Real Security Page 2

Roman Catholic Claim

Christian Response

With regard to the last paragraph above it should be noted carefully that Roman Catholics define “redemption” as Jesus Christ opening a door to heaven. The blood of Jesus is said to secure an open door into heaven. Entering through this door is left to man. According to Rome, one gets through this door via the Roman Catholic religion and her attendant sacramental salvation. Also, this “trust in Jesus alone for salvation” phrase, when used in the Roman Catholic scheme, means trusting that no one else could have opened such a door to heaven. And, by saying that it is “God’s gift of grace working in me” Rome means the grace of God given through her sacramental system. One can readily see that what sounds so good can have a devastating effect if not fleshed out with definitions of terms.

Now, let us begin by restating the Roman Catholic position. In essence we can enumerate Rome’s position as follows. This is what Roman Catholics are expected to believe.

1. The Bible does not teach that Christians have a guarantee of heaven.
2. There can be no absolute assurance of salvation.
3. The apostle Paul teaches that Christians can lose their salvation by throwing it away.
4. Christians can forfeit heaven.

In response to these contentions that Christians have not been guaranteed heaven, we need to sort out some concepts.

Christians are certain that God has revealed for all to see that He has made sure and definite promises to all those who have faith in the finished work of Christ. For those “in Christ” by faith alone there are positive and certain promises given by God. God, who cannot lie, has promised eternal life to all He has given to Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches a sure and certain promise of eternal life for all of God’s elect. Christians will most certainly end in heaven. They are promised by God’s Word a heavenly home that will not fade away. All who are in Christ are eternally secure.

The Bible sets forth very plainly the following:

1. Jesus is the Son of God.
2. Jesus died for His Church the Elect of God.
3. Jesus is the only way, truth and life.
4. Jesus was raised from the dead and ascended into heaven.
5. All who believe in the sufficiency of His death as perfectly satisfying the wrath of God against their sins have eternal life
6. All who truly believe are placed in Christ and guaranteed eternal life based upon God’s promise to Jesus and to them.
7. Jesus will lose none of those whom the Father gives to Him.

There is no greater illustration of a man justified by faith apart from the works of law or any other system of merit than Abraham. Let us use Abraham as an illustration of salvation secured by faith alone.

ROM 4:13 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.

ROM 4:14 For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified;

ROM 4:15 for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, neither is there violation.

ROM 4:16 For this reason it is by faith, that it might be in accordance with grace, in order that the promise may be certain to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,

ROM 4:17 (as it is written, "A father of many nations have I made you") in the sight of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.

ROM 4:18 In hope against hope he believed, in order that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, "So shall your descendants be."

ROM 4:19 And without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb;

ROM 4:20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief, but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God,

ROM 4:21 and being fully assured that what He had promised, He was able also to perform.

ROM 4:22 Therefore also it was reckoned to him as righteousness.

ROM 4:23 Now not for his sake only was it written, that it was reckoned to him,

ROM 4:24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be reckoned, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,

ROM 4:25 He who was delivered up because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.

ROM 5:1 Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

ROM 5:2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.

Christians are eternally secure because they believe God will do exactly what He has promised to do. What God has promised to do is to justify sinners by faith apart from works or law. What God has promised to do is to save eternally all Christians by His grace through faith alone.

Assurance is of the essence of saving faith. Without assurance one has not believed God. To believe God is to have assurance. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a summons to believe that the death of Jesus Christ is sufficient satisfaction so that God can freely give eternal salvation to everyone who believes. Assurance of heaven is inseparable from believing that the death of Jesus Christ obtained an eternal redemption for all those in Christ by faith. If we take away the promises of God to give eternal life, eternal reconciliation, peace with God and forgiveness of all sins solely on the basis of God’s covenant with Jesus Christ we take away the Gospel.

As the above passage indicates, the promise to Abraham and his descendants that he would be heir of the world was through faith. The apostle Paul cannot be more direct. “For this reason it is by faith that it might be in accordance with grace, in order that the promise may be certain to all descendants … who are of the faith of Abraham.”

In hope against hope he believed without becoming weak in faith and with respect to the promise of God he did not waver in unbelief! Abraham grew strong in faith being fully assured that what God promised God was able to perform!

Abraham is an illustration of assurance stemming from faith that God would accomplish His promise. But it is not simply for Abraham it is for Christians as well. As the text goes on to say, “Not for his sake only was it written.” It is written for our sake as well. We are the ones who now believe God who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. We believe that Jesus was delivered up because of our transgressions and because of our justification.

“Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:1

This is the Christians’ security and assurance. It is not based on anything other than confidence in the Word of God. God has promised to save His own through faith apart from works and to justify them through faith that they may have peace with God.

JOH 5:19 Jesus therefore answered and was saying to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. JOH 5:20 "For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and greater works than these will He show Him, that you may marvel. JOH 5:21 "For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. JOH 5:22 "For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, JOH 5:23 in order that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. JOH 5:24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

Roman Catholics are taught just the opposite. They are refused the Gospel of justification by faith alone. They are refused the assurance of eternal life based upon the promise of God to save forever those in Christ through faith alone. They are refused the promises of God that come only by faith. So, they are left to believe other things. These other things constitute another religion. For in replacing the eternal security promised by God with their own religious rituals, Rome has made herself an enemy of the Gospel.

How does one know?

The Word of God is clear enough. One is compelled, by the overwhelming evidence in the Bible, to affirm that the Bible teaches the above. But it one thing to verify that the Bible contains these truth claims. It is another to agree that such teachings are in fact true. It is yet another thing to repose oneself upon such teachings and believe them to be true for yourself.

Often times Christians are not very careful in discussing eternal security promised by God in Christ. Too many Christians are anxious to apply the inappropriate catchphrase “once saved always saved.” While this is true in essence, it does not describe the essence. A better watchword would be “once saved always persevering.” Being saved by God is not only an “eternal life insurance.” Faith in Christ for eternal forgiveness and a guarantee of heaven is one of the first fruits of a powerful effective call of God. But this call does more. It produces a dramatic change within. This life long change is the evidence that true faith has been created in the mind and will. This transformation is the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. Or to summarize the apostle Paul, those who begin by the Spirit shall continue by faith. It is unsuitable to say that one can know that he has eternal life simply by asking the question of himself, “Do I believe that the promises of God in Christ are mine?” To be sure, this must be asked and believed. We must be certain that confidence in Christ is the object of our faith. The promise of God is certain and not to be doubted. However, the problems associated with assurance stem from a neglect to investigate the question, “How do I know that I have believed?” Legitimate faith does not simply gorge itself with the promise of eternal life inherent in the Gospel. Justifiable faith emanates good works and exudes the character traits of holiness, humility, virtue and love to name just a few results of valid faith.

For centuries Christians have understood that the foundation of personal assurance is the promise of God in the Gospel. The secondary ground of personal assurance is the inward evidence of a changed life. The early Christians believed that all Christ did outside of a believer had its counterpart within the believer. Christians should ask of themselves, “What proof is there of my faith?” Is there fruit in my life that evidences a true renovation of heart? Also, according to Scripture there is the internal testimony by the Spirit of God that confirms our call unto God. This personal testimony is subjective and somewhat mystical but nevertheless vital. It is part of the foundation of the Christians’ security.

ROM 8:14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. ROM 8:15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" ROM 8:16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ROM 8:17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.

Perhaps the Westminster Confession of faith sums up our thoughts best.

“This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable persuasion grounded upon fallible hope; but an infallible assurance of faith founded upon the divine truth of the promises of salvation, the inward evidence of those graces unto which these promises are made, the testimony of the Spirit of adoption witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God, which Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance, whereby we are sealed to the day of redemption.” WCC 18.2

The Bible has a lot to say about eternal life. The apostle John makes a point to mention that he and his fellow apostles both saw and heard and beheld the manifestation concerning the Word of Life. John says boldly, “we have seen and bear witness and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and manifested to us.” 1 John 1:2. One might argue that Jesus Christ is the eternal life Who John had in mind here. But this would be shortsighted. Jesus Christ is the eternal life but it does not end with Jesus Christ. Eternal life is for Christians as well. John clarifies his witness later on:

1JO 5:11 And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

There is no question that God gives eternal life to Christians when He gives to them His Son and puts Christians into His Son. Listen to the apostle Paul on this matter:

ROM 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

GAL 6:8 For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life.

1TI 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Unlike Roman Catholic theologians, the apostle John was not afraid to make eternal life the central feature of what God has promised for those in Christ. John anticipated that there would be many who would seek to rob the Christian of such a promise. Listen to John again.

1JO 2:24 As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. 1JO 2:25 And this is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life. 1JO 2:26 These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you. 1JO 2:27 And as for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.

Here John combines the promise of eternal life with the message preached “from the beginning.” He also mentions the inward testimony of the Spirit of God whose anointing teaches Christians that eternal life is theirs.

As we mentioned above, the witness of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of Christians is mystical but no small thing. It, along with fruit, constitutes the evidence of assurance for the child of God. Let us listen again to the apostle John.

