It is so true, there are indeed two sides to every argument. That is what I am now addressing in at least two posts, the other side, hoping that someone will broaden my understanding of their position in a concise and kind manner.
IS THE OPPOSING VIEWS CHIEF ARGUMENT A "STRAW MAN?"
IT GIVES PEOPLE PERMISSION TO SIN FREELY
This is what I hear consistently from my friends who vehemently deny the doctrine of eternal security, "People who believe this believe that they can do anything they want to do now that they're saved. My sins are all forgiven and I'm eternally secure so I can do whatever I want to do. I can commit adultery or get drunk or whatever. I'm saved." *See my earlier post that mentioned the straw man approach to arguing. And for an outstanding example of this, go here.
I do see this argument as a strawman. This isn't a real argument addressing the truth or falsehood of the doctrine of eternal security. It merely takes a "what if" kind of approach pointing to a hypothetical situation.
It doesn't take into consideration the nature of those who choose to continue living in sin and the rejection of the plain word of God or the nature of those who are genuinely regenerated. And it unduly lays on our shoulders the blame and the guilt of those who so continue to live in sin. However, having said that, I see it as a valid and sincere concern on the part of those who see the doctrine of eternal security as serious error or even as one friend repeatedly says of it, "it's a damnable heresy." And it is their thinking that sees eternal security as giving folks permission to sin with impunity that raises one of their most serious arguments against it. Are they right to be so concerned?
We have all seen within the visible church those who blatantly live in sin while professing faith in Jesus Christ. Not all of them believe nor will they confess that it is because they believe they are eternally secure. Some do; some don't. But it does in fact happen. I have a good friend who has said as much to me. I also worked in a warehouse where one of the truck drivers who delivered goods to us told me that since all his sins are forgiven he's going to enjoy them. Really. He actually said that. There are those deceived souls who can't see past their noses and recognize that there is something wrong with this picture.
While holding to the doctrine of once justified, always justified as Scriptural, I also preach and teach
the whole counsel of God regarding how we are to now live out our lives as those who are born again. I do not intimate nor say that we can now sin freely. For instance, I preach and teach that we "know" that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God. It is plainly taught in the word of God that those who live in "filthiness, foolish talking, coarse jesting," and are "fornicators, unclean persons, and covetous" have no "inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience" Paul says in this section of Ephesians 5, vv3-5, "For this you know." I know and so I preach.
Again, the word of God is so clear on this matter that one would have to be spiritually blind, spiritually dead in order to believe that one can sin willy nilly. Romans 1:18-32, I Corinthians 6:9-10, Galatians 5:19-21, and Colossians 3:5-7, cannot be dismissed, lightly or otherwise except by the most depraved, lost people. If one is pursuing these things then that one is not pursuing righteousness. That one does not want to pursue righteousness.
IS THE OPPOSING VIEWS CHIEF ARGUMENT A "STRAW MAN?"
IT GIVES PEOPLE PERMISSION TO SIN FREELY
This is what I hear consistently from my friends who vehemently deny the doctrine of eternal security, "People who believe this believe that they can do anything they want to do now that they're saved. My sins are all forgiven and I'm eternally secure so I can do whatever I want to do. I can commit adultery or get drunk or whatever. I'm saved." *See my earlier post that mentioned the straw man approach to arguing. And for an outstanding example of this, go here.
I do see this argument as a strawman. This isn't a real argument addressing the truth or falsehood of the doctrine of eternal security. It merely takes a "what if" kind of approach pointing to a hypothetical situation.
It doesn't take into consideration the nature of those who choose to continue living in sin and the rejection of the plain word of God or the nature of those who are genuinely regenerated. And it unduly lays on our shoulders the blame and the guilt of those who so continue to live in sin. However, having said that, I see it as a valid and sincere concern on the part of those who see the doctrine of eternal security as serious error or even as one friend repeatedly says of it, "it's a damnable heresy." And it is their thinking that sees eternal security as giving folks permission to sin with impunity that raises one of their most serious arguments against it. Are they right to be so concerned?
We have all seen within the visible church those who blatantly live in sin while professing faith in Jesus Christ. Not all of them believe nor will they confess that it is because they believe they are eternally secure. Some do; some don't. But it does in fact happen. I have a good friend who has said as much to me. I also worked in a warehouse where one of the truck drivers who delivered goods to us told me that since all his sins are forgiven he's going to enjoy them. Really. He actually said that. There are those deceived souls who can't see past their noses and recognize that there is something wrong with this picture.
While holding to the doctrine of once justified, always justified as Scriptural, I also preach and teach
the whole counsel of God regarding how we are to now live out our lives as those who are born again. I do not intimate nor say that we can now sin freely. For instance, I preach and teach that we "know" that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God. It is plainly taught in the word of God that those who live in "filthiness, foolish talking, coarse jesting," and are "fornicators, unclean persons, and covetous" have no "inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience" Paul says in this section of Ephesians 5, vv3-5, "For this you know." I know and so I preach.
Again, the word of God is so clear on this matter that one would have to be spiritually blind, spiritually dead in order to believe that one can sin willy nilly. Romans 1:18-32, I Corinthians 6:9-10, Galatians 5:19-21, and Colossians 3:5-7, cannot be dismissed, lightly or otherwise except by the most depraved, lost people. If one is pursuing these things then that one is not pursuing righteousness. That one does not want to pursue righteousness.