Archives for May 2024

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Whether a person is a Jew or a Gentile, if he or she is a believer, God will save that person. Romans chapter 11 discusses how God manages His special relationship with Israel, according to His sovereign plan. At Christ’s arrival (birth), God hardened His nation Israel, and opened His favor to the Gentiles. When Paul speaks of God breaking off and grafting in, it is in the context of God’s mercy to choose the people He wants for salvation (Romans 11:5-10; 25-32).

God Saves By Grace

So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

Romans 11:5-6 ESV

Verse 6 clearly states that God saves by grace alone which has nothing to do with the person’s efforts. Because we depend on God’s mercy alone, we should not be arrogant and boast of being chosen. Paul wants to be sure that our attitudes about being saved fit with the reality of the situation.

But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.

Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.

Romans 11:17-24 ESV

God broke off some natural branches from the olive tree “because of their unbelief.” That which is wild by nature, God grafted in among the natural branches. Also, “if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.” Those who believe apostasy is possible, think:

• those broken off were persons who had been born of the Spirit
• they have fallen from grace, and
• “neither will he spare you” teaches that those grafted in may also be broken off, or fall from grace.

I propose to show that such is not the meaning of the above scripture.

In verse 23, we learn that God can graft them in again. We also learn from Hebrews 6, that it is impossible to renew such to repentance as have fallen from grace. Falling from grace, in this context, means to give up on grace and return to the former sacrificial system prior to the Messiah.

The apostle is there showing the impossibility of falling from grace, and mentions, as one reason why men cannot fall, that it would be impossible to renew them. Therefore, if this breaking off were falling from grace, it could not be said, “God is able to graft them in again.” Therefore, the text teaches something else. Paul is speaking about God’s favor to nations, not a specific person. God’s favor has shifted in a global sense, but God is not fickle, He never “unsaves” His true believers.

God Saves Completely, Irreversibly

Paul says, “Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us,” etc.

An objector might insist that God can and does separate us. I answer with John 6:37: “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” Therefore, God will, under no circumstance, cast out one that comes to him.

An objector might insist that we can cast ourselves out. But these branches did not cast themselves out, or break themselves off; and besides, it is not possible that one who is a saint, and has been born of the Spirit, and has the divine nature, can change that nature. A leopard cannot change his spots. The stony-hearted sinner cannot change his heart to one of flesh, and vice versa. Therefore, let Romans 11 teach what it may, it does not, and cannot be manipulated to, teach apostasy.

God Saves Each Person Only Once

The olive tree is the witness of God in the world. The Jewish nation had been this witness for hundreds of years. Although many of the servants in and about the temple were wicked men for those hundreds of years, yet their service perpetually testified of Christ. But now there is to be a change of the service as to the form of it, and as to the servants themselves. All are to know God and worship in spirit and truth.

Although it is the same olive tree or witness, yet it is spiritual Israel, service, and servants. From this service or olive tree, all unbelieving Jews, that is, those who never knew God, are broken and separated, not to be as witnesses in any sense, unless they should become believers. If this happens, they will again be united in the service of God, not as they were before for that was superficially ceremonial, but knowing for the first time the true spiritual service of God. John, in Revelation, calls the two witnesses the two olive trees, referring to Zechariah 4. Therefore, I think it safe to consider this olive tree a witness.

We may view the entire revelation of God as a complete whole. Under this view, David spoke of the beauty and strength of Zion. He saw the spirituality of the service, although many who served did not see to the end of that service. The church today answers to the ancient house of Israel. Although we learn in Hebrews 8:13, “In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away,” yet the true essence of that service is retained, and it is the ceremonial part that is to be rejected, and all true saints among the Jews are retained.

Jesus, the end of all ceremonies, has come, and these believe on him. Many Gentiles also believe on him, and they are taken (grafted) into the service, as witnesses of God. The evidence that these rejected Jews ever were believers is entirely wanting. The believing Gentiles are a part today of the real Israel of God. “But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter” (Romans 2:29 ESV). Romans 11:26 says “And so all Israel shall be saved.” Therefore, all Israel is every believer, and all Israel shall be saved. How can this text teach apostasy when it teaches that all believers will be saved?

God Keeps His People Saved

“The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
    when he delights in his way;
though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
    for the Lord upholds his hand.”

Psalms 37:23-24 ESV

So good men may fall, and not be lost. “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12 ESV). Also, Paul commanded certain ones to be delivered to Satan, for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit might be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. From all of this, we may learn that God’s people may be cast out of the visible service, or broken off from being witnesses of God, and yet the “spirit be saved,” and not “utterly cast down.”

