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Open Theism Discussion Board > Public Forums > Theological Q&A > (No Subject)
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Leah
Registered Member
Date Joined Jan 2003
Total Posts : 3
| Posted 1/21/2003 5:49 AM (GMT -6) |   | Hello, I am new to the board and had a question regrading slavation. I was wondering your take on if someone can lose thier salvation and if you think yes, how can they?
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a_theist
"Thy will be done."
Date Joined Dec 2002
Total Posts : 286
| Posted 1/22/2003 5:26 PM (GMT -6) | | I am sure Greg Boyd will see this post soon. I am typing in it to keep it an active topic.
Blessings
"The Creator's power (by which I mean the capacity to influence the world) is made manifest paradoxically in the vulnerable defenselessness of crucified man."
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GregBoyd
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 1818
| Posted 1/22/2003 5:49 PM (GMT -6) | | Hi Leah, welcome to the site.
As you probably know, Christians debate this topic alot. If you want a solid overview of the two basic positions, see Eddy and Boyd, Across the Spectrum (Baker, 2002). Personally, I think the issue is pretty irrelevant. I'll say six things about this issue, and then offer my opinion.
a) There are plenty of passages that can be most easily interpreted to teach that one CANNOT loose their salvation.
b) There are plenty of passages that can most easily be interpreted to teach that one CAN loose their salvation.
c) The passages that are included in "a" are intended to give assurance to believrers.
d) The passages included in "b" are intended to WARN believers about "falling away."
e) Up until fairly recently, both those who held to eternal security and those who denied it agreed that i) so long as one truly trusts in Christ, the security passages apply to them and they should feel assured that they're saved and ii) so long as one rejects Christ and shows no signs of life, the warning passages apply to them and they shouldn't feel assurance. Only in the last hundred and fifty years have we seen the creation of this very odd position sometimes referred to as "once saved always saved" -- the idea that you can live like the devil and have total assurance that you're saved because you asked Jesus into your heart at the age of 4!!!! Both Calvin and Arminius would roll over in their grave.
f) The real issue between Calvinists or Arminians was really on the definition of a "salvation" and/pr "Christian." IF someone who once believeed rejected Christ, Calvinists would say they never were "really" saved" or a "Christian" in the first place. If someone who once believed rejected Christs, Arminians would say we have every reason to think they were 'saved" and "were Christian." Its a disagreement of definitions, upon which little hangs. Both agreed that if you believe, you should have the assurance. If you don't, you shouldn't.
So: in the light of this, I conclude the following:
a) If you trust in Jesus and want to live for him, all the assurance passages apply to you. You should have total confidence that God hangs onto you as you hang onto him. He will never leave you or forsake you.
b) If you or anyone else rejects (as a matter of life commitment -- I'm not talking about a slip up) Christ in word and deed, the warning passages applies. A person can't have the assurance of salvation if they are in such a situation.
c) The debate between the two camps is simply over vocabulary, and is pretty useless. It only becomes relevant if a person who shows no signs of regenerate life claims to have assurance of salvation because of something they said with their mouth.
d) I personally reconcile the biblical teachings by suggesting that a person can grow to the point where GOD knows they CAN NEVER fall away for good, for their character has become solidified toward God. I DO think its at least theoretically possible to "divorce" God, but that the goal of the spiritual life should be to grow to the point where you would never want to.
In this sense, security in salvation and security in marriage are on a par.
Hope this helps Leah.
Blessings
Greg
"In Christ...the ONLY THING that matters is faith energized by love." Galatians 5:6 | | Back to Top | | |
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