Once saved, always saved? Part 3.

The writings of St. Paul and the rest of the New Testament.

By JOHN CHOPORES

 

The writings of Paul

Rom. 11: 20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

We see here that lack of standing and living in the Faith, can cause someone to be "broken off".

21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

God will not…what?

22 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.

It says, goodness toward us…if we "continue".

2 Cor.1: 24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

Why should we stand by something (faith), if we do not need it. If we need faith to stand, then without it we fall!

Col. 1:21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

23 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;

If we " continue in the faith" when we will be " unblameable" in His sight.

Col. 2: 18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, taking his stand on visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind,

19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. [RSV].

Paul is here writing to born-again Christians. Yet, they can lose their " reward". See KJV.

The Greek word for "disqualify" is "Katabrabeuo" it means to " to defraud or beguile of the prize of victory and metaph. to deprive of salvation".

" Let no man beguile you. Rob you of your reward by his guile. He will do so if you become unworthy of it by

a voluntary humility. By a humility that is willed," [PNT].

" 18. beguile--Translate, "Defraud you of your prize, "literally, "to adjudge a prize out of hostility away from him who deserves it" [TRENCH]. "To be umpire in a contest to the detriment of one." This defrauding of their prize the Colossians would suffer, by letting any self-constituted arbitrator or judge (that is, false teacher) draw them away from Christ, "the righteous Judge" and Awarder of the prize (#2Ti 4:8 Jas 1:12 1Pe 5:4), to angel-worship.

in a voluntary humility--So "will-worship" (#Col 2:23). Literally, "Delighting ([WAHL]) in humility"; loving (so the Greek is translated, #Mr 12:38, "love to go in long clothing") to indulge himself in a humility of his own imposing: a volunteer in humility [DALLAEUS].

2 Thessalonians 2:3 ¶ Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

How can a person fall away, from something, unless he/she is a part of it?

"{Except the falling away come first} (ean mh elyh h apostasia prwton). Negative condition of the third class, undetermined with prospect of determination and the aorist subjunctive. Apostasia is the late form of apostasiv and is our word apostasy. Plutarch uses it of political revolt and it occurs in I Macc. 2:15 about Antiochus Epiphanes who was enforcing the apostasy from Judaism to Hellenism. In #Jos 22:22 it occurs for rebellion against the Lord. It seems clear that the word here means a religious revolt and the use of the definite article (h) seems to mean that Paul had spoken to the Thessalonians about it. The only other New Testament use of the word is in #Ac 21:21 where it means apostasy from Moses." [RWP].

1 Tim.4: 1 ¶ Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

A person cannot "depart" from something he/she does not have! You have to be in the faith, to depart from it.

The Greek word for "faith" is "pistis" it means "conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it". That sounds like "born-again" faith to me!

The book of Hebrews

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,

Once " enlightened", " have tasted of the heavenly gift" and " made partakers of the Holy Ghost" they sure seem saved to me!

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

Who has tasted the Word, but born-again believers? Cf. Psalms 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

Psalms 119:103 ¶ How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Was not David, a believer?

How about the church in Thessalonica? Cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:6 ¶ And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:

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.

The ones once " enlightened", can fall away!

7 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 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

Burning is not Heaven.

But burning is the end for those who "fall away".

Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

It says "we", born-again Christians.

It says here "wilfully" this is not making a mistake. This is turning one's will again God!

" For if we sin wilfully. Deliberately trample under foot Christ's will; apostasize from the faith in life.

Remaineth no more sacrifice. We have, in that case, rejected Christ, the only sacrifice for sin." [PNT].

" we sin--Greek present participle: if we be found sinning, that is, not isolated acts, but a state of sin [ALFORD]. A violation not only of the law, but of the whole economy of the New Testament (#Heb 10:28,29).

wilfully--presumptuously, Greek "willingly." After receiving "full knowledge (so the Greek, compare #1Ti 2:4) of the truth, " by having been "enlightened, "and by having "tasted" a certain measure even of grace of "the Holy Ghost" (the Spirit of truth, #Joh 14:17; and "the Spirit of grace, "#Heb 10:29): to fall away (as "sin" here means, #Heb 3:12,17; compare #Heb 6:6) and apostatize (#Heb 3:12) to Judaism or infidelity, is not a sin of ignorance, or error ("out of the way, "the result) of infirmity, but a deliberate sinning against the Spirit (#Heb 10:29 Heb 5:2): such sinning, where a consciousness of Gospel obligations not only was, but is present: a sinning presumptuously and preseveringly against Christ's redemption for us, and the Spirit of grace in us. "He only who stands high can fall low. A lively reference in the soul to what is good is necessary in order to be thoroughly wicked; hence, man can be more reprobate than the beasts, and the apostate angels than apostate man" [THOLUCK].

remaineth no more sacrifice--For there is but ONE Sacrifice that can atone for sin; they, after having fully known that sacrifice, deliberately reject it." [JFB].

" it intends a total apostasy from the truth, against light and evidence, joined with obstinacy." [JOHN GILL].

