[161] Paul gives a "climatic"[162] and "chilling warning"[163] to his readers in verse 12, "Therefore, the one who thinks that he stands must watch out lest he fall" (LEB). It refers to a true "spiritual downfall" (Moo, 851). The very fact that our passage uses the language of confessing and denying (/) suggests that it preserves a fixed traditional formula, a succinct summary of the faith, which one might be required to affirm publicly for membership in the community, or be asked to deny in the context of persecution. 6:17-18). 2. 5:6). This passage "serves as a clear warning if they fail to 'run' properly," and anticipates the warnings found in 10:1-22. "[528] If God has eternally and unconditionally elected (chosen) some men to eternal life, and if His Spirit irresistibly applies to them the benefits of salvation, then the inescapable conclusion is that these persons will be saved forever. Where, then, is
. No hint is given concerning whether the skandalon (stumbling block) of verse 7 is laid before the humble believers by an outsider or an insider. Any of these might overcome the believer and have the effect of taking ones crown. Thus saith the
And so here we come to 'the fruit of the Spirit' listed in 5:22, 23. V.
shine out of darkness, hath shined into our hearts,
believers at this day have the very same persuasion, termed in
While the term "backsliding" is often used, they mean far more than a believer merely experiencing a time of weakness or falling into . 21:8 places" the cowardly and the unfaithful "in the lake of fire, it has in view Christians during times of persecution who, out of a fear of suffering, renounce their faith"[500] and become "apostates" (i.e., unbelievers)[501] Since "John's audience is Christians under pressure and threat of persecution, cowardice and faithlessness to the Lord, either spiritually or ethically," must be condemned in the strongest possible manner. (by faith,) he shalllive forever." him" -namely, to the end-he "will raise up at
by the power of God through faith unto salvation." That he hereby incurred a sorer punishment than death,
Oropeza, Ibid., 38. Presumably both possibilities are in view; a vulnerable Christian can be drawn away by a non-Christian or driven away by a fellow believer. This verb is analogous to katecho in 3:6, 14; 10:23, where the readers are admonished to "hold fast to their confession of faith, without which the goal of salvation cannot be reached" (Lane, 1991, 37). not a passive, careless slipping away from faith. 91.9; 4 Ezra 7.38; 2 Bar. [115], Some argue "that the unfaithful servant of verses 45, 46 was never a true disciple. The same type of logic is used frequently throughout the Fourth Gospel to show that the Jewish claim of faithfulness to God is disproved by rejection of Jesus, Gods Son. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. 2 Peter 2:1922). "shall live by faith,"even now shall
18:6-9]. 2:4; so also Oosterzee). Paul does not describe how the temple is destroyed, but it is undoubtedly relates in some way to their boastful arrogance, their eagerness to appraise others, and their competitive partisanshipall the things that divide Christ Paul allows the readers to imagine that their petty jealousies (3:3), boasting (1:29; 3:21; 4:7), arrogance (4:6, 18, 19), and quarrels (1:11; 3:3) might qualify for this bleak judgment. "[307] The danger of apostasy is also understood as ignoring the "great salvation" spoken through the Son. "I am the vine, ye are the branches;"
"16 Here it will suffice to reiterate briefly what was argued above in Chapter 4: the confession of 2 John 7, like that of 1 John 4:2, has as its focus the messiahship of Jesus who has come "into the world," or come "in flesh," as these passages put it. Eternal Security: The Wesleyan View To understand Wesley and the doctrines and theology that bear his name, one must keep in mind that in all things, John Wesley is a practical theologian. (B) Endurance: Matthew 10:22; Luke 9:62; Colossians 1:23; Revelation 2:1011; 3:35. never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand." These infiltrators are devoid of the Spirit and are trying to cause a division in the church by their teaching. "The just"-the justified persons-
"[376], It was customary to end such a letter with a summary (James 5:711), an oath (James 5:12), a health wish (James 5:1318) and a purpose statement (James 5:1920). 1. 9:26). These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. those who are endued with the faith that purifies the heart,
believe; but the devil is the father of them that believe
"[289] The hymn begins with: "if we died with him (Christ), we will also live with him (2:11b). The opposite of falling short is perseverance in the life of faith and obedience until final entrance into God's rest (cf. [These] "little ones" are believers who are in danger of being "scandalized," that is, fall away from Christ (skandaliz is so used in 13:21; 24:10). [495] Unfaithful [Greek: apistos] "is the opposite of faith [Greek: pistos], which includes loyalty to God and Christ (Rev 2:10; 17:14). "they were enlightened,") that they may receive forgiveness
Now,we will have a debate in our Theology class.Now, I have an idea to oppose the Calvinists. By this clear, indisputable declaration of our Lord, we may interpret
And I doubt not but many
"Thus, the reader is warned here that distorting God's message in these prophecies is tantamount to apostasy, and the person guilty of it will become an apostate unbeliever in God's eyes" (Osborne, Ibid., 797). [222] "To indulge in these works is to commit vices and live in a manner incompatible with the leading of God's Spirit (5:16-18, 22-25). As repentance and faith are the human conditions of acceptance of God's free offer of salvation, so faith manifested by obedience is necessary to continuance in that salvation (Hebrews 5:9; 1 John 2:4)" (Faith and Practice 2018, 30). [382] This encouragement to moral effort is not surprising since the false teachers in 2 Peter are false precisely because they are not making any effort to live morally, and are setting "a wrong moral example" that encourages Christians to follow in their footsteps. May not every man see that the covenant here spoken of relates