Our light before the world is sometimes dim, or even hidden, so that we cease practically to be witnesses for God and Christ, and under these circumstances, sometimes are delivered to Satan, not to be lost eternally, but for correction, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. In this breaking off, then, there is not the shadow of evidence that they may be lost eternally. To escape these misfortunes and save the cause of Christ from reproach, we are exhorted to give diligence to make our calling and election sure — sure to ourselves, our fellow believers, and the enemies of the church.

If we do these things, we shall be saved from the rod of our Father; for he chastens everyone he receives, not for destruction, but for correction. God’s correction keeps us healthy spiritually, preventing apostasy. All believers, having been born again, God foreknew, predestined, called, justified, and glorified (Romans 8:29-30). This process once begun cannot be interrupted.

This is post 16 in a series; you can read the previous post. This post started as the public domain works of J. H. Oliphant. While sections are the same in many ways, I modernized the language and added my thoughts to provide greater clarity for my readers.
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Reading time: 7 minutes

Our salvation is our greatest treasure. But how many of us live by a different gospel other than the one defined in the Bible?

Maintaining trust in Christ alone humbles our pride, destroys all confidence in self, and constantly redirects our confidence to be in God. The opposite view necessarily inclines people to trust themselves, or their works. Nothing is clearer than that people would be inclined to trust themselves, by being continually taught that their eternal salvation depends upon their works. In its very nature, it is inclined to take people’s confidence away from Christ.

The Christian who is conscious of indwelling sin, and is taught to believe that his salvation depends upon his moral behavior, is necessarily filled with trouble and distress, as to his status before God, when the truth on the subject would relieve him. If he were taught that people are saved simply for Christ’s sake; that Christ’s blood cleanses from all sin; that Christ saves sinners, as sinners, and that God does not expect us to furnish the grounds of justification; if we were taught that justification is not obtained by sanctification, but freely by God’s grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, he would look out of self, and up to God, for what he needs.

Salvation By Faith Alone

As long as people are taught that sanctification is the root of justification, they cannot, they dare not, trust in Jesus Christ crucified; for by this, their justification depends, not on Jesus and His blood, but on their inward state. What a pity that so many professors, instead of trusting Christ, are trusting their faith, believing it to contribute to what Christ has accomplished. Instead, it is the business of faith to look for nothing good in us, but to lay hold on Christ; not to trust self, or plead self, as a condition of salvation, but to discard everything in self and the world, and trust simply in Jesus.

How fearfully ignorant thousands are of the nature of faith, even claiming that faith is the condition upon which our salvation rests. I tell you that faith rejects everything as a condition — even itself is denied as it anchors in Jesus. Ask the man of faith, why he is saved; he answers, “Jesus, and Jesus only.”

Faith does not create truths and then believe them, but it embraces existing truths. It does not create its Savior, and then embrace Him, but embraces the eternal truth — “Jesus is my Savior.” It never claims to be worthy of Heaven but knows and acknowledges itself to be unworthy of Heaven’s notice. Genuine believers:

• are waiting for complete sanctification within,
• believe that Jesus alone saves for His own name’s sake, and
• love God and His children.

Let me say to such, the grounds of your acceptance are not your outward reformation or your inward sanctification, but Jesus, and Jesus only. If you think your justification for salvation depends on something in or about you, you are looking in the wrong place.

If you realize that you are poor in spirit — that you are destitute of every good thing or quality — this argues nothing against you. Don’t feel bad about yourself because you cannot contribute to your salvation.

Oh, how simple is the gospel! It is so free and simple that no one can understand it until they are made willing to drop confidence in everything but Christ. The saved person must look at reformation, sanctification, and all kinds of obedience and works of every kind, as being worthless in the great matter of justification. When the vilest sinner that ever breathed gets this view of Jesus, it gladdens his heart.

The poor thief on the cross, doubtless, had this view of Christ. He could not, he dared not trust in himself, or think of anything done by him, as a condition upon which he was to get to Heaven; but by faith, he looked to Jesus! Oh, what a work it is to look to Jesus. I said a work but it is not a work, it is a ceasing from works of every kind, and giving all up to Jesus.

And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.

Romans 4:5 ESV

The greatest objection to the gospel is that it is simply free. People are so proud that they do not want Heaven unless they perform the conditions necessary to get it. When they are told that they must have it freely, or not at all, they turn away saying, “It is a hard doctrine.”

