"In view of the biblical teaching that the security of the believer depends on a living relationship with Christ (John 15:6); in view of the Bible's call to a life of holiness (Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:16); in view of the clear teaching that a man may have his part taken out of the Book of Life (Revelation 22:19); and in view of the fact that one who believes for a while can fall away (Luke 8:13); The General Council of the Assemblies of God disapproves of the unconditional security position which holds that it is impossible for a person once saved to be lost. (Bylaws, Article IX.B.1)." Obtained at https://ag.org/Beliefs/Position-Papers/Assurance-Of-Salvation, Position Paper, "Assurance of Salvation."
See Dr. Gregory Robertson (Associate Professor of Christian Theology at Anderson University School of Theology) article "Eternal Security: A Biblical and Theological Appraisal," obtained at https://anderson.edu/uploads/sot/eternal-security.pdf.
"Procedura wystąpienia z Kościoła" [Procedure for quitting the Church]. Apostazja Info (in Polish). 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-10-28. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
archive.today
"Procedura wystąpienia z Kościoła" [Procedure for quitting the Church]. Apostazja Info (in Polish). 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-10-28. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
Chabasiński, Rafał (2020-10-25). "Procedura apostazji – jak wystąpić z Kościoła?" [The apostasy procedure – who can you quit the Church?]. bezprawnik (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2020-10-28. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
Chabasiński, Rafał (2020-10-25). "Procedura apostazji – jak wystąpić z Kościoła?" [The apostasy procedure – who can you quit the Church?]. bezprawnik (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2020-10-28. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
bibleviews.com
The Eternal Security Teaching by J. L. Stauffer (1888–1959), who served as a faculty member of Eastern Mennonite School for 17 years, see http://www.bibleviews.com/security-jls.html
bookofconcord.org
"The Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord" reads: "Thus many receive the Word with joy, but afterwards fall away again, Luke 8:13. But the cause is not as though God were unwilling to grant grace for perseverance to those in whom He has begun the good work, for that is contrary to St. Paul, Philippians 1:6; but the cause is that they wilfully turn away again from the holy commandment [of God], grieve and embitter the Holy Ghost, implicate themselves again in the filth of the world, and garnish again the habitation of the heart for the devil. With them the last state is worse than the first, 2 Peter 2:10, 20; Ephesians 4:30; Hebrews 10:26; Luke 11:25" (XI. Election, #42, Obtained at http://bookofconcord.org/sd-election.php). Also, "The Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord" reads: "Above all, therefore, the false Epicurean delusion is to be earnestly censured and rejected, namely, that some imagine that faith and the righteousness and salvation which they have received can be lost through no sins or wicked deeds, not even through willful and intentional ones, but that a Christian although he indulges his wicked lusts without fear and shame, resists the Holy Ghost, and purposely engages in sins against conscience, yet none the less retains faith, God's grace, righteousness, and salvation. Against this pernicious delusion the following true, immutable, divine threats and severe punishments and admonitions should be often repeated and impressed upon Christians who are justified by faith: 1 Cor. 6:9: Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, etc., shall inherit the kingdom of God. Gal. 5:21; Eph. 5:5: They which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Rom. 8:13: If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die. Col. 3:6: For which thing's sake the wrath of God cometh upon the children of disobedience" (IV. Good Works, #31–32, obtained at http://bookofconcord.org/sd-goodworks.php)
"We further believe that the fullness of the Holy Spirit does not make believers incapable of choosing to sin, nor even from completely falling away from God, yet it so cleanses and empowers them as to enable them to have victory over sin, to endeavor fully to love God and people, and to witness to the living Christ. (2 Corinthians 7:1; 2 Peter 2:20–22; Acts 1:8)" (Faith and Practice 2018, 13). "Security of the Believer: Evangelical Friends believe that the security of the believer, even for eternity, is indicated in God's Word and witnessed to by the Holy Spirit to the individual, but we do not hold this security to be unconditional. As repentance and faith are the human conditions of acceptance of God's free offer of salvation, so faith manifested by obedience is necessary to continuance in that salvation (Hebrews 5:9; 1 John 2:4)" (Faith and Practice 2018, 30). Obtained at https://www.efcer.org/uploads/1/3/3/2/133267097/faith_and_practice_2018_edition.pdf. Evangelical Friends Church—Eastern Region is associated with Evangelical Friends International.
