Fallen From Grace

At Abundant Life we have avoided the topic of the Presidential scandal for the simple reason that we do not wish to become embroiled in a political debate. As the proceedings appear to be headed toward a close, I believe it is proper to comment in certain areas, because some facts seem to be undisputed.

It is clear from his own admission that the president committed sexual misconduct with an intern, and it is clear that he expended great effort to cover up that misconduct, even when it meant lying to the public. Throughout the entire sordid mess, many parties have tried to affix blame for this scandal. Some have (rightly) blamed the president for his lack of self-control. Others have (rightly) blamed Miss Lewinsky for her lack of chastity and shame. Still others have blamed right-wing conspiracies, the media or partisan politics. Finally, some have (perhaps rightly) blamed the American public for their lack of interest in the process.

I would like to look one other place for blame. The president is a Southern Baptist, and I believe some of the teachings of the Baptist Church, particularly the doctrine of "once saved, always saved," can be considered at least partly responsible for this black eye on our moral sensibilities.

The idea of man's inability to fall from grace did not originate with Southern Baptists. It has its seeds in the teachings of Augustine and, much later, Martin Luther. But nowhere has it been so widely accepted as among Baptists. The consequences of this odious doctrine are a tendency to overlook the serious nature of sin and a lack of mourning when sin is committed.

It is not enough however, to simply pronounce a doctrine as bad; we must prove that such a doctrine is unscriptural as well. First, the term "fallen from grace" is used in the Paul's letter to the Galatians to describe those who had returned to the law to seek salvation: "You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace" (Gal. 5:4, emphasis added). It is clear from this verse that Paul believed a Christian could lose the gift of salvation and be lost by returning to the law, ignoring the sacrifice of Jesus.

It is the writer of Hebrews who gives us our best understanding of this concept. First, it should be noted that the letter is written to Christians, not to unbelievers, and yet, in chapter 3, the writer warns, "Take care, brethren, lest there should be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart, in falling away from the living God" (3:12). It must be understood that it was possible for a Christian (note the term "brethren") to sin to a point at which he could be lost. If not, this verse makes no sense.

Following this verse, the writer continues with the example of the Israelites who failed to enter the Promised Land because the disobeyed God. Thus, chapter four begins, "Therefore, let us fear lest, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it" (4:1). The promised rest of God was taken from the Israelites for their disobedience, but it remains available to us today, if we maintain our faith. God's rest is pronounced as requiring hard work: "Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall through following the same example of disobedience" (4:11). Again, we are presented with the idea that some will miss out on the rest of God because they fail to obey.

The idea is further, and more forcefully, presented in chapter 10, when the writer discusses willful sin. "For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain terrifying expectation of judgment" (10:26-27). It is impossible to read these passages and honestly deny the truth that some who have been saved will be lost.

Having seen that the doctrine of "once saved, always saved" is not scriptural, a quick examination of its consequences can be illustrated. Imagine a child for whom there is no punishment for bad behavior. Soon, the child will go further and further until he is a misery to his parents (Prov. 10:1). The same is true for children of God. If there is no punishment, if there is no threat of hell for those who sin against God after they are saved, then men will go further and further into rebellion against God. Finally, they will excuse and deny their sin, and they will refuse to mourn the affront to God. This is the true danger of "once saved, always saved". When man refuses to acknowledge sin any longer, he is doomed to be lost. He has "fallen from grace."