1JO 4:13 By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 1JO 4:14 And we have beheld and bear witness that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. 1JO 4:15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 1JO 4:16 And we have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

Contrary to the entire religious scheme of the Roman Catholic religion the apostle John is not shy in giving assurance to Christians. Whereas the entire Roman Catholic religion is predicated upon a fear of hell and a bondage to man-made religious rituals in hopes of satisfying the wrath of God. It is a false hope and there is no Christian Gospel in Roman Catholicism. However, Christians are given full assurance by the Word of God. Listen again to the Lord through His servant the apostle John.

1JO 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life.

1JO 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding, in order that we might know Him who is true, and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

A careful review of what John has written so that we may know that we have eternal life will yield the tri-fold test of assurance sprinkled throughout the New Testament. 1. Believe God’s promises that the death of Jesus Christ is sufficient satisfaction for sin and to be in Christ is to be secure forever. Trust that only by faith alone can one get into Christ and receive the gift of Christ [eternal life] from God. 2. Examine your faith. Is it real? Does it produce fruit? Does it obey the commands of Jesus? 3. Is there an inward testimony of the Holy Spirit bearing witness that you are a child of God?

In closing, we must say that no one can give another the assurance of salvation. This is the work of God. However, it is incumbent upon Christians to proclaim the promises of eternal life within the Gospel. No one can take away eternal life or the assurance of eternal life from God’s sheep given to Jesus Christ the great Shepherd and caretaker of His people.

JOH 10:25 Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father's name, these bear witness of Me. JOH 10:26 "But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep. JOH 10:27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; JOH 10:28 and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand. JOH 10:29 "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. JOH 10:30 "I and the Father are one."

What about the warning passages and conditions set forth for eternal life?

The Roman Catholic religion denies the assurance of eternal life based primarily upon Bible passages which they view as making eternal security conditional. The “if” and “then” first class conditional passages are viewed by virtually all Roman Catholics to make the whole idea of assurance a sin of presumption rather than a promise of God.

Hence, Rome’s other gospel is clear. If one is faithful to do what Jesus has commanded and if one seeks remedy for one’s sins the way Rome imagines Jesus has requested there is a hope of eternal life. But this hope is meager and faint. Rome keeps her people plodding along a treadmill of wishful thinking. There is no security of salvation in Roman Catholicism because there is no Gospel of salvation by grace through faith alone.

In the place of the real Gospel is the Roman Catholic system of penance, works, merits, indulgences, purgatorial cleansings and annulments. Let us be perfectly clear. The confidence that one is going to heaven, based upon faith alone in Christ alone, utterly obliterates the Roman Catholic religion. Hence, assurance or eternal security is anathema to Rome.

Called to run the race, fight the fight and persevere!

Speckled throughout the New Testament are passages that warn the recipients of God’s Word that they must persevere or else end up perishing in hell. The apostolic letters written to various Christian communities are laced with warnings to run the race, keep the faith, examine your self and repent of sins. There are dire warnings about severing yourself from an interest in Christ, returning to the vomit from which you have been taken and re-crucifying the Son of God by willfully resisting His Gospel. If those who claim to be saved do not hold fast, if they do not persevere, if they do not overcome, if they go back to the world, if they deny the Lord then they will perish in Hell forever and ever.

Does all of this mean that a Christian can lose his or her salvation? This is the burning question. Roman Catholicism believes that the dire warnings coupled with the “if” and “then” propositions make any confidence in eternal security one big presumptuous sin!

However, a close look at the Bible does not generate such a conclusion. There are several reasons to believe that assurance is given by God along with the warning passages.

First and foremost we must understand that the New Testament is a series of letters and eyewitness accounts written for the benefit of those who have claimed Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior. However, no man can be certain of another man’s faith. Hence, all of the New Testament is written with an expectation of genuine faith but not the certain knowledge of valid faith. The apostles wrote to those who confessed faith in the Lord but could not be certain that each and every community consisted of true believers.

The early Church, much like today, was full of pretenders, charlatans and enthusiasts who claimed the Lord but were not really regenerate. On top of this were the counterfeit Christians who came to spy out Christian liberty or to report back to the State the strange activities of this new religion. The Body of Christ was beset with false teachers and religious zealots were embedded among true believers serving their own cause. Listen to the voice of Jude:

JUD 1:12 These men are those who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted; JUD 1:13 wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever.

The Word of God makes no secret that there is such a thing as a false faith or a scandalous faith. In light of the attrition and defection of many who seemingly had come to Christ, the Bible warns one and all to persevere. James writes in typical fashion in light of those who masqueraded as real Christians:

JAM 1:12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Jesus also warned of the defection that would occur within the visible assembly of confessing believers when the going got tough.

