Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 3
December 13, 1951
NUMBER 32, PAGE 6

Can A Child Of God Fall From Grace?

A. C. Williams, Parsons, Kansas

I. "Take Heed Lest Ye Fall

Take heed lest you fall for something—this is infatuation. "Some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons." (1 Tim. 4:1)

Itching ears like to be scratched; hence fall for flattery. "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts." (2 Tim. 4:3)

Apostate ears like the sound of fables; hence turn from the truth. "And will turn away their ears from the truth, and shall turn aside unto fables." (2 Tim. 4:5)

Covetous hearts like exercise of rebellion; hence forsake the right way. "Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; enticing unsteadfast souls; having a heart exercised in covetousness; children of cursing; forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the hire of wrong-doing." (2 Peter 2:14-15)

Covetous tongues like feigned words; hence make merchandise of victims. "And in covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you." (2 Peter 2:32)

Take heed lest ye fall from something—this is defeat. You may fall from steadfastness. "Beware lest . . . ye fall from your own steadfastness." (2 Peter 3:17)

You may fall from the prospect of repentance. "And then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame." (Heb. 6:6)

Take heed lest ye fall by something—this is seduction. Lust lures into bondage while promising liberty. "Promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for of whom a man is overcome, of the same he is also brought into bondage." (2 Peter 2:19)

Enticement leads by swelling words of vanity. "For uttering great swelling words of vanity, they entice the lusts of the flesh, by lasciviousness, those who are just escaping from them that live in error." (2 Peter 2:18)

Take heed lest ye fall into something—this is tragedy. Puffed up men can fall into the condemnation of the devil. "Not a novice, lest being puffed up he fall into the condemnation of the devil." (1 Tim. 3:6)

Ill-reputed men can fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. "Moreover he must have good testimony from them that are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil." (1 Tim. 3:7)

Men who swear will fall into condemnation. "But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by the heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath; but let your yea be yea, and your nay, nay; that ye fall not under judgment." (Jas. 5:12)

Men who forsake the assembly will fall into the hands of the living God. "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Heb. 10:31)

Men who neglect persistently will be banished into everlasting fire. "Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire, which is prepared for the devil and his angels." (Matt. 26:41)

II. "Ye Shall Never Fail"

If you continue to grow, you will never fall. "Yea, and for this very cause, adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply virtue...knowledge...selfcontrol...patience...godliness...brotherly kindness...love. Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble." (2 Peter 1:5-10)

If you are kept by the power of God, you will never fall. "Now unto him that is able to guard you from stumbling, and to set you before the presence of his glory without blemish in exceeding joy." (Jude 24)

If you watch your step, you will never fall. "Look carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise." (Eph. 6:15)

III. "How Shall We Escape"?

If we neglect so great a salvation, we shall not escape a great condemnation. "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation"? (Heb. 2:3)

If we are children who curse, we are children who are cursed. "Children of cursing." (2 Peter 2:14)

If we bring in destructive heresies, we destroy ourselves by heresies. "There shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction." (2 Peter 2:1)

If we deny our Lord, he will also deny us. "If we endure, we shall also reign with him; if we shall deny him, he will also deny us." (2 Tim. 2:12)

If we are railing ranters who destroy in ignorance, we shall in this destruction be destroyed. "But these as creatures without reason, born mere animals to be taken and destroyed, railing in matters whereof they are ignorant, shall in their destroying surely be destroyed." (2 Peter 2:12)

If we delay our preparation to meet the Bridegroom, we shall be too late to greet the Bridegroom. "But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not." (Matt. 25:12)

If we desert the Lord for love of the world, we shall share the fate of all worldlings of the world. "For Demas forsook me, having loved this present world." (2 Tim. 4:10) "And if any was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire." (Rev. 20:15)

If we return to swallow disgorged sins, we shall be swallowed up by these sins. "It has happened unto them according to the true proverb, the dog turning to his own vomit again, and the sow that was washed to wallowing in the mire." (2 Peter 2:22)

If the light in us becomes darkness, destiny reserved for us will be blackness of darkness. "If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness." (Matt. 6:23)

If we say, "No" to our Lord here, he will say, "No" to us there. "They are springs without water, and mists driven by a storm; for whom the blackness hath been reserved." (2 Peter 2:17)