A Christian Can Fall From Grace - II Peter 2:18-22 - Outline & Audio

Biblical references in Gahanna-Jefferson Church of Christ's nondenominational sermon outlines are linked directly to text of the King James version of the Bible. Bible quotes you hear in the streaming audio may be from the New King James version of the Bible.

II Peter 2:18-22

Introduction:

1. “Christians” commonly believe that a child of God cannot fall from grace.

2. This view is summed up by the words of Sam Morris, a Baptist preacher, “We take the position that a Christian’s sins do not damn his soul. The way a Christian lives, what he says, his character, his conduct, or his attitude toward other people have nothing whatever to do with the salvation of his soul.”

3. In the churches of Christ, this teaching of the impossibility of apostasy is commonly rejected.

4. Why have we chosen to be so uncommon by rejecting this teaching?

Body:

I. First, what does it mean to reject this teaching?

A. We do not mean that a Christian can have no confidence in his salvation.

1. Faithful Christians should have confidence (I John 1:7; Romans 8:31-39; John 10:27-28; I Corinthians 10:13).

2. However, we believe the Bible teaches that a faithful Christian can become unfaithful (Hebrews 10:26-31).

B. Neither do we mean that the works of a Christian are the basis of his salvation.

1. Works cannot save in the primary sense, only in the secondary sense.

a. In the primary sense, the sense that accounts for salvation and pays the price for it, we cannot be saved by works (Romans 4:1-8).

b. Only through Christ can we who are sinners be saved (Romans 3:21-27).

c. Works relate to our salvation in the secondary sense, the accessing of the gift of salvation (James 2:14-26).

d. Faith without works is dead (James 2:26).

2. In the sense of merit, our works have nothing to do with our initial or continued salvation.

3. In the sense of faith in God, our works are a necessary expression of true faith.

4. The Shade Illustration.

a. Lifting a shade in daylight is necessary to get light.

b. Lifting the shade in darkness does nothing.

c. Lifting is a necessary secondary work that can only have value if the primary work of creating the sun is available to receive.

II. The Bible clearly teaches that a child of God can fall from grace.

A. Those who trust in law keeping (Galatians 5:4).

B. Those who become partakers of the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 6:4-6).

C. Those who find sanctification through Christ’s blood (Hebrews 10:28-29).

D. Those who escape the pollution of the world (II Peter 2:20-22).

III. But what about Ephesians 2:8-9?

A. We are saved through faith, but not a dead, inactive faith (James 2:14-26).

B. We are not saved by works that attempt to earn our salvation (Romans 4:1-8).

C. Thus, salvation is of grace, even though we must respond to grace.

IV. Conditional grace.

A. The Bible teaches that grace is unearned, yet conditioned on responsive faith.

1. Acts 2:36-38 shows there are conditions to be met BEFORE salvation can be received.

2. Colossians 1:21-23 demonstrates that there are conditions to be met to REMAIN in salvation.

B. If there were no conditions to grace, everyone would be saved, yet conditions are not necessarily associated with earning salvation.

1. If I offered ten dollars to everyone here unconditionally, would you think you should get ten dollars?

2. If I conditioned the ten dollars on you coming up and getting it, do you think you would accept a gift by coming forward?

3. If I agree to pay you five dollars an hour to shovel the snow from the parking lot and you worked two hours, would you think you had earned your ten dollars?

V. Where did this belief come from?

A. Plato, a Greek philosopher, had a view of God and His sovereignty that was taken to develop a philosophy holding matter to be evil and spirit to be good.

B. Augustine, a Catholic philosopher, much influenced by Plato, disconnected works done in the flesh from having anything to do with salvation - how could that which was thought to be evil do any useful thing?

C. Calvin, a Renaissance philosopher and preacher, further developed Augustine’s theology to come up with a concept of God’s sovereignty that left no place for humanity to contribute anything, even secondary contributions - he believed any contribution man might make would compromise God’s exalted place over the creation.

1. Though not believing there were any conditions to salvation, he avoided universalism by having God simply pick some to be saved and some to be lost.

2. Since man had nothing to do with the process, there were no conditions, the gift was only offered to those God willed to have it, it could not be rejected by the elect or embraced by the non-elect, and you could not lose it after you got it.

