WHAT ABOUT THOSE APPARENT PROBLEM PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE?
There are genuine believers “in Christ” who sincerely believe and teach that you can lose your salvation and security. It is important that you remember that it is possible to be a genuine believer while not accepting security teaching. You should not make the issue of eternal security a test of fellowship, but neither should you compromise your conviction on this important subject.
Those who do not believe that once a butterfly—always a butterfly do not enjoy the peace and security the Father has provided and they live in constant fear and dread of possibly spending eternity separated from God and in torment. They are not free to work on their condition because they are constantly afraid they have lost their position.
Unfortunately, many believers will arrive safely in heaven only to discover that their eternal security did not require them to hang on but to simply rest in the truth that Christ was hanging on to them.
Our purpose in this section will be to answer as many of the passages as possible that are of used by those who disagree with the teaching of eternal security “in Christ.”
We have chosen to approach these apparent problem passages by placing them under different categories, because we believe you can best understand similar passages dealing with a similar issue if they are placed in similar categories.
- Sixteen Categories of Problem Passages
1. Passages Dealing With Those Who Profess But Never Possessed Salvation
2. Passages Dealing With The Fruits Of Discipleship, Not With Salvation
3. Passages Dealing With False Teachers Who Were Never Saved
4. Passages Dealing With God’s Basic Warnings To All Men
5. Passages Dealing With Believer’s Losing Rewards, But Not Salvation
6. Passages Dealing With The Olive Tree of Romans 11
7. Passages Dealing With The Book Of Hebrews
8. Passages Dealing With Discipline, Loss of Fellowship, But Not Loss of Salvation
9. Passages Dealing With Confessing Christ As A Testimony, Not For Security
10. Passage Dealing With The Believer Falling From Grace
11. Passages Dealing With Blaspheming The Holy Spirit
12. Passages Dealing With The Issue Of The Weaker Believer
13. Passages Dealing With Teachings Based In Parables?
14. Passages Dealing With Being Blotted Out Of The Book Of Life
15. Passages Dealing With Scriptures Misapplied To Time And Audience
16. Passages Dealing With The Lives of Biblical Characters
1. Passages Dealing With Those Who Profess But Never Possessed Salvation
Matthew 7:22‐23 “Many will say to Me in that day, ʹLord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?ʹ 23 And then I will declare to them, ʹI never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”
- In this passage these outward professors said they had prophesied, exorcized demons, and even performed miracles in Jesusʹ name.
- But does prophesying, casting out demons, or performing miracles, equal salvation? Absolutely not. Satan can and has imitated many of the miracles that Jesus performed, and he can and does empower fallen humans to do the same.
- The persons in this passage made an outward profession but note carefully what Jesus says to them! Jesus does not say: ʺI used to know you, but you have lost your salvation, so I donʹt know you any longer.ʺ What Jesus does say is that ʺI never knew you.ʺ Jesusʹ statement clearly teaches that they never possessed salvation.
- These mere professors didnʹt lose their salvation, they never had it.
Matthew 13:1‐8 On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. 2 And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. 3 Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow.” 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. 8 But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
- This passage involves a parable and we will discuss parables as a category in detail later in this study. For now, remember that you should never develop doctrine from parables, especially a doctrine as important as security.
- This particular parable uses four types of soil to represent four heart responses to the Gospel seed. The first soil receives the seed, but the birds (Satan and his hosts) take the seed away before it can germinate. In this case, no germination equals no salvation.
- In the other three soils or responses, germination does occur, but there are three levels of fruitfulness after germination.
- Please note that in none of the last three responses did Jesus ever say anything about loss of salvation. He said some believe, but never get deeply rooted in their faith, so they never mature or bear fruit. Others believe, but worldly cares keep them from maturing and bearing fruit and they lose out on their rewards. But others grow to maturity, produce much fruit, and receive their rewards.
- Those who teach you can lose your salvation use this parable to teach that when the birds picked up the gospel seed there was a loss of salvation and when there is no fruit there is a loss of salvation. But there is no teaching in this parable at all about losing salvation. In the first case there was no germination and no salvation. In the other three cases there was germination or salvation but varying levels of fruitfulness for the reasons Jesus gave.
- Germination is not the same issue as fruit bearing. Fruitfulness is a discipleship issue and not a salvation issue. In the case where there was no germination, Jesus never knew that person.
Luke 11:24‐26 “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25 And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. 26 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.”
- This passage is also a parable and should be treated the same as all parables, but this parable also does not mention the loss of salvation. Does the mere departure of a demon equal salvation? Absolutely not. Did you notice in verse 24 that the demon left of its own free will and went looking for a better place to live? Salvation involves receiving Christ, not losing a demon.
