
John 5:24: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
John 10:27-28: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
It might seem clear from these few verses (there are many more like them) that “everlasting life” is not something that can ever end or ever be taken away from the Christian. However, it seems just as clear that with every proof text given to support the position of “once saved always saved” that there is also a condition given and that condition is always faith.
You see, I do hold to the doctrine of eternal security for the believer, but I do not hold to the doctrine of “once saved always saved”. In my mind these two are not the same thing at all. The Bible is clear that in order to have eternal life you must have faith. Faith is the condition to possessing eternal life and a Christian who has faith in Christ for salvation is absolutely secure in that salvation. The Bible makes many promises of eternal security to the believer, but it does not make the same promises to those who do not have faith or to those who no longer trust in Christ for their salvation.
Many of the proof texts used to support “once saved always saved” are surely taken out of context. What I mean by that is that if we read these verses in context we will realize that many of them (some would argue all of them) are made to the Church corporately, the Body of Christ as a whole, not to individuals. Take, for example Philippians 1:6 which says “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ”. This verse is often used to say that we as individuals are promised an end result of salvation in Christ. It is teaching no such thing.
The Apostle Paul was writing to the Church at Philippi, not to specific individuals. He was saying that God began a “good work” in the Church at Philippi, which is included by faith into the corporate Body of believers throughout the whole world. There is eternal security for the Church and the Bible is clear that our individual position within the Church is conditioned upon our faith in Christ.
The first verse we looked at which seemed to support that once an individual is saved they are always saved was 1 John 5:13. When we read this in context we will find that, again, this is a promise made to the Church, the Bride of Christ as a whole.
1 John 5:11-13 “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 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.”
Verse 11 states that God has given to “us” eternal life. When read in context, we must agree that the “us” referred to is plural; it is the Church. If we continue to read we will find out where we can get this “eternal life”. The text says that eternal life “is in His Son”. Eternal life is “in” Christ. So what the text is really saying is that if we are in Christ by believing in Him, we have eternal life. If we are not in Christ and we do not believe in Him then we do not. Eternal life is obtained by our faith in Christ Jesus, the Son of God.
Here is the question that must be answered: “If one ceases to be ‘in Christ’ are they still guaranteed salvation?” Jesus said in John 15:5-6 “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 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.” The word Jesus used for “abide” means to continue or remain. Clearly, the implication is that if you are no longer continuing in Christ then you will be cut off or cast away.
This same imagery is taught by the Apostle Paul in Romans 11. Paul uses the illustration of an olive tree for Christ and its natural branches (unbelieving Jews) were cut off because of their lack of faith and the unnatural branches (believing Gentiles) were grafted in because of their faith.
Romans 11:17-23: “And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.”
In verses 20-21 we are admonished to fear because we, like the natural branches, could also be cut off if we no longer continue and abide in Christ by faith. Paul also wrote to the Church 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: 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” (Colossians 1:21-23). Notice that Paul clearly says that Christ will present us “holy and unblameable and unreprovable in His sight if ye continue in faith”. What is the condition Paul is describing? It is the condition of faith.
Eternal security is conditioned by continuing in faith. This is not a work. We do not maintain our salvation by works; we are saved by grace through faith. Faith is the opposite of works. Ephesians 2:8-9 says “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.” Many times the Apostle Paul stressed the distinction between faith and works (Rom. 3:27; 4:3) as being opposites and as such, one who does not work but believes, cannot boast in his works for salvation for it is all of faith.
Paul also writes in Romans 5:1-2 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Paul is telling us that justification comes by faith and access to the grace of God also comes by faith. So, if we no longer have faith it follows that we have no longer have neither His justification nor His grace. This is a frightful thought, but a sobering one as well.
Finally, let me say that I have not concluded that we can lose our salvation simply by committing a particular sin because if we say we do not sin then the truth is not in us (1Jn. 1:8).I do believe that we are being “kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation” (1 Peter 1:5). Salvation is not an abstract object that we can lose such as our car keys, it is described in the Bible to be more like a marriage relationship (Is. 54:5; Eph. 5:20-33).
So, if we cannot lose our salvation by misplacing it, and God has promised that He will never leave us or forsake us in our relationship to Him (Heb. 13:5), what happens if we choose to leave and forsake Him? What then? What becomes of our relationship to God? Marriage is a covenant which requires that both parties remain faithful to each other. When one party becomes unfaithful and abandons the other, then the marriage is lost and the relationship is severed.
So, if we are not able to lose our salvation in the abstract sense or by sinning and God will always remain faithful in His love towards us (Rom 8:35-39), that leaves only one way of destroying our relationship to God and being cut off from salvation in Christ. That would have to occur through the act of apostasy. Apostasy is the “act of rebelling against, forsaking, abandoning, or falling away from what one has believed” (Holman Bible Dictionary).
It would seem meaningless to me, that the Word of God would give so many warnings to New Testament believers against apostatizing if it were not possible to do so (Matthew 24:10;Luke 8:9-15; Acts 20:30;1 Timothy 1:19-20;4:1; 2 Thess. 2:3;Hebrews 2:1-4;3:7-4:13;6:1-20;10:19-39;12:1-29;2 Peter 2:20-21; 3:17;Jude 1:5).
Therefore, I have concluded that the Bible is explicit that there is a condition of faith required in order for one to be eternally secure in their salvation and it is by that faith alone that we are promised to be among the great multitude of God’s elect which are redeemed in Christ Jesus on the final day.
The Condition of Faith
Friday, January 9, 2009
