Over on his blog, New Testament scholar Scott McKnight has been posting a series on the warning passages in Hebrews and Calvinism. In his final post on the matter, McKnight summarizes the implications of his view that the warning passages in Hebrews actually envisage the possibility of a genuine Christian falling away and forfeiting salvation. Whether you agree with his conclusions on Hebrews or not, the implications of his conclusions are sobering and thought-provoking. Here are three of them (in his own words):
First, I sensed a renewal of the fear of God that is so prominent in Hebrews. Once I came to the conviction that a person, yea that I, could believe and fall away, sin became more important and the prospect of falling away more realistic. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t live in some morbid fear. Assurance accompanies faithfulness for both the Calvinist and the Arminian. Both, at least in my case, knowing that redemption is rooted in the saving powers of Christ and that faith — in the sense of faithfulness and trust — is required.
Second, it influenced how I presented the gospel. However one wants to present the gospel, through some tract or through personal story or through some piece of rational logic, the summons to believe for me is a summons to become a believer — not just to believe once and for all in a singular moment. It is a summons to live under the rule of King Jesus. The summons to perseverance is part and parcel of the summon to believe.
Third, I am persuaded that holding to this view does not mean that I (or anyone who shares it with me) believes that I contribute to my own salvation. Instead, what this doctrine encourages me to do is to believe, to watch, and to persevere. It makes me more conscious of the need of grace and the power of the Holy Spirit.
McKnight lists a fourth implication for the unity of scripture, which he suggests needs some more thought. Check out the full post here and have a read of the whole series.
No comments:
Post a Comment