LUK 18:8 "I tell you that He will bring about justice for them speedily. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?"

Of course the Lord will find faith on the earth. God knows His own and His elect will be saved. The elect of God will persevere.

ROM 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. ROM 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; ROM 8:30 and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

The apostle Paul seemed to always wonder if the faith he had heard about was true, authentic and bearing fruit.

1TH 3:5 For this reason, when I could endure it no longer, I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor should be in vain.

Our point is that the New Testament was written to those who professed faith but the authors could not know if they really possessed faith! Hence, the common admonitions to stand firm and run the race and fight the good fight are laced throughout the New Testament.

Believing in vain!

Is there such a thing as “believing in vain”? The answer is yes. The Bible informs us that there are those who believe for reasons of their own. This is vain faith. The apostle Paul is very concerned that many may have believed in vain. James calls this kind of faith a dead faith. It is the faith of demons but not Christians. Nevertheless, initially both genuine and phony faith look the same. Only God given, persevering, fruit bearing faith will last. The Bible speaks of a vain faith that does not believe the Gospel and a vain faith that claims the right thing about the Gospel but betrays itself by failing to produce fruit and perseverance. Intellectual assent to series of propositions is not the same as true faith. The mind, emotions and will are parts of the whole of real faith. Authentic faith believes the right thing and does the right thing. The two are essential in order to have a real faith in the Gospel.

Means and Ends

There is a high mystery in attempting to understand the prayers of the saints. Does prayer change the mind of God? Does a failure to pray bring about an event that otherwise would not have come about? Does prayer move the hand of God? Is God dependent upon prayer to bring about His will? Why are some prayers answered with a “yes” and others with a “no”?

Christians have come to understand that prayer is a means to accomplish any number of ends. Prayer brings Christians close to God. Prayer relieves Christians of unbearable burdens. Prayer relinquishes our meager control of things to God’s all powerful providence and will. Prayer may be a suitable means to bring about an end already intended by God. Prayer may bring about secret changes in Christians that have nothing to do with the “yes” or “no” of the thing requested. All this is to say that the prayer of a Christian is a tool in the hands of an omnipotent sovereign God.

With this is mind it is easy to see that God chooses an infinite variety of causes to bring about an intended effect. One such cause is a warning. It appears that true believers take heed to God’s warnings about sloth and indolence. It appears that true believers are on occasion brought to their senses by a warning from God. It seems that warnings are a part of God’s ways and means to accomplish sanctification in His own people. True believers hear the warning and always repent and reflect upon their own unworthiness and are cast off of their horse of vain pride back to the cross of Christ. Whereas false Christians hear the warnings and are either offended or else bloated with a bogus sense of security. They rationalize their sinfulness rather than repent. By way of analogy, the same sun that melts the butter hardens the clay.

Examine yourself

The apostle Paul bids those confessing Christians at Corinth to examine themselves to see if they are really in the faith. They had been acting as if they were not really in the faith. Here is the Bible passage:

2CO 13:5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you-- unless indeed you fail the test? 2CO 13:6 But I trust that you will realize that we ourselves do not fail the test.

What test did Paul have in mind here? According to the Roman Catholic religion the apostle Paul must have had in mind faithful attendance to the sacramental system of Rome. Have you been going to Mass? Have you confessed your sins to a priest? Have you performed penance for the forgiveness of your sins? Have you done the kinds of things necessary to receive the grace of God?

Christians would deny that this is what the apostle Paul had in mind. What then did he have in mind? We would say that the apostle wants the Corinthians to apply the threefold test of Christianity to their lives. Have you really believed the Gospel of Jesus Christ that initially destroys a person’s confidence in his own righteousness only to give that person the eternal righteousness of Christ. In short, where is your humility? Second, where is the fruit promised by the Holy Spirit that displays God in you working for His good pleasure and exhibiting the good works that you were predestined to walk in? Thirdly, can you not hear the internal testimony of the Holy Spirit convincing and convicting you that you are a child of God?

In the context of 2 Corinthians there is little doubt that the apostle Paul wanted the Corinthians to test their deeds with the confession of their faith. But one cannot do this without an understanding of what they were supposed to have believed. At Corinth, we can see in microcosm the teachings of the entire New Testament. While it is true that those confessing Christ were in danger of “doing the wrong things” it is more important to realize that this stemmed from the greater danger of “believing the wrong things.”

First: the believing.

2CO 11:1 I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness; but indeed you are bearing with me. 2CO 11:2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. 2CO 11:3 But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. 2CO 11:4 For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.

