Before we look at some of these problematic Scriptures that seem to suggest that a person could lose his or her salvation, we would first mention four main causes for the faulty interpretations. In almost every case, one of these four things is at the bottom of the misunderstanding.
1) The Need For Understanding the Context
The first cause for the faulty interpretations on this subject is that they are often taken out of context. Perhaps the greatest principle required for correct Bible interpretation is context. When buying a house, the realtor tells us that the three most important rules in making a purchase of lasting value are, #1) location, #2) location, #3) location. Similarly, in Bible interpretation the three most important principles are, #1) context, #2) context, #3) context.
Not only do we want to understand the context of the passage under consideration, but we want to be sure that the interpretation also coincides with the rest of Scripture. The old adage, “We must interpret Scripture in the light of all other Scripture,” is important to keep in mind when we look at this subject. The Apostle Peter said, “The scope of no prophecy of Scripture is had from its own interpretation” (2 Peter 1:2020Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. (2 Peter 1:20) – J. N. Darby Trans.). In the footnote of the Darby Translation, he says that the passage could almost be translated, “No prophecy explains itself.” In a sense, it takes the whole Bible to explain any one passage in it. It’s true that Peter was referring to the understanding of prophecy, but the principle he lays down is very broad and applies to all lines of truth in the Bible.
Sad to say, the verses that are brought forward to deny the eternal security of the believer are not only isolated from the context of the passage wherein they are found, but they also do not have the support of the general tenor of the rest of Scripture. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that we prayerfully and carefully read each passage in its context to make sure that we are “rightly dividing the Word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:1515Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)).
2) The Christian Audience is Often a Mixed Multitude
The second reason for faulty interpretations on this subject is not realizing that the writer’s audience is a mixed multitude of real believers and merely professing believers. It should be no surprise to us that the Christian profession would have a mixture, for the Lord indicated it in many of His parables. He said that there would be “tares among the wheat” (Matt. 13:2525But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. (Matthew 13:25), etc.).
For example, in writing to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul allowed for the possibility of there being mere professing Christians among them. In the first chapter he said, “All that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours” (1 Cor. 1:22Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: (1 Corinthians 1:2)). In the second chapter, he alludes to this possibility again when he speaks of three classes of people. He refers to the “natural man,” who doesn’t have the Spirit of God and is not saved (1 Cor. 2:1414But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14)), the “spiritual” man, who is saved and has the Spirit governing him (1 Cor. 2:1515But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. (1 Corinthians 2:15)), and the “carnal” man (1 Cor. 3:11And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:1)) who is saved and has the Spirit, but lives after the flesh. Again, in the third chapter, the Apostle distinguishes between three kinds of workers in the house of God by using the words, “If any man ... ” The first is a Christian who serves well and builds according to the will of God. He says, “He shall receive a reward.” The second worker is a Christian who doesn’t serve according to the will of God. He says that he will “suffer loss” of his reward, but quickly adds that he himself would be “saved; yet so as by fire.” Then, in the case of the third worker, the Apostle refers to a sham believer who professes to be a Christian and carries on in the place of a Christian servant, but is not real—the presence of such persons in the temple of God “defile [corrupt]” it. He says, “Him shall God destroy” (Compare Matt. 25:3030And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 25:30)).
3) The Difference Between Backsliding and Apostasy
The third reason for the faulty interpretations on this subject is due to not knowing the difference between a backslider and an apostate. Throughout the epistles, the writers refer to two kinds of departures from God: one is backsliding, and the other is apostasy. Both are bad, but one is infinitely worse. If the reader confuses the two, he will surely get into difficulty on this subject.
Backsliding happens when a believer gets out of communion with the Lord, and gets away from the sense of His presence, and into a course of sin. He doesn’t lose his soul’s salvation from the eternal penalty of his sins, nor does he really get out of the Lord’s presence, because the Lord never leaves nor forsakes His people (Heb. 13:55Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Hebrews 13:5)). But he loses the sense of the Lord’s presence, and may feel very far away from the Lord in his soul. It all starts when a believer allows sin in his life, and doesn’t judge it. It is often some small sin left unjudged, and as a result his communion is interrupted, and thus, a course of backsliding follows.
Apostasy is a different kind of departure from God. It is the renouncing of a confession that one has once made, and the abandoning of the Christian faith. It is something that only a mere professor (one who never was saved) could do. For such a person there is no recovery! (Heb. 6:4-8; 10:26-314For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. 7For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: 8But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. (Hebrews 6:4‑8)
26For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:26‑31)) These two kinds of departures are illustrated in Matthew 2626And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 27And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. 30And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. 31Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. (Matthew 26:26‑31) in two of the Lord’s apostles—Peter and Judas. Peter backslid and was restored through the faithfulness of God (Luke 24:3434Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. (Luke 24:34); John 21:15-1915So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 18Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. 19This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. (John 21:15‑19)). Judas apostatized and ended up lost in eternity (Psa. 109:77When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin. (Psalm 109:7); Acts 1:2525That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. (Acts 1:25)).
