|
|
WHAT
PRESBYTERIANS BELIEVE ABOUT APOSTASY |
What
is apostasy?
Apostasy
literally means the moving away from where one stands.
It refers to a state of revolting or defecting. In a
religious context, apostasy is the rejecting of one’s
religious beliefs (often in favor of opposing beliefs).
Although some Christians have applied the concept of
apostasy to an act or belief which contradicts any
Christian teaching, Presbyterians believe that apostasy is
more than a mere error in doctrine. Apostasy is that
specific act of a former Christian who denies the Lordship
of Jesus Christ.
This definition of apostasy raises some challenging
questions. If a Christian can become an apostate by
denouncing Jesus Christ as Lord, then was this apostate
ever truly a Christian? Another way of phrasing this
question might be, “Can genuine Christians ever commit
apostasy?” If a Christian is one who is once saved
by God’s grace, is not that Christian always saved by
grace?
|
|
|
|
Do
Presbyterians believe that “once saved, always saved?”
It is
indeed very appealing to believe that a person who once
received God’s saving grace is secured forever in that
grace. The slogan, “once saved, always saved,”
seems comforting because it provides an assurance that a
person who professes faith in Jesus Christ as Lord will
always be saved from sin and death no matter what works
(or lack of works) might accompany such faith.
But Presbyterians see two problems with a doctrine of
“once saved, always saved.” The first problem is
that such a doctrine completely ignores those biblical
texts which warn against the danger of apostasy.
So
if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not
fall.
(1 Corinthian 10:12)
Now
the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will
renounce the faith by paying attention to deceitful
spirits and teachings of demons.
(1 Timothy 4:1)
The
second problem is that the “once saved, always saved”
doctrine minimizes human responsibility.
Presbyterians believe that this teaching expresses an
irresponsible self-assurance about our salvation.
Indeed, we Christians are reconciled to God by divine
grace; but we respond to God’s reconciling grace with
faith. Faith is more than a one-time, single assent
to God’s grace revealed in Jesus Christ. Simply
saying, “Christ is Lord,” is not faith. We
believe that faith is the continuous response to the grace
of God. Our faith is not just a gift from God, it is
God’s gift for which we are continually
responsible—faith is our ongoing responsibility to the
Lordship of Jesus Christ. We believe that genuine
Christianity means that we persevere in our faith.
We Presbyterians refer to this understanding of Christian
faith as the “perseverance of the saints.” |
|
|
|
What
is the “perseverance of the saints?”
The doctrine of the perseverance of the saints has
at least two components. The first is the word
“saints.” In the New Testament, the word
“saint” refers to Christians. Saints are those
who belong to Christ, who are God’s beloved, who are
members of the household of God. Saints are those
who are faithful in Jesus Christ.
So
then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are
citizens with the saints and also members of the household
of God.
(Ephesians 2:19)
Through
[Jesus Christ our Lord] we have received grace and
apostleship to bring about obedience of faith among all
the Gentiles for the sake of His name, including
yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, to
all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints:
grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord
Jesus Christ.
(Romans 1:5-7)
The
second component of this doctrine is the word
“perseverance.” The word “perseverance”
refers to one’s persistence in faithfulness to Christ
even to the end of one’s earthly life. It refers
to one’s preservation as a believer by the grace of God.
Accordingly, those who are saints—those who are saved by
the grace of God through Jesus Christ—receive God’s
grace such that they may persist in their faith and in
their faithful words, thoughts, prayers, and deeds to
life’s end. |
|
|
|
What’s
so important about the perseverance of the saints?
Of
the two components which make up the doctrine of the
perseverance of the saints, Presbyterians believe that the
primary focus is not
upon the word “saints.” Rather, the primary
focus is upon the word, “perseverance.” As
Christians, we are not so much concerned with sainthood
and with our own salvation as we are concerned with
persevering in our faithfulness to Christ. We
believe that a Christian’s earnest desire is to respond
to the love of God revealed in Christ. It is our
heartfelt longing to serve God with all our heart, mind,
strength, and soul. We genuinely aspire to be faithful to
Jesus Christ in all of our endeavors for no reason other
than our genuine love of God.
Presbyterians
do not believe that salvation is an end in itself.
We believe that salvation (as a gift from God) is an
instrument for a greater end. God saves us by His
grace so that we may respond in faith—so that we may
serve God in Christ. As we affirm in one of our
Presbyterian confessions:
Q.
What
is the chief end of humanity?
A.
Humanity’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy God
forever.
(
Westminster
Shorter Catechism; Question 1)
Accordingly,
we do not persevere in our faithfulness so that we might
be eternally saved. Rather, God’s grace saves us
eternally and makes us His saints so that we may persevere
in our faithfulness to Christ—so that, as His saints, we
may glorify God and enjoy God forever. |
|
|
|
Can
a Christian (a saint) ever commit apostasy?
If
a person’s chief end is salvation alone—if a
person’s main goal in life is to be delivered from
death; then, such a person might later decide that some
other teaching can afford them deliverance. Such a
person can
commit apostasy. Or, if a person should decide that
salvation is just not worth having—if a person should
decide that faithfully serving Christ (as a response to
the gift of salvation) is just too much trouble; then such
a person can decide to join the ranks of apostates.
Indeed, as long as a Christian’s primary interest is
salvation alone, apostasy is quite possible.
However, if a person’s chief end is to glorify God and
to enjoy God forever—if a person’s main goal in life
is to persevere in faithful service to Christ; then such a
person will hold fast to the salvation which makes
perseverance possible. Such a person cannot ever
commit apostasy. If a person responds faithfully to
the Lordship of Jesus Christ—if a person embraces
salvation as the means which makes the love of Christ a
reality; then such a person cannot ever deny the Lordship
of Christ. As long as a Christian’s primary
interest is persevering in faith, apostasy is quite
impossible.
|
|
|
|
So,
what assurance does a Christian have about salvation?
Presbyterians believe that salvation should be a
cherished gift from God. But it is cherished for no
reason other than salvation makes it possible for us to
love God and for us to respond faithfully in our love for
God in Christ. If our salvation is not spent in
loving, serving, glorifying, and enjoying God forever,
then our salvation becomes meaningless. After all,
if not for loving God, then what is salvation for?
We believe that, so long as we cherish the gift of
salvation not for salvation’s sake, but for Christ’s
sake; then we have assurance that we shall endure forever
in salvation. As it says in one of our Presbyterian
confessions:
They
whom God hath accepted in His Beloved, effectually called
and sanctified by His Spirit, can neither totally nor
fully fall away from the state of grace: but shall
certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally
saved.
(
Westminster
Confession of Faith; Chapter 19)
Back to
"What We Believe." |
|