Second: the doing.

2CO 12:20 For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there may be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances; 2CO 12:21 I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced.

The doing always stems from the believing. Hence, the warnings are clear and crisp in the Bible. If you do not believe the right thing then you will not do the right thing. In addition, we note that the apostle Paul never tries to drive those whom he may consider either disobedient Christians or false Christians back to the law or any man-made religious merit system for rehabilitation. Instead, he drives them to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul wishes to know if they are “in the faith.” This is precisely where we ask Roman Catholics to go. The Bible’s teaching on assurance is not shaken by the Lord’s warnings to those who profess faith but do not live out their faith. The promises of God for those in Christ are still yes and amen despite those “went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, in order that it might be shown that they all are not of us.” 1 John 2:19

2CO 1:19 For the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who was preached among you by us-- by me and Silvanus and Timothy-- was not yes and no, but is yes in Him. 2CO 1:20 For as many as may be the promises of God, in Him they are yes; wherefore also by Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us. 2CO 1:21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, 2CO 1:22 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge. Amen.

The Passages held up to deny assurance and eternal security

Here are some of the passages appealed to by Rome to convince her adherents that security is a myth or a Protestant invention.

2TI 2:11 It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him; 2TI 2:12 If we endure, we shall also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us;

Response: This is absolutely true. If anyone thinks that he or she can be a Christian while denying the Lord Jesus Christ and His Gospel is only fooling himself. However, the true Christian will not deny the Lord. This is not doublespeak. The Bible insists that there will be tares among the wheat. Apostasy only surprises us. It does not surprise the Lord.

ROM 11:22 Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God's kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.

Response: This is absolutely true. If anyone thinks that he or she can be a Christian while not continuing in the kindness of the Lord is only fooling himself. However, the true Christian will continue in His kindness. God keeps him!

ROM 11:2 God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? ROM 11:3 "Lord, they have killed Thy prophets, they have torn down Thine altars, and I alone am left, and they are seeking my life." ROM 11:4 But what is the divine response to him? "I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal." ROM 11:5 In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God's gracious choice.

MAT 18:32 "Then summoning him, his lord said to him, 'You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you entreated me. MAT 18:33 'Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, even as I had mercy on you?' MAT 18:34 "And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. MAT 18:35 "So shall My heavenly Father also do to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart."

Response: This is absolutely true. In the absence of a forgiving heart there is no reason to believe true Christianity is present. The exhortation to “walk as we have been called” does not diminish eternal security. Neither do commands given to Christians insinuate that the true Christian can “quit” Christianity. By no means can a true Christian “quit” Christianity. God will complete the work He has started in them. He will do so through the cause and effect means at His disposal that includes warning passages.

PHI 2:12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; PHI 2:13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

1CO 15:1 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 1CO 15:2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.

Response: It is absolutely certain that someone can believe in vain. See our section below on this concept. The Bible is more than clear that there is a man-driven faith that wants Jesus Christ on terms contrary to Scripture. This kind of faith ignores the “word preached” and sails off to distant shores away from heaven. Take for instance a certain man named Simon.

ACT 8:9 Now there was a certain man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city, and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great; ACT 8:10 and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, "This man is what is called the Great Power of God." ACT 8:11 And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts. ACT 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike. ACT 8:13 And even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip; and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed. ACT 8:14 Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, ACT 8:15 who came down and prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit. ACT 8:16 For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ACT 8:17 Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit. ACT 8:18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, ACT 8:19 saying, "Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." ACT 8:20 But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! ACT 8:21 "You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. ACT 8:22 "Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. ACT 8:23 "For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity."

2PE 2:20 For if after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 2PE 2:21 For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment delivered to them.

1CO 10:11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 1CO 10:12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

We would add Hebrews 6, Hebrews 10, I Corinthians 9 as well as Colossians 1 to the above list but we think you get the gist of things. There is one more passage that we should mention. In Romans chapter two the apostle seems to predicate eternal life on good works, merit and perseverance. We produce this favorite of Roman Catholic defenders as well.

ROM 2:5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, ROM 2:6 who will render to every man according to his deeds: ROM 2:7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; ROM 2:8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. ROM 2:9 There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, ROM 2:10 but glory and honor and peace to every man who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

We can summon warning passage after warning passage and never find common ground with Roman Catholicism. The quintessence of the matter is that we believe there are many who claim Christ but are not true believers. Rome sees those who do not persevere as true believers who can fall and be lost forever. We see this as impossible and view those who fail to persevere as apostate pretenders.

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Apologetic Zone