Problem Passages & the Security of Salvation

​

Dr. Alexander Kurian

​

Some passages in the Bible are difficult to interpret and understand. It demands more intense and rigorous study. But it must be remembered that there is unity and harmony within the Scriptures. There are no contradictions in the Bible. The Bible does not teach two opposing doctrines. Problems passages should not be treated in isolation from the overall teaching of the Word of God. These passages must be interpreted in the light of clear passages, never vice versa.
 

When it comes to the doctrine of eternal security, there are several problem passages. We will consider some of the most important ones in the following pages.

​

1 Corinthians 3:10-15: “He shall suffer loss.”

​

This passage refers to the Judgment Seat of Christ (see also 2 Corinthians 5:10) and not to one’s salvation. The judgment seat of Christ only pertains to believers. The very reason one appears before the judgment seat of Christ is because he/she is a believer. It is the place where the Lord will evaluate believers’ lives for the purpose of giving rewards. No unsaved person will be there. The works discussed here have nothing to do with earning or losing salvation. Salvation is not the issue here, but rewards.

The purpose of Christ’s judgment seat is to judge or evaluate us the way we lived our Christian lives, for the quality of our service. The question here is not whether you are a Christian, but what kind of Christian you are. The works in a believer’s life which are valuable and enduring (gold, silver, precious stones) will be rewarded. The works that have been shallow, useless, valueless, and worthless (wood, hay, straw) will have no eternal value and will forfeit rewards (1 Corinthians 3:12). “Each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work” (1 Corinthians 3:13. See the repetition of the word “work” in verses 14, and 15). The “fire” here is the fire of God’s discerning judgment (evaluation).  In the day of rewards at the judgment seat of Christ worthless works will burn up, but the believer himself will be saved and his salvation will not be forfeited. “He shall suffer loss” - loss of rewards not of salvation, as is made clear in the second part of the verse. …”but he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire” (1 Corinthians 3:15). Salvation is a free gift, but rewards are earned on the basis of the quality of life and service.

​

Although those who have believed in Jesus have already been justified by faith and will not come under condemnation (Romans 8:1), God will still judge their works and reward them accordingly.

​

Hebrews 6:4-6:“And then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance.”

​

This is a very difficult passage and has been subject to different interpretations. If this passage were teaching that it is possible to lose one’s salvation, then it also states in no uncertain terms that it is impossible to be saved again. “…..it is impossible to renew them again to repentance” (Hebrews 6:6). This means if salvation is lost, it is lost forever! Thus, those who hold that these verses are talking about Christians who actually lose their salvation, face insurmountable problems, because if you lose your salvation, you can never be saved again!

​

Some believe this passage is referring to nominal or professing believers who had understood the gospel, but fall short of genuine salvation experience. Others view these verses referring to a hypothetical possibility, not as a reality; hypothetically, if a Christian could lose his salvation (but he will not), there is no provision for repentance. The author wanted his readers to demonstrate diligence and commitment in their Christian life. He was confident of better things concerning them (6:9). He used this warning to urge believers to move forward to maturity.

​

Still others understand this passage to be a warning to genuine believers (this is the view I hold) to urge them in Christian growth and maturity. The warning is not related to salvation, but about progression toward maturity; not about justification, but about progressive sanctification. The whole context of the passage beginning in 5:11 deals with growth and maturity in Christian life. “…let us press on to maturity” (6:1). This exhortation is followed by a sobering warning concerning failure to move forward. There is a possibility for believers who neglect the Word of God, and do not progress toward maturity and just continue in spiritual infancy, to regress and fall back so far that it is impossible to again make further progress toward maturity in their life. They become fruitless, useless and disqualified in their Christian life and service. Their life may even take a worst turn that amounts to a rejection of Christ. They will come under the disciplinary judgment of God and lose all their rewards and privileges. Since their hearts are deeply hardened, it will be impossible to win them back to Christian commitment (not to Christian conversion, as salvation is not the issue here, but commitment, growth and maturity in Christian life).

