All of us can name the name of the last brother or sister we saw walking away from Christ and His Church. Sadly, I can name the last and the first. My heart breaks for them both, and every soul in-between.
Some denominations teach that a Christian cannot fall away from Christ. Since the reason that God only chooses specific individuals, and miraculously endows them with faith, it is impossible for these ‘Elect’ to fall away.
When asked if they themselves know people who have left their church for the world, they say that those who did depart were proving that they were never converted in the first place.
Such beliefs are, of course, contrary to the Bible’s teachings on salvation.
The Bible clearly records individuals choosing to believe that Jesus died for their sins, repenting of their sinful way of life, confessing that Jesus is the Son of God, and being baptised for the forgiveness of their sins.
The Bible also records individuals who chose to give up their faith or to live in sin.
Scripture cannot be describing anyone else but Christians when speaking of those “who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come” (Hebrews 6:4-5).
But if these Christians reject Christ and return to a life of sin, scripture tells us that “it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame” (Hebrews 6:6).
Whether a man has reached the point of no return is a judgement left in the hands of God.
However, we ever live in hope that those who have fallen away will return to Christ and His church. “Lord, have mercy!”
John Staiger
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