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By Roger A. Scully, Jr.
Since obedience to God is man’s responsibility (cf. Ac 2:40; Phil 2:12), it logically follows that if
he fails to continue to submit to God’s will, then by his own will he has rejected God and forfeited the
hope he once had (cf. Titus 1:2). This is so because salvation is only extended to those who obey God
(Heb 5:8, 9), hence those who fail to obey God are lost. Despite this fact, however, there is a strong
denominational teaching known as Perseverance of the Saints, otherwise called Once Saved Always
Saved. This Calvinistic teaching says that the saved can never be lost because God is immutable
(unchanging). One writer has even said that the church of Christ teaches God to be an “Indian Giver”.
Since there are millions of adherents to this doctrine, it has become worthy of our time and
consideration.
In the first place, God is not an “Indian Giver,” man is a forfeiter. Should a person purchase a car
through the bank, then he is in a contract with the bank to pay a certain amount each month back to the
bank in order to possess, and in order to continue to possess, the car. Now, the ownership of the car
is, in reality, that of the bank, not the person purchasing the car. Thus, the person’s ownership is only
his in hope, until the final payment(s) is made. Now, should he break his contract by ceasing his
payments, the car will be taken by the bank—the rightful owner. Is the bank an “Indian Giver”? Most
certainly not, the person purchasing the car has forfeited his right to the car when he breached his
contract. So it is with salvation.
The Bible teaches that man is saved “by grace through faith” (Eph 2:8), when he complies with
God’s terms of salvation (Heb 5:9). These terms include believing Jesus to be the Son of God (Jn 8:
24), repenting of past sins (Ac 17:30), confessing faith in Christ (Rom 10:10) and being baptized in
water (Ac 2:38). Once these things are done the person who has complied has entered into a covenant
relationship with God, a covenant that has conditions (1 Cor 15:58). Thus, the Bible says that man has
the “hope of eternal life” (Titus 1:2). Romans 8:24 explains that “hope that is seen is not hope; for what
a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?” In other words: If I actually have something in my hand, then I
do not need to hope I have it, for I see it—I have it. Salvation is in hope—not reality. The reality will be
the day in which the kingdom is handed to the Father (1 Cor 15:24). Until then we are saved by hope,
thus the ever-present possibility of forfeit. For this cause Paul wrote, “If by any means I may attain unto
the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained…but I follow after, if that I may
apprehend…I count not myself to have apprehended…reaching forth unto those things which are
before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:11-14).
Paul realized that should he fail to remain faithful to God, then he would forfeit the hope of eternal life.
Indeed God is immutable (unchanging). Malachi 3:6 says, “For I am the Lord, I change not,” and 1
Corinthians 1:9 says, “God is faithful.” So, if a person can be saved by God, then considered as lost by
God, is God really immutable? We say yes! This is why: God will absolutely save the righteous (those
who obey Him) and will absolutely condemn the wicked (those who refuse to submit to His will). Now,
once a person becomes righteous, by rendering obedience to God, God saves him. However, should
that person cease to be righteous, then he has returned to a state of wickedness, and will be
condemned by God. Who has changed? Has God changed? No, for God will always save the
righteous and will always condemn the wicked (cf. Nah 1:3; 2 Pet 2:9). Has man changed? Yes, thus
God remains immutable. Just read Jonah 2:10.
Let us now note some specific passages which teach man’s salvation as conditional. The first to
which we call attention is Colossians 1:21 and 23, which says, “yet now hath he reconciled…if ye
continue in the faith…and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel…” Notice carefully that those
under consideration were once “alienated and enemies” (v.21), yet have been “reconciled.” However,
their reconciliation was dependant on them “continue(ing) in the faith” and being “not moved away from
the hope of the gospel.” The force of this admonition is seen in the word “if.” “If” is translated from word
eige, which is a condition of the first class (Robertson’s Word Pictures). Thus remaining reconciled to
God is conditional.
The second set of Scripture to which we call attention is James 5:16-20. James, we know, was
writing to Christians, for he uses the term “brethren” fifteen times in the book. In the text to which we call
attention he wrote, “confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.
The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much…brethren, if any of you do err from the
truth, and one convert him; let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way
shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” Does this not clearly teach the
possibility of apostasy? Indeed, it does. “But wait”, says the denominationalist, “a person who truly falls
away was never truly saved to begin.” Notice these terms: “err from the truth” (Jms 5:19), “fallen from
grace” Gal 5:4), “so soon removed” (Gal 1:6). In order for one to “err from,” “fall(en) from,” and be
“remove(ed)” from, they have to first be there, for it is impossible to remove from a place where a
person has never been. I cannot get out of my chair if I was never seated in my chair to start.
Let us now look to 2 Peter 2:20-22. Here we read of some “escaping the pollutions of the world.”
These are then described as being “again entangled therein and overcome.” They are again entangled
because they left it, but have returned to it. Peter illustrates their condition with this proverb: “the dog is
turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.” The dog was
cleansed of that which made him sick by vomiting it out of his system, yet returned again to that which
made him sick to start. The sow was cleansed by being removed from the filth and washed, yet has
gone back to being filthy. This illustrates the Christians who has been cleansed from the sickening filth
of the world, but who has returned to it again, “the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.”
There is an even an example of such taking place in Scripture. In Acts 8:5 we are told, “Philip
went to Samaria and preached Christ unto them,” obeying the command to “go into all the world and
preach the gospel to every creature” (Mrk 16:15). In verse 12 it is recorded that the people to whom he
preached “believed” and “were baptized,” thus being saved, “he that believeth and is baptized shall be
saved” (Mrk 16:16). Verse 13 says that “Simon himself believed also,” and “he was baptized.”
Because the gift of the Spirit could only be given by the laying on of the apostles hands Peter and John
went to Samaria to impart spiritual gifts (vs.14-18). “When Simon saw that through the laying on of the
apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money” (v.18). This, we learn from Peter’s
response, was sin (v.20). Peter then called on Simon to “repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and
pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the
gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity” (vs.22, 23). Now, no doubt he was saved, for he had
complied with God’s terms of salvation. Yet now, because of his iniquity, he is lost. Thus we have an
actual biblical example of one falling away. (One should also read Revelation 2:4, 5, 14-16, 20-23; 3:3,
15-19).
- Sin is a transgression of the law (1 Jn 3:4). Even the Christian can, and often does, sin (1 Jn 1:8-
10). The wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23). The only conclusion that can be logically drawn is that when
a Christian sins he is worthy of death, unless he repents.
Roger A. Scully, Jr.
