Expert: Cooper P. Abrams III - 1/13/2010

Question
I was just wondering where Arminianism gets the idea of "Uncertainty of Preservation of the Saints" and what verses does Arminianism use to support it?

Answer
Hi Caleb,
    The Arminian misinterprets many passages in Scripture to arrive at their false conclusion that salvation can be received and then be lost.  Their theology of salvation is basically a grace plus works salvation.

     For example, according to Arminians, biblical saving faith expresses itself in love and obedience to God.  (Galatians 5:6).    

    “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.”  (Galatians 5:6)   The Arminian misinterprets this verse in believing that love has a part in justifying the sinner who accepts Christ by faith.   If we love God He loves us.   However, love is not joined in faith in justifying the sinner, love is the result of the new birth that occurs when a person by faith accepts Jesus Christ alone as their Savior. (Eph. 2:8-9) God is love and those that He saves are given His nature of love, thus they too will love.  “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.” (1 John 3:14)   Love in a believer is evidence of salvation because the love of God is present in their lives.   However, love does not save...faith does alone.

     Another verse they misuse.
    “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him”  (Hebrews 5:8-9) Again the Arminian takes the last phrase of the verse and falsely precludes it is saying that salvation is received by obeying (working, living a godly life, etc) Christ.    However, Ephesians 2:8-9 and other passages clearly preclude that being the meaning of the verse.   A person is saved by faith alone, with is God’s free gift given to all who will believe and trust Him for salvation.  The verse is saying that Jesus is the author of eternal salvation to all who believe and the evidence of their saving faith is they do obey the Lord.  Their obedience is not the cause of their salvation as Christ himself is the lone author of that.  

     The Arminian also will use Judas as an example of one who was saved but went into apostasy and lost his salvation.    However, the truth is clear that Judas although an outward disciple of Jesus was never saved and was a thief who joined himself to Christ in order to steal. He was like a tare among the wheat.  John 12:6 states that Judas was a thief.   1 Corinthians 6:10 states that thieves shall not inherit the kingdom of God, meaning those who do not repent and receive Jesus Christ as their Savior.

    Luke 22:3 states that Satan entered into Judas.  Satan cannot enter a believer.  Satan can influence a disobedient believer, but cannot indwell him.   In Matthew 26:24-25 Jesus warned of the terrible end of the one who would betray Him, yet Judas went out and sold Him for thirty pieces of silver.  This shows the condition of his heart.  Money was his god.  

     Another verse that misinterpret is Jesus' statement "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved." (Matthew 10:22)   They believe Jesus was saying that the one who endureth in his own strength, will and determination will in the end be saved.  Once again this is clearly a false assumption.  The evidence of saving faith is that the true believer will continue in Christ.  He may fail or even fall, but the believer did not receive salvation by his works, nor can he keep himself saved by works.  1 Peter 1:1-5 states is the God the Holy Spirit that keeps the believer saved until the end.

     The Arminian theology can be basically stated as “Christ made the down payment on salvation, but the individual must keep up the payments till the end in order to be saved.”  Clearly Arminianism is a grace-plus works idea of salvation and is false doctrine.

     Thank you for your question and if you have further comments or questions please write.
Cooper Abrams
Romans 12:1-2
http://bible-truth.org