Witzki 2010a. While the Orthodox Church has no statement of faith or position paper on the possibility of apostasy, two Orthodox resources support the conditional security of the believer and the possibility of apostasy. Witzki, Steve (2010a). "The Orthodox Church Affirms Conditional Security"(PDF). Society of Evangelical Arminians. Retrieved 2023-01-13.
Davis 1991, p. 215. "Martin Luther shared with the Roman Catholic Church of his day the belief that the grace of baptismal regeneration and justification could be lost. On these points he was in agreement with Augustine and Aquinas" Davis 1991: 216 Davis, John Jefferson (1991). "The Perseverance of the Saints: A History of the Doctrine"(PDF). Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society. 34 (2).
Davis 1991, p. 214. "Aquinas believes that one who has been justified by grace stands continually in need of the grace of God, since the justified can turn away and be finally lost." (Davis 1991: 214). Davis, John Jefferson (1991). "The Perseverance of the Saints: A History of the Doctrine"(PDF). Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society. 34 (2).
De Jong 1968, pp. 220-, art. 5, points 3–4. "True believers can fall from true faith and can fall into such sins as cannot be consistent with true and justifying faith; not only is it possible for this to happen, but it even happens frequently. True believers are able to fall through their own fault into shameful and atrocious deeds, to persevere and to die in them; and therefore finally to fall and to perish." De Jong, Peter (1968). "The Opinions of the Remonstrants (1618)". Crisis in the Reformed Churches: Essays in Commemoration of the Great Synod of Dordt, 1618–1619. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Reformed Fellowship.
"We believe that those who abide in Christ have the assurance of salvation. However, we believe that the Christian retains his freedom of choice; therefore, it is possible for him to turn away from God and be finally lost. (A) Assurance: Matthew 28:20; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Hebrews 5:9. (B) Endurance: Matthew 10:22; Luke 9:62; Colossians 1:23; Revelation 2:10–11; 3:3–5. (C) Warnings: John 15:6; Romans 11:20–23; Galatians 5:4; Hebrews 3:12; 10:26–29; 2 Peter 2:20–21. (D) Finally Lost: John 15:6; 1 Corinthians 9:27; Hebrews 6:4–6." "Statements of Faith," obtained at https://generalbaptist.com/national-offices/about-us
helwyssocietyforum.com
"A Historical Sketch of Thomas Helwys," posted by Matthew Steven Bracey on August 25, 2022 in the Helwys Society Forum. Obtained at http://www.helwyssocietyforum.com/a-historical-sketch-of-thomas-helwys/ but hereafter noted as Bracey 2022. Helwys "is also significant for Free Will Baptists, who trace their theological lineage to the English General Baptists and Helwys" (Bracey 2022).
Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians (1535), translated by Theodore Graebner (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1949). Obtained from Project Wittenberg at http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/wittenberg/luther/gal/web/gal5-01.html On Galatians 5:1, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free," Luther comments: "Our liberty is founded on Christ Himself, who sits at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. Therefore, our liberty is sure and valid as long as we believe in Christ. As long as we cling to Him with a steadfast faith we possess His priceless gifts [forgiveness of sins and eternal life are two that Luther mentions in the previous paragraph]. But if we are careless and indifferent we shall lose them. It is not without good reason that Paul urges us to watch and to stand fast. He knew that the devil delights in taking this liberty away from us" (Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians). Stephen Pfurtner cites Luther's commentary on Hebrews 3:16, where Lurther warns, "We must therefore fear lest through apostasy we should lose again the beginning of a new creation" (Luther and Aquinas on Salvation, 142).
mapaapostazji.pl
Jabłoński, Mateusz. "Mapa Apostazji". mapaapostazji.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2023-05-03.
