For me, this is dangerously close to works' righteousness. Also, this "maintaining salvation" teaching is the same as that held by the Roman Catholic Church, the Mormon church, and the Jehovah's Witnesses churches (among others). Of course, I realize that just because false groups teach the same thing, doesn't mean the teaching is wrong. Still, I can't help wondering if something is amiss. And, there is another problem.
[h=2]James 2:10 and Gal. 3:10[/h]
- James 2:10, "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all."
- Gal. 3:10, "For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them.'”
A further concern I have is that if anyone were to try to maintain his salvation by being faithful/good, is he then required to keep the whole law?
I believe that those who seek to remain faithful and obedient to God in order to stay saved would say they are not trying to maintain their salvation by their works, their faithfulness, their obedience, etc. At least I hope not. But, isn't a law an instruction given by God that has a punishment for disobeying it? God commands everyone everywhere to repent (
Acts 17:30). In Exodus 20, God commands that we believe in him. Can it be said that the command to believe and repent are laws since disobeying them has penalties? Do you see the problem?
[h=2]A confession[/h] I'm not a very good Christian. I know my treacherous and sinful heart. If my salvation were dependent in any way upon my faithfulness or obedience, then I'm in trouble. I would never claim that I was able to remain faithful enough or do enough good to maintain my position with God. I just can't go there. Instead, I rely totally on him to keep me--not me to keep myself.
All that I am and all I need is found in the work of Christ. Even my ability to believe is God's work (
John 6:28-29). My believing has been granted to me by God (
Phil. 1:29), and I believe because I was appointed to eternal life (
Acts 13:48). Should I then stand before God and man and say that I am keeping my position with God by my own faithfulness? This is something I can never claim.
That is why I ask people who believe they can lose their salvation and are seeking to maintain it by being faithful, "Are you taking credit for your believing?" If they say yes, they are boasting. If they say no, then I ask them what makes them think that God [who granted that they believe (
Phil. 1:29), appointed them to eternal life (
Acts 13:48), chose them before the foundation of the world for salvation (
Eph. 1:4-5;
2 Thess. 2:13), predestined them (
Rom. 8:29-30), and said that he will lose none (
John 6:39)] will let them slip through his fingers when he said it was his will that those who believe would not be lost and would be raised on the last day (
John 6:37-40)?