Theology Q&A
By Dr. J. Rodman Williams
Theologian
Dr. J. Rodman Williams answers theological questions, exclusively on CBN.com.
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9. Sanctification, Perseverance
Will a person who once firmly believed in Jesus Christ as Lord
and Savior, but then turned from Him, enter Hell or Heaven?
Why should a person who "once firmly believed in Jesus Christ
as Lord and Savior" but has turned from Him want to go to heaven?
For heaven is the place where Jesus is glorified and all people
rejoice in His presence. An unbeliever would hardly be comfortable
there.
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The Wesleyan persuasion has a doctrine of "entire sanctification."
They separate this from salvation as a second work of grace. Can
you explain your viewpoint on this?
I have difficulty with this Wesleyan doctrine. While it affirms
rightly the goal of "entire" or total sanctification in the whole
person -- body, soul, and spirit -- it is too much to say that
by a second work of grace "sin ceases to be" (Wesley's words).
The Scriptures remind us that "If we say that we have no sin,
we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us," but "If
we confess our sins He is faithful and righteous to forgive us
our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:8-9).
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For the last two years, I have had nothing but heartache and
trial -- God placing me in the impossible and carrying me through.
At times, I feel I have reached the end of the lesson and now
I can do anything, but then I slide here and there back into temptation
and my wants. After sanctification do we still struggle to behave
as God wants ... or is it foreign for us to sin?
Sin is basically foreign to the believer since the Holy Spirit
dwells within. However, the flesh is still there often warring
to a high degree against the Spirit. This should make us rely
more on God to give us the victory.
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Is sanctification an immediate experience when somebody becomes
a Christian? Can a born again Christian live a sanctified life
here on earth?
First of all, sanctification is experienced in the new birth.
Paul writes about the born again experience, "You were washed,
you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord
Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God" (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
Thus immediate sanctification is part of the experience. We are
holy, therefore, by virtue of the Holy Spirit who sanctifies us
and dwells within.
Still there remains sin in every life which calls for further
sanctification. Thus sanctification is also a process day by day.
Concerning this matter, Paul writes, "Beloved, let us cleanse
ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, and make holiness
perfect in the fear of God" (1 Corinthians 7:1).
For further information, see my Renewal
Theology, 2: chapter 4, "Sanctification."
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Can you ever lose your salvation? Because I have done so much
bad after I became a Christian that I think I have lost my salvation.
I'm really scared. I don't want to go to hell but I fear that
is my fate. Please help me.
Yes, it is possible to lose your salvation. There are many places
in the Bible that warn of this happening. However, if you truly
repent all is not lost. The fact that you are deeply concerned
is a positive sign. I suggest that you make earnest confession
to the Lord of your sins and believe that He will forgive them
and reestablish you.
For further help, see Renewal
Theology, 2: chapter 5, "Perseverance.")
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What is the meaning of "progressive sanctification"?
Paul writes: "Beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all
defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear
of God" (2 Corinthians 7:1). In one sense every born-again
believer has already been sanctified, "You were washed…sanctified…justified
in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our
God" (1 Corinthians 6:11). It is against the background of
this initial sanctification in salvation that we are called upon
to devote ourselves to ongoing sanctification. Whatever remains
in the carnal self we should find intolerable and seek both cleansing
and removal. Paul again speaks elsewhere "by the [indwelling]
Spirit put to death the deeds of the body" (Romans 8:13).
We cannot put to death the flesh in our own strength, but by the
power of the Holy Spirit we can-if we are really serious about
it. Day by day there can be progress in sanctification, and living
a life more pleasing to our Lord.
See Renewal
Theology, 2: chapter 4, "Sanctification," for
further help.
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Can a Christian lose
his/her salvation?
The security of our salvation rests not in ourselves but in God.
He has given us a new life in Christ and the Holy Spirit dwells
in us. Thus there is strong security from God's side; the undergirding
of salvation is His doing not ours. We should not therefore be
anxious as if some slip on our part will quickly cost us our salvation.
No, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous
to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"
(1 John 1:9). However, salvation may be lost. There are grave
warnings in Scripture, for example, Jesus' own words: "If
anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch, and
dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and
they are burned" (John 15:6). Again, "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
judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume…"(Hebrews
10:26). Our security is truly in God; however, all may be lost
if we fail to abide in Christ and go on willfully sinning.
For other warnings in Scripture relating to believers, read 1
Corinthians 10:12; Colossians 1:21-23; Hebrews 2:1-3, 3:12-14,
6:4-8; 2 Peter 2:20-22-also see Renewal
Theology, 2: chapter 5, entitled "Perseverance."
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If you have been saved, but you sin every day-some
you think worse than others, can you lose your salvation if you
pray and ask for forgiveness every day?
Salvation may be lost only by those who persistently and willfully
go on sinning. If a person genuinely seeks God's forgiveness and
His way, salvation will not be lost.
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So is our security in us or God for maintaining our
salvation?
You said our security is in God-but then you said if we go
on sinning we will lose our salvation. It sounds to me that our
security is based on us and whether we sin or not-not in God as
you say. For if it were up to God, he would never let us go.
Our security is in God means that it is not primarily a matter
of our achieving such by our own efforts. If that were the case,
we would never be secure. However, we may forfeit that security
by our own apostasy (see Renewal
Theology, 2: pages 130-136).
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Could you please explain Hebrews 6:4-6?
This passage points up the ominous fact that even full-fledged
believers-"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 power
of the age to come"-if they "then have fallen away,
it is impossible to renew them again to repentance." Why?
"Since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God, and
put Him to open shame." The falling away is total; there
is no hope of repentance. The end is "being burned"
(verse 8). Compare Hebrews 10:26-27-"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." A tragic end: "impossible
to renew them again to repentance"-"no longer remains
a sacrifice for sins"-total loss. Little wonder that Hebrews
earlier says: "How shall we escape if we neglect so great
a salvation?" (2:3).
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What is the meaning of "sinning willfully"
in Hebrews 10:26?
The word "willfully" (Greek-ekousias) may also be translated
as "deliberately." The Amplified Bible includes both
translations: "If we go on deliberately and willfully sinning…."
The point made in Hebrews is that by willfully, deliberately,
persistently continuing to sin "after receiving the knowledge
of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but
a certain terrifying expectation of judgment."
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How should we then live?
First, as Christian believers we should ever move forward, rejoicing
in our great salvation. Since God delights to forgive, when we
turn to Him in sincere confession, He will surely cleanse us from
all unrighteousness and establish our way. Second, we should give
serious heed to the New Testament warnings about possible falling
away. These warnings are declared not to create fear and anxiety,
but they are God's counsel not to neglect what has been so graciously
given us. Third, we can continually give thanks to God for what
He has done and intends to do. He is fully able to keep us to
the very end. To God be the glory!
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