Hebrews And The Question of Whether Or Not Christians Can Lose Their Salvation Part One

                                                       

           

                                                                Introduction:

In twenty-first-century America, especially in the south, it is common to see many American Evangelicals feel absolutely assured of their place in heaven because of a past event from which they claim that they have accepted Christ as their Savior. The danger though, is that this assurance is not rooted in scripture. It is a false gospel that many have chosen to believe in. Tragically, many of them will hold to this false assurance...and it will lead them down to the gates of hell for eternity. 

Of course, many Christians of goodwill have differed over the topic of whether or not Christians can lose their salvation. The Calvinists and the Arminians were not the first to deal with the debates of predestination, a debate that went back to at least the fourth century. However, the sixteenth century did see many of the ideas that Evangelicals have about free will defined more systematically than they had been previously. While predestination was occasionally touched on in the Middle Ages, most of the medievals had far less interest in this than would later Roman Catholics, Protestants, and other Christians. 

 

                                                                Conflicting Views

Before we begin, we must know what is at stake. Some Christians believe that once a person trusts in Christ for their salvation, their salvation shall never be lost. Other Christians, however, think otherwise. Then there are those in fall somewhere in between. 

Among the most prominent groups in American Evangelism are the Calvinists and the Arminians. Those who profess adherence to Calvinism generally believe that salvation cannot be lost. Likewise, those who profess adherence to Armianism generally believe that salvation can be lost. Of course, this is all just a simplification of the two groups. 

While disagreeing over the question of eternal security, traditionally, many Calvinists and Arminians alike agreed that justification is by faith alone (Romans 3). They also agreed that salvation is actually a process. 

For instance, belief in Christ leads to salvation (Acts 16:31). However, baptism is also connected with salvation (1 Peter 3:21). Matthew 24:13 also teaches that those who persevere until the end shall be saved. While Ephesians 2:8-9 speaks of salvation by grace alone, it never implied (as some modern Evangelicals believe) that salvation ended after a moment of belief. As a whole, scripture confirms that we are being sanctified long after God has declared us righteous before Him. 

So while Calvinists and Arminians will often differ on this topic, it's important to keep in mind the areas that they agree. That said, I proceed to this discussion. In it I will be mostly addressing the debate between these two groups; a debate that goes way back. 

                                   Factions of Christianity that Differ over Predestination

First of all, it should be recognized that not all Christians have been either Calvinists or Arminians throughout history. For example, there have been many Thomists in the church. There have also been Augustinians. Likewise, there have been Molinists, Congruinists, Lutherans, Amyraldists, Wesleyans (a form of Arminian thought), and various other groups. Certainly, long before Calvin and Arminius, theologians were discussing opposing views on free will. Since the sixteenth century, many subsects of Arminians and Calvinists have developed over the internet. Let's look at just a few of them: 

Thomists, for instance, affirm unconditional election (unlike Arminians) but also believe that salvation can be lost (unlike Calvinists). Historically, this was a popular view before the Protestant Reformation. 

Amyraldists affirm four out of the five points of the TULIP. They agree with other Calvinists that salvation cannot be lost. 

Neither of the above groups fit the definition of a five-point Calvinist or a five-point Arminian. They aren't alone. Many such groups have existed throughout church history. 

                 Augustine of Hippo and Thomas Aquinas on Christians losing their Justification

Before we look at some of the passages that Calvinists use to justify their position, we must look at those who they claim held to their thoughts long before the Protestant Reformation. As will be shown, neither Augustine nor Aquinas believed that predestination was equivalent to justification. In fact, while they believed that some believers are predestined to eternal salvation, they also believed that some will lose that justification. 

Many Calvinists look to the writings of Augustine as proof texts for their views on eternal security. However, there are various problems with that. For one, Augustine taught that Christ died for Judas Iscariot*1 (something that many Calvinists abhor). However, the more significant point that I wish to address here is that Augustine was quite far from a ''once saved, always saved'' mentality. Contrary to Calvinist claims, he never recanted any of these positions in his Retractations. This was the same for Aquinas. Neither Augustine nor Aquinas believed that one can know in this life that they are among the predestined. Likewise, they both believed that some of the justified will lose their salvation. As their views are not the purpose of this post, I will quote them on this in a future post. 

Now that I have discussed some of the ways which distinguish both Augustine and Aquinas from Calvinism (especially twenty-first century Calvinism), I wish to return to scripture which is our final authority. I will make the case in this post that eternal security of all the justified was an unknown concept to the early Christians, and is likewise, unknown to New Testament Christianity. 

                                      Passages that the advocates of Eternal Security use 

While a dozen or so passages are brought up in the debate concerning whether or not Christians can lose their salvation, a handful of these passages need special attention. Most of the rest are less explicit on this debate. 

In general, the advocates of eternal security appeal primarily to Romans 8-9, John 10: 28, 1 John 5:13, and Romans 5:1 against the belief that justification can be lost. While entire posts should be dedicated to each of these passages, let me briefly discuss in this post why I do not believe any of them support the Calvinist position. Later, I will turn to Hebrews, my main proof text against eternal security for all those that have been justified. While other texts are used against the Calvinists' beliefs on this issue, this post will be primarily appealing to Hebrews. 

