THE POSSIBILITY OF APOSTASY? BY STEVE FINNELL
APOSTASY, IS IT POSSIBLE?
John 15:2-6.....If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up, and they gather them, cast them into the fire and they are burned.
Being cast into a fire does not sound like, once saved always saved.
Hebrews 2:1-3 For this reason we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift from it....3 how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation......
Why would the writer of Hebrews warn of drifting from salvation if it was an impossibility?
Galatians 5:1-4 It was for freedom that Christ set us free....4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
The apostle Paul said that some Christians had fallen from grace. Falling from grace was a reality for them.
Colossians 1:22-23 yet He has reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach---23 if you indeed continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul was made a minister.
The apostle Paul said the Colossians would be holy and blameless on the condition that they continued in the faith. Paul said nothing of "once in grace always in grace."
Hebrews 3:12 Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God.
Blood bought Christians were warned to, not, stop believing. Apostasy means, to cease to believe.
Hebrews 6:4-6 For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.
If Christians fall away (deny the gospel), they will not repent. Those Christians who deny the benefits of the shed blood of Christ simply will not repent; not because God prevents them. They have just lost the will and desire to repent.
1 Timothy 4:1-4 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons....
The Holy Spirit says some will fall away. Calvinism teaches apostasy is impossible. Who do you believe the Holy Spirit or the professors of Calvinism?
Galatians 1:2-9....To the churches of Galatia...6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel....9....if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!
Paul stated that some of the Galatian Christians were falling away. They were practicing the teachings of the Judaizers. Some of the Jewish Christians were perverting the gospel by incorporating the Old Testament ceremonial practices with in gospel of Christ.
PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS IS A MAN-MADE DOCTRINE.
Two things have to occur in order to convince men that the doctrine of, once in grace always in grace, is a Biblical truth.
1. You need a willing student.
2. A skilled professional is needed, with a doctorate in MAN-MADE TRADITIONS.
What is impossible? It is impossible to prayerfully search the Scriptures for the truth and still hold the view that apostasy is impossible.
A TULIP NOTE: Some say, "I believe in the doctrine of ,Perseverance of the Saints, however, I reject the other four points of Calvinism."
1. T--Total Depravity
2. U--Unconditional Election
3. L--Limited Atonement
4. I--Irresistible Grace
5. P--Perseverance of the Saints
You cannot separate any of the five points of Calvinism and keep the tulip from wilting. You you either believe them all or none of them.
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