" {If we sin wilfully} (ekousiwv amartanontwn hmwn). Genitive absolute with the present active participle of amartanw, circumstantial participle here in a conditional sense. {After that we have received} (meta to labein). "After the receiving" (accusative case of the articular infinitive second aorist active of lambanw after meta). {Knowledge} (epignwsin). "Full knowledge, "as in #6:4. {There remaineth no more} (ouketi apoleipetai). "No longer is there left behind" (present passive indicative as in #4:9), for one has renounced the one and only sacrifice for sin that does or can remove sin (#10:1-18)." [RWP].

Hebrews 10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

Hebrews 10:28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

Hebrews 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

" {An unholy thing} (koinon). Common in the sense of uncleanness as Peter used it in #Ac 10:14. Think of one who thus despises "the blood of Christ wherewith he was sanctified."

… {Hath done despite} (enubrisav). First aorist active participle of enubrizw, old verb to treat with contumely, to give insult to, here only in the N.T. It is a powerful word for insulting the Holy Spirit after receiving his blessings (#6:4)." [RWP].

" Of how much sorer punishment. Where much is given much is required. How great the sin of the apostate! " [PNT].

" an unholy thing--literally, "common, "as opposed to "sanctified." No better than the blood of a common man, thus involving the consequence that Christ, in claiming to be God, was guilty of blasphemy. and so deserved to die!" [JFB].

Cf. 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.

 

 Having said this let me say that it is not an easy thing, to fall from the Faith! For the Holy Spirit is always working in us, to bring us closer to God. And forgiveness for sins, is just a humble and legitimate prayer away!

Falling from the Faith, is for those who decide to hate Christ and His work for us. Those who say no, time after time to the Holy Spirit!

If a person really falls from the Faith. That person will not care about God and His love, anymore.

Jude

Jude 6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

We see that even before mankind came into being, that there were other beings that fell!

If one group can fall, may not another?

" And the angels which kept not their first estate. See PNT "2Pe 2:4". These angels, then, had fallen. Created holy, they had sinned and become wicked angels, or evil spirits.

And left their own habitation. Their own proper home. Some see a reference to #Ge 6:2.

He hath reserved. God hath imprisoned them and kept them for judgment." [PNT].

" Left their own habitation; became discontented with their condition, and refused to do the will of God, in the place assigned to them #2Pe 2:4." [FAMILY].

 

The book of Revelation

Revelation 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Your name has to be in the "book", before it can be "blot out"!

" Book of life. Compare #13:8 17:8 20:12,15 21:27 Php 4:3. The book of life means the roll of those who have become heirs of immortality." [PNT].

" blot out...name out of...book of life--of the heavenly city. A register was kept in ancient cities of their citizens: the names of the dead were of course erased. So those who have a name that they live and are dead (#Re 3:1), are blotted out of God's roll of the heavenly citizens and heirs of eternal life;" [JFB].

" {I will in no wise blot out} (ou mh exaleiqw). Strong double negative ou mh and the first aorist active (or future) of exaleifw, old word, to wipe out (#Ac 3:19). {Of the book of life} (ek thv biblou thv zwhv). Ablative case with ek. This divine register first occurs in #Ex 32:32 and often in the O.T. See #Lu 10:20; Php 4:3; Re 13:8; 20:15; 21:27. The book is in Christ's hands (#13:8; 21:27). {His name} (to onoma autou). The name of the one who overcomes (o nikwn). Clear reminiscence of the words of Christ about confessing to the Father those who confess him here (#Mt 10:32; Mr 8:38; Lu 9:26; 12:8). Whether John knew the Synoptic Gospels (and why not?) he certainly knew such sayings of Jesus." [RWP].

Rev. 3: 14 ¶ And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

You will please notice that He is writing to a church!

15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

"I know thy" what? Works, that's what.

16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

He loves them, as God does His children. Cf. Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
So He wants them to repent!

20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

To him that overcometh.

22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

This word is to the churches, and churches are to be made up, of the saved. Cf. Acts 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Rev.3: 12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

He that " overcometh" is the one that shall have a new name.

Cf. Isaiah 62:2 And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name. 1 John 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

" go no more out--The Greek is stronger, never more at all. As the elect angels are beyond the possibility of falling, being now under (as the Schoolmen say) "the blessed necessity of goodness, "so shall the saints be. The door shall be once for all shut, as well to shut safely in for ever the elect, as to shut out the lost (#Mt 25:10 Joh 8:35; compare #Isa 22:23, the type, Eliakim). They shall be priests for ever unto God (#Re 1:6). "Who would not yearn for that city out of which no friend departs, and into which no enemy enters?" [AUGUSTINE in TRENCH]." [JFB].

We cannot fall away after we are in Heaven. This is for the ones who overcome!

 

Rev. 17: 14 ¶ These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

They are "called, and chosen, and faithful". If you are both "called, and chosen", then you are born-again! But this verse seems to be saying that you need to be "faithful" too!

Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

According to what? Their works! Cf. James 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

We must have faith. Cf. Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Revelation 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.

So then, a person cannot enter if he "worketh abomination", but only the ones who are written in the "book of life". It would seem that, the person that "worketh abomination" is not in the book of life! You cannot enter and not enter, at the same time!

Revelation 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

You cannot take away something that a person does not have. So, the man talked about here is born-again.

If God takes away something, it is gone!

A really good book on the subject is "LIFE IN THE SON" by. ROBERT SHANK. There are many people who will try to talk you out of getting the book. They cannot answer the book!