Session 5 - Eternal Security and Free Will Few topics are as heavily debated as these two topics among different protestant denominations In this session we will look at the different positions that are held, and looking at the different Biblical reasons why they hold them. We will be emphasizing the positions held by FWC in this presentation but do not consider these issues to divide over

Positions on Eternal Security This position says it’s possible to loose your salvation by your own doing. Nothing is able to take it from you, but if you are a Christian, and decide to turn your back on God and reject him, you don’t continue to be saved (even though you once were) Limited Eternal Security We will come back to this position (that we hold) after looking at two others

Once Saved Always Saved This position says that that once you become a Christians (at the point of salvation) you will always be saved no matter what you do from that point on If someone “falls away” from the faith (and rejects God and turns on him) they are still saved from that point onward, they have a some verses they use to support this (we won’t be able to look at them all)

John 10:27-30: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 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. I and the Father are one.” They argue that people are not able to snatch themselves out either

Romans 8:38-39: “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Another Commonly Quotes Verse If nothing can separate you from God, they would again include yourself in that

This view emphasizes that works is not what saves us, and works cannot be what keeps us saved If we are saved by Grace alone, why would we be able to loose that salvation by doing bad works (or the lack of doing good works?)

Perseverance of the Saints This position on eternal security is similar to once saved always saved, but has one big difference of interpretation If you appear to “fall away” and turn on God, that means you were never saved to begin with (those who are truly saved will persevere until the end) Some verses they use

Mark 13:13: “And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” 1 John 2:3-4 "By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;"

Matthew 7:21-23: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”

According to scripture, there are many people who think they are saved, and who call themselves Christians, but are not If someone “falls away” from the faith, they were one of these people who were not saved to begin with Keep in mind, despite our difference of opinion on the issue at hand, we do believe that not everyone who claims to be a Christian is actually a follower of Christ

Is it possible to loose Salvation? The Biblical Case We take the stance that nothing in Creation is able to take our Salvation from us (except ourselves) Believers have the option to turn on God, and don’t remain saved if they do that There are several verses that are cited as evidence for this interpretation

The Book of Life Revelation 20:15: “And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” Revelation 3:5: ”The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.” Believers are in the book of life

Revelation 22:19: “and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.” If your name can be in the book of life, and then blotted out at a later time, doesn’t that mean you can lose your salvation? If you have a share in the tree of life, wouldn’t you have to be saved?

Things Children of God Can Do 1. Fall from grace - Gal. 5:1-4,13 2. Err from the truth - James 5:19-20 James 5:19-20: “My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”

4. Weak brother may perish - 1 Cor. 8:11 5. Fall into condemnation - James 5:12 6. Be moved away from the hope - Col. 1: Be led away with error - 2 Pet. 3:17 7. Deny the Lord who bought them - 2 Pet. 2:1

8. Depart from the living God - Heb. 3:12 Hebrews 3:12: “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.” 9. Can be a castaway - 1 Cor. 9:27 1 Corinthians 9:27: “But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

One last passage we will look at comes from the seven letters of Revelation Revelation 3:14-22: 14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation. 15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth...

17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent…

20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’” What happens to this church (and the others) if they don’t turn from their way?

We do realize that every position that we covered has many more “proof” verses for their position and interpretation We don’t have time to cover every argument out there, we can only scratch the surface The same will be the case with the following topic that we look at The next topic is probably the most debated topic in Christian theology

Free Will vs. Predestination There are two main positions (although many minor positions) when dealing with this question of Free Will vs. Predestination This debate goes beyond Christian theology, and is the subject of much debate and discussion in secular philosophy circles, with existentialism vs. determinism Both positions have been around (in the church) for a very long time

The typical predestination view says that mankind was created (Adam and Eve) with Free Will, but because of our sin (being dead in sin) we are not able to do anything good on our own (including Salvation) and unless God first calls us and predestines us, we will remain in our sins They believe that anyone that God does call, will believe and because only some people believe, only some people are called (or predestined)

They don’t all believe that Christians are robots in the sense that we make them out to be, although they do emphasize God’s sovereign power over all things We need to be careful when we explain and address the belief of predestination, many Christians in favor of free will paint a false picture of what they believe They believe once you’re saved and regenerated, you do have a will

These five points form the TULIP: Total Depravity Unconditional Election Limited Atonement Irresistible Grace Perseverance of the Saints These are the five points to Calvinism, and represent the theology of Predestination Calvinism is usually summarized in five points

Bible verses to support the five points: Total Depravity Colossians 2:13: “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,” Rom.6:20: “For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.”

Unconditional Election 2 Thessalonians 2:13: "...God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth." Matthew 24:31: “And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

Romans 8:28-30: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”

Limited Atonement 1. Christ's death is set forth in scripture as that which ACTUALLY accomplished salvation, not that which merely made salvation possible. The argument for this point goes something like this: 2. Jesus Christ was sent into the world to save the people whom the Father had given Him.

John 6:35-37: “Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” 3. Jesus was sent into the world to save the people whom the Father had given Him.

4. Christ's saving work was intended to save a particular group of people. Matthew 1:21: “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” John 10:15: “just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.” The sheep would be the ones who follow the shepherd, not those who don’t

Irresistible Grace John 6:44: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:37: “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” Every one whom the Father has chosen and for whom Christ died, will certainly experience the application of that salvation by the Holy Spirit.

Perseverance of the Saints We’ve already discussed this view, so we will not recap it Remember, there are more verses that are used to support this view than what we had time to bring up Not everyone who believe in predestination believes in all five points of the TULIP, but the full version (5-Point Calvinist) would

The other position says that man has Free Will and is able to respond to the gospel and make the decision himself This position emphasizes that the atonement and sacrifice of Christ was for everyone, and can be applied to anyone who believes in Christ This view stresses God’s foreknowledge in Salvation (which some views deny)

The Asminianism view and Free Will says that God wants all to be saved, and doesn’t predestine only certain people 2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 1 Tim 2:4: “who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

The Gospel message is to the whole world, how can it be limited? John 16:8: “And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:” John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” The most famous verse in the Bible:

Judgment and hell only make sense if God gives us free will to reject Him Why would God send people to hell who never had the ability to accept Him? I Bible says over and over that people have choices that they have to make God calls on people to obey, choose, and believe in him (John. 15:10; Joshua. 24:15; John. 3:18).

God tests his people, which implies our ability to pass or fail Genesis 22:1: “After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” James 1:12: “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”

The debate on eternal security and if you can lose your salvation would also play a role in the question of free will If you can lose your salvation, the idea of predestination doesn’t make sense There is much more that could be said on this theological debate, and your study should not stop here (but the class must)

2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” Memory Verse