Impossibility of Apostasy C G Colly Caldwell Security

Impossibility of Apostasy C. G. “Colly” Caldwell

Security of Believers l Some of our friends believe that because the Bible teaches believers have security, that means: – The child of God cannot so sin as to be lost – Once one is in grace, he is always in grace – Once one is saved, he is always saved – This is what is meant by the “Impossibility of Apostasy. ”

Claims A child of God cannot sin. l God keeps us from sin by his power alone. l The inner man (spirit) is born of God and cannot sin; while the outer man (body) will not be redeemed until the judgment day and therefore does sin. l The child of God has eternal life and cannot lose it. l

Basic Fallacy to begin with: l l "Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated 1? 18 "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 "These are things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man. " (Matt. 15: 17 -20; NKJ) 17

l Apostasy” is the abandonment of one’s religious faith. – Two parties to consider: God and me! – Our concern: What the Bible says about the “Possibility of Apostasy”

First, “Security of Believers in Christ” – the Lord’s Part – John 10: 28 -29 – • 27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. 30 "I and My Father are one. " (John 10: 27 -30)

– The condition: verse 27 – • 27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

Second, Eternal Life is in Christ – Only God innately possesses “Eternal Life” – Eternal life is the life of God, • Life with God • Spiritual life

– Eternal life is ours as a gift… we are only allowed to share in it in Christ • Romans 6: 23 – – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 6: 23 NKJ) • Without Christ it is not eternal. • Not a right, not earned

– Thus, Eternal Life is basically a “quality” of life. • Only a “quantity” as we continue to share in it. – Condition of maintaining eternal life is therefore our living union with Christ (continual and conditional).

• John 14: 6 – – Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (Joh 14: 6 NKJ) • John 11: 25 -26 – Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 "And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this? " (Joh 11: 25 NKJ)

• Hebrews 3: 6, 14 – – But Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end. (Heb 3: 6 NKJ)… – For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, (Heb 3: 14 NKJ)

Third, Premises of “Calvinism” – Systematic Theology: • God is Sovereign: therefore everything results from the “will” of God. • God is All Powerful and Omniscient: therefore God must cause all things.

Third, Premises of “Calvinism” – Systematic Theology: • God is Sovereign: therefore everything results from the “will” of God. • God is All Powerful and Omniscient: therefore God must cause all things. – Premises fail to take into account SIN

The Five Points of Calvinism l TOTAL HEREDITARY DEPRAVITY l UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION l LIMITED ATONEMENT l IRRESISTIBLE GRACE l PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS

Fourth, What does the Bible say?

Some Jesus Passages – Luke 8: 11 -15 (v. 13) – – "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 "Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. 13 "But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. 14 "Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 15 "But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

• John 15: 4 -6 – "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 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 (John 15: 4 NKJ)

Jesus’ Parables of Apostasy l Jesus was constantly warning his disciples: l Vine and Branches (John 15: 1 -6) l Talents (Matt. 25: 14 -30) l Virgins (Matt. 25: 1 -13) l Unfaithful Servant (Luke 12: 45 -47)

Pauline Passages • 1 Corinthians 9 – 24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 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. (1 Cor. 9: 24 -27 NKJ)

• 1 Corinthians 15: 1 -2 – 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, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you -- unless you believed in vain (1 Cor. 15: 1 NKJ)

• 1 Timothy 4: 1, 16 – – Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, (1 Tim. 4: 1 NKJ)… – Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. (1 Tim. 4: 16 NKJ)

• 2 Timothy 2: 12 – If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. (2 Ti 2: 12 NKJ)

Johannine Passages • 1 John 2: 24 -25 – Therefore 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. 25 And this is the promise that He has promised us-- eternal life. (1 John 2: 24 NKJ)

• 1 John 5: 11 -13 – 11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life 1, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5: 1 NKJ)

Fifth, Can we sin? (1 John 3: 49) l Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. 5 But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. 6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. 7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who does what is sinful is of the devil because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. 9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. (1 John 3: 4 -9, NIV)

l “Cannot” does not always mean “impossible” – “You cannot kill another human being” – “You cannot leave him, ” because of who you are and what God says about your marriage. – This means that sin is forbidden and thus totally inconsistent with being a Christian. l The present indicative verb implies continuous involvement in sin.

l Explanation: Our interpretation must be consistent with all other Bible teaching and with the grammar of the text itself.

John very clear that Christians can sin! l 1 John 1: 8 If we claim to be without sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. l 2: 1 My dear children. I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense -- Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

Sixth: Biblical example - Married Love – In marriage, God joins for life… • Lasting… • Never to be separated… Permanent • Security for both the husband the wife… • Once married, always married (so long as both live)! You are her man! She is your woman!

– That was how God saw it with Israel. Things God said to Israel just like those said to the church: • Israel had security because of God’s commitment. – He would defeat all their enemies – He would protect them like sheep • God would give them life and their having life depended on their setting their hearts on His word… CONDITIONAL… If so, he would not leave!

–Deut 32: 46 -47 - He said to them: "Set your hearts on all the words which I testify among you today, which you shall command your children to be careful to observe-- all the words of this law. 47 "For it is not a futile thing for you, because it is your life, and by this word you shall prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess. " (Deu 32: 46 NKJ)

–Deut 31: 6 "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you. " (Deu 31: 6 NKJ)

• Now look at how Paul sees the church in the gospel age: 2 Cor. 11: 2 -3 – – For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity 1 that is in Christ.

l But, there was an exception to the permanency of the promise: FORNICATION! • God would put them away for going to another!

–Ezek 16: 38 - I will judge you as women who break wedlock or shed blood are judged; I will bring blood upon you in fury and jealousy. (Eze 16: 38 NKJ) –Ezek 23: 25 - I will set My jealousy against you, And they shall deal furiously with you; They shall remove your nose and your ears, And your remnant shall fall by the sword; They shall take your sons and your daughters, And your remnant shall be devoured by fire. (Eze 23: 25 NKJ)

7 th: We cannot do it alone, but it is not by “God alone” either Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, (1 Pet. 1: 3 -9; NKJ)

– 1 Corinthians 10: 12 -13 – Israel 1 million examples of God’s people falling. • Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (1 Co 10: 12 NKJ)

– Col. 1: 23 • And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight-- 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister. (Col 1: 21 NKJ)

Conditional “IF” Requires Us to Remain with God will remain with us and use His power to keep us, IF WE DO NOT WALK AWAY FROM HIM! We will not be tempted above that which we are able to bear (1 Cor. 10: 13) l Being kept by God’s power is conditional “through faith” (1 Pet. 1: 5) l Jesus keeps His sheep (John 10: 28 -29), but his sheep must follow Him (vs. 27) l

Some Absolute Truths l Apostate’s state worse than the first (2 Pet. 2: 20 -21) l Impossibility of renewing some again to repentance (Heb. 6: 4 -6) l One’s name can be blotted out of God’s book of life (Rev. 3: 5; Ex. 32: 33; Rev. 20: 14 -15)