Month: May 2014

Christian Baptism Series – Part 2 – Jewish Rites of Purification & Pharisaical Law

Jewish Rites of Purification
As discussed in Part 1 of the Christian Baptism Series, there are many Old Testament verses concerning purification rituals for various purposes. However, the Jews, through the Pharisees, innovated and expanded these laws extraordinarily thus creating two distinct categories for specific cleansings; Netilat Yadayim and tevilah. Pharisaical law determines which purification right is to be performed for which cleansing.

Netilat Yadayim is the washing of the hands with a cup and is to be performed at meals, before worship, before priestly blessing, after sleeping, after visiting the bathroom, after cutting hair, after cutting nails, after participating in a funeral procession, being at a funeral, coming in contact with a corpse, after touching body parts that are typically covered (arm pits, private parts, etc), touching inside of nose or ear, after touching scalp, or prior to scribal work.

Tevilah is the full body immersion in a mikveh.  A mikveh is a collection of water as found  in a natural spring, river or drawn bath. This purification is also performed for a variety of reasons.
– Those who came in contact with a corpse
– Those with skin conditions
– Those emitting bodily fluids
– Women experience their monthly flow
– Men experiencing seminal discharge
– The one who led the scapegoat on Yom Kippur
– Those suffering from any issue resulting from blood discharging from the body
– Conversion to Judaism (2nd century)

When the list is studied, a blending of Biblical cleansing mixed with manufactured cleansing rituals are revealed. The “tevilah” appears to have a Biblical root in the Old Testament purification rituals that were listed in Part 1 of this study, while the “netilat yadayim” appears to be an innovation or hybrid (man’s law and God’s law) at best. There are two particular New Testament passages that reference these innovations; John 2:6 and Mark 7. In John 2:6, there is only a mention of 6 ceremonial washing jars (netilat yadayim) at the wedding in Cana. Mark 7 tells us not only what these jars are for, but gives a clear scope of the meaning behind them. In the passage, the Pharisees become agitated that Jesus and the disciples didn’t ceremonially wash their hands (netilat yadayim) before eating. This appears to be a small debate to our 21st century minds, however, when one understands what is actually at stake, the fight that Jesus and his disciples are initiating by not washing their hands is cataclysmic. To fully understand what is going on, two things must be explained;

(1) How Pharisaical laws came to be
(2) What not washing their hands really meant.

How Pharisaical Law came to be
The common perception of Pharisaical law tends to visualize itself as well intentioned law guarding. Their extra, innovative laws are thought of as caution tape (Pharisaical Law) around an open manhole (God’s Law).  The seemingly well intentioned Pharisees are just helping by devising extra precaution to keep from danger.  While it may appear that way on the surface, there is much more going on than meets the eye. The Pharisees actually believe(d) in 2 Torahs; the written and the verbal. They also believe(d) that Rabbi’s had absolute authority to interpret scripture and this absolute authority was governable by the majority. Therefore, the “second” verbal Torah was the Pharisaical rabbi’s living interpretation of scripture. It was verbal because they wanted to keep it to themselves in order to exclude the gentiles. The written Torah was for everyone, while the verbal Torah was exclusive. This conveniently resulted in the Pharisees having absolute power to determine law without having to explain themselves to anyone, let alone God. They used an irrational interpretation of Deuteronomy 30:12 and Exodus 30:12 to support their position.

Deuteronomy 30:12 says ” It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?”

Exodus 30:12 says “When you take the census of the people of Israel, then each shall give a ransom for his life to the LORD when you number them, that there be no plague among them when you number them.”

