which is one of about 80 that say salvation can be lost:
There are more than that, I think, which people use to support this idea that rebirth may be temporary. For several years I was in the practice of searching for people's lists of Scriptures that they presented to support an impermanent salvation. I would take each and every one, and give it a full examination. The thing is, I became Christian in the first place because I value truth. And that has never changed.
I've not found a single passage that makes such a statement. And in fact I've found several through doing this which actually speak strongly the other way.
In this passage,
2 Peter 2:1-22 KJV
1) But there were false prophets also among the people,
even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2) And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3) And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
4) For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
5) And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
6) And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
7) And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
8) (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
9) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
10) But chiefly
them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
11) Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.
12) But these,
as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
13) And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
14)
Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
15) Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
16) But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
17) These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
18) For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
19) While they promise them liberty,
they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
Is this a passage of salvation lost? These are not being described as the redeemed. They walk after the flesh, as natural brute beasts,
20) For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21) For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
22) But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Verse 20 causes the most consternation, however, this speaks of a personal who has had a moral reformation having learned about Jesus, but nothing here speaks of the person being reborn, or a child of God, or redeemed, sealed, saved, recreated, regenerated, or any of these terms the Bible uses to specifically identify a child of God.
Is this salvation lost? Or is it what Peter says . . . the sow returns to the wallow. It's nature was not changed, it's still a sow, clean it up all you want, it's still a sow, it returns to it's wallow.
How is it now worse off for them? "I tried the "Jesus thing", it didn't work." My friend Sandy said that. How horrible!
There is a another passage,
Hebrews 10:26-31 KJV
26)
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27) But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28) He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29) Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
30) For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
31) It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
"After we have received the knowledge of the truth" is not equal to saying "after we have been regenerated". "there remains 'no more' sacrifice", this is saying, the series of sacrifices ends when you learn about Jesus. "No more" refers to the end of a series of things.
We can look at each and every one of these 80 you have in mind. Many say I explain them away. I say I hold to their exact wording, and find no contradiction.
And again there are those passages which don't allow that salvation may be lost.
Much love!
