Scripture quotations are cited from the translation by J. N. Darby unless otherwise indicated.
Not every one who says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but he that does the will of my Father who is in the heavens. Many shall say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied through thy name, and through thy name cast out demons, and through thy name done many works of power? and than I will avow unto them, I never knew you. Depart from me, workers of lawlessness.
Who are these self-styled “miracle” workers? They profess to know the Lord. “Lord, Lord,” they say.
They thus claim consideration from Him. We have done all these things in Thy name, they claim. With what solemn and final words He answers: “I NEVER KNEW YOU. Depart from me, workers of lawlessness.” What a shock this will be for these wonder workers. How could He say I NEVER KNEW YOU if these are persons who were once saved and then lost again?
Concerning His sheep, Christ says, I KNOW THEM. If you say that Matt. 7:21-2321Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:21‑23) refers to Lost again Christians, then you are guilty of treating the Lord as a Liar when He said to them I NEVER KNEW YOU. Those ‘miracle’ workers never were the Lord’s sheep. They professed to know Him but it was not real. Beware! These people are disguised as ‘Christians’, they claim to work miracles, but Christ does not know them though they call Him “Lord, Lord”. But they are workers of lawlessness; i.e., they work their own will. Judas is the great and terrible example of a person like this. No one suspected him right up to the last; except that our Lord, of course, knew his true character all along (John 6:64-7164But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. 65And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 66From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. 70Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? 71He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve. (John 6:64‑71)). He was chosen to be one of the 12 to serve afterward as an example of how far false profession can deceive others.
SINCE YE SEEK A PROOF OF CHRIST SPEAKING IN ME, (who is not weak towards you, but is powerful among you, for if indeed he has been crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power; for indeed we are weak in him, but we shall Live with him by God’s power towards you,) EXAMINE YOUR OWN SELVES IF YE BE IN THE FAITH; prove your own selves: do ye not recognize yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you, unless indeed ye be reprobates?
I have changed the type style so that you can see at a glance how you have been misled into thinking this Scripture supports the ‘lost again’ notion. The fleshly Corinthians were foolishly raising questions about Paul’s apostleship. Do you want the evidence of Christ speaking in me?, he wrote. Since I came to Corinth and preached Christ to you, see if you are Christians and that will be proof enough, unless you are reprobates. A reprobate is a person rejected by God. Those people noticed in Matthew 7:21-2321Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:21‑23) will find their ultimate portion with the reprobates, i.e., the rejected. The Corinthian Christians were not, of course, reprobates. Nor is the passage discussing being saved or lost; the subject is their foolish questioning of Paul’s apostleship and that their being saved was proof of Christ speaking in the Apostle. You will note that part of verse 3 and all of verse 4 is parenthetical (a parenthesis). This makes it clearer.
But does not Hebrews 6 show the possibility of a Christian becoming Lost again? I will quote it from the KJV so it has the best appearance in favor of your notion.
FOR IT IS IMPOSSIBLE for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, IF THEY SHALL FALL AWAY, TO RENEW THEM AGAIN UNTO REPENTANCE....
I have changed the type style so that you may see the consequence of your doctrine more readily. If this is speaking of being lost again after having been saved, note well those words: FOR IT IS IMPOSSIBLE... IF THEY FALL AWAY, TO RENEW THEM AGAIN TO REPENTANCE. It would mean that one cannot be saved again. With such consequence of your doctrine, perhaps you would be willing to see that this passage concerns apostates. An apostate never was saved. Apostasy is looked at here as apostasy from the Spirit’s presence and action among the people of God, whereas in Ch. 10 it is looked at as apostasy from the blood. No true Christian apostatizes. He is “kept guarded by (the) power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in (the) Last time” (1 Peter 1:55Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:5)), and God gave that faith in the first place (Eph. 2:88For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8)).
These “ifs” are meant to test false profession. “See brethren, lest there be in any one of you a wicked heart of unbelief, in turning away from (the) living God” (Hebrews 3:1212Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. (Hebrews 3:12)). That is what apostasy in Hebrews 612That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (Hebrews 6:12) and 10 is about also. A real Christian does not have a wicked heart of unbelief. Those that apostatize do have a wicked heart of unbelief.