Our author has in mind a burning judgment and picture of final destruction akin with early apocalyptic traditions (Isa 66:16, 24; Zeph 1:18; 1 En. Eternal security is the doctrine of unconditional eternal salvation as an irrevocable gift from God through Christ as Savior. Verse 24, I answer, 1. does not prove that every believer all persevere, any more than
James gives us plenty of illustrations of this in the letter. I answer, the apostle makes no supposition at all. Jesus is thus the ultimate exemplar of faithfulness as well as the object of faith for the runners. Non-Christians have nothing to persevere toward or apostatize from. May God save us from accepting a doctrine, that must be defended by such fallacious reasoning! ~ John Wesley. gift of the Holy Ghost," (Acts 2:38,) whereby
Esau was a sensual man rather than a spiritual manentirely earthly-minded rather than heavenly-mindedwho traded away "his inheritance rights as the oldest son" (12:16b) for the momentary gratification of his physical senses. . "[394] "Peter warns" that these false teachers "will lure those who are still weak in faith back into sin. From 2:23 it is clear that this claim is disputed; the author must argue for it. The following Christian denominations affirm their belief in the possibility of apostasy in either their articles or statements of faith, or by way of a position paper. 3:2, 6), but the author of Hebrews was deeply concerned that the community of Hebrew Christians he is addressing, who had experienced the deliverance of the cross, were now in danger of hardening their hearts and of perishing because of unbelief . The possibility of Timothy and others disowning the faith is real. these are forces [i.e., teachings] that destroy one's faith and can lead to apostasy. his own." "[199] Paul passionately declares that if anyone (including himself) was to preach to others this different gospel, "let them be under God's curse!" be holy, so are the branches." 2:7; Titus 1:2; 3:7). Altogether they illustrate one of John's primary motivational strategies: hearers should strive to overcome in order to gain final salvation. PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS By Rev. [O]ne is not acting in love if his exercise of liberty influences a weak brother to follow his example and thus fall into sin by violating his own conscience. speaking in the person of Israel,) saying, I have loved thee
"[485] "Through unfaithfulness this crown, which includes the blessing of everlasting life, is lost,"[486] and one is excluded from entering the kingdom of God[487] along with all the rest who are "unfaithful" (Rev. John 15:1-6; and that "if any man draws back," it proves that he never had anything to draw back from. While John is able to speak about eternal life as a present possession of the believer (John 3:1516, 36; 5:24; 6:47, 54), this life anticipates the final day with the righteous will be raised (John 6:40, 54). all the other fruits of the Spirit. "[441] However, if they allow themselves to be seduced by the allurements of the world, they will "fall away from this faith, [and] they will go lost [eternally]. Satan unto God, (here contracted into that one expression,
If he were to live a life of self-indulgence, he would endanger not only the salvation of others, but also his own. "[337] In both passages "the audience is warned against committing apostasy and falling into eschatological [i.e., future and final] ruin. [142], The 'wicked' will not inherit the kingdom of God." 89:30-35. Jesus is the author of eternal salvation having first established the kingdom of a spiritual type on earth fulfilling two covenants, namely the Davidic Covenant, and the New Covenant. [101] Lutheran scholar Dale Bruner says: Jesus is not talking about two kinds of servants in our parable one faithful, another unfaithful. "[320] "The wilderness generation came all the way to the border of the Promised Land but 'fell short' of entrance through refusal to trust God. 6:27). [489] Since "cowardly" is the opposite of the "conqueror,"[490] Christians must "decide whether to be a 'conqueror' (21:7) or a 'coward' (21:8)" and share in each of their corresponding destines. 3. I have sworn once by my holiness, that I will not
no ifin the original. God is viewed as a consuming fire, a thought that alludes to his judgment against enemies and those who violate his covenant (cf. '"[74] Methodist scholar Ben Witherington would add: "The New Testament suggests that one is not eternally secure until one is securely in eternity. It is easy to imagine that in a situation where normal Jewish synagogues were not outwardly or visibly differentiated from Jewish-Christian synagogues or , 2 Johns Jewish-Christian audience might not hesitate to welcome an esteemed scribe or rabbi who was able to teach the Scriptures but did not hold to Jesus messiahship. '"[448] Thus, Christians are "in the process of conquering"[449] and will receive the promises only if they "carry out the process to its completion. 1:6). "[541], "Any claim to security by virtue of the great salvation we have in Christ without regard to the need for continuing in faith is totally mistaken and possibly tragic in its results. On this subject we cannot do better than give the following treatise by the Rev. For. Oropeza, Ibid., 29. [513] "Clearly, failure to keep the prophecy disqualifies one from the eternal life that awaits in New Jerusalem. declaration and the other. "[439] A believer cannot love the world and love God the Father at the same time. "But does not God say to every on that lives by faith, 'I
(NET, ESV, CSB), "To the one who is victorious ." [416] "Like a dog that comes back to lick up the spoiled vomit that sickened him in the first place, like a sow that gets a bath and goes back to the mud from which she had been cleansed, these apostates return to the enslaving, polluting wickedness from which they had been delivered.
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