“(1) Once saved always saved is true (which Jay and Todd say that they do not believe); or

(2) Once saved, a person can sin so as to be lost and he forfeits grace.”

I can think of at least one other way to interpret it:

“(3) Once saved, a person can sin so as to be lost and he does not forfeit grace.”

This would, of course, be the situation the apostle Peter found himself in when refusing to dine with Gentile Christians and upbraided by Paul. I should think it would be the hope of all those who seek to correct the perceptions of others about what’s right and what’s wrong: that the person who has sinned will be instructed about the error and repent. The question is what happens to the person who is not so instructed … or who is instructed about a matter which – like Peter’s – is not immediately clear. Paul felt it was a heinous sin to observe Jewish dietary laws in a Christian era. Peter evidently did not, by practice. Who was right?

I don’t see this discussion as inherently different from the Catholic classification of sins as “mortal” or “venial.” The Bible makes no such distinction, and is generally open to interpretation about which sins are beyond penitence. Frankly, I believe that the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit – the attribution of the label “evil” to God’s work in this world – is a sin beyond penitence. The sinner no longer has a clear concept of what is right and what is wrong; his/her conscience is “seared,” in Paul’s words.

Beyond that, I must agree: the idea of compiling lists and classifications of sins is absurd. Sin separates us from God.

But we can sin without knowing it – sin while thinking we are obeying God, as possibly Peter did. We all do!

So, is it possible that the intent of New Testament scripture is NOT to re-tread the law (which cannot save), by creating new law? But to encourage is to live a life as close to Christ-like as we can … and trust God to apply His grace to our imperfect understanding and imperfect practice?

Grace transcends all the logic of mankind and the classifications we may try to apply to satisfy our arrogant conviction that we have all the answers, can legislate them ourselves, and enforce them upon others (when the truth is that we cannot ourselves live up to them)!

Grace leads us to obey. It does not require perfection. Perfection has already been provided in the life of Jesus. We obey in gratitude for what He provided with His very life-blood.

I am disappointed that the conversations here seem to continue to turn on law rather than grace.

“So, either
(1) Once saved always saved is true (which Jay and Todd say that they do not believe); or
(2) Once saved, a person can sin so as to be lost and he forfeits grace.
Thus, what they have described as “an entirely different possibility” is no solution whatever!”

In view of this comment, how do you account for Romans 4:5-8?

“(5) However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. (6) David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: (7) ‘Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. (8) Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.’” (cf. Psalm 32:1-2)

If I understand Jay and Todd, they are saying that as long as one continues to trust Christ as Savior and to have one’s heart turned toward God, they are in grace. Such people will do all in their power to please God – but will still fail. Saul of Tarsus was not in this condition before he met Jesus. He was trusting in his own righteousness under the law. The Galatians whom Paul warned in Galatians 5:4, 7 were not in this condition. They were trusting in the works of law.

It is interesting to me that you neglected to reference the verses between Galatians 5:4 “you are fallen from grace” and verse 7 (who… kept you from obeying the truth?”. The verses in between read:

“(5) But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. (6) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts if faith expressing itself through love.”

If those two verses do not summarize what Jay and Todd are saying, I am incapable of making sense of anything! (Which some people would say is true of me, but I don’t think it is in this instance!)

In your discussion of “the truth” you take little account of the fact that Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me.” Get your attitude and heart toward Jesus right, and you can be wrong about many things but still in grace. This is true because a heart fixed on Jesus is constantly being molded into His likeness by His Spirit within. On the other hand, a heart that is wrong about Jesus does not have faith in Him – and so that person is not in grace.

Mac’s response confused me. I carefully read the scriptures cited and couldn’t for the life of me piece them together to come up with the same conclusion. It made me think that the differences are not doctrinal (because Scripture is what it is) but preferential interpretation. Conservatives may read the same words progressives read and come to completely different conclusions. The Bible says what it says and leaves it open to for us to figure it out and obey the best way we can.

In some ways the Bible is like reading email (or a blog) in which we cannot know the intonation, emphasis and intent of the writer (or what moved the writer) perfectly. Grace covers us as we try to understand and obey His Words.

Mac’s answers (or non-answers) proved a point…the Bible is an elegant, story that does not have all the answers in rational black and white. It leaves some mystery to grace and faith which defy being completely and fully answered, until heaven. We may get tangled up in trying to prove each other wrong instead of proving that we have an incredible Savior that, through no merit of our own, loves and saves us.

Enjoying the conversation…

“They suggest that as long as a Christian continues in “penitence and faith,” they cannot be lost. So, sincerity saves the saint and not his obedience to the gospel! Galatians 5:4, 7 clearly shows that Jay and Todd are in error. “Ye are severed from Christ, ye who would be justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace…Ye were running well; who hindered you that ye should not obey the truth?” Nothing is said about any insincerity on the part of these fallen Galatians. Jay and Todd are contending that whatever sincere Christians do as sincere Christians, they are safe in the doing of it!”

Your response is just wrong, I’m afraid. Those who would attempt justification by the law are no longer continuing in penitence and faith. That “faith” is faith in Christ as their Savior.

The one attempting justification by the law has their faith in their own works and righteousness.

No contradiction here at all to what Todd and Jay’s position is.

Your response is making more conservatives sympathetic to Todd and Jay’s arguments than you realize.

So far, the conservative position you have outlined appears tragically off the mark.

Oh so sad.

I would love to hear Mac weigh in as to why he thinks God did not provide a list. If our obedience on every nuance is so critical, it seems logical that He would. I mean, He did for the Old Testament. Why is it in the New Covenant we have to interpret our list of rules from less concrete sources such as silences and examples?