We are companions of Christ if we you a say, as my suppose that three years from now you ‘let go’ and do not hold fast. Read Heb. 3:6,146But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. (Hebrews 3:6)
14For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; (Hebrews 3:14) carefully. This tells you that if you ‘let go’ in the future, then you are not a companion of Christ right now. You can only be so right now if you hold fast to the end. You can only be saved now if you never ‘let go’ in the future. These passages expressly state that your present connection with Christ depends on what you do in the future. Thus, if you ‘let go’ three years from now you are not Christ’s right now.
You have been wrongly taught the bearing of these passages. In fact, they teach eternal security, while warning those who have a wicked heart of unbelief and make a profession. These passages show that if I am Christ’s right now, I will hold fast to the end—but, of course, not by human strength. We are in the hand of the Son and the Father (John 10:28,2928And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. (John 10:28‑29)). In fact, in divine purpose the saved are glorified already. Romans 8:3030Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (Romans 8:30) tells us so. We are kept by the power of God (1 Peter 1:55Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:5)).
Know ye not that they who run in (the) race-course run all, but one receives the prize? Thus run in order that ye may obtain. But every one that contends (for a prize] is temperate in all things: they then indeed that they may receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. I therefore thus run, as not uncertainly; so I combat, as not beating the air. But I buffet my body, and lead it captive, lest (after) having preached to others I should be myself rejected.
The essential message of the passage is that holy living must go with a profession of Christianity and that even Paul was no exception to this. A man might be a preacher and be a castaway, i.e. rejected. Judas was such a person.
“Castaway”, or rejected, in Greek is the same word translated reprobate (Romans 1:2828And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; (Romans 1:28); 2 Corinthians 13:5,6,7; 25Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 6But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates. 7Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates. (2 Corinthians 13:5‑7)
7So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. (2 Corinthians 2:7) Timothy 3:8; Titus 1:1616They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. (Titus 1:16)) and rejected (Hebrews 6:88But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. (Hebrews 6:8)). It comes from a root meaning a counterfeit. A counterfeit does not become one. It always was one. Such was Judas. And such are some modern preachers and their pupils. Even “miracle” workers are castaways (Matthew 7:21-2321Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:21‑23)). They are Like the man in Matthew 22:11-1411And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 13Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 14For many are called, but few are chosen. (Matthew 22:11‑14) who had no wedding garment; or like the evil servant in Matthew 24:4848But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; (Matthew 24:48). Foolish virgins are they, having no oil (Matthew 25:33They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: (Matthew 25:3)).
It is said that even Paul was uncertain. False. In this very passage he said, “I therefore thus run, as not uncertainly...” (1 Corinthians 9:2626I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: (1 Corinthians 9:26)). But he states that even so, holy living goes with salvation and he, Paul, is no exception.
The Parables
There are a number of parables that differentiate between the true and the false. The wheat in the parable of the wheat and the tares (darnel) in Matt. 13 represents believers while the tares are the children of the wicked one (Matt. 13:3838The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; (Matthew 13:38)). The tares never were wheat.
The servant of Matt. 24:4848But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; (Matthew 24:48) was an evil man whose portion was appointed with the hypocrites, since that is what he was. A hypocrite is a false professor like those noted in Matt. 7:21-2321Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:21‑23).
The same is true of the five foolish virgins. “Virgins” is a term indicating their profession just as in the case of the wise.
All professed Christ is Lord. The great distinguishing fact is that the foolish “did not take oil with them.” They never had oil. They never were saved. They were not ready, nor ever were ready, for the Lord’s coming. They may have lighted their wicks (torches) but they were not fed with oil. It was profession only, not divine testimony; and so they were shut out.
The same end awaited the man who received one talent (Matt. 25:14-3014For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. 19After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 24Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 25:14‑30)). He was a servant, but in profession only, Like those in Matt. 7:21-2321Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:21‑23). He also called Christ “Lord”. But the secret of the heart will come out and it did so when he referred to his Lord as a “hard man” (v.24). His talent represents a responsibility in connection with his profession of owning Christ as Lord, but as you can see nothing resulted from it when all was said and done. He was an unprofitable servant like those in Matt. 7:21-2321Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:21‑23) and like Judas, and his proper portion is in the outer darkness. Christendom has many such people in it. Their profession but makes them all the more responsible before God and they will be judged accordingly. Meanwhile, praise God, His saints are kept by His power unto salvation ready to be revealed!