By taking these two verse completely out of context and combining them together they establish that since the Torah is no longer in Heaven, but on earth, interpretation is now solely their responsibility according to the consensus of the Pharisaical council. With this understanding, the Rabbinical Pharisees are the only ones who can now interpret God’s law; even excluding God (since the Torah is no longer in Heaven). Therefore they take these interpretations, create traditions of the elders or (takanote) and bestow upon them the authority of God’s commands (written Torah). This is how God’s commands such as “keep the Sabbath holy” can devolve into equating spitting on the ground with gardening. This understanding goes a long way in explaining Jesus’ incessant anger at the Pharisees. It is also important to note that the verbal Torah was eventually written down and is now the Talmud (Jerusalem and Babylonian).  This position is evident in reading the Talmud.  There is an account of Rabbi Eliezer in the Babylonian Talmud found in Baba Mezi’a 59 a & b.  Here is the selected account…

We learnt elsewhere: If he cut it into separate tiles, placing sand between each tile: R. Eliezer declared it clean, and the Sages declared it unclean; and this was the oven of ‘Aknai. Why [the oven of] ‘Aknai? — Said Rab Judah in Samuel’s name: [It means] that they encompassed it with arguments as a snake, and proved it unclean. It has been taught: On that day R. Eliezer brought forward every imaginable argument, but they did not accept them. Said he to them: ‘If the halachah agrees with me, let this carob-tree prove it!’ Thereupon the carob-tree was torn a hundred cubits out of its place — others affirm, four hundred cubits. ‘No proof can be brought from a carob-tree,’ they retorted. Again he said to them: ‘If the halachah agrees with me, let the stream of water prove it!’ Whereupon the stream of water flowed backwards — ‘No proof can be brought from a stream of water,’ they rejoined. Again he urged: ‘If the halachah agrees with me, let the walls of the schoolhouse prove it,’ whereupon the walls inclined to fall. But R. Joshua rebuked them, saying: ‘When scholars are engaged in a halachic dispute, what have ye to interfere?’ Hence they did not fall, in honour of R. Joshua, nor did they resume the upright, in honour of R. Eliezer; and they are still standing thus inclined. Again he said to them: ‘If the halachah agrees with me, let it be proved from Heaven!’ Whereupon a Heavenly Voice cried out: ‘Why do ye dispute with R. Eliezer, seeing that in all matters the halachah agrees with him!’ But R. Joshua arose and exclaimed: ‘It is not in heaven.’ What did he mean by this? — Said R. Jeremiah: That the Torah had already been given at Mount Sinai; we pay no attention to a Heavenly Voice, because Thou hast long since written in the Torah at Mount Sinai, After the majority must one incline. R. Nathan met Elijah and asked him: What did the Holy One, Blessed be He, do in that hour? — He laughed [with joy], he replied, saying, ‘My sons have defeated Me, My sons have defeated Me.’ It was said: On that day all objects which R. Eliezer had declared clean were brought and burnt in fire. Then they took a vote and excommunicated him. Said they, ‘Who shall go and inform him?’ ‘I will go,’ answered R. Akiba, ‘lest an unsuitable person go and inform him, and thus destroy the whole world.’ What did R. Akiba do? He donned black garments and wrapped himself in black, and sat at a distance of four cubits from him. ‘Akiba,’ said R. Eliezer to him, ‘what has particularly happened to-day?’ ‘Master,’ he replied, ‘it appears to me that thy companions hold aloof from thee.’ Thereupon he too rent his garments, put off his shoes, removed [his seat] and sat on the earth, whilst tears streamed from his eyes. The world was then smitten: a third of the olive crop, a third of the wheat, and a third of the barley crop. Some say, the dough in women’s hands swelled up.

This account begins with an argument between Rabbi Eleazer and the other Rabbis concerning whether the oven tile arrangements  were clean or unclean.  Rabbi Eleazer says the arrangement is clean while all other Rabbi’s issue dissent.  Rabbi Eleazar continues to argue his point against the other Rabbis to no avail.  Once he sees that his words and reason cannot sway the other Rabbis, he calls on God for supernatural proof that he is correct.   There are a series of supernatural events including a tree uprooting, a river reversing flow and a library collapsing.  The other Rabbis scoffed and refused to accept these events as proof that Eleazar was right in his assessment of the oven tiles.  As a final sign to prove his assertion, he says ‘If the halachah agrees with me, let it be proved from Heaven!’ Whereupon a Heavenly Voice cried out: ‘Why do ye dispute with R. Eliezer, seeing that in all matters the halachah agrees with him!’ The other Rabbi’s were unimpressed saying that it doesn’t matter what a voice from heaven says because the Torah was given at Mt. Sinai and thus is no longer in heaven.  They believed that God himself didn’t have the power to overthrow the Pharisaical Consensus. Thus Rabbi Eleazer was excommunicated.  This is the perfect picture of how Deuteronomy 30:12 and Exodus 30:12 was twisted and ripped from context to grant the Pharisaical counsil absolute executive power.

