Once saved, always saved? Part 2.

By John Chopores

 

How let's take a look at some New Testament passages, which help make things clear!

The Gospels

Matthew 12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

" shall not be forgiven", who shall not be forgiven? Any man who blasphemes again the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 12:32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

It does not say, that a born-again Christian cannot speak again the Holy Spirit.

Matt. 18: 21 ¶ Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

"Verse 21. Till seven times?— Though seven was a number of perfection among the Hebrews, and often meant much more than the units in it imply, yet it is evident that Peter uses it here in its plain literal sense, as our Lord’s words sufficiently testify. It was a maxim among the Jews never to forgive more than thrice: Peter enlarges this charity more than one half; and our Lord makes even his enlargement septuple, see Matthew

18:22. Revenge is natural to man, i.e. man is naturally a vindictive being, and, in consequence, nothing is more difficult to him than forgiveness of injuries." [ADAM CLARKE].

"Verse 22. Seventy times seven.— There is something very remarkable in these words, especially if collated with Genesis 4:24, where the very same words are used-"If any man kill LAMECH, he shall be avenged seventy times seven." The just God punishes sin in an exemplary manner.

Sinful man, who is exposed to the stroke of Divine justice, should be abundant in forgiveness, especially as the merciful only shall find mercy. The sum seventy times seven makes four hundred and ninety. Now an offense, properly such, is that which is given wantonly, maliciously, and without ANY PROVOCATION. It is my opinion, that, let a man search ever so accurately, he will not find that he has received, during the whole course of his life, four hundred and ninety such offenses. If the man who receives

the offense has given any cause for it, in that case, the half of the offense,

at least, towards his brother, ceases." [ADAM CLARKE].

22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

How many times should we forgive? How many times do we want to be forgiven?

But then should we really count them?

23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.

29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

"Verse 30. And he would not, etc.— To the unmerciful, God will show no mercy; this is an eternal purpose of the Lord, which never can be changed.

God teaches us what to do to a fellow-sinner, by what HE does to us. Our fellow-servant’s debt to us, and ours to God, are as one hundred denarii to ten thousand talents! When we humble ourselves before him, God freely forgives us all this mighty sum! And shall we exact from our brother recompense for the most trifling faults? Reader, if thou art of this unmerciful, unforgiving cast, read out the chapter." [ADAM CLARKE].

32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:

33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

"Verse 33. Shouldest not thou also have had compassion— ouk edei kai se, Did it not become thee also? What a cutting reproach! It became ME to show mercy, when thou didst earnestly entreat me, because I am MERCIFUL, It became thee also to have shown mercy, because thou wert so deep in debt thyself, and hadst obtained mercy." [ADAM CLARKE].

34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

"34. His Lord delivered him to the tormentors — Imprisonment is a much

severer punishment in the eastern countries than in ours. State criminals,

especially when condemned to it, are not only confined to a very mean and

scanty allowance, but are frequently loaded with clogs or heavy yokes, so

that they can neither lie nor sit at ease: and by frequent scourgings and

sometimes rackings are brought to an untimely end. Till he should pay all

that was due to him — That is, without all hope of release, for this he

could never do. How observable is this whole account; as well as the great

inference our Lord draws from it:

1. The debtor was freely and fully forgiven;

2. He wilfully and grievously offended;

3. His pardon was retracted, the whole debt required, and the

offender delivered to the tormentors for ever.

And shall we still say, but when we are once freely and fully forgiven, our

pardon can never be retracted? Verily, verily, I say unto you, So likewise

will my heavenly Father do to you, if ye from your hearts forgive not

every one his brother their trespasses." [JOHN WESLEY].

"Verse 35. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you— The goodness and indulgence of God towards us is the pattern we should follow in our dealings with others. If we take man for our exemplar we shall err, because our copy is a bad one; and our lives are not likely to be better than the copy we imitate. Follow Christ; be merciful as your Father who is in heaven is merciful. You cannot complain of the fairness of your copy." [ADAM CLARKE].

" {The tormentors} (toiv basanistaiv). Not to prison simply, but to terrible punishment. The papyri give various instances of the verb basanizw, to torture, used of slaves and others. "Livy (ii. 23) pictures an old centurion complaining that he was taken by his creditor, not into servitude, but to a workhouse and torture, and showing his back scarred with fresh wounds" (Vincent). {Till he should pay all} (ewv ou apodw pan). Just as in verse #30, his very words. But this is not purgatorial, but punitive, for he could never pay back that vast debt." [RWP].

35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

We see here that to be forgiven, we must forgive! If we are not forgiven, how will we get into Heaven?

Also, how can we pay for all our sins? Only the grace of God can! But if we turn our back on that grace, how can we remain saved? Cf.Heb.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.

