Perfect Love Casteth Out Fear

Most religious groups today who claim to follow Christ claim the doctrine of “once saved, always saved,” also known as the “impossibility of apostasy.”   However, the Churches of Christ do not teach this man-made doctrine, instead contending that the saved can be lost as the Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:27:  “…I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”  Paul also wrote to the Galatians, “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace,” Galatians 5:4.  Being fallen from grace implies that they once knew God’s grace and Christ having become of no effect implies that he once had an effect on them.  Nonetheless, they were spoken of as being “fallen from grace.”

The writer of the Hebrew letter also said, “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame,” Hebrews 6:4-6.  Again, we have the possibility of falling away after having tasted the heavenly gift, namely salvation in Christ.

With this understanding, some erroneously come to the conclusion that we cannot know whether we are saved and must live in constant fear of condemnation.  This assumption is mistaken.  The Bible plainly states, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit,” Romans 8:1.  Likewise, John says, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin,” 1 John 1:7.  Both of these passages speak of one who seeks to continue in faith, following Christ.  The key is to “walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” and to “walk in the light, as he is in the light.”  If we do this, we, like Paul can say, “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing,” 2 Timothy 4:8.

Remember, God is Love.  “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love,” 1 John 4:18.

Until next time, let me encourage you to search the scriptures daily, whether these things are so.  Acts 17:11

Copyright 2009 Mance J. Davis Jr.