Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | Colossians 1:13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Colossians 1:13 For He has rescued us and has drawn us to Himself from the dominion of darkness, and has transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, |
Subject: once saved, always saved? |
Bible Note: New Creature: The passage from 1 Timothy is a good one to look at. The issue at hand is what Paul means by making a shipwreck of one's faith. Does it mean losing one's salvation? Here is the passage from 1 Timothy: "This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme." --1 Timothy 1:18-20 A couple of observations on my part: 1. This shipwreck of faith is not some hypothetical, imaginary situation, as Paul gives two specific examples of individuals who have indeed shipwrecked. 2. Paul "handed them over to Satan" (which I take to mean to disfellowship from the communion of saints) for a purpose, so that they will repent of their blasphemy. Therefore, if Paul is talking about losing one's salvation in the case of Hymenaeus and Alexander, he is holding out the possibility of them being "re-saved" again. But what does the passage in Hebrews say? "For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame." --Hebrews 6:4-6 How do you reconcile Paul talking about teaching Hymenaeus and Alexander not to blaspheme (i.e. to repent) and Hebrews telling us that it is impossible for those who have fallen away to be brought back to repentance, if indeed the "shipwreck of faith" equals loss of salvation? Your brother in Christ... --Joe! |