3. In short, a view of man’s nature from Greek philosophy, rather than from the Bible, came to influence the way people viewed Christianity.

Conclusion:

1. When we look at all of what the Bible has to say, we see that a Christian can fall from grace, but not a faithful Christian.

2. So, what we have commonly believed, though uncommon in the religious world, is in complete harmony with the Scriptures.

Don Treadway, February 2003

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P.O. Box 307408, Gahanna, Ohio 43230 • Meeting at 7816 Havens Road, Blacklick, Ohio

10/05/2012

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II Peter 2:18-22

Introduction:

1. “Christians” commonly believe that a child of God cannot fall from grace.

3. In the churches of Christ, this teaching of the impossibility of apostasy is commonly rejected.

4. Why have we chosen to be so uncommon by rejecting this teaching?

Body:

I. First, what does it mean to reject this teaching?

A. We do not mean that a Christian can have no confidence in his salvation.

1. Faithful Christians should have confidence (I John 1:7; Romans 8:31-39; John 10:27-28; I Corinthians 10:13).

2. However, we believe the Bible teaches that a faithful Christian can become unfaithful (Hebrews 10:26-31).

B. Neither do we mean that the works of a Christian are the basis of his salvation.

1. Works cannot save in the primary sense, only in the secondary sense.

a. In the primary sense, the sense that accounts for salvation and pays the price for it, we cannot be saved by works (Romans 4:1-8).

b. Only through Christ can we who are sinners be saved (Romans 3:21-27).

c. Works relate to our salvation in the secondary sense, the accessing of the gift of salvation (James 2:14-26).

d. Faith without works is dead (James 2:26).

2. In the sense of merit, our works have nothing to do with our initial or continued salvation.

3. In the sense of faith in God, our works are a necessary expression of true faith.

4. The Shade Illustration.

a. Lifting a shade in daylight is necessary to get light.

b. Lifting the shade in darkness does nothing.

c. Lifting is a necessary secondary work that can only have value if the primary work of creating the sun is available to receive.

II. The Bible clearly teaches that a child of God can fall from grace.

A. Those who trust in law keeping (Galatians 5:4).

B. Those who become partakers of the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 6:4-6).

C. Those who find sanctification through Christ’s blood (Hebrews 10:28-29).

D. Those who escape the pollution of the world (II Peter 2:20-22).

III. But what about Ephesians 2:8-9?

A. We are saved through faith, but not a dead, inactive faith (James 2:14-26).

B. We are not saved by works that attempt to earn our salvation (Romans 4:1-8).

C. Thus, salvation is of grace, even though we must respond to grace.

IV. Conditional grace.

A. The Bible teaches that grace is unearned, yet conditioned on responsive faith.

1. Acts 2:36-38 shows there are conditions to be met BEFORE salvation can be received.

2. Colossians 1:21-23 demonstrates that there are conditions to be met to REMAIN in salvation.

B. If there were no conditions to grace, everyone would be saved, yet conditions are not necessarily associated with earning salvation.

1. If I offered ten dollars to everyone here unconditionally, would you think you should get ten dollars?

2. If I conditioned the ten dollars on you coming up and getting it, do you think you would accept a gift by coming forward?

3. If I agree to pay you five dollars an hour to shovel the snow from the parking lot and you worked two hours, would you think you had earned your ten dollars?

V. Where did this belief come from?

A. Plato, a Greek philosopher, had a view of God and His sovereignty that was taken to develop a philosophy holding matter to be evil and spirit to be good.

B. Augustine, a Catholic philosopher, much influenced by Plato, disconnected works done in the flesh from having anything to do with salvation - how could that which was thought to be evil do any useful thing?

1. Though not believing there were any conditions to salvation, he avoided universalism by having God simply pick some to be saved and some to be lost.

2. Since man had nothing to do with the process, there were no conditions, the gift was only offered to those God willed to have it, it could not be rejected by the elect or embraced by the non-elect, and you could not lose it after you got it.

3. In short, a view of man’s nature from Greek philosophy, rather than from the Bible, came to influence the way people viewed Christianity.

Conclusion:

1. When we look at all of what the Bible has to say, we see that a Christian can fall from grace, but not a faithful Christian.

2. So, what we have commonly believed, though uncommon in the religious world, is in complete harmony with the Scriptures.