What not washing their hands really meant
Now it should be much clearer why the refusal of Jesus and His disciples to wash their hands would spark outrage. The argument is not about whether it is good to wash hands before dinner (it is); the argument was about whether God commanded it or not. The Pharisees believe that He did because they believe that Deuteronomy 30:12  and Exodus 30:12 gives them interpretive authority that supersedes even God. Jesus, rightly so, says that it is not one of God’s commands, but instead, a “tradition of the elders.” His mere saying this completely strips their self-appointed authority away and exposes it for what it is; twisting of God’s word in the form of man’s law. By refusing to wash their hands, Jesus and the disciples are rebuking these Rabbis and exposing their false teachings and deception. This was no minor dispute as it calls the very office of Pharisaical Rabbi into question. This completely attacks and strips their perceived self appointed authority.

What does this have to do with Baptism?
I bring this up primarily to discount any arguments for Jewish rites of purification stemming from Pharisaical law as a case for understanding Christian baptism. I am a staunch advocate for looking at history to get a full, clear picture; however, in this case, any Jewish purification rite that stems from Pharisaical law must be discounted as it was birthed from a tradition of the elders. However, purification laws that stem from Old Testament passages can and should be studied as a prefigurement of Christian baptism; especially when New Testament apostles reference them.

Summary from Part 1 & 2
When looking at Old Testament law, it is apparent that purification laws served many purposes. Old Testament purification laws were efficacious for all that participated. This is known because scripture tells us that Priests who followed the “tent of meeting” purification laws lived and those who didn’t died. There are also the allegorical verses that shed light on the Flood and the parting of the red sea. These are both equated with baptism. In addition, there is also the prophecy in Ezekiel that points toward efficacious baptism. So while baptism practiced salvivicly for all people isn’t part of the Old Testament, there is imagery present that is pushing toward John and his baptism of repentance; this imagery would lead to the Pharisees sending messengers to inquire who he is and what he is doing. The groundwork has been laid in the OT rites of purification, allegories and specific prophesies concerning both baptism and the one who would prepare the way for the Messiah.  This was apparent enough to the Pharisees to cause them to believe that John and his baptismal work could be the fulfillment. Notice in Matthew 3 that they are not curious as to what John is doing; only who he is and why he is doing it.  Keep the Pharisaical beliefs studied above in the Eleazer account close at hand as it will shed light on John the Baptists response to the Pharisaical messengers discussed in Matthew 3.  Stay tuned for Part 3 – John and his baptism of Repentance.

Click here for “Christian Baptism Series – Part 3 – John & his Baptism of Repentance”

A Bro-Country Public Service Announcement

bro country

Having ignored traditional FM radio for the better part of 10 years, I’m typically behind the times on what sells as “popular” music these days.  I typically don’t know who the “big” acts in metal, alternative, top 40 or country are and I am fine with that.  I like what I like and find it through friends, music blogs and sometimes TV ads.  Sadly, I came across what is currently being pedaled as “country” music and…

WOW is it bad!

Now, don’t get me wrong, I love me some country.  I like the legends.  I enjoy George Jones, Buck Owens, Roger Miller, Merle Haggard, Little Jimmie Dickens, Waylon Jennings…I like some of the 80’s/90’s stuff like Dwight Yoakam, Keith Whitley, Alan Jackson and Mark Chestnut.  I can even stomach some Zac Brown Band from time to time.