A person who backslides is called to return to the Lord (Jer. 3:1212Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger for ever. (Jeremiah 3:12)); a person who apostatizes is not called to return, because there is no return! The Bible says, “The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead” (Prov. 21:1616The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead. (Proverbs 21:16)). It is “impossible” to “renew them again unto repentance” (Heb. 6:66If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. (Hebrews 6:6)). After Peter departed, he turned back to the Lord; Judas departed, but he never turned to the Lord. With one there was repentance (Luke 22:61-6261And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. 62And Peter went out, and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:61‑62)); with the other there was only remorse (Matt. 27:33Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, (Matthew 27:3) – J. N. Darby Trans.).
Occasionally, we’ll hear someone speak of a backslidden Christian as having fallen away. We don’t want to make anyone “an offender for a word” (Isa. 29:2121That make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought. (Isaiah 29:21)), but “falling away,” in. Scripture, refers to apostasy (Heb. 6:66If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. (Hebrews 6:6); 2 Thess. 2:33Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; (2 Thessalonians 2:3)), not to backsliding. Peter shows that while a Christian cannot be an apostate, he can be swept “along with” the current of apostasy, and give up certain doctrines and practices. “Ye therefore beloved, knowing these things before, take care lest, being led away along with the error of the wicked” (2 Peter 3:1717Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. (2 Peter 3:17) – J. N. Darby Trans.). The “wicked,” in this verse, refers to the apostates described earlier in the epistle. Peter warns the saints that if they didn’t “take care,” they could get swept along with the current of the apostates’ error. It wouldn’t make them apostates, but they would be backslidden. Peter knew what he was talking about when he said this; he was speaking from experience. He got off into bad company, and was led “along with” their evil ways. Then, when he was challenged about his relationship with the Lord Jesus, he denied Him. While a Christian can never “fall away,” he can “fall” from his steadfastness of devotion to the Lord (2 Peter 3:1717Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. (2 Peter 3:17)), and from the principles of grace (Gal. 5:44Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. (Galatians 5:4)).
A Christian has two links with God. One is his link of relationship; there is nothing that could be stronger. No man, or devil, or sin can break that relationship, for he is eternally secure in it. If we know the Lord as our Saviour, we are in a position before God as being “in Christ.” No condemnation can ever be attached to those in that place (Rom. 8:11There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1)). It’s the very place of acceptance that Christ Himself is in before God. Simply put, to be “in Christ” is to be in Christ’s place before God. All the favour of God that rests on Christ, as He now is on high in the glory, rests on the believer! The other link the Christian has with God is the link of communion; there is nothing that could be more fragile. Our link of communion with the Lord can be broken by the smallest sin. And then, if it is not judged and confessed to the Lord, a course of backsliding begins—even if, at first, it is a very small departure.
It is important to understand the difference between these two things when considering our subject because some of the warnings in the New Testament are to those (being mere professors) who were in danger of apostatizing. If we confuse these warnings with exhortations to believers, we will get into bad doctrine. Now some might ask, “How do you know that real Christians can’t apostatize?” Because Scripture allows for true believers to be restored if they fail, but Scripture does not teach that an apostate can be restored. When apostates depart from God, it is “impossible” to “renew them again unto repentance” (Heb. 6:66If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. (Hebrews 6:6)).
4) Pre-conceived Notions
A fourth reason for faulty interpretations on Scriptural subjects is pre-conceived, erroneous ideas, hindering a person's understanding. Three great things have contributed to the ruin of the Church’s testimony. They all begin with the letter “I”—ignorance, indifference, and insubjection. The greatest of these, we believe, is ignorance. It was the same problem in Israel. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hos. 4:66My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. (Hosea 4:6); Prov. 19:22Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth. (Proverbs 19:2)).
Some of the mistaken ideas on doctrine that people have are a product of the environment in which they live in today’s Christian world. Unfortunately, conventional Christian theology is not very Scripturally accurate on some doctrinal terms. If a person has imbibed some of these mistaken ideas that have come to be accepted as truth, and then tries to understand certain statements in Scripture concerning the security of a believer, we can well understand why he or she might be confused. With all the different teachings in evangelical Christendom today, we can hardly fault someone for honestly being mixed up. There will be a need, on the part of some, of unlearning some things. As we proceed, we hope to unravel some of these false notions, and thus, clear up the confusion on the subject.
In each of the passages that we are about to look at, it will be seen that one or more of the above four things are at the bottom of the misunderstanding.