​

A similar warning is given later in the book (10:26-27). Earlier in chapters 3 and 4 the author calls attention of his readers to the experience of Israel in the wilderness and gives warnings against rebellion, unbelief, departure from God, murmuring, and hardening of heart. Like the children of Israel forfeited the privileges and blessings of the Promised Land, there remains a possibility that the readers also may suffer a similar loss of privileges and blessings. Canaan was the place of blessing, rest and inheritance, and the children of Israel failed to enter that rest because of disobedience and unbelief. They were excluded from taking possession of their promised inheritance because of lack of confidence in God and His Word. It does not mean that they were going to hell (It is important to note that in this context Canaan does not refer to heaven, but their inheritance-rest and blessings. Moses did not enter Canaan. There were also enemies in Canaan. It does not look like heaven!)

​

Although God has promised believers this inheritance, blessing, victory and rest, some may fail to experience and enjoy it because of unbelief and rebellion. This is the gist of the warning passages in Hebrews. It is not in relation to salvation, or going to heaven, but about possession of the land, “inheritance-rest,” reward, privileges and blessings. Thus believers today can enjoy rest and blessings in Christian life and service through faith, obedience, and surrender and in the future they will enjoy the blessings in the Messiah’s millennial kingdom.

​

As believers, we do not have to be troubled by these warnings. Satan can use these verses to cause confusion and questions in our minds. But our eternal destiny is forever sealed under the blood of Christ. “Let us press on to maturity” (6:1).The stern warning is followed by a warm encouragement. “But beloved we are convinced of better things concerning you and things that accompany salvation…” (6:9). “You may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (6:12).

Warning passages in the Bible are sometimes misinterpreted and misapplied to mean the loss of salvation. But a serious study of these passages will prove that some of these problem passages warn us of the severe consequences of carnality, backsliding and spiritual immaturity.  Some passages refer to unsaved professors rather than to genuine believers.

​

John 15:1-6: “Thrown away as a branch…cast them into the fire, and they are burned.”

​

In this section of the Upper Room discourse, on the night before His crucifixion, Jesus was teaching His disciples on the importance of fruit bearing. As branches it was their responsibility to bear fruit – “bear fruit” (15:2), “more fruit” (15:2), and “much fruit” (15:8). No branch can produce fruit apart from its living, organic connection to the vine. To produce fruit, the disciples were to abide in Him, in His Word, and in His love; be completely yielded to Him.

​

Jesus was not teaching them on salvation, but remaining in fellowship with Him – abiding in Him. It is important to keep in mind the distinction between believing and abiding. Eternal life comes through believing in Christ (1 John 5:13), whereas fellowship with Him (1 John 1:3) comes through abiding in Him. Abiding is remaining in fellowship with Him.

Not abiding (daily and constant fellowship with Him, staying in Him, dwelling in Him) in Christ has serious consequences (15:6). The person is cast out as a branch indicating loss of fellowship; the person is withered, indicating loss of spiritual vitality and strength; the person is burned, indicating a loss of reward at the Judgment Seat of Christ, though he himself will be saved (1 Corinthians 3: 11-15). It also may refer to the loss of a believer’s testimony before the world. “They gather them” or “men gather them” and cast them into the fire, and they are burned (John 15:6). Who are these “men” (“they”)? This is a reference to the unbelievers. When a believer fails to abide in Christ and produce fruit, he could be publicly discredited, and lose his testimony and spiritual influence in the world. When he fails to manifest Christ, others (unbelievers) reject him and his claims. There is no indication here of hell fire. Men cannot cast other men into the lake of fire, only God can do that. But men can reject and discredit the life and claims of a backsliding Christian who does not abide in Christ.

​

Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away (15:2). The branch is already in Christ. But if does not bear fruit, He takes it away. “Takes away” may mean “remove” in the sense of physical death for the fruitless Christian as a measure of God’s disciplinary judgment; or it may mean “lift up” (this is the view I prefer). The vinedresser lifts up the branch to promote better growth. This is the gracious act on the part of the vinedresser helping the fruitless believer to bear fruit.

