Can You Walk Away … Part II

There is a word used in 1st Peter 4:18 that I want to consider … it's the word "scarcely." It's used in the phrase … "the righteous scarcely be saved." I believe it is one of the most overlooked words in the Scriptures. Hebrews 7:25 does say that Jesus … "is able also to save to the uttermost (with the Amplified version adding) completely, perfectly, finally, and for all time and eternity."

Well, He can and will … if you let Him. I'm still speaking here of being "scarcely" saved … not because Jesus didn't do enough … He did.

But it seems sometimes, that certain people will not give Him their whole "heart" and "will." Because the soul has "free will" it possesses the power of choice. Your heart can say yes to God or no to God; it can also say yes to sin, or no to sin. Satan himself must gain the consent of the "will" before even he can get the heart to sin.

It is true that God has the power to force you to do what He wants … but He won't because it's your free will … not His.

Albert Barnes addressing the subject of being scarcely saved says … "It may mean the difficulty of keeping them from falling away amidst the temptations and allurements of the world. Often it seems to be wholly doubtful whether those who have been converted will be kept to eternal life. They yield so readily to temptation, they conform so much to the world, they have so little strength to bear up under trials and they seem almost ready to yield and give up everything."

Because some believers do give up and walk away, unwilling perhaps to face the battle within their souls; it truly sounds like they must have been … "scarcely saved."

The Apostle Paul also addresses believers falling away, but he uses a different illustration in 1st Corinthians 9:27 … "But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."

I like what John Gill says about this scripture … "Paul's concern is, lest he should do anything that might bring a reproach on his ministry, to be justly blamed, rejected and disapproved of by men, and become useless as a preacher; not that he feared he should be a castaway eternally, for he knew that he could not be eternally lost … unless he chose to walk away from his Lord."

Adam Clarke says … "On the subject of the possibility of Paul becoming a castaway, he most absolutely states the possibility of the case … so should we have cause to fear lest this should befall us?"

Why else would Paul say in Philippians 2:12 … "My beloved … work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."

With "fear and trembling," meaning … with serious caution, with the utmost care; work out your own salvation, not as though you can obtain salvation by your own works, for this is impossible; but as one who has an important interest at stake, which you do; and that is … the danger of losing your own soul.

Peter has said … "Beloved, seeing you know these things, beware, take heed lest you fall; be on guard …" (2nd Peter 3:17, in Part I)

How can this happen to a believer? Does this really happen to some? Yes, it does happen. Paul gives us an example that happened in his ministry.

2nd Timothy 4:10 … "Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world …"

Demas was a friend who ministered with Paul, but under the influence of the world, Demas forsook him and evidently went back to his old life. Whether of sin or not, we cannot tell.

Luke 9:62 … "Jesus said … No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

Plowing requires one to look ahead; if you turn around, look back or take your hand off the handle, the furrow won't be straight, you will wander. Looking back also tends to make one receptive and willing to turn back, or to give up and perhaps cast away one's confidence in the Lord, as stated in …

Hebrews 10:35 … "Cast not away therefore your confidence" … meaning your faith and trust in the Lord. It goes on …

Hebrews 10:38-39 … "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back … But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul."

It doesn't do any good to start and only go part of the way. The writer of Hebrews stated that there were some who left the faith and went back into sin. It can happen. You must continue on by faith … "to the saving of the soul." Is there anything we can do that will help us continue on in our walk of faith, all the way to our destination?

2nd Peter 1:5-10 … "Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, kindness and charity … give diligence (proper attention and determination) to make your calling and election sure … for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall …" (edited)

Peter is not saying your salvation is not complete. He didn't say to add anything to your salvation; you can't. He is only saying by adding these good things to your "faith life," you will be able to walk out your salvation, to live it more fully and to go all the way … "to the saving of the soul" … without turning back.

In Part I, this article began with … "Can we, if we choose to, walk away from God and lose our salvation?"

To finally answer this question, I am going to quote Roy Hicks, Jr., who I believe has given the best argument to this question I have ever heard. He said …

"When you first hear the Gospel you have a choice; you can choose salvation and accept Jesus or you can choose to walk away. If you had that right then, don't you think you still have that same right to walk away from God anytime you want? If you don't still have that right … when did you lose it?"



Comments welcome.