Free to Sin?
Well, you may say, I admit that these considerations seem to point to eternal security, but if people believe that, they will be free to sin. Friend, someone who claims to love the Lord Jesus, and claims to be free to sin is like those people in Matthew 7:21-2321Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:21‑23) saying “Lord, Lord”. They are not real. Your notion that fear of being Lost again is a good motive to live a holy life is unscriptural and not borne out by the facts. Titus 2:11-1211For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (Titus 2:11‑12) says:
For the grace of God which carries with it salvation for all men has appeared, teaching us that, having denied impiety and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, and justly, and piously in the present course of things.
You see from this that it is grace (not fear) that teaches us. In Romans 6, Paul has directly dealt a blow expressly against your notion. “What then shall we say? Should we continue in sin that grace may abound?” (Romans 6:11What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? (Romans 6:1)); i.e., being eternally secure, may we go on sinning and all the more grace will abound to get us through? Not so, says the apostle; and Romans 61What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? (Romans 6:1) shows the falsity of this notion. Friend, do you know where the thought came from that would seek to take advantage of God’s grace? It arose in you from the carnal mind (Romans 8:77Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (Romans 8:7)). Persons that would take advantage of God’s grace are noticed in Jude: they turn the grace of God into Lasciviousness (Jude 1:44For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. (Jude 4)). They “crept in” to the Christian profession. They do not “walk in the light”. They are typified by creeping things which are an abomination unto the Lord (Leviticus 11:4141And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth shall be an abomination; it shall not be eaten. (Leviticus 11:41)). Jude shows the judgment of such. No, friend, grace teaches us to turn from ungodliness and worldly lusts to live soberly, righteously and godly. If you think otherwise, you are grievously out of step with God and His Word.
Denial of Eternal Security Usually
Leads to Dividing & Defiling the
Person of Christ.
1. It is said that while Christ could not have sinned as God, yet He could have sinned as man. In effect, such a doctrine divides the Person of Christ, for had He sinned His humanity would have to go to hell and thus the Person of Christ would be split. That would be a denial of the fundamental truth of the union of the human and divine nature, indissolubly, in one Person. The other alternative would be that the God-man would go to hell. Neither alternative is the truth, neither is possible, and the assertion of either alternative is fundamentally evil doctrine.
2. When our Lord emptied Himself (Phil. 2:77But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (Philippians 2:7)), He veiled Godhead glory in flesh. As man on earth it could be said of Him that all the fullness of the Godhead dwelled in Him bodily (Col. 2:99For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (Colossians 2:9)). The evil doctrine that our Lord could have sinned also means that He in Whom all the fullness dwelled could have gone to hell. Such teaching does not come from the Scripture of Truth or from the Spirit of Truth.
3. The temptations of our Lord were for the purpose of putting the pure gold, so to speak, to the acid test; not to show that it was not gold, but to demonstrate that it was. The evil doctrine suggests that “that holy thing” (Luke 1:3535And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:35)) had within Himself a tug to have fellowship with the evil suggestions from Satan. In reality, such a tug is evil in itself and thus is the Holy One Who knew no sin (2 Cor. 5:2121For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)) defiled.
The blasphemy proceeds and claims that the infirmities of Heb.4:15 are our sinful tendencies and Christ sympathizes with us in this. How defiling of His Person it is to say He sympathizes with our sinful tendencies because He felt the same. Paul said that he gloried in his infirmities (2 Cor. 12:99And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)), and it is rather obvious that he did not glory in sinful tendencies. Compare 1 Tim. 5:2323Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities. (1 Timothy 5:23), etc. Infirmities are weaknesses.
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If we would believe God’s Word we would be delivered from these doctrines; and then, overcome by the magnitude of His grace, we would want to be here for His pleasure, as the Lord Jesus was here for God’s pleasure; and present our bodies to Him as a living sacrifice (Rom. 12:11I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (Romans 12:1)), being taught by grace to turn from the wrong and learn what pleases Him.
Made and printed in USA
1980