Bible Question (short): How did Paul understand salvation? |
Question (full): Hank, I'm posting this as a general question. Your verses helped. Let me get the ball rolling and see where it leads. The question of whether salvation is guaranteed is moot because God has promised it: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (Joh 5:24) …and “I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. "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. "I and the Father are one." (John 10:28-30) But is that guarantee categorical or contingent? Can we forfeit our salvation? Jesus also says, "He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him…” (John 14:21) …that the one who loves Him will keep His commandments and, "…he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words” (John 14:23,24). If we don’t keep His commandments we evidence our disdain for Him and His word, and both He and the Father will not abide in us, apparently. That doesn’t mean the Holy Trinity moves out, but that we must be made a fit abode by abiding reciprocally in our Holy Tenants (John 15.5). It follows that our faith consists in our love for Him and obedience to His word. Faith requires our willingness to do His will; otherwise our faith is dead (James 2), without which we can’t please God (Heb 11.6). In the family of God we’re free to reject His love and our promised eternal life through sin. In God’s family we’re free to be prodigal. Did Peter understand salvation as a done deal irrespective of subsequent prodigality? In Acts 8:20-21 Peter’s rebukes Simon, a baptized believer, for his apostasy: “But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you… for your heart is not right with God.” (Act 8:20). Peter warns Simon that he stands to lose his salvation unless he “…repent of this wickedness… and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.” v.22 Peter’s rebuke accords with a clear understanding that salvation is both progressive, “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure…” (2Pe 1:10) and contingent: “For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them. (2Pe 2:20-21) Could Peter have written this without Simon in mind? Could Paul have understood salvation any differently from Peter? “for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (Rom 8:13) Paul is talking about spiritual death, since we’re all bound to die physically. Colin |