SPIRITUAL SHIPWRECK
Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck. 1st Timothy 1:19.
I have been asked many times during my ministry concerning my conviction on the doctrine that is known in religious circles as "Eternal Security" or once saved always saved. I deem it good at this time to invite your attention to the fallacy of this teaching in the light of God's eternal word. I pray that you will read the following Scriptures with an honest and open heart, and see for yourself that it is possible after one has been born again and made a child of God, he can so sin as to fall away, become an outcast from God's family and be lost forever in a world without end.
Some have contended that when one is born into an earthly family that no
matter what this child does he will always be a child of his father. In
producing this argument they endeavor to prove that it will work in the same
manner with the heavenly Father. Let us turn to the law and the testimony for
the answer: God's children in the long ago murmured against Moses and Aaron: and
the whole congregation said unto them, Would to God that we had died in the
Yes, God said He would disinherit these that were His. Why did He say this?
Because of their disobedience, He spoke in this manner. Many of them were
overthrown in the wilderness, according to Paul's teaching, because of their
lust, fornication, and murmuring (1st Corinthians 10:5-12). Paul said
these things happened unto them for ensamples (verse 11). Then he warns the
Christians at
My friends, let no man or doctrine deceive you into thinking that God will not disinherit you if you continue in disobedience and fail to repent. David warned his son Solomon, in these words: If thou seek him, (God) he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off forever (1st Chronicles 28:9). Do you think that we would be an exception? A thousand times no! If we forsake God, He also will cast us off forever!
THE BOOK HAS THE ANSWERS
Others have contended that when God writes your name in the book of life there is no erasing, it can't be blotted out. Again we will turn to the book that has the answer to all our questions.
God's children sinned again in the time of Moses, this great leader sent of God. Moses cried unto the Lord and asked Him to forgive their sin. In his prayer he told God that if He wouldn't forgive their sin to blot his name out of "thy book which thou hast written." And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book (Exodus 32:31-33).
This language isn't difficult to understand to those who are seeking the truth, God just simply says that those that are sinful and disobedient I will blot their names out of my book. Sin is and insult to the God of heaven and He refuses to tolerate our indulgence in an open practice of disobedience.
God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell . . . (2nd Peter 2:4). If He failed to overlook the sin of an angel, what would induce me to think that He would overlook my sin? If it is impossible for a child of God to be lost as the doctrine of "eternal security" teaches, then we the children of God are safer than the angels in heaven, for they sinned and were cast down to hell. The truth of the matter is that a practice of sin without repentance will bring about disinheritance, and the blotting of your name out of the book of God.
We are not implying in this message that God is a cruel and unjust one that
is standing anxiously to cast you into a burning hell. We are just simply saying
that if you as a child of God live after the flesh you will die (Romans
REMEMBER HIS WARNING
I trust we will all remember the warning words of the Lord as he spoke to Ezekiel concerning his people in the days of long ago. Again, when a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit inquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand (Ezekiel 3:20).
In the above scripture is a righteous man turning from his righteousness and in this state he dies. Is he saved? God warned Ezekiel that if he failed to warn this man of his sin that his blood would be required at his hand.
My friends, there is no explanation that will hide the truth revealed in this passage. A righteous man turns from his righteousness, his righteousness is not remembered by the Lord, he dies in his sin. What a pathetic picture? Are you deceived into believing that it will be different with you under similar circumstances? Yes, we are in the age of grace, but God is still the same God. If His children could disobey Him to the extent that they were cast off forever and disinherited in one age, the same danger is at our door today.
Paul made this statement: But I keep under my body, and bring it into
subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself
should be a castaway (1st Corinthians
This same Paul told the church at
A Promise - and a Warning
Jesus taught us a lesson that it will be good if we will let this warning sink deep into our hearts. 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 (John 15:5). This indeed is a great promise and a glorious blessing to abide in Jesus and have Him abide in us. However, in the very next verse we find a solemn warning! 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. (John 15:6).
It doesn't take a smart person to understand this lesson, just an honest heart looking for the truth. As long as we abide in Him we are safe and no harm will befall.
Yes, we can abide in Him through faith and obedience!
Why would anyone ever leave Him? Yet, they do. Everyday, somewhere, there are those who lose faith, they let the things they have heard slip. Then when they fail to abide in Jesus they wither (backslide), as a result they are cast into the fire and burned; they are lost. At one time they were secure because they were in Him, but turned again to the beggarly elements (Galations 4:9). Then we read where Peter tells us that it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, then, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. In the case of one who disobeys God and backslides into the world and again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning (2nd Peter 2:20-22).
