Even Arminians Debate This One

There are Arminians who don't believe in the loss of election. As I indicated before, election is not about individual salvation. It 's about the church and nations. In Romans 9-11, Paul says that Israel was cut off, but could be reinstated (and they will be). Again, this is not about individual salvation. Arminius did not originally believe in the loss of election. He was simply concerned about the Calvinist teaching that sin does not affect one's relationship with God. Arminius wanted to give that responsibility back to man. Galatians 5:4 does speak of falling away from grace. "You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace." Hebrews 6:4-6 says, " ⁴It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, ⁵who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, ⁶if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because^b]">[b]to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. " The Hebrews were considering returning to Judaism, which is a system of works, to avoid persecution. So the Bible does seem to indicate that there is one way a Christian can fall away: reverting to a system of works, rather than trusting in Jesus only. This is not a license for believers to devise a list of rules by which to judge whether they or others have fallen away. The Bible says there is only one way- reverting to works! These passages will be debated until Jesus returns. However, I have a question. If, as many believe, it is impossible for a believer to fall way, why did God waste so many words to warn people not to fall away if it's impossible to fall away? I'm not looking for an answer. That's a rhetorical question. I want you to think about it. I don't believe God would waste words. And by the way, Arminians don't teach that God throws people away. God doesn't throw people away. People choose to walk away from God. It's up to them. People don't lose their freedom of choice once they become believers. I already know what verses some people would throw at me. But Calvinists teach that it's impossible to know whether or not you're among the elect until it's too late to do anything (when you die). I have another question. Would a loving Father leave His children in the dark as to whether or not they belong to Him until it's too late? No. You can know where you stand before you die. "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life" (1 John 5:13). It is reported that Jacobus Arminius faced death with complete assurance. I believe saving faith includes assurance, but that's the subject of another blog.