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Monday Miscellany

Focus Text: John 3.36

If the Bible is the word of God (and I believe without reservation that it is), then how one interprets and applies the scripture is of utmost importance. In fact, I think we would all agree that the responsibility of understanding God’s word is unexcelled in importance by any human endeavor. Anyone who would willfully play “fast and loose” with the word of God is of all men most pitiable and is in danger of condemnation. Yet, each and every day of our existence, hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands, and ad nauseam times ad nauseam biblical errors are taught publicly and privately. One error that continues to have significant sway among professed believers is the ‘Once saved, always saved” doctrine. As today’s devotional, we will look at a passage that, by the same logic, teaches “Once lost, always lost”.

Hear Jesus: “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” Pay particular attention to the last half of this verse. It says, “…he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” The truth is that every accountable person who has ever lived, at one time or another, did not “believe the Son.” Yet, this phrase taken out of its context and applied without proper principles of interpretation says that if anyone does not believe, he or she will not see life and that the “wrath of God abides on him.” Does this mean “Once lost, always lost”? If not, why not?

The key to understanding this phrase is in the phrase itself and common sense. Of course it could not mean “Once lost, always lost” else no one could ever be saved. Furthermore, the word “believes” in the verse has a force of meaning that must be reckoned with. In the original language, this word is a present active participle; it has the force of saying, “He who does not believe and keeps on not believing shall not see life.” The leading verb in the expression does not refer to a one time act of believing, but an on going attitude of belief. So, it is not “Once lost, always lost” any more than it is once disbelieving, always disbelieving. It is absurd on the face and violates the very spirit of the words involved.

However, what is “sauce for the goose is also sauce for the gander.” If the phrase “does not believe” means to “keep on not believing,” why would it not be the case that “believes” means to “believe and keep on believing”? Well, as it happens, that is exactly what it means. In fact, the same verbal noun is used to describe the act of believing as is used to describe not believing. In each case (i.e. “believes” and “does not believe”) the nouns are present active participles and have the force of continued action and not one time accomplishments. “Once saved, always saved” is incorrect and so is “Once lost always lost”.

We owe it to ourselves, to others, and last but not least, to God to treat His word honorably and consistent with sound principles of interpretation. We do no one any good and do incalculable harm when we fail to harmonize all that the Bible says about any given subject. When we begin to apply this principle to all our spiritual activities, truth will be served and God will be glorified.

Questions:

1. If one can start believing, could they start disbelieving? If they start disbelieving, are they still saved? If so how can the latter half of the focus verse be true?

2. Why is it important to harmonize all that the Bible says on a given subject? What happens when we fail to do so?

3. What effect do the conflicting doctrines of professed believers have on unbelievers?

4. Why must we always strive to apply sound principles of biblical interpretation?

"Voice of Inspiration" from Andy Castro

A Lot Of Salt