I'm just saying that from a Lutheran point of view; the fear of whether one is elect is the main reason why calvinists are more sanctification (works based); it is relevant in general. Now if you can explain to me how Demas was not elect even though he appears Colossians 4 and Philemon and throughout obviously supported Paul; thought that he himself was elect the whole time; how exactly was he never saved? I don't interpret 1 John 2:19 that way. There is no word "elect" there. Hebrews 6 also looks like one could fall away (not sure if it was mentioned). If there is no risk of falling away, then why preach on it in Hebrews 6 then? I don't get it.
The doctrine of election seems to be misunderstood by most. We know from Rom 9:11 that God's choice, or election, always has a purpose. "for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that
God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls"
Also, Scripture describes at least 6 different "categories" of the elect:
1. Election of Christ: an individual election
1 Pet 2:6 Isa 28:16 Isa 42:1 Luke 9:35 Luke 23:35
2. Election of Angels: a group or corporate election
1 Tim 5:21
3. Election of Israel: a group or corporate election
Amos 3:2 Deut 7:6 Acts 13:17
4. Election of believers: a group or corporate election
Eph 1:4
a [note: this verse doesn’t say that God chose who would be believers, but that He chose believers…to be holy and blameless]
5. 1 Peter 2:9
The Election of the 12 Disciples: a group or corporate election John 6:70 (including Judas)
The Election of Paul: an individual election
Acts 9:15
Notice that none of these categories of election were chosen for salvation.
Eph 1:4 tells us who the elect are: believers, from Eph 1:19 - and what is the surpassing greatness of His power
toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might
So, let's plug in "us who believe" into Eph 1:4 - just as He chose
us who believe in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love
It seems many think Eph 1:4 God choosing who will believe, it's quite the opposite. It's believers who He has chosen.
The phrase "falling away" doesn't refer to loss of salvation, but rather, leaving the practice and/or belief of the Christian life. The reason one cannot fall away as in losing salvation is because Jesus told us that those who believe are held by the Father, not the other way around.
John 10:28-29 - 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. 30“I and the Father are one.”