"There are strong grounds to hope that the truly regenerate will persevere unto the end, and be saved, through the power of divine grace which is pledged for their support; but their future obedience and final salvation are neither determined nor certain, since through infirmity and manifold temptations they are in danger of falling; and they ought, therefore, to watch and pray lest they make shipwreck of their faith and be lost" (A Treatise of the Faith and Practices of the National Association of Free Will Baptists, Inc., "Chapter XII: Perseverance of the Saints," 12). See also "Appendix to Chapter XIII," 17–18. Can obtain Treastise at https://nafwb.org/site/treatise/.
nazarene.org
"We believe that all persons, though in the possession of the experience of regeneration and entire sanctification, may fall from grace and apostatize and, unless they repent of their sins, be hopelessly and eternally lost." "Articles of Faith," under the heading "Repentance," obtained at http://nazarene.org/articles-faith
The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine [2010], says, "Continual and unrepentant disobedience can result in loss of faith, and loss of our status in Christ" (183–184). It also states, "Assurance does not mean that our salvation is guaranteed to us against our free will. It is possible to cease to obey Christ and so forfeit our hope of eternal life. This is consistent with our understanding of the grace of God, who always leaves us open to respond freely to him. Freedom to live by grace includes freedom to turn away. … When we live a life of continued obedient faith in Christ we will not fall from grace and be eternally lost. … [This] obedient faith is dependent upon the empowerment of God (Philippians 2:13; Hebrews 13:20, 21)" (180–181, 184). The 2010 Handbook can be downloaded as a PDF here https://www.salvationarmy.org/doctrine/handbookdoctrine
Cyclopaedia of Methodism (Philadelphia: Louis H. Everts, 1882): "Arminian churches … do not believe that those who are converted will necessarily be [finally] saved. They ground their belief further on the warnings which are given by our Savior and his apostles, in teaching the necessity of watchfulness and prayer, in the warnings against falling away contained in many passages of Scripture, and the express declaration that some had been made 'shipwreck of faith' and had fallen away. … The Methodist Churches, being Arminian in theology, totally reject the doctrine of the necessary perseverance of the saints, while at the same time they teach that the prayerful and obedient, while they remain in that condition, can never be separated from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. They believe it, however, to be necessary to use all diligence to make their 'calling and election sure'" ("Perseverance, Final," 708–709). Leland Scott, in Encyclopedia of World Methodism, (Nashville: The United Methodist Publishing House, 1974): [John Wesley says] "Arminians hold, that a true believer may 'make shipwreck of faith and a good conscience;' that he may fall, not only foully, but finally, so as to perish forever." (The Question, "What is an Arminian?" Answered. 1770). … [According to Wesley] "a man may forfeit the free gift of God, either by sins of omission or commission." ("What is an Arminian?" question 11) How important, therefore, for every believer to beware, "lest his heart be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin;' ... lest he should sink lower and lower, till he wholly fall away, till he become as salt that hath lost its savor: for if he thus sin willfully, after we have received the experimental 'knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins'… " (Sermon on the Mount, IV, i, 8, 1747). … Perseverance in grace, therefore, was conditioned upon the believer's persevering! Although the believer continued dependent upon atoning, redeeming grace throughout the course of his salvation, nevertheless – for Wesley – such grace (as seen through Scripture) must be considered finally resistible, the Spirit could finally be quenched. Thus the believer is "saved from the fear, though not from the possibility, of falling away from the grace of God" (Sermon 1. ii. 4.) ("Perseverance, Final," 1888–1889). Mark B. Stokes says: "Other people say, 'once in grace always in grace.' … But we United Methodist believe that we are still free to turn away from Christ even while we are Christians. … The Bible is filled with examples of people who started out well and ended up tragically.