- Some have taken this passage to teach that when the demon left that person was saved. This teaching would then say that when the demon returned the person lost his or her salvation. But salvation results from the exercise of personal faith in Jesus, not just having a demon removed or the demon leaving.
- This person was not saved because the mere departure of a demon does not equal salvation, only faith in Jesus can bring salvation. This person never possessed salvation and later lost it, Jesus never knew them as one of His sheep.
1 Corinthians 15:1‐4 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved (receive salvation), if you hold fast that word which I preached to you ‐‐ unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.
- Paul is dealing here with the true content of the Gospel and the true faith that brings salvation. Paul does not say nor suggest that these Corinthians had become lost. He does say that if they believed something other than what He preached as the Gospel to them (Christ + 0), they believed in vain and never possessed salvation. Throughout the book of I Corinthians, Paul addresses his listeners as believers and calls them brethren.
- This passage simply reminds them of the true content of the Gospel that had actually brought them salvation. Paul told them to hold fast to the true content of the Gospel but he did not say they had lost or could lose their salvation.
- When he said, “unless you believed in vain” he was saying that if they had not put their faith in the true Gospel then they had trusted a false Gospel and were never saved. This passage does not teach salvation can be lost; it only reminds the Corinthian believers of the true content of the Gospel.
- Scripture does clearly teach that there is a difference between mere profession and real possession.
2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His, and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
- In the context where this passage is found, Paul is addressing two men who had been teaching doctrinal error in the local church as confirmed in verse 17 of this chapter (See 2 Timothy 2:16-19).
- These two men professed faith in Christ, but they never truly possessed Christ. How do we know that? We know that because if they truly possessed Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit, they would not teach the terrible doctrinal errors or heresy they espoused nor would they live the sinful lives they were living in front of the other members in this congregation.
- Paul is not saying that they lost their salvation; he is saying that they never possessed true salvation as evidenced by their teaching error and their iniquity.
1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.
- The apostle John speaks in this passage of some professing believers who had left the local congregation. John does not say that those who left possessed salvation and lost it, he says, “they went out that it might be made manifest that none of them were of us.”
- These people who left had made a profession, and for a while they appeared to be believers, but in the process of time, their actions, teachings, and finally their departure, demonstrated that they never possessed Jesus and were saved. They were professors, but never possessors. John did not say that they had lost their salvation, rather that they never had it, which is why they departed from the fellowship of other true believers.
- This verse does not teach that a loss of salvation occurred; it teaches that salvation had never occurred.
2. Passages Dealing With The Fruits Of Discipleship, Not With Salvation
The second category of passages used by some to try to prove that it is possible to lose your
salvation actually deal with the issue of the evidences or spiritual fruits that should be evident in a believer’s life after salvation, but fruits are not the same as salvation itself. Fruits should follow
salvation but fruits do not and cannot produce salvation.
True salvation will be evidenced or proved by fruit as the following verses will confirm, but these
verses do not teach that salvation can be lost.
John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.”
- Did you notice that these Jews had believed? They believed and received Jesus as their Savior and Messiah and thus they were saved. But this verse is not about their initial salvation, but it is about what Jesus said to them concerning being His disciples. Their salvation came by grace alone through faith alone, but their discipleship would involve obedience to the teachings and commands of God’s Word.
- Did you notice that Jesus said, “if you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed”?
- Did you notice Jesus did not say they had to abide in His Word to be saved indeed? They are now told as believers that if they are to be Jesus’ committed disciples, they needed to keep Christʹs commandments as recorded in Scripture.
- This passage clearly has to do with the fruits of a disciple’s life, not with salvation, and certainly not with loss of salvation.
John 15:6 “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.”
- This verse must be understood within its context. In John 15:1‐11 Jesus is not dealing with the issue of salvation or loss of salvation, but with the issue of fruit bearing by a believer/disciple. Jesus is teaching that believers who bear spiritual fruit as His disciples will receive rewards, but those who do not bear fruit will not be rewarded.
- John 15: 1‐11 does not deal with loss of salvation but not bearing fruit and loss of rewards. How can you know this for sure? Look at John 15:3 where Jesus describes the disciples as already “clean” meaning they were saved, and He addresses them as branches that abide in Me meaning they are already “in Christ.”
- This passage obviously deals with the fruits of discipleship, not with salvation or loss of salvation.
James 2:17‐18 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
James 2:24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
- In the above passages, James says that true saving faith will manifest itself in works because a faith that does not result in some evidences of Spiritual Life (works) is not a faith that saves in the first place.
- James clearly understood and taught that salvation is God’s gift apart from works, but he says that true salvation will manifest itself by some works.
- James teaches that works are evidences that salvation has occurred, but he is not teaching anything here about loss of salvation by those who once had it but have lost it. James says, “ I will show you my faith by my works” to say that his fruit following his salvation prove that salvation has occurred.