Cf. Verse 6 in the Weymouth's New Testament. Heb. 6:6 it is impossible, I say, to keep bringing them back to a new repentance, for, to their own undoing, they are repeatedly crucifying the Son of God afresh and exposing Him to open shame.

This is Jesus Himself, saying that if we do not forgive, the same can happen to us!

Matt. 24: 4 ¶ And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

You have to have love, in the first place, for it to go cold.

13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Endure unto when? Until the end is the answer.

23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and

wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

25 Behold, I have told you before.

26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.

 

Matt. 25: 1 ¶ Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

Please note that He is talking about the kingdom of heaven! Is not Heaven itself, part of that kingsom?

2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

Could it be that they did not keep full of the Holy Spirit? Cf. Psalms 45:7 you love righteousness and hate wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows; Heb.1:8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

Does not the Bible, say we should be ready for the Lord? Cf. Matthew 24:44 Therefore you also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

Cf. Matthew 7:21 ¶ "Not every one who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

"{I know you not} (ouk oida umav). Hence there was no reason for special or unusual favours to be granted them. They must abide the consequences of their own negligence." [RWP].

"I know you not. The verb "know" is here used, according to the Jewish idiom, for favorable knowledge. … It signified that these virgins, on account of their remissness, were no longer counted even as acquaintances, much less as part of the household." [TFG].

"I know you not. This means, I do not recognize you as persons entitled to enter. The claims that they might have had once had been forfeited." [PNT].

"I know you not" is not something you say to someone, who cannot lose her welcome!

13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Cf. Luke 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

 

Luke 8: 11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

These are not saved, to start with.

" {Which for a while believe} (oi prov kairon pisteuousin). Ostensibly they are sincere and have made a real start in the life of faith. {They fall away} (afistantai). Present middle indicative. They stand off, lose interest," [RWP].

13 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.

They " receive the word with joy", is that not what a person does when he/she becomes born-again? There is joy in Heaven when a person becomes born-again! Cf. Luke 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

" {They are choked} (sunpnigontai). Present passive indicative of this powerfully vivid compound verb sunpnigw used in #Mr 4:19; Mt 13:22, only there these worldly weeds choke the word while here the victims themselves are choked. Both are true. Diphtheria will choke and strangle the victim. Who has not seen the promise of fair flower and fruit choked into yellow withered stalk without fruit" [RWP].

It says here that "for a while believe", so they are believers. Not they "think that they believe", but "for a while believe"! Nor does it say, "they seem to believe". But only "for a while believe".

14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

What was choked? Was it not the life in them?

"{Bring no fruit to perfection} (ou telesforousin). Compound verb common in the late writers (telov, forew). To bring to completion. Used of fruits, animals, pregnant women. Only here in the N.T." [RWP].

The fruit that was not to "perfection" was probably the "fruit of the Spirit". Cf. Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Ephesians 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

What other kind of fruit would God want?

15 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.

"Verse 15. With patience.— Rather, with perseverance. The Greek word upomonh, which our translators render patience, properly signifies here, and in Romans 2:7, perseverance. The good ground, because it is good, strong and vigorous, continues to bear: bad or poor ground cannot produce a good crop, and besides it is very soon exhausted. The persons called the

good ground in the text are filled with the power and influence of God, and therefore continue to bring forth fruit; i.e. they persevere in righteousness.

From this we may learn that the perseverance of the saints, as it is termed, necessarily implies that they continue to bring forth fruit to the glory of God. Those who are not fruitful are not in a state of perseverance." [ADAM CLARKE].

"It bears fruit (karpoforousin, an old expressive verb, karpov and forew). That is the proof of spiritual life. {In patience} (en upomonh). There is no other way for real fruit to come. Mushrooms spring up overnight, but they are usually poisonous. The best fruits require time, cultivation, patience." [RWP].

Luke 12: 42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?

43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.

45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;

46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

With the "unbelievers". Cf. Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Rev. 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Rev. 21: 27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Are not "unbelievers" and "fearful", the same?

John 8: 51 ¶ Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

Not just receive, but also "keep".

John 15: 1 ¶ I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

Since the spiritual Father of Christ is God the Father, the husbandman must be God the Father.

2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

Every branch, not just some.

3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

If they are clean, then they must be born-again! Cf. Isaiah 1:16 ¶ Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Ezekiel 36:25 ¶ Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

" Already ye are clean because of the word which I have spoken unto you. It is God in Christ who cleanseth the soul, but this cleansing is effected through hearing, believing and obeying the Word. The Word tells us what to do that we may be cleansed and saved (#Eph 5:26 Jas 1:18)." [TFG].

" Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. The spoken word is the instrument appointed by God for the cleansing of the soul. The word tells us what to do in order that we may be cleansed from sin." [PNT].

Please note the RSV. " 3 You are already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you."

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

The word "except" is really a very big word here.

5 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.

6 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.

"If" not, then he is "cast forth", " withered" and "burned".