One of the main passages for many Calvinists concerning eternal security (and limited atonement for that matter) is Romans 9. To many of them, this passage reads everything that they believe concerning man's free will, human nature, and who will be saved. I, however, object to their interpretation of the ninth chapter in Romans for the following reasons: 

Many Calvinists, simply assume that when scripture talks about the predestined, they are the ones that scripture is talking about. Romans 9, however, never teaches that God withheld a salvific offer from some in creation; nor does it tell us much about anything concerning Calvinism. The context of the chapter is about God giving grace to Israel over other peoples. The election that the chapter addresses is about who was part of the old covenant, not about who can be saved and who cannot be. To say that Romans 9 is about God selecting only some people for salvation while the Creator simply disavowed the rest is to read into the chapter a concept that is foreign to the text. Interestingly, the understanding of Romans 9 among many Calvinists was largely unknown to most before the sixteenth century. Indeed, God's preference for Jacob over Esau has nothing to do with whether or not the atonement is unlimited (another topic for another time). It is simply a fantastical assertion to read Romans 9 into being about God offering salvation only to some. The context of Romans 9-11 is clearly about ethnic Israel, not God's Son experiencing limited atonement for the predestined saved. 

Now, to return to the question of this post: Can a Christian lose their salvation? The short answer is both yes and no. 

The answer is that yes, people can lose salvation if they are not part of God's predestined. Those that have been predestined before eternity will certainly persevere until the end (Matthew 24:13). The problem with modern Calvinism is not that Calvinists believe that some have been predestined for eternity and will never fall from grace. Rather, it is because many modern Calvinists see an equivalence between justification and predestination. They don't understand that according to scripture, some, who are not God's predestined will receive justification for a time, then later lose it. When this is explained to them, many of them point to Romans 8. 

For many modern evangelicals, Romans 8:30 proves that no person that shall ever lose justification. They see this passage as evidence that God will justify all those that he calls. While an interesting argument to make, the problem for most Calvinists is that the verse is grammatically only speaking of God's justifying and glorying those whom He has predestined. This passage says nothing about God guaranteeing eternal security to those who have received a past justification. Indeed, the passage begins with those believers who were called...then those who were predestined...then those justified. I see nothing in this passage that sees a universal connection between justification and predestination for all believers (though certainly for the predestined believers that it describes). 

Another passage that many Evangelicals use against the idea that one can lose their salvation is John 10:28. To them, this is a quick proof text that no one can ever lose their salvation. After all, Jesus said that no one will snatch His sheep from Him. Does this not confirm eternal security for all believers? 

The problem with John 10:28 for many Evangelicals is that Jesus never denounced any belief in the possibility of people losing salvation. In fact, our Lord did not address the topic at all. Jesus promises that no one will snatch His sheep from his hand, but He never promised that the sheep won't leave their master. In fact, scripture teaches that we can forsake Christ and face judgment for it (more on that later). God has given believers free will to decide whether or not they choose to continue receiving His grace (John 7:17). Furthermore, even if Jesus did mean that His sheep can't lose their salvation, the passage is unclear on whether or not He is talking about sheep that were justified or sheep that are predestined (a distinction that I addressed earlier). One of the most vital parts that I hope Calvinist readers will take away from this post, is that justification and predestination are not Biblically interchangeable. If they were, I would see no need for Paul to have used both terms in Romans 8--with predestination coming before justification. Likewise, as I will expound on in the second post, I believe that a strong Biblical case will be made that true believers can lose their salvation.  

Another passage that many Evangelicals use for eternal security is 1 John 5:13. Because the author was sure that those he was writing to would receive eternal life, many advocates of eternal security point to this passage. However, I find there to be problems with the use of 1 John 5:13 as a case for eternal security. 

Evangelicals often point to Romans 5:1 as evidence against one loading salvation. However, this passage speaks only speaks of us having peace with God on account of us being justified by faith alone. It says nothing about whether or not a person will ever lose justification. 

The fact that John believed that the believers who he was addressing were guaranteed eternal life says nothing about whether or not a true believer can retain justification. After all, John also had a divine revelation from God to write this letter about a first-century audience that would be eternally saved. This is hardly the same as an Evangelical in the modern world reading this passage to be about them (they are not John's chosen audience). The blessed apostle never promised that all Christians he knew or that would come to live after him would have eternal life. Those he wrote to in the letter, he felt assured of.         

                                         Further Problems with Calvinists' Interpretations 

Some Calvinists will respond with arguments like, ''If God can't keep our salvation, then he is a weak God'' and that ''we would all lose our salvation if we could.'' The main problem, however, is that these arguments are not based on scripture. To many Calvinists, the more wrathful God is, the more powerful He is. Contrary to their position though, scripture never portrays God as being lesser than His potential for loving sinners and wishing that none would perish (2 Peter 3:9). It is all an assertion on the part of many modern Calvinists, that the more forceful that God is over man's free will (including the ability to lose salvation) the greater He is. Once again, scripture lacks the narrative of God that some of the Hyper-Calvinists believe in. Rather, the fact that God gives us free will to reject His goodness and then pay hell for it bears witness to both the greatness and glory of our Creator. Furthermore, some of us actually lose our salvation but not all of us will as the Holy Spirit guarantees His Church to last forever (Matthew 16). 

