Opus 2011-119, Christian Cliches: God wouldn’t disinherit his children, would He?

I hear this statement every once in awhile.  It is usually used to defend the last point of the TULIP theory, the “Perseverance of the Saints.”  Those of us that have a hard time with this teaching call it “Once saved, always saved.” 

The full reasoning goes like this.  God predestined you to be one of the elect (Unconditional election).  He gave you faith and you believed, thus you were saved (Irresistible grace).  You were sealed by the Holy Spirit and what God has sealed cannot be unsealed (Perseverance of the saints).  If you accept all of these points as being Biblical, you are home free.  You can find verses to back up each of these points.

The problem with this is that you can also find verses that make this understanding impossible.  From my point of view, you need to take the whole counsel of God, not just the Cherry Picker’s Edition.  Although the Reader’s Digest Association has published a Bible, and the method is fine for reading the works of James Michner, I would not use it as a foundation for my theology.

The Bible is full of times where God has cut off His “children.”  The Cherry Pickers would quote to you

(Romans 11:11 KJV)  I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

Sounds good, but keep reading.  As you do you find that the entire following section tells you that God will cut off those who turn from Him.

(Romans 11:22 KJV)  Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

Some people mock and ask, “You mean you can be saved again and again?”  Well, read the next verse.

(Romans 11:23 KJV)  And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.

It certainly looks like it to me. 

Some times people look at you, dripping mercy and compassion, and say, “You wouldn’t cut of the inheritance of your children would you?”  They look shocked and offended when I say, “You bet your bippy I would!”  The thought of passing the wealth that God allows me to accumulate to someone who has my blood but would use that wealth for the glory of Satan chills my blood.  It should chill yours too.

We are adopted into the family of God.  That means that before the adoption you were not part of the family.  Understand the Roman view of adoption.  At this time in history adoption was a higher form of family than natural birth.  At this point the Roman emperors were not putting their natural children on the throne.  They would look around, find a good candidate, adopt him and designate him as heir.  To do this they might disinherit their natural children or even put them to death.  Adoption was not a backup plan, it was a mark of honor.

If you want to work at the animal shelter and love the puppies, go for it.  But don’t let all that love and compassion blind you to the fact that puppies don’t go to hell, people do.  You need to have a more Biblical standard for the Body of Christ.

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