Friends, how can any person read these powerful words and then contend that
all is well regardless of conduct if you have ever once been saved? Judas, one
of the twelve, fell. Someone will say, O, he was a devil from the beginning and
couldn't fall. The word of God says Judas fell by transgression (Acts
Hymaenaues and Alexander made "shipwreck" of their faith and Paul
delivered them unto Satan (1st Timothy
Jesus said, But he that shall endure unto the end, shall be saved (Matthew
24:13) . . . be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life
(Revelation
Examine The Scripture
We feel impressed at this time to examine a passage of scripture that is
honestly thought by some to teach the impossibility of being lost after becoming
a child of God. Jesus said, 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
In explaining this passage the supporters of the "eternal security" doctrine will point out the person has eternal life and God's "shall" stands between him and condemnation.
I invite you to notice the "conditions" expressed in this
scripture. He that HEARETH and BELIEVETH on Him that sent me - the HEARETH and
BELIEVETH are in the present tense, and while a person continues to hear and
believe, he is safe. If the expression "shall" stands between one and
condemnation, then the same word is effective in this passage. He that believeth
on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son SHALL not
see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him (John
Does this "SHALL" mean that the unbeliever is forever doomed
without any hope? We all know that so long as this unbeliever remains in his
unbelief, he SHALL not see life; but, if he receives faith and begins to believe
and obey, can't he be saved? The same reason will apply (John
Why the Warnings and Pleadings?
The writer of the Hebrew letter spoke of some who fell and warned us in this
same manner: Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall
after the same example of unbelief (Hebrews
Again we read where the Hebrew writer states: Take heed brethren, lest there be any of you an evil heart of belief, in departing from the living God (Hebrews 3:12); but exhort one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin (Verse 13). For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end (Verse 14). These solemn warnings should be laid to heart!
Why all the warnings and pleading if there is no danger of being lost in the end? God warns the Christians again in these words: Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation (Hebrews 2:1-3). What is it that might "slip"? What are we to escape by being faithful? "Eternal security" doctrine just doesn't fit the teachings of the Bible when rightly divided.
Again, God warns us about a person that is made partaker of the Holy Ghost,
enlightened, and tasted the heavenly gift, the powers of the world to come. If
they shall "fall away" it would be impossible to renew them again unto
repentance (Hebrews 6:4-6). Here is a person when this transgression occurs has
commited the unpardonable sin. Where does this leave the doctrine of
"eternal security"? We will acknowledge that it isn't probable that a
person in this high estate will fall away, yet, the possibility is stated by
this apostle in the text above. Let us remember that God has said: Now the just
shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in
him (Hebrews
The supporters of the "once saved always saved" doctrine like to
ride on some scripture found in the book of John. 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 (John
God is under no obligation and neither has He made any promise to receive
into His heavenly home any but those who fight a good fight of faith (1st
Timothy
The Sin Unto Death
I wish to call your attention to a rather peculiar verse of scripture, yet it
conveys a good thought on this subject. If any man see his brother sin a sin
which is unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin
not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for
it (1st John
Now, here we read of a sin that a Christian can be guilty of that is unto death. We are not at this time explaining the nature of this sin, we are merely pointing out that among sins, it is good to pray and ask God to forgive and give life; there is a sin that we are not to pray for and that is the sin unto death. Surely, no one will contend that in spite of a "sin unto death" that a person will still be saved. This would be a pitiful and ridiculous stand!
But some will say, There is nothing that is able to separate me from the Love
of God in Christ Jesus (Romans
Yes, we will die a spiritual death and then stand before God unless we repent condemned without hope.
Peter doubtless had this in mind when he stated: Ye, therefore, beloved,
seeing you know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with
the error of the wicked, FALL from your own steadfastness (2nd Peter
Walk After The Spirit
In bringing our message to a close on this subject. I would like to have you think with me on one more scripture or two found in the Hebrew letter. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses. Of how much sorer PUNISHMENT, suppose ye, shall 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 (Hebrews 10:28-29).
To break Moses' law under certain circumstances would bring natural death by stoning and other ways.
Now, this writer is asking this question: What should be expected in the way of punishment to the person that has been sanctified with the blood and filled with Spirit if they should trod under foot the Son of God and count the blood of Jesus an unholy thing? Think about it friend: a sinner is a sinner where ever he may be found; in the church house or the pool room, he is still a sinner and lost if he or she isn't walking after the Spirit.
I believe today that most of the backsliders can be forgiven and restored if
they will repent. We are taught in case one is overcome to restore such a one in
the spirit of meekness (Galations 6:1). Christians are told to "sin
not" (1st Corinthians
Dear one, if you have strayed from the path of right, I pray that you will
return as did the prodigal (Luke