Back to the question, the short answer is no, all those that God has predestined for salvation will never fall away. This is confirmed by Paul's writing in Ephesians 1. Although some nowadays treat predestination as merely a Calvinist novelty, the concept is strongly Biblical. God has determined that some will persevere until the Kingdom of Heaven. No one shall ever snatch them from His hands. 

In general, not a single theologian before the sixteenth century believed that a person can't lose their justification. Those who hold this belief render the views of those since the early church utterly devoid. While some advocates of eternal security claim that Paul the Apostle taught this doctrine, I have argued Biblically against this. Likewise, I do find it strange that literally not a single church father (especially before the fourth century) ever taught that a person will retain their justification forever. In fact, many of them said the opposite. The idea that Paul would have taught eternal security when so many of the writers of other early Christian documents did not seems far-fetched to me. 

Not all Calvinists are the same on this issue. For instance, many in the Federal Vision movement see a distinction between objective predestination and eternal predestination. To them, some will receive the benefits in the covenantal family for a time being. Interestingly, their views were not so far off from John Calvin's. 

Calvin was hardly as rigorous on this issue as was the later Westminster Standards. According to church historian Benjamin Charles Milner, Calvin did not believe that one can know in this life that they are among the predestined (and Milner's book shows quotes to prove this). Whether or not we are truly predestined, according to Calvin, our predestination is evidenced by both our repentance of sin and perseverance in the faith. Furthermore, John Calvin actually believed (contrary to many present-day Calvinists that God will eventually abandon those whom He called for a time*3

In contrast to those on both sides of the debate, some Christians remain neutral on this topic. For them, neither Hebrews nor Romans clearly answer the question of whether or not Christians can lose their salvation. They believe that it's best to leave it to God about who will persevere to heaven. 

                                   What would make a Christian Lose Their Salvation? 

For those who believe that some Christians will lose their salvation, there is great disagreement over what it would take for a person to lose it. For Lutherans and some Arminians, a Christian would lose the faith by dying in the unrepentant state of apostasy. For Roman Catholics, however, justification is lost through any mortal sin. As a result, Catholics must receive absolution from a priest to again receive a right to stand just before God. 

The problem with Catholicism on this particular point is that nothing in scripture teaches that our sins must receive absolution from a priest to be forgiven. Likewise, while scripture does teach some sins are of greater illness than others (Genesis 4:10, Genesis 18:20-21, James 5:4), nothing in scripture supports the idea that multiple sins (such as murder, hatred, sexual immorality, lust,) bring us outside of justification. They may certainly deter our walk with Christ or bear witness against our true right standing before God, but these sins do not in themselves bring a believer outside of justification. True Christians should not be known for lives of unrepentance (Matthew 7) and are probably unbelievers if they are. However, this does mean that a particular ''mortal sin'' (as the Catholic Church would call it) makes us automatically on the path to damnation. Additionally, the New Testament Church knew of believers confessing their sins to one another (James 5:16) but there is never a command in the New Testament to confess before an elder of one's sins (though it may be beneficial to do so). Just like everyone else, elders/priests are suspects of sin and have no more authority to forgive someone of their sins than does another layman. If priests are the only ones who can forgive sins, then salvation is dependent on a system of Apostolic Succession (which Rome believes). While more could be said on this topic, I hope to keep the focus on the original question. 

Scripture confirms only one sin that will never be forgiven. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is this sin (Mark 3:22-30, Matthew 12:22-32). But what is Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? For many theologians over the years, this has been a difficult question. However, for most scholars, it means dying in an unrepentant state. If we apply this principle specifically to a Christian, a Christian would have to walk away from Christ as an apostate (and die in that condition) to lose all justification. They would have to no longer trust in Christ as the person to save them from both their sins and eternal destruction (Matthew 1:21). To them, Christianity is dead, Christ's work at the Cross is meaningless, and the Ressurection means nothing. 

How do I know this? By appealing to the letter to the Hebrews. This is the primary book of the New Testament that I believe confirms that a believer's salvation can be lost. So far, I have only shown that the doctrine of eternal security for all the justified is not found in scripture. I have not yet had the opportunity to defend the Biblicity of the belief that some will lose their salvation. 

In conclusion to this first post, I have demonstrated that both the Catholic and Calvinist views are not found in scripture. That is not to say either one is theologically false; some believe that scripture does not answer this question for us. However, it does show, in my view, that their views cannot be drawn from Scripture alone (which Calvinists claim that their views are based on). It is in the letter to the Hebrews, that I believe a strong Biblical case will be made against the Calvinist position. Likewise, I hope to define the meaning of an apostate in the next post. 

1* The Extent of the Atonement by David Allen. 

*2 See Calvin's Doctrine of the Church by Benjamen Charles Milner, pp. 62-65. 

*3 Calvin, John. Institutes of the Christian Religion, CCEL, III:24.8