What I cannot tolerate is this so-called Bro-Country trend.  My goodness, it is embarrassingly bad.  If you don’t know what or who I am talking about, do yourself a favor and keep your bro-country virginity.  Nothing to see here….  If you do know what i am talking about (and you find it as appalling as I do) then you can understand my writing this as therapy in an effort to expunge it from my memory.

From what I can tell, this whole thing got started with “Big & Rich” and was further propagated down the overpopulated road of mediocrity by the likes of “Florida Georgia Line”, “Luke Bryan” and “Jason Aldean” (just to name a few).  Unfortunately, with sales figures like these “artists” are getting, you can bet that the country music industry machine has the mold complete and will keep cranking ’em out as long as people are buying.  With its auto tuned lyrics, club beats and regurgitated lyrics about trucks, elicit sex and cold bear, it’s better served as a  soundtrack to the movie “Idiocracy” than legit music.

Hat tip to President Camacho.

Folks, this is not country music.  Genre aside, this is not even good music.  I am all for a guilty pleasure now and then (e.g. for me, the more recent hit “Blurred Lines” and the more vintage “Groove is in the Heart”) however those songs fit into the genre for which they were intended.  It appears that post modernity has now even bull dozed it’s way into music, stripping any and all absolute truth away from words associated with things as benign as musical genre’s.

From what I have read, there is a line being drawn in the sand between traditional country artists and the industry created “Bro-Country” artists.  From what I gather, traditional country artists are building their very own  Maginot Line.  The rift may be real, but the Traditional Country artists are impotent because they are not in the power position.  The “Bro-Country” artists are here, for now anyway, because that is what the instant gratification seeking population wants, buys, and supports.  The industry executives and their puppet artists are lining their pockets with the money being thrown at them by baby boomers and millennials alike.  Until the population stops buying, we’re stuck with a pop/hip hop/rock/everything including the kitchen sink version of country.

Luckily for me, I’ll head back to my fortress of solitude where country is country, trucks are used to haul freight and auto-tune is reserved for hip hop artists and bad pop songs.  I’ll continue to ignore the industry trends and do my best to erase every memory of FGL’s “Cruise” and Luke Bryan’s “That’s my kind of night” that have been seared into my brain.

 

Can I Lose My Salvation?

Navel Gazer Question Mark

I hate hearing it.

Not because it’s altogether wrong, but because it’s damaging.  It insinuates a contradiction.  A true life oxymoron.

I hate hearing the question “Can I lose my salvation?”

It’s like nails on a chalkboard.  It’s a contradiction because it insinuates that it can be done apart from our will.  When I lose something, I’m always upset about it because I never wanted to lose it in the first place.

I currently find myself in the midst of several home improvement projects.  My house is a disaster area.  In the mix of attempting to work from home, advise contractors and field questions from my wife; I lost my car keys.  Did I want to lose them? Not at all.  Did I reject that the car keys were effective in starting my car or unlocking my front door?  No.  I simply lost them.  The next reasonable question is why did I lose them? On the most simplistic level, I lost them because I am a sinful fallen creature that is encapsulated in this body of flesh until death or Christ’s return. I lost them because I’m forgetful. I lost them because my mind wanders.

I lost them because they were mine to lose.

This begs a rather large question.  Do we own Christ or does Christ own us?  Let’s go to scripture for answers.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

1 Peter 2:9 – But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

1 Corinthians 12:27 – Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it

John 15:5 – I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

These passages makes it very clear that we are the possession of Jesus Christ; not the other way around.  In addition to these verses, there are many more that speak of our new position in Christ as children of God.  Simply put, that is more evidence that we are His possession.  Therefore, in my case, I lost my keys not because I wanted to, but because I am a sinful fallen creature AND because they were mine to lose.  Christ Jesus on the other hand is not sinful nor is he a creature.  He is the one and only God-Man who is the Second Person of the Trinity and is of the same substance as the God the Father.  Therefore Jesus can never lose me.  His perfection won’t allow it.  We are secure in Christ.

This opens a whole new can of worms.

I can hear the premature victory chants from the Calvinists alongside feigning shouts from the synergists.

