Eternal Security?

June 29, 2022 (Wednesday)

 

When we talk about the theology of salvation in certainties, we speak ignorance. Seldom is the Bible flat-footed on some basic ideas many hold near and dear. Eternal security is one such subject. Let’s take a look at the concept of sin in the believer’s life from 1 John.

 

Here is an example where we don’t have to proof text one writer (or book) against another. Let’s start with the fact that the book was written to believers. The disciple of Jesus writes to those of us who believe.

 

John begins with the difference between what we claim and what we practice. "If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth." [1 John 1:6 ESV] This seems simple enough to agree on. If we say we are Christian but do not live like it, then we lie. Unfortunately, "everyone" knows someone who has claimed to be a follower of Jesus but did not act like it.

 

The next verse is clear, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” [1 John 1:7 ESV] If practicing our faith is the first proof then fellowship with other followers of Jesus is the second proof. This leads to the idea that the blood of Jesus cleanses (purifies) us from ALL (every) sin.

 

Here’s where we begin to do mental gymnastics. It would indicate that there are two conditions or proofs to being cleansed from sin: walking in the light (practicing faith) and fellowship with one another. The lack of either one negates the possibility that our sins are cleansed, purified, or forgiven. So, are these things conditions (things we must do) or proofs (things we are doing because we are cleansed)? This theological division is a false dichotomy. To one who has been cleansed, they are both the same. We walk in the light and have fellowship with one another because that is who we are and who we are is what we want to do.

 

John then continues with a head scratcher, "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." [1 John 1:8 ESV] In verse seven, we conclude we are cleansed from all sin, but in verse eight, we are informed that we cannot claim we have no sin. In our mental gym, one explanation is to think of salvation as separate from being cleansed from sin. We make salvation a legal matter while cleansing or “having sin” is experiential. This begs the question: how good do we have to be to get to heaven?

 

John obviously believes that a follower of Jesus can and does sin because he offers this remedy, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” [1 John 1:9 ESV] Notice a shift from the singular “sin” to the plural “sins.” This has led some to theorize the difference between the condition of sin and the acts of sin. Later, he continues, “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” [1 John 2:1 ESV]

 

Let John confuse the issue, "No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God." [1 John 3:9 ESV] The Greek stresses the absolute impossibility (the literal translation of “he cannot keep on sinning”) of the one born of God to sin. This has led some to the conclusion that if a Christian sins, they are no longer born of God and have “lost” (or forfeited) their salvation. "Born" is a term Jesus used, which we understand to mean "saved" (among other things). The Arminian-Wesleyan perspective is that John is addressing deliberate, premeditated, and controlling sin. Calvinists suggest either the person was never saved or God will kill them before they cross a line and forfeit ("lose") their salvation.

 

I do not know how God removes ALL (every) sin. I do not know why we lie if we say we have no sin (God has done so). I do not know why, if God has cleansed us, we need to live a continual life of confession leading to a continual life of cleansing. I do not know why or how it is impossible for a believer to sin. I doubt John, moved by the Holy Spirit understood.

 

I do know the ideal is for a follower of Jesus to NOT sin. I know we stand on dangerous ground if we negate one Bible verse with another to fit our preconceived theological grid. I know that the sum of the matter rests with Jesus, "Christ the righteous." I suspect we are expected to push past the immaturity of the "either-or" attempt to solve something God did not explain, to mature into the truth of Jesus.