QUESTION:
Can you lose salvation? YES. It seems fairly conclusive that you can indeed lose salvation by various means from this selection at least.
- Yes by doing an unforgivable sin. We agree with Jesus on this at least.
- Yes, Hebrews 6 4–6. “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened … If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance”
- Yes, Hebrews 10:26 “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins”
- Yes, Mark 3: 28–29 “But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation”.
ANSWER:
If you choose not to rightly divide the scriptures (2Tim.2:15), and you don’t acknowledge the TWO programs (prophecy and mystery), contained in the redemption plan of God, then this is naturally what you’d conclude.
However, since it is plainly clear that God’s Prophetic program for Israel, under the law, is different from God’s Mystery program for the Body of Christ, under grace, one can rightly conclude that in the prophetic Program due to law, this condition of losing one's salvation is valid, but in the Mystery program, due to grace, this condition is not present.
QUESTION:
Do the systems of prophecy and mystery run concurrently or contiguously? Do however many dispensations you have invented run concurrently or sequentially? If you decide the dispensations are sequential and not concurrent then you must acknowledge that the verses you don’t like in Hebrews are in the current dispensation of grace. Alternatively, if you want to dispose of Hebrews, you can put it a different bin and get an interrupted series of dispensations. Which books are in which dispensation? For those that have the simple law OT and grace NT model, it’s clear enough.
ANSWER:
Concerning biblical dispensations, I'll start with this scripture:
Eph 2:7-13 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. (8) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast. (10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (11) Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; (12) That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: (13) But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Above we have the following divides:
- v7: In the ages to come --- (Prophecy program) this starts with the Tribulation on the day that the antichrist signs a peace treaty with Israel, scriptural reference is Hebrews to Revelation.
- v11: time past --- (Prophecy program) from Adam to Paul, which is essentially Gen.1:1 to Acts 9.
- v13: But now --- (Mystery program) from Paul's revelation of the mystery doctrine to the catching up of the Body of Christ, scriptural reference is Romans to Philemon.
Yes, scholars and theologians can divide things up and name these as they want, but if we keep to scripture interpreting scripture, then the above divides are valid.
The interesting thing with these divides is that the Prophetic plan is split in two with the mystery program slotted into the divide, which is confirmed with the 70-weeks prophecy of Daniel in Daniel 9:24-27.
The prophecy and mystery programs are sequential, albeit that in Acts chapters 9 to 28, both were running at the same time for a period of about 40 years. This is where decisions were made regarding the two gospels at the Jerusalem council meeting,
Gal 2:7-9 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; (8) (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) (9) And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
Concerning your comments on confusion of doctrine and 30,000 diverse denominations, it is my opinion that the confusions and contradictions of doctrine are directly connected to NOT rightly dividing the Word.
- Consider Jesus teaching that to be forgiven, you have to FIRST forgive your brother, else God will not forgive you, Mat_6:12-15.
- Conversely, Paul says that due to the cross and blood of Christ, we are completely forgiven when we trust in Christ and thus it is good to forgive others, Eph_4:32; Col_3:13.
If you don't rightly divide, which one do you practice? One cannot do both as they are contradictory. This is one of thousands of conflicting doctrinal differences within the prophetic and grace programs.
In closing, I agree that dispensational theology has man's fingerprints all over it. It's no different to all other theologies in some respect. I avoid theological arguments which do not have the scriptural proofs needed. I have learned to base my faith on scripture that interprets scripture, not men's theologies that come from creative imaginations.
All things become evident by faithfully searching the scriptures; both truth and lie are exposed when one studies the Word with a heart that is truly searching the heart of God for counsel and truth.
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