Salvation By Christ Alone

As long as people expect Heaven upon conditions to be performed by them, they cannot rely wholly and solely on Christ. And as long as people believe in the possibility of apostasy, their confidence cannot be undividedly in Christ.

But blessed are those who trust in the Lord
    and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
They are like trees planted along a riverbank,
    with roots that reach deep into the water.
Such trees are not bothered by the heat
    or worried by long months of drought.
Their leaves stay green,
    and they never stop producing fruit.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 NLT

It is right to trust in Christ. It is safe and right for every poor, broken-hearted sinner, who feels poor and needy, to trust in Christ — not to make Him your Savior, but because He is your Savior; not to cause Him to save you, but because He will save you. To say trusting Him as your Savior makes Him your Savior is mere foolishness, and even worse. Neither should people trust Him to make Him faithful to keep us to the end, but because He is faithful, and never will leave or forsake you. This is real faith.

One of the greatest obstacles to receiving Christ as Savior, and honoring Him, is the foolish idea that some condition must be performed on our part to entitle us to what is free. Some tell us that one thing, and some another, is the condition, while real, true faith discards everything as conditions.

Christian, think back over your life, when you most sensibly felt that Jesus was your Savior, had you performed any condition to obtain that salvation? No, you will say, and can truly sing, — “Why was I made to hear his voice, and enter while there was room, while thousands make a wretched choice, and rather starve than come? ’twas the same hand that spread the feast, that sweetly forced me in, else I had still refused to taste, and perished in my sin.”

Samuel Medley was a strong advocate of personal election, special redemption, spiritual revelation, and the final perseverance of the saints. On his deathbed, he supposedly uttered: “Farewell; God bless you. I die, a poor sinner, saved by sovereign, rich, and free mercy. I am now a poor, shattered ship, just about to gain the blissful harbor; and, oh, how sweet will be the port after the storm.”

He further said, “Sweet Jesus, thou art my strength, support, and salvation. Tell my dear friends, I am going to Jesus, and He is with me. I am not at all dejected; I am full of comfort and consolation; able yet to recollect God’s precious word. I never saw so much of my unworthiness, nor so much of Christ’s excellency, glory, and suitableness as an all-sufficient Savior. As to my sentiments, I am in no way doubtful. The doctrines I have preached, I am fully persuaded are truth. They are now the support and consolation of my mind.”

Reader, I only hope you may go as happy as he.

This is post 15 in a series; you can read the previous post. This post started as the public domain works of J. H. Oliphant. While sections are the same in many ways, I modernized the language and added my thoughts to provide greater clarity for my readers.
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Reading time: 9 minutes

The Bible is clear that heaven will not be empty. It will be filled with the people that God has saved. Likewise, the Bible is clear that hell will not be empty. It will be filled with the people that God has not saved. What evidence is there that to be saved is to be secure, but not everyone will be saved?

If there is a possibility for a fraction of the saints to be lost, is it possible for all of them to be lost? Or is it true that some of them are infallibly secure, and some not so? If it is not possible that all can fall, what percent, or portion of them is secure? Where is the line? Certainly, there is no difference in the degree of security that God has given His children; if one is infallibly saved and secure, all are — or if one is in jeopardy, all are. Therefore, if it is possible for one (of the declared saints) to be lost, it is also possible for all to be lost.

How Many Saved People Will Worship God?

Is it infallibly certain that Jesus shall be praised eternally by His saints, whom He has redeemed out of all people? Or, is it uncertain whether He will be praised at all? Is it possible that His death shall avail nothing? Could all that God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have done avail nothing? Or, can you view the work of salvation on the part of God as a mere experiment, without any definite or fixed end in view?

Would you invest all you had in an enterprise if there was the least possibility of a complete failure? Or would you prefer a certain and fixed end in view? Can you think that, when Jesus died, it was not certain that someone should love and praise him in Heaven for that death? Or can you believe there was the remotest possibility for the whole plan to be a complete failure? You must certainly conclude that the death of Jesus was attended with no uncertainties.

When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish,
    he will be satisfied.
And because of his experience,
    my righteous servant will make it possible
for many to be counted righteous,
    for he will bear all their sins.

Isaiah 53:11 NLT

Would He be satisfied, were His death to avail nothing? Would He be satisfied with half of His ransomed ones to go to hell, or any of them to perish?