My encouragement is to bear with me because we’ve only just begun.

If you look back to the beginning of this post, you will see that my issue was with wording.  This is why proper phrasing is key. The phrase “lose your salvation” completely irks me primarily because it is not possible for anyone to lose their salvation.  However, I do think it is possible to forfeit your salvation.   There is an important difference between lose and forfeit.

Webster defines lose as “to be unable to find, to fail to win or to fail to keep or hold (something wanted or valued).”

Webster defines forfeit as “something that is lost or given up as punishment or because of a rule or law.”

In order to lose something, one must be in possession of it.  I have already established evidence that Jesus Christ is the one in possession of our salvation and thus cannot lose it because of His perfection.  On the contrary, one who receives a possession from the possessor has the right to forfeit the rights and privileges that are being given from the possessor. You don’t have to be in possession to forfeit or give up your rights to the possession.  Therefore, speaking directly of salvation, Christ is the possessor of salvation and whether you initially forfeit those rights in unbelief or you lay hold of salvivic rights through faith in Jesus and then forfeit them at some point later (Ephesians 2:8 states that faith is also a gift, and thus can be forfeited) the right to forfeit is freely given to all as is defined by the term forfeit. The second part of the definition states that forfeit occurs by punishment of a rule of law.  This also works perfectly within the constraints of biblical reason.  If the gift of salvation is passively received through faith in Jesus, then active rejection of the gift through unbelief obtains the wage we earned which is punishable by separation from God in hell since the law demands perfection (James 2:10).  So when salvation in Jesus is forfeited through unbelief, punishment in eternal hell is earned.  This presents two distinct categories of people who actively forfeit the gift by grace through faith won by Jesus upon the cross; those who always will reject the gift of faith and those who passively receive the gift of grace through faith and eventually actively reject through unbelief. Both categories forfeit the free gift that is offered.  The first category containing those who always reject faith and live in unbelief thus forfeiting their salvation is generally accepted as a normative doctrine amongst most denominations within the church catholic.  The second category is someone who comes to faith in Jesus and eventually forfeits said faith and becomes apostate. Whether this category is possible is often debated between brethren.  The bible is clear that though it is uncommon, the possibility does exist. The following verses provide clear evidence for this position.

Hebrews 10:19-39 – Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.”

This Hebrews passage is crystal clear in its warning to the church.  The person described in this passage has “received knowledge of the truth.”  The phrase itself forces the idea that the knowledge received was true to the person who received it.  If the person did not agree with the knowledge they received they would not label it as truth therefore the person receiving the knowledge must have agreed at one point that what is being received is true or the verse completely falls apart.  A few verses later in this passage the same person is labeled as being “sanctified” (meaning made holy) and then trampling Jesus underfoot.  It was already made abundantly clear in verse 26 that there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins for the this person.  Several verses later the writer of Hebrews warns the reader to not “throw away their confidence” in like fashion.  Why would the writer of Hebrews give an example of a sanctified believer that received knowledge of the truth and turned from that through rejection of Jesus by trampling Him underfoot through deliberate sin thus nullifying the forgiveness of sins that was gifted through the original reception of the knowledge of truth AND THEN warn of us not to do the same?  If falling away isn’t a possibility, this passage would simply be a lesson in futility. The Hebrews passage is abundantly clear and thus doesn’t need further explanation. The only reason one would attempt to twist these verses to mean anything other than what they clearly state would be to form them into a doctrine of human creation.

John 15:1-11 – “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

John 15 provides further evidence concerning real possibility of forfeiting salvation.  This is the famous passage about Jesus being the vine and Christians playing the part of the branches.  Verse 5 tells us that if anyone doesn’t abide in Jesus, the true vine, they will be cut off and thrown into the fire.  To be in the vine is to be in Christ.  Jesus gives the answer on how to stay in the vine.  A person stays in the vine by abiding in Christ. A couple verses later, Jesus says that we abide by loving Him and we love him if we keep his commandments.  The Greek word for “keep” is “tereo” which does in fact mean keep, however, not in the sense that it is most often understood.  “Tereo” means keep-in-tact or guard. We keep Jesus’ commandments in tact when we believe that they are right and true.  We guard them against false teaching because they are right and true.  Therefore we keep His commandments by trusting in Him, i.e. faith.  Once again, faith in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins receives the promise of forgiveness of sins while unbelief forfeits the gift that is offered.  One cannot be cut from the vine if they were not or were never in the vine to begin with.  The argument that those who are apostate were never really saved doesn’t hold water because if they never had faith, they would have never been in the vine in the first place.

