The New Testament not only contains many warnings about Christians falling away, but also contains actual cases of Christians who fell away. For example, Paul brought up several examples in his letters to his protégé Timothy:
This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. (1 Timothy 1:18-20)
Paul exhorted Timothy to have faith. Hymenaeus and Alexander had the same faith which Paul exhorted Timothy to continue in but they rejected it. These men were “delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.” Being delivered to Satan cannot convey unconditional Eternal Security, and suffering shipwreck is sure destruction.
In Paul’s pastoral instructions to Timothy regarding widows, he wrote:
Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.
But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully. For some have already turned aside after Satan. If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows. (1 Timothy 5:9-16)
The younger widows who “cast off their first faith” were condemned (1 Timothy 5:12). The most natural reading of Paul’s words suggests that these younger widows were previously in the faith. Paul added that some “have already turned aside after Satan” (1 Timothy 5:15). What did they turn aside from? They turned aside from their first faith like the younger widows he just mentioned. Those who turn aside from their first faith are no longer saved, but have turned aside after Satan and have condemnation.
Paul exhorted Timothy to be content with food and clothing. But the love of money and greediness caused many to “stray from the faith.” Paul wrote:
Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (1 Timothy 6:8-10)
These greedy men aimlessly moved away from the Christian faith. A Christian must be in the faith in order to stray from it. Those who have “strayed from the faith” and “pierced themselves through with many sorrows” cannot possibly be saved unless they repent and come back to the faith. The Apostle James also warned of impending judgment of the rich (James 5:1-6).
In Paul’s second epistle to Timothy, he mentioned Philetus, another man who strayed from the faith, in addition to Hymenaeus, who was mentioned previously.
Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” (2 Timothy 2:14-19)
Once again, a Christian must be in the faith and in the truth in order to “stray concerning the truth” (2 Timothy 2:18). Not only did Hymenaeus and Philetus stray from the truth, but they also overthrew the faith of others (2 Timothy 2:18). Those other Christians had faith to begin with, but Hymenaeus and Philetus overthrew it. Faith cannot be overthrown if it’s not there to begin with.
Finally, Paul said,
Be diligent to come to me quickly; for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. (2 Timothy 4:9-10)
In Philippians 1:24, Demas was listed as being among Paul’s fellow laborers along with Mark and Luke. Demas was a Christian and fellow laborer with Paul just as much as Mark and Luke were, but he later fell away and forsook Paul, having loved the world. Paul was aware of many present examples of those who fell away resulting in loss of a saving relationship with God. But he also foretold that in the latter times some would depart from the faith. He told Timothy:
Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. (1 Timothy 4:1-5)
Once more, a Christian cannot depart from the faith if they were not in the faith to begin with. Those in the world cannot depart from the faith because they were never in the faith at all. Likewise, a false convert cannot depart from the faith because they were never truly in the faith. Only a “once saved” Christian can depart from the faith.
The entire epistle to the Galatians relates to this topic of Eternal Security. The Galatians were Gentile Christians that were following Jewish legalism at the time Paul wrote to them. Paul felt so strongly about the Judaizers and observance of the Law of Moses that he called this heresy “another Gospel” (Galatians 1:6). Paul wrote:
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. (Galatians 5:1-6)
In a parallel statement, Paul said, “Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters” (1 Corinthians 7:19). The Christian liberty Paul has in mind is a liberty from the Mosaic law, a liberty for virtue and not vice. Christians are required to keep the commandments of Jesus, but not the commandments of Moses. Once again, Paul is talking to Christians and warning them that they had become “estranged” or severed from Christ in whom is eternal life. They were once in Christ, but now estranged; they were once in grace, but now fallen from grace. To use Paul’s words, if “Christ will profit you nothing,” then you cannot be saved by any stretch of the imagination. Therefore, Paul exhorted them to “stand fast.” Paul also said to the Galatians, “I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain” (Galatians 4:8-11). If the Galatians would have continued in their heresy of Jewish legalism, then Paul’s labors would have been to no avail.
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