If you can get the idea that Jesus will receive unceasing praise, you must also see that it is certain that a part of His people will be saved, and if a part then all; for we have seen that it is either certain that all of them will be saved, or possible that all of them will be lost; and we cannot believe all of them will be lost; for then it would be possible for Heaven to be empty — possible for Christ to lose all His honor — possible for His blood, pains and sufferings to be wasted. Therefore, it is certain that all true believers will be saved.

Being Saved Depends on God’s Will Not Man’s Will

Being saved is made certain, either by the appointment of God or the will of men. If the will or wills of men make it certain, or its certainty is at all dependent upon the will of men, then the whole scheme of redemption is left, as to its success or failure, to the will of men. But is it true, that so momentous a matter is left to so imperfect a thing as the will of men?

Is the simple whim of the will of men to decide whether Heaven is to be occupied, or hell overflowed — whether Jesus’s name, is to be praised, or blasphemed? Certainly, matters of such vast importance are governed by Divine appointment. Therefore, the appointment of God has a fixed end in view, and that end is the certain and infallible salvation of all His people.

At the beginning of His work, an angel gave notice of His coming into the world.

And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

Matthew 1:21 NLT

In coming into the world, He cast His lot with them. “In all their afflictions, he was afflicted.” The prophet Isaiah said:

“he poured out his soul to death
    and was numbered with the transgressors”

Isaiah 53:12 ESV

Therefore, he came to endure the fate of a transgressor — to be so united to His people that, with them, He will either rise or fall joined to them, as a head is joined to its members.

So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.

Hebrews 2:11 NLT

All one party in the covenant, as the principle and security are one party; so that the fate or destiny of one, is the common fate or destiny of all. For we are “heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ.” The inheritance will as certainly fall to us as to Christ. He becomes the very life of His people, so that He Himself must be destroyed before they can be.

Though He was sinless, He became so joined to His people that their very sins were made His, and when they were demanded to satisfy the claims of a broken law, He made bare His breast and received the dagger of Justice into His heart. This He did as a guarantee; for He was so related to them, that Justice was as well satisfied (and even better,) when Jesus was left pulseless and dead on the cross, as it would be if you and I were to be in torment forever. It was right and proper for Him to die because He was one with us; bound in the same bond, under the same covenant.

For, as a wife is one with her husband, so Christ became one with His people; for He loved His people, as a husband loves his wife, and gave Himself for them.

Suppose a poor, destitute woman, under disgrace and debt of millions, exposed to prison life for her debt and crimes, knowing herself to be justly under the control of her creditors, and exposed to the disapproval of all the world; and some rich millionaire, of the highest possible credit and standing, clad in garments becoming his wealth and honor, comes to her in her poverty, rags, and disgrace, and offers her his hand. She is astonished, that a person of so vast wealth and honor and beauty should offer his hand to her, so uncomely and unworthy. She tells him of her debts. He assures her that her debts can be paid without visibly affecting his wealth.

She then speaks of her rags, her guilt, and disgrace, and scans his noble personage again, and mutters within herself, “It cannot be that one so vile as I can be the wife of this lord.” But he fully explains all, and she casts herself into his arms, with all her rags, debts, and disgrace.

Her name is now lost, and she assumes his; he is now between her and all her creditors; he clothes her in his righteousness, and tells her, “I’ll never leave or forsake thee.” This our Savior did for us; He stooped to become one with us and make us His bride, and it cost Him His blood, His life, His all; but He arose from the dead (for He could not be held by death,) as a certain pledge that all His people should come from the dark and dreary abodes of death, and participate with Him in the vast ocean of bliss above. Therefore, it is said,

Who is this who comes from Edom,
    from the city of Bozrah,
    with his clothing stained red?
Who is this in royal robes,
    marching in his great strength?

“It is I, the Lord, announcing your salvation!
    It is I, the Lord, who has the power to save!”

Isaiah 63:1 NLT

The hosts of Heaven believe Him to be a mighty Savior; and they have not a doubt but that the last day will witness Him approach the burning throne of God, and exclaim in melting notes, “Behold, I and the children God has given me” (Hebrews 2:13 ESV).

His entire body will be there, not a member left behind. Isn’t this a friend that sticks closer than a brother? Doesn’t this look to you more like the work of God, and that Jonah was right when he said, “Salvation is of the Lord?” No wonder Toplady could sing:

“Rock of ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee;
Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to thy cross I cling.”