… We experience no state of grace which is beyond the possibility of falling" (Major United Methodist Beliefs, Revised and Enlarged [Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1990], 117–118). Article XII – Of Sin After Justification: "Not every sin willingly committed after justification is the sin against the Holy Ghost, and unpardonable. Wherefore, the grant of repentance is not to be denied to such as fall into sin after justification. After we have received the Holy Ghost, we may depart from grace given, and fall into sin, and, by the grace of God, rise again and amend our lives. And therefore they are to be condemned who say they can no more sin as long as they live here; or deny the place of forgiveness to such as truly repent. (The Articles of Religion of the Methodist Church, obtained at "The Articles of Religion of the Methodist Church IX–XV". Archived from the original on 2007-09-26. Retrieved 2007-05-02.) Charles Yrigoyen writes: "Article XII addresses the problem of our disobedience and sin after we have been prepared by grace and have accepted God's offer of pardon and forgiveness (justifying grace) by faith. … After justification, any of us 'may depart from grace given, and fall into sin, and, by the grace of God, rise again and amend our lives.' In this Article there is a plain denial of what some call 'eternal security' or 'once saved, always saved,' which claims that once people have received the saving grace of God, they cannot lose their salvation" (Belief Matters: United Methodism's Doctrinal Standards [Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2001], 85).
Cyclopaedia of Methodism (Philadelphia: Louis H. Everts, 1882): "Arminian churches … do not believe that those who are converted will necessarily be [finally] saved. They ground their belief further on the warnings which are given by our Savior and his apostles, in teaching the necessity of watchfulness and prayer, in the warnings against falling away contained in many passages of Scripture, and the express declaration that some had been made 'shipwreck of faith' and had fallen away. … The Methodist Churches, being Arminian in theology, totally reject the doctrine of the necessary perseverance of the saints, while at the same time they teach that the prayerful and obedient, while they remain in that condition, can never be separated from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. They believe it, however, to be necessary to use all diligence to make their 'calling and election sure'" ("Perseverance, Final," 708–709). Leland Scott, in Encyclopedia of World Methodism, (Nashville: The United Methodist Publishing House, 1974): [John Wesley says] "Arminians hold, that a true believer may 'make shipwreck of faith and a good conscience;' that he may fall, not only foully, but finally, so as to perish forever." (The Question, "What is an Arminian?" Answered. 1770). … [According to Wesley] "a man may forfeit the free gift of God, either by sins of omission or commission." ("What is an Arminian?" question 11) How important, therefore, for every believer to beware, "lest his heart be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin;' ... lest he should sink lower and lower, till he wholly fall away, till he become as salt that hath lost its savor: for if he thus sin willfully, after we have received the experimental 'knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins'… " (Sermon on the Mount, IV, i, 8, 1747). … Perseverance in grace, therefore, was conditioned upon the believer's persevering! Although the believer continued dependent upon atoning, redeeming grace throughout the course of his salvation, nevertheless – for Wesley – such grace (as seen through Scripture) must be considered finally resistible, the Spirit could finally be quenched. Thus the believer is "saved from the fear, though not from the possibility, of falling away from the grace of God" (Sermon 1. ii. 4.) ("Perseverance, Final," 1888–1889). Mark B. Stokes says: "Other people say, 'once in grace always in grace.' … But we United Methodist believe that we are still free to turn away from Christ even while we are Christians. … The Bible is filled with examples of people who started out well and ended up tragically.
… We experience no state of grace which is beyond the possibility of falling" (Major United Methodist Beliefs, Revised and Enlarged [Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1990], 117–118). Article XII – Of Sin After Justification: "Not every sin willingly committed after justification is the sin against the Holy Ghost, and unpardonable. Wherefore, the grant of repentance is not to be denied to such as fall into sin after justification. After we have received the Holy Ghost, we may depart from grace given, and fall into sin, and, by the grace of God, rise again and amend our lives. And therefore they are to be condemned who say they can no more sin as long as they live here; or deny the place of forgiveness to such as truly repent. (The Articles of Religion of the Methodist Church, obtained at "The Articles of Religion of the Methodist Church IX–XV". Archived from the original on 2007-09-26. Retrieved 2007-05-02.) Charles Yrigoyen writes: "Article XII addresses the problem of our disobedience and sin after we have been prepared by grace and have accepted God's offer of pardon and forgiveness (justifying grace) by faith. … After justification, any of us 'may depart from grace given, and fall into sin, and, by the grace of God, rise again and amend our lives.' In this Article there is a plain denial of what some call 'eternal security' or 'once saved, always saved,' which claims that once people have received the saving grace of God, they cannot lose their salvation" (Belief Matters: United Methodism's Doctrinal Standards [Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2001], 85).
