No one helplessly falls away from Christ - it's a choice
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Not at all. In Matthew 10:1, we also see that Jesus gave His 12 disciples power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. This would include Judas Iscariot, yet Jesus referred to Judas Iscariot as an unbelieving, unclean devil who would betray Him. (John 6:64-71; 13:10-11) Apparently, Judas believed that Jesus' name has the power to cast out demons but did not truly believe in His name (John 1:12) and become a child of God, but instead was the son of perdition (John 17:12).
John 17:12 - While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the scripture might be fulfilled. John 18:9 - that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, "Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none." Jesus did not lose Judas. Judas was already lost.
Syllogism
1. All given by the Father to Jesus are kept.
2. Judas was not kept.
3. Judas was not given to Jesus by the Father
Or, this way.
1. None of those given to Jesus by the Father will be lost by Jesus.
2. Judas is lost.
3. Judas was not given to Jesus by the Father.
John 13:18 - I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; BUT that the scripture may be fulfilled, 'He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.'
What does scripture say about Judas Iscariot?
Judas was an unbeliever and is a devil.....John 6:64-71
Judas was spiritually unclean......John 13:11
Judas is lost and is the son of perdition.........John 17:12
Judas was not kept by Jesus........John 17:12; 18:9
Judas was a traitor.....Luke 6:16
Judas was a betrayer.....Multiple verses.
Judas was a thief and did not care for the poor........John 12:6
Judas was guilty of a greater sin.......John 19:11
Judas was influenced by Satan to betray Jesus.......John 13:2
Judas was entered by Satan.......Luke 22:3
Judas kills himself......Matthew 27:5
Judas' habitation to be desolate......Acts 1:20, Psalm 69:25
John 17:12 - While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the scripture might be fulfilled. John 18:9 - that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, "Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none." Jesus did not lose Judas. Judas was already lost.
Syllogism
1. All given by the Father to Jesus are kept.
2. Judas was not kept.
3. Judas was not given to Jesus by the Father
Or, this way.
1. None of those given to Jesus by the Father will be lost by Jesus.
2. Judas is lost.
3. Judas was not given to Jesus by the Father.
John 13:18 - I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; BUT that the scripture may be fulfilled, 'He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.'
What does scripture say about Judas Iscariot?
Judas was an unbeliever and is a devil.....John 6:64-71
Judas was spiritually unclean......John 13:11
Judas is lost and is the son of perdition.........John 17:12
Judas was not kept by Jesus........John 17:12; 18:9
Judas was a traitor.....Luke 6:16
Judas was a betrayer.....Multiple verses.
Judas was a thief and did not care for the poor........John 12:6
Judas was guilty of a greater sin.......John 19:11
Judas was influenced by Satan to betray Jesus.......John 13:2
Judas was entered by Satan.......Luke 22:3
Judas kills himself......Matthew 27:5
Judas' habitation to be desolate......Acts 1:20, Psalm 69:25
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“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways,” says the Lord God . “Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord God . “Therefore turn and live!”
Ezekiel 18v30-32
From what I have highlighted, it clearly talking about spiritual death...
Ezekiel 18v30-32
From what I have highlighted, it clearly talking about spiritual death...
I think one has to reflect on the whole body of Scripture to paint the proper relationship of Judas to Jesus. I think no other verses speak as directly as those from John 6:64-71
“But there are some of you that believe not.“ For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.
“But there are some of you that believe not.“ For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.
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They had been redeemed. They were willing to follow Moses (though many times, they wished they hadn't). They had some sincerity in originally having chosen to follow Moses. It is the same way, when people choose to follow God. As can be seen in the demonstrations of the parable of the Sower, and the various soil types. A person can easily be sincere in choices they make in life. They may feel overwhelmingly certain that what they have found is good and something they want. So in that way, at that point, can be called, "sincere" - in this feeling and decion they've made. But some things that we begin with the conclusion that something we've found is right and good - we later come to decide that we don't want after all. Examples: Seeking a mate - sometimes, later on in the relationship, one comes to see that the one they're dating is not the right one to