OUT OF THE WOODS
by J.F.T. Woods
Q. Aren’t there scriptures that teach that a Christian can lose salvation?How about Ezekiel 3:20, "When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him . . . he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered..."?
A.
I’m glad you asked! How well I remember being
devastated by this verse when I was a senior in
Bible Institute. The night before, I had attended
a meeting where emotionalism was mistaken for
spirituality. Feelings ran high, and I went to bed
that Sunday night feeling very "close to God." When Monday
morning came, I read that verse and hope died. My joy in
salvation vanished, and I became terribly depressed. My
effectiveness in ministry was history.
Five years and a thousand heartaches later, I learned from
Romans 5, through Walter Wilson, M.D., that while I could
not possibly stand before God in my righteousness, I could not
fail to stand before him in his.
Ezekiel 3:20 concerns the Jew under the Law. Today’s
believer is not under law but under grace (Romans 6:14). The
law demanded perfect human righteousness and condemned
every sin "The soul that sins, it shall die." (Ezekiel 18:4,20).
God provides a "gift" righteousness, a divine righteousness,
fully paid for by His Son on the cross and available through
faith to all who desire it (Romans 5:15-21). The only salvation
God offers us is "eternal salvation" (Hebrews 5:9). Christ is
saviour, not probation officer!
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