No wonder John…

… looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

Revelation 7:9-12 ESV

God will not leave the saving of His people to chance. There are no coincidences with God. He saved you because He chose you. God Almighty will have all the praise in the world to come; therefore, everything that contributes to make the salvation of His people certain originates in Him. Ponder well before you dismiss this.

This is post 14 in a series; you can read the previous post. This post started as the public domain works of J. H. Oliphant. While sections are the same in many ways, I modernized the language and added my thoughts to provide greater clarity for my readers.
Image by ktphotography from Pixabay

Reading time: 6 minutes

Security can be elusive as no one is without doubts. However, God’s elect possess God’s security. Under what circumstances do you feel most secure? We can consider being secure from different perspectives:

• Building a foundation on the Rock (Jesus)
• Unwavering mental fortitude
• Unable to be deceived or led astray
• Holding firm against an attack
• God grasping us even if we let go

For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect.

Mark 13:22 ESV

God’s word is a stubborn truth that cannot be denied. Doubtless, all believers are the elect. And this text affirms it to be impossible to deceive the elect. God’s elect can discern the difference between the real Christ and imposters.

Yet the righteous holds to his way, and he who has clean hands grows stronger and stronger.

Job 17:9 ESV

Unquestionably, authentic salvation strengthens believers. Paul asks:

Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

Romans 8:33-34 NLT

Why can’t God’s elect be charged? God justifies His elect exclusive of all others. No one is above God, able to condemn His elect. Christ died for God’s elect exclusive of all others.

The plain reasoning here is, that those whom God justifies, and for whom Christ died (justification and redemption being equal in their comprehensive accomplishments), cannot be condemned. The eternal justice of God forbids it. The apostle confines these blessings and privileges to the believer. In the same passage, it is asked,

Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for [the elect], won’t he also give us everything else?

Romans 8:32 NLT

Here we learn that all spiritual blessings — faith, repentance, sanctification, and salvation — are involved in the gift of Christ, and bestowed freely for His sake. If God has delivered up His Son for them, how much more will He bestow all things necessary to their eternal salvation. The gift of Christ’s sacrifice for us (the elect) is a certain pledge that God will give us all things for salvation.

Secure in Jesus’s Hands

God has indeed given all His chosen believers to Christ for eternal redemption. The elect are secure with Jesus.

Those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will. And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day.

John 6:37-39 NLT

The elect were given to Christ before they came to Him, and God said they will come to Him. The objective of giving was that they should come. All who are thus given to Christ by the Father shall come to him, or believe upon him (verses 39 and 40 use these phrases interchangeably). Those who come, he will in no way cast out; they will all be saved.

The whole doctrine of this passage is that God, in the covenant before mentioned, did give the people of His choice to Christ, and it is the will of God that not one given will be lost; but that all of them (the elect) should be raised up at the last day. The great Savior came into the world to carry out that will of God; and all given to Him will come to Him, believe in Him, and obtain eternal life. With this view, the Savior prays:

For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him.

John 17:2 NLT

Those God gives to Jesus—no more, no less—He also gives eternal life. Those who have Jesus, have eternal life. Those who don’t have Jesus, don’t have eternal life.

All these passages point to one objective: the certain and infallible salvation of all God’s elect. And now, as God is omnipotent, there can be no failure.

I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. But you don’t believe me because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish [not ever].

John 10:14-15, 26-28 NLT

If this text is true, falling from grace is impossible.

Secure Because of God’s Choice

Those God chooses for salvation are secure in God’s choice. God initiates and completes the work of salvation for the elect.

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.

Hebrews 9:11-12 ESV

Will eternal redemption save a sinner? Certainly. If not, what kind of redemption will? I would be willing to rest the whole argument here on this one text; for I feel sure that an eternal redemption is long enough to save to the greatest limits possible. Do not forget this point.

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation.

Romans 5:8-9 NLT

If we have been justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath. We have God’s word plainly for this, and let God be true, but every man a liar that denies it. Further, consider:

When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and thanked the Lord for his message; and all who were chosen for eternal life became believers.

Acts 13:48 NLT

In this case, only those who were ordained to eternal life believed. This passage cannot be manipulated to sustain any human reasoning. To consider apostasy, these words of God must be denied. But we have seen many places where scripture, just as plainly as language can be, secures the salvation of everyone born of God.

This is post 13 in a series; you can read the previous post. This post started as the public domain works of J. H. Oliphant. While sections are the same in many ways, I modernized the language and added my thoughts to provide greater clarity for my readers.
Image by Alfred Derks from Pixabay