The loss of salvation is not in view in this passage. Fellowship with Christ, not salvation is the focus of the teaching here. Jesus is setting forth the basis of fruitful and productive Christian living for the disciples. “By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples” (John 15:8).

​

Some understand this passage as referring to the separation of professing Christians from a superficial connection with Christ. These professing Christians do not actually possess salvation. They will come under eternal rejection and judgment. In the immediate context Judas was in view.

​

1 Corinthians 9:27: “I myself should be disqualified.”

​

This passage is dealing with Paul’s desire to successfully complete and win the race of Christian life and service. In order to complete the race, one must be disciplined and follow the rules. Paul’s desire was to win an imperishable crown (9:25). A careful distinction should be made between the prize and the gift. He is not referring to the gift of salvation, but the prize, reward, or crown for faithful service. Fleshly sins, lack of discipline, and commitment may disqualify a believer from winning the prize at the end. “Disqualified” does not mean loss of salvation, but failure to be faithful in fulfilling one’s God-given commission of Christian service. This results in tremendous loss and disqualification in life and also at the Judgment seat of Christ.

​

Revelation 3:5: “Erasing one’s name from the book of life.”

​

This is a promise to the overcomer in Christ’s message to the church at Sardis. “I will not erase his name from the book of life.” On the basis of this verse some jump to the conclusion that there is a possibility of a believer’s name being blotted out of the book of life (that is, losing one’s salvation). The reason for such a mistaken conclusion is because we fix our focus on what the verse does not say rather than what the verse is saying in the context. This verse is intended as a promise of encouragement; not as a threat or warning.

The book of life is the list of all those who are eternally redeemed by the blood of the Lamb 13:8; 20; 12, 15). The promise is that under no circumstances God will erase those names. Erase or blot out alludes to Exodus 32:32, 33 and Psalm 69:28 where it is a metaphorical way of speaking of physical death. But in the promise to the overcomer in Revelation Christ is not threatening or alluding to the possibility of the removal of a name from the heavenly register. It is rather encouraging the overcomer with an assurance and promise. It is the strongest affirmation that nothing can separate us from Christ.

​

This promise is given in the light of a practice in the civic background of the city of Sardis. The city kept a roll or register of its citizens. In that record was entered the name of every child born in the city. The recorded registry was proof of safe citizenship. A person’s name could be removed from the city register if he were convicted of a crime.

​

But believers’ names are secure in Christ’s book of life. He offers them an eternal, safe citizenship in His Kingdom. Can the name of a Christian ever be blotted out of the book of life, thus causing the loss of his salvation? The answer is an emphatic NO.

2 Timothy 2: 11-13: “ If we deny Him, He also will deny us.”

​

This passage is possibly a Christian hymn or confession of faith of the early church. Believers are united with Christ in His death and resurrection. Persevering in trials and persecution will result in rewards when Christ returns. “We shall also reign with Him” is possibly a reference to the millennial reign of Christ. If believers deny the enduring of trials, hardships or persecutions in the name of Christ and for His glory, He will deny them the reward and privileges in the reign along with Him. Verse 13 is a strong reminder of God’s preserving power and faithfulness in relation to His people. Even when believers fail the Lord, He remains loyal. For Christ to abandon His people in any situation is contrary to His faithful nature. “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself.” This is a strong affirmation of eternal security.

​

Some understand “deny” and “faithless” to refer to the denial and unbelief of professing Christians. Their denial and faithlessness give evidence that they never truly belonged to Christ. But Jesus remains faithful to His nature – to save those who believe and to judge those who do not. This is consistent with His holy, just, righteous, and faithful nature.

​

Matthew 24:13: “But the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved.”

​

The context of a passage is crucial in rightly dividing the Word (context refers to that which goes before and that which follows after). The context of Matthew 24 is the Great Tribulation, the return of Christ to establish His Kingdom, and the end of the age. “The end” in verse 13 is a reference to the end of the age, not the end of a person’s life. The verse is not teaching that men will be saved by their enduring. Salvation is not a reward for endurance. It is the free gift of God’s grace received by faith.

