Hebrews and The Question on Whether or not a Person can Lose Their Salvation Part Two

 

                                                               

                                                                        Introduction:

In the previous post, I explained that justification and predestination were historically seen as two distinct theological terms. I hope to elaborate more on this concept here. Likewise, I hope to continue showing verses used for eternal security by its advocates and my responses to them. 

In general, any theological topic can be debated in multiple essays, if not volumes of books, or perhaps, even forever. I hope all that I write about here is simply an illumination of what I believe constitutes the historic orthodox of Christianity as pertains to the doctrine of eternal security. 

                                   Further Biblical Arguments Used For Eternal Security 

To many of those who hold to Calvinism, they see the following passages as supporting their theological position: 

Ephesians 1:13-14

1 Peter 1: 5

Ephesians 4:30

Other passages used for eternal security, I addressed in the previous post. I may continue to respond to other passages still. However, for now, let us discuss the passages mentioned in this post. 

The Case of 1 Peter 1:1-5: in this passage, the prince of the apostles speaks of the believers that he writing to that they have been given an eternal inheritance of salvation. While Peter is certain of the perseverance of those he is addressing, however, he never claims that the same is true for believers outside of his given audience. Furthermore, it is unclear to me in this passage whether or not Peter believes that the justified are guaranteed eternal life, or merely, those that have been predestined (I see a sharp distinction between the two). Either way, I don't believe that this passage supports the modern concepts of justification taught among Calvinists and other eternal security advocates. 

Although Paul the Apostle refers to the believers in Ephesians 4:30 as ''sealed'', I see no evidence that this passage backs the claim that all those who have received justification are guaranteed eternal perseverance. Indeed, we must never forsake who the letter is directly addressing, namely, the church of Ephesus. Like the case of 1 Peter 1:1-5, why do Calvinists assume that they have the same benefits as these letters' given audiences? Does everything said to the apostles by Christ, or by the apostles to the churches of the first century, apply directly to them? If I can see so much as one passage where any of the New Testament writers guarantee eternal justification not just for themselves or their contemporaries, but also, for all Christians outside of their chosen audiences, then I would accept the Calvinist view of justification. However, I see no reason so far to believe the Calvinist notion of eternal security is rooted in the scriptures. 

As I explained in the previous post, Paul feels assured in Romans 8 that the predestined will be eternally justified. However, he nowhere claims that all who have been justified are among the predestined. 

I do not believe that either 1 Peter 1:1-5 or Ephesians 4:30 backs the Calvinist concept of eternal security. However, what about Ephesians 1:1-30? 

Like the above passages, Paul nowhere confirms eternal justification for all those who have been justified in his letter to the Ephesians. In Ephesians 1:1-13, Paul does claim that the Ephesus believers are sealed. But does Paul mean that other believers outside of Ephesus have been given eternal security? If so, where does he make such a claim in scripture? I see such a burden on the Calvinists to show scriptural support for their belief in this regard. 

However, for the sake of argument, does ''sealed'' in Ephesians 1:1-13 and Ephesians 4:30 support eternal security. I do not believe so. 

Ephesians 1:1-13 may seem to guarantee eternal life to the Calvinists. This is because they assume that they are the ones sealed in the letter (which I have argued against). Nevertheless, even if modern Calvinists were included among the ''sealed'' of Paul's first letter, they have good reasons to be terrified that they may lose salvation if they walk away from Christ. This is confirmed in Ephesians 4. 

While promising assurance to those in Christ in Ephesians 1, Paul takes a different direction in Ephesians 4. The latter seems to confirm that the believers of Ephesus could have been unsealed by their possible apostasy from the faith. Throughout the fourth chapter, Paul warns the believers of the consequences of turning away from the faith (17-20). Later, he even warns them about not grieving the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). I believe that Ephesians 4:30 bears witness to the fact that the Ephesus believers were fully capable of losing their salvation, and Paul was aware of this. By referencing the grieving of the Holy Spirit, the apostle was echoing back Jesus' words that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit cannot be forgiven (Mark 3:28-30). Paul is actually demonstrating that the worst of sins, unrepentance and walking away from Christ, is possible for even Christians and that they will lose eternal life if they die in this estate. 

I can see why Paul's warning in Ephesians 4:30 will make many uncomfortable. It would be far earlier to believe that one is guaranteed to go to heaven regardless of whether or not one attends church, reads the Bible, prays, etc. For many, their eternal security rests on one moment of their past when they supposedly accepted Christ as their Savior. Tragically, for many of these people, their false assurance will lead them to hell for eternity. 

Elsewhere, Paul warns believers about them potentially losing their salvation in Romans 2:3-11. In this passage, the author warns that those who persevere in good works as well as in the faith (6-7) will receive eternal life. Furthermore, Paul warns the church of the Romans (verse 4) that they are bringing judgment on themselves by their sins. 

Another reason to believe that the ''sealed'' of Ephesians does not guarantee all those who have been justified eternal persevere, is found in the context of both Exodus and Revelation. These two books provide clear evidence against ''once saved, always saved.''

In Revelation 3:5, we are assured that those who ''overcome'' will not be blotted out of the book of Life. The passage, in my view, implies that some will be blotted out. For many Calvinists, the blotting was for no one who was ever saved. However, is this was scripture teaches? 

As we refer back to Exodus 32:33, I believe that we will see a strong argument against the Calvinist case of eternal security. First of all, the passage is speaking in the context of God's chosen people, the Israelites, not a heathen land, which is important to keep in mind. Second, many of the Hebrews in this passage have turned their worship to another god than to the true One. Third, God actually has their names blotted out for so doing, which I strongly believe implies their loss of salvation. If these people were simply non-elect and they could never have been saved, then why did God wait to blot them out once they began worshiping the golden calf? Certainly, God has the authority to do whatever He wishes, whenever He wishes, but His judgment upon the Israelites, as a result of their disobedience, I believer provides a clear case of believers who lost their salvation through apostasy. These Hebrews had not simply broken a law or loved something more than God (all of which is consequential) but publicly denounced their own faith by turning to another God-truly fulfilling the prerequisite requirements of being an official apostate. 

I have still not gotten to the Epistle to the Hebrews. So far, I have made Biblical cases against the Calvinists' beliefs in eternal security based on other texts outside of this letter. Now, I wish to continue with the case of Hebrews, which in my view, provides one of the most sobering arguments for the potential loss of salvation.