<> Ask the Pastor Fr. Walter Snyder Q: Will God preserve the elect? If one does not believe that he will, how is one able to exist as a Christian--and to believe that God is love? A: We looked at part of the answer last week, finding abundant evidence that it is possible for believers to lose their faith and fall away from God. Yet alongside this first teaching is a second one, just as Scriptural, and just as true: The Bible clearly teaches that God has promised to preserve our faith from beginning to end. Many passages could be chosen to illustrate this glorious promise; I include only a few. In John 10:27-29, Jesus says, "My sheep respond to my voice, and I know who they are. They follow me, and I give them eternal life. They will never be lost, and no one will tear them away from me. My Father, who gave them to Me, is greater than all--and no one is able to tear them away from my Father." Writing to the Philippian believers, Paul was "convinced that God, who began this good work in you, will carry it through to completion on the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6)" The Corinthians are promised, "[Christ] will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:8-9)" Finally, "I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)" Each passage shows that God will keep those who trust in Jesus in the true faith until the end; nothing in all creation can stop that from happening. These passages, and others like them, proclaim God's unconditional promise to all true Christians that they will be preserved in saving grace until they go home to heaven. Here we have it: On the one hand, Scripture clearly teaches that it is possible for the believer to fall away from faith--even permanently. On the other hand, Scripture teaches just as clearly that God has promised to preserve us in saving grace to the very end: Nothing will separate us from His love. What do we do? We take very seriously those passages that say it is possible for us to fall way. Likewise, we take seriously those passages which say that God will not allow us to fall away. Though these teachings appear contrary to each other, the Bible does not contradict itself. The mystery is solved when we realize that each of these teachings is directed at different people. The warning against falling away is stern Law intended for our Old Adam (our birth nature). Our sinful flesh wants nothing to do with God (Galatians 5:17-21; Ephesians 4:22). The threat of falling away gets in the face of our Old Adam, who cheapens God's grace, doesn't fear him, is lazy, talks the faith but doesn't live it, and loves sin. This stern warning to our Old Adam comes so we are not destroyed by false confidence and worldly security. God's promise to preserve us eternally is for our New Man (Galatians 5:17, 22-24; Ephesians 4:24). The New Man is who we are in Christ Jesus--our identity as forgiven sinners, saints and children of God--the "real" us. The New Man loves God, delighting in doing all that pleases Him. The New Man is sickened by sin, grieves when we do sin, and longs for its heavenly home. This second teaching is pure Gospel. It is meant to be the sweetest comfort and encouragement to our New Man, so he is not overcome by the doubts of the flesh. Both teachings are God's Word. Both teachings are true. Both teachings are needed. Both teachings must be taught in Christ's Church. Thus, Scripture answers the question, "Are true Christians 'once saved always saved'?" in two ways. Speaking to the Old Adam (carnally secure, neglectful of all that is Christian, yet still claiming to be Christian), the Bible's clear answer is, "No! It is very possible to permanently fall away from saving faith, and you are in danger of doing so!" When speaking to the New Man (struggling with sin but humbly trusting in the Savior alone for forgiveness and heavenly citizenship, yet knowing the weakness of the flesh and wondering if he'll make it), the Bible's unmistakable answer is "Yes! Though you are weak, though you stumble--even though you sin--nothing will ever separate you from God's love in Christ Jesus. He is faithful and He will confirm you to the end! Amen!" That's it for now. You can submit questions by mail to "Ask the Pastor," PO Box 1080, Jasper, Texas, 75951; E-mail xrysostom@aol.com; or just stop me on the street. Walter Snyder is the pastor of St. Paul and Faith Lutheran Churches in Jasper and Woodville and coauthor of the book "What Do Lutherans Believe? A Study Guide in Christian Teachings for Adults." Copyright (c) 1998 by Walter P. Snyder Permission is granted by author to reproduce or retransmit this by any means, provided that its content is not altered, that this notice of copyright and permission is included, and that no financial gain is realized.