In the context the verse means that those who faithfully endure the trials and afflictions of the Tribulation days will be delivered (“saved”) at Christ’s Second Advent. The faithful remnant will be delivered to enter the Millennial Kingdom (one thousand year reign of Christ upon this earth). The following verses furnish more details of the Great Tribulation and the end of the age, and how the Lord Jesus Christ will intervene and establish His Kingdom. There is no reference here to a believer struggling to maintain his salvation, and hanging on to God unto the end of his life so that he may not lose his salvation.

​

1 John 5:16-17:  “Sin leading to death.”

​

Though these verses do not say anything about one’s salvation, many believers are perplexed about “sin unto death” assuming that a particular sin may cause one to forfeit salvation. The Greek text of verses 16 and 17 reads “sin,” not “a sin.”  It does not refer to a particular sin. Believers can sin to the point where physical, premature death results as the judgment of God (1 Corinthians 11:30). Eternal death or losing one’s salvation is not at all in view here.

​

It does not specify what type of sin it is. It may be a deliberate high handed-sin. Failure to repent of and forsake sin may eventually lead to the severe chastisement of physical death. No intercessory prayer will be effective for those who have committed such sin. It is impossible for us today to specifically identify those sins leading to death. It seems that in the first century through the operation of miraculous spiritual gifts (e.g.  Gift of discernment) believers could distinguish the two types of sin – sin leading to death and sin not leading to death.

​

Matthew 12: 31-32: “Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.”

​

“….but blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven.” This is sometimes called as the unpardonable sin.” What is this unpardonable sin? Many untaught and immature Christians fear that, if they commit it they will lose their salvation, though they do not know what it is.

​

One has to understand the special circumstances and the context in which the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is mentioned. The only place where it is mentioned is in the Gospels in relation to the public ministry of Jesus. In chapter 12 of the Gospel of Matthew, Israel’s rejection of Jesus Christ as the Messiah comes to a climax. Jesus had offered them all the proof of His deity and Messiahship. But still the religious leaders of Israel renounced and opposed Him. The Pharisees gave their official verdict about the person of Jesus and His ministry. “This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of demons” (Matthew 12:24). This happened after Jesus performed a miracle by healing a demon-possessed man. The crowd saw the miracle and began asking in amazement, Could Jesus be the Messiah? But the Jewish leaders refused to accept the testimony and substantiation of the Holy Spirit in the ministry and miracles of Jesus Christ.

​

This was the height of their rejection of Christ. Since they didn’t want to admit Jesus as the Messiah, they were even willing to accuse Jesus of acting by Satan’s power. In fact, they reviled against God by attributing the Spirit’s work to Satan. The sin is attributing to Satan what is accomplished through the power of God, and willfully rejecting Christ, in spite of all the proofs presented to them. This is the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, the sin which will not be forgiven. They were committing a sin that would never find national or individual forgiveness, because they rejected the clear, convincing evidence presented before their eyes and attributed to Satan the very power of the Holy Spirit which was operative in the miracles of Christ.

​

This specific sin referred to as the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit cannot be committed today, for it required a unique historical situation - Jesus’ personal presence upon this earth with His performing of miracles through the Spirit’s power.  “To commit this particular sin required the personal and visible presence of Christ on earth; to commit it today, therefore would be impossible. But to show wickedness of heart is unpardonable in any day if one dies persisting in his or her rejection of Christ. A person’s eternal destiny is determined in this life, but no sin is unpardonable as long as a person has breath…..Paul himself is evidence that blasphemy is forgivable (1 Tim.1:13)” [Charles Ryrie].

​

Some hold to the view that when anyone stubbornly refuses all proofs regarding Jesus as the Savior presented by the Holy Spirit, that person is committing the unpardonable sin. But this is doubtful. In any case, this sin is committed only by unbelievers and it has nothing to do with a believer or the security of his salvation.

In spite of some troubling questions, the Word of God strongly affirms the “forever” quality of salvation. It is the gift of God; we did not earn it by our works, and it will not be forfeited by our works. All of salvation from beginning till the end is the work of God. There is security because of God’s promises, God’s presence, and God’s power. Indeed, so great a salvation!

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen” (Jude 24-25).