Eternal Security: Can Salvation be Lost?

                 I have been speaking with a host of people recently on the teaching of eternal security. I have a varying view of the topic; but since I am prone to attack when I speak, I am writing this blog post to explain my stance.

                To start with there are two main schools of thought on this matter: The Calvinist and the Arminian. Both views agree that God is powerful and faithful, willing to keep his promises. They also agree that salvation is neither attained nor retained by human works. Both also insist that the believer can indeed know that he or she currently possesses salvation.

                The differences between the two are significant. The Calvinist view states “They whom God has accepted in His Beloved, effectually called and sanctified by His Spirit can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace; but shall certainly persevere therein to the end and be eternally saved.

                There are numerous Biblical teachings serve independently support the doctrine. Including 1 Peter 1:3-5 and Romans 8:31-39.

                While the position detailed in the Sententia Remonstrantium presented to the Synod of Dort is in many ways quite moderate, insisting only that falling away is possible, later statements of the Arminian position are more emphatic. This is also backed up in Scripture. Hebrews 2:1 “We must pay more careful attention therefore to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” Another instance is Hebrews 10:26-27 “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.”

                So, I know you are now asking, “So which teaching do you adhere?” Quite honestly I adhere to the middle of the road teaching…while I agree that salvation can’t be lost. However, like we can tell our children, not to play in the road; give them all rules and such, but it doesn’t mean that they won’t run into the road. Just as God gives us all the rules and all, it doesn’t mean that the "believer" won’t lose their salvation.  

                It is questionable whether anyone who reasons, “Now that I am a Christian, I can live as I please,” has really been converted and regenerated. Genuine faith issues, instead in the fruit of the spirit. Assurance of salvation, the subjective conviction that one is a Christian results from the Holy Spirit’s giving evidence that he is at work in the life of the individual. Of course the Spirit’s work results in conviction on Biblical grounds that God will enable the Christian to persist in that relationship—that nothing can separate the true believer from God’s love.

Kregel Book Review (Charts on the Life, Letters and Theology of Paul)

Do you find all the facts about Paul to be confusing? Do you see yourself wanting to know some “fine” details about the Apostle’s life, yet find yourself not knowing exactly where to start? Maybe you are a student at a seminary and you need information on Paul that the bible just didn’t give you and that your professor went over too fast in class to really ‘get.’ Maybe you are the professor and you want to tell your students everything that you can about Paul and you don’t know how to write it all down in notes that will not hinder your student’s success. No matter where you are in your discovery of Paul, this book is a MUST have.

As a recent seminary student, I wished I had this book when I was studying New Testament II. Like many others I found myself struggling with understanding Paul and his Theology; but once I read this book, I realized that what I was missing wasn’t the “what”; I was totally missing the organization that this book provides. The simple way the charts are laid out and the information that they give are more than most of my textbooks put together. In over 100 charts the background, life, letters, theology and missionary journeys are laid out.

The layout is fantastic, the charts are chock full of information on every facet of Paul that one can ever want to know; Lars Kierspal writes with such knowledge about Paul, that it leaves you wanting to dig deeper into your studies on Paul and even left me wanting to meet this Paul face to face!

This is definitely a resource must for student, layman, and professional minister.

**The book was provided to the reviewer (by the Publisher) for an unbiased opinion and is not contingent on a positive review.**