These two passages are clear texts that show that we must be on guard against apostasy (forfeiting our salvation).  Apostasy is always the result of unbelief expressed through continual, unrepentant sin.  One doesn’t accidentally fall into apostasy as it is a premeditated active exchange of forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ for the pleasures of this world through temporal desire for instantaneous satisfaction. This doesn’t mean that when someone sins they are apostate or if someone fails to repent of each and every sin they have forfeited their salvation.  It simply means that if someone comes to a place where they find themselves consistently choosing /living in sin and when confronted with that sin, has no contrition, remorse or desire to repent, then forfeiture of salvation has occurred.  There is still hope for these people (as long as they have breath in them) that through the hearing of the word, God could bring them back to repentant faith in Him.

(Side Note:  I am aware that Hebrews 6:4-8 states that is impossible for anyone who has ” been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come” to be restored again after falling away.  I wholeheartedly agree with this passage as it is scripture and I readily confess that all scripture is God breathed.  I’d like to take a moment to harmonize this passage with my thoughts pertaining to hope for those who have fallen away.  What is exposed in this passage is “blasphemy of the Spirit” also known as the unpardonable sin.  This sin is also discussed in Matthew 12:31-32, Mark 3:28-29 and Luke 12:10. The writer of Hebrews paints a vivid picture of one who truly believes and experiences the complete fullness of the Christian life with great understanding and then falls away, rejecting all that they factually know to be true (we are not dealing with standard unbelief, but true belief that results in them rejecting all they know be true).  Since we do not know the heart of those we minister too, we cannot go forward with the attitude that all who have fallen away fit this description of having blasphemed the Spirit, therefore we must treat all as if there is hope.  I have actually met some people who thought they had blasphemed the Holy Spirit and were wrecked thinking that they were hopeless.  Their contrition proves their heart has not completely hardened (Acts 28:27).  I initially considered removing the statement concerning hope for those who have fallen away out of the post as to avoid confusing people or starting a debate, but I decided to leave it as a way to give hope to those who may have thought they unintentionally committed blasphemy of the Spirit.  After thinking about it i decided it would be better to add this side note for clarification.)

The argument put forth in this post is why I get worked up when I hear of someone terrified of losing their salvation and equally upset when they believe they are eternally preserved by the Calvinist doctrine of Perseverance of the Saints.  You see, either end of this spectrum will bring you doubt instead of comfort. Either end of this spectrum forces you to look within yourself to determine if you have either lost your salvation or to answer internal doubts about whether you are indeed elect (or not).  Whenever we look to ourselves for proof of salvation, we take our eyes off of Jesus Christ, the possessor of our salvation who will never lose or forfeit our salvation because of his perfection.  In the gospels of Matthew and Mark when Peter walks upon the water to meet Jesus, he only begins to sink when he takes his eyes off of Jesus.  Likewise, looking to ourselves takes our eyes off of Jesus which causes us to sink into the miry depths of depression and soul searching while leaving us in constant limbo as we continually question our salvation.  Both the Calvinist position of perseverance of the saints and the synergist position of losing your salvation are two sides of the same coin and the effects are equally damning to any confidence that we have in Jesus Christ.  They both draw you away from Jesus by turning your eyes from His promises to introspective mind games of self doubt and insecurity. It’s my encouragement for you to stop looking in the mirror.  Stop focusing on yourself so much because ultimately it’s not about you; it’s about what Jesus Christ has done for you.  That should be the focus of your attention.  Rest in his perfection.