I went to a Bible college that was heavily Calvinist. Everything they taught seemed to be structured around a vital doctrine: predestination. With their view on predestination, they have to believe mankind does not have free will, they have to believe in once saved always saved, and they have to believe in limited atonement. But there was a major hole I saw in their theology: God's foreknowledge. Those whom God foreknew, He predestined. This is where I find harmony with mankind having free will, Jesus dying for the whole world, Christians who fall away and lose Salvation, and predestination. God knows already, and He knew from the very beginning.
Even lawyers can make mistakes (John Calvin). With that being said, this is what I see in Scripture:
Is Salvation unconditional?
- “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” - John 3:17-18
First, we can be confident that God did not send Christ into the world to condemn the world, just like it is pointed out in John.
- “This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” - 1 Timothy 2:3-4
From 1 Timothy, we see that indeed, God didn’t send Christ into the world to condemn the world, but rather to save the world. God desires all to be saved. The verse doesn't read, "For God so loved the saints..." No, God so loved the world. Whoever said limited atonement? Surely not the Bible.
Going back to John, we start to realize that there is a condition. That condition is entirely rested upon faith in Christ. If we believe in Christ, we are not condemned, and if we do not believe in Christ, we stand condemned already. This is the sole condition that we see Salvation is offered in Scripture.
So if we can see there is a condition with the offering of the free gift of Salvation and we know the condition of which Salvation is offered, we should ask ourselves, is it possible to lose faith? There are several verses in Scripture we can look at to prove that, yes, we can fall away from faith resulting in a loss of Salvation.
- “And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.” - Colossians 1:21-23
Examining this passage, we can clearly see that Paul is undoubtedly speaking of a Christian. You were once alienated and hostile in mind (fun fact: repentance in the Greek is defined as a change in mind), he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death (sounds very much so like a Christian). All this in order that he may be presented holy and blameless (definitely Christian). But once again we see the condition: if they continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the Gospel.
- “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.” - Hebrews 3:12-14
Here we see it again, brothers are being addressed. They are warned to take care lest there be an evil, unbelieving heart, leading them to fall away from the living God. They are encouraged to exhort one another so that they may not become hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Again, we can be confident the author is addressing Christians because he acknowledges they are on track to share in Christ. But here comes the kicker, but this time we see the author now including himself and not just referring to the audience: if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.
We have now seen the condition for Salvation and we have seen the encouragement that as long as we hold onto faith in Christ, we can be sure God will deliver His promise of Salvation.
Now we should look at Paul, who several times emphasizes keeping the faith, and what he says closer to his death.
- “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” - 2 Timothy 4:6-8
Paul states he has fought the good fight, he has finished the race, and he has kept the faith. Paul even states that henceforth, there is a crown of righteousness laid up for him which will be awarded to him on that day. Very harmonious with the previous verses shared.
Coming to faith in Christ is not the whole story, but rather the beginning. We must fight, we must finish, and we must keep faith.
- “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie-behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.’” - Revelation 3:8-11
In this letter from the Lord to the church in Philadelphia, we see harmony with which Paul has just spoken in 2 Timothy. They have kept His word about patient endurance and have not denied His name. Still they are encouraged to hold fast to what they have, this way no one may seize their crown.
We can continue with a list of verses from Scripture that constantly emphasize keeping the faith and enduring to the end.
- “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” - Matthew 24:9-14
We see from here that Jesus warns us that many will fall away. We can see from this passage the circumstances that lead to such a falling. Jesus also gives His promise as done all throughout the entire Bible, the one who endures until the end will be saved. Yet again, the condition.
- “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you-unless you believed in vain.” - 1 Corinthians 15:1-2
Again, Christians are being addressed. They are reminded of the Gospel in which they stand, the Gospel by which they are being saved if they hold fast to the word Paul has preached to them. If not, their belief was in vain, as in their belief was for nothing.
- “But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” - Hebrews 10:32-36
Even more, these are brothers in Christ being addressed. After they were enlightened they endured suffering. They knew that they themselves had a better possession and an abiding one. Yet they are still reminded to not throw away their confidence which has a great reward. They still must endure so that when they do the will of God they may receive what is promised.
- “Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.” - 2 John 1:8
Yet another warning to watch themselves, so that they do not lose what they have worked for but will win a full reward.
It cannot be emphasized enough how we must endure and fight. There is a race we must run and we must run this race until the end and we can be assured, God will deliver His promise of Salvation. So now that we know we ought to fight, we must prepare ourselves for the fight, equipping the armor of God.
- “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.” - Ephesians 6:11-20
Our fight is with the devil, and he wants to rip faith right out of us. He wants to show us the pleasures of the world, a “heaven on earth” so to speak. We must fight against rulers, authorities, cosmic powers, and spiritual forces. God is indeed for us and has given us armor to do so. We need to obey Him and follow His lead, His word. And in fighting, we must realize that there are others out there who are in need of saving. If God desires all to be saved, we ought to as well.
For some this may seem very scary, but we should be encouraged by truth.
- “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” - Romans 8:31
God desires all to come to faith in Christ. God will indeed help us. We must fight and He will help us fight. Furthermore...
- “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 8:38-39
We must stand in faith lest we fall. And always remember, God’s love remains in Christ Jesus our Lord and nothing is going to change that. This love is offered and was sent to the whole world.
- "I will go before you and level the exalted places, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron...” - Isaiah 45:2