- When James says, “a man is justified by works, and not by faith only” he confirms that possession or salvation is justified or proved by the works that follow salvation, and that mere profession of faith with no evidence or fruit does not justify or prove possession.
- He says that “faith without works is dead also” to confirm that if there is no evidence that Spiritual Life has been restored, then no salvation has occurred, not that salvation has been lost.
2 Peter 1:10‐11 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
- Some try to teach that when Peter says “you will never stumble” that stumbling refers to losing your salvation.
- What Peter is actually doing is encouraging and exhorting his readers to demonstrate that they have been called and elected by being obedient and producing the fruit of discipleship. His challenge to them is that merely claiming to be saved does not make it so, but true faith will evidence itself by works of obedience to Christ and His commandments.
- Peter is talking about discipleship fruits and not salvation or loss of salvation.
- Peter’s reference to these believers stumbling does not refer to loss of salvation, but to journey failure when they fail to demonstrate their salvation by their obedience and fruit.
John 3:10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.
- John is not dealing with believers who have lost their salvation. He is contrasting true believers with unbelievers.
- John’s contrast is not between believers who have kept their salvation and believer who have lost their salvation.
- Notice he says “in this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest.” John’s contrast deals with the saved (God’s children) and the unsaved (the devil’s children), not with the loss of salvation. He says that the true children of God will be made manifest by their godly practices or fruits of righteousness while the children of the devil will be made manifest by their evil practices or fruits of unrighteousness.
- This passage deals with fruits proving salvation, not with losing your salvation.
5. Passages Dealing With Believer’s Losing Rewards, But Not Salvation
The fifth category of passages that are misunderstood and wrongly used by some to try to prove that it is possible for you to lose your salvation or your eternal position “in Christ” are passages dealing with the possibility of losing your discipleship rewards, but not your salvation. Your salvation is not a reward, it is a gift, but after you are saved, your obedience and acts of service for Christ during your journey will be rewarded in the future at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
While your rewards can be lost by not being obedient and available for Jesus to use you, you cannot lose your eternal position “in Christ” or your salvation. Rewards will be given for journey service and obedience; salvation is a gift that is received apart from any works. The following passage will help you understand the basis of rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:10‐15 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each oneʹs work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each oneʹs work, of what sort it is.
14 If anyoneʹs work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyoneʹs work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
- This passage discusses the fact and basis of the Judgment Seat of Christ. The Judgment Seat of Christ is a future evaluation for believers only, and the issue is not salvation. The issue is Jesus’ acknowledging and rewarding acts of obedience of those believers who faithfully served Him during their journey and Jesus not rewarding those who chose not to serve Him during their journey.
- Did you see in verse 11 that the foundation of your salvation was laid by Jesus Christ? Your salvation rests solely on that foundation.
- But did you also notice in verse 12 that your journey involves building your life on that foundation or your own foundation? If you live for yourself during your journey, you will only produce wood, hay, and straw; but if you live for Christ during your journey, you will produce gold, silver, and precious stones.
- The first type of living receives no reward but the second will receive rewards.
- But most importantly to our study, did you notice in verse 15 that even if you lose your potential rewards, you cannot lose your salvation? Those who try to use this passage to teach that your salvation can be lost fail to see that it teaches exactly the opposite idea.
- Your rewards can be lost, but you cannot lose your salvation.
1 Corinthians 9:26‐27 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
- Is Paul teaching that there is a real possibility that God can eventually reject or disqualify a believer and they lose their salvation? No! Paul is again talking about rewards and loss of rewards for how you live during your journey; he is not talking about losing your salvation.
- His first illustration involves running in a race where the winner receives a reward. If you run well during your journey, if you live a life of obedience and conformity to Godʹs Word, rewards will follow when Christ returns.
- His second illustration is about fighting the good fight of faith and obedience and not spending your journey “beating the air.”
- The text deals with the issue of rewards and loss of rewards, not with the issue of salvation and loss of salvation.
- The above passage is written to believers, not unbelievers, encouraging them to live for God during their journey when everything in life is pulling them away from serving Jesus. The reason for serving Jesus is that you love Him and you realize that He will reward faithfulness when He returns. Those who do not choose to serve Him will not lose their salvation, but they will be disqualified from receiving their potential rewards.
- According to verse 26, you must run the race and fight the good fight by the rules that Jesus has given or you will be disqualified at the Judgment Seat of Christ from receiving the rewards He has prepared for you for faithful obedience during your journey. But under no circumstances can you lose your salvation.
- Paul was not worried about losing his salvation, he was concerned that he would not maximize his journey and thus become disqualified from receiving the rewards that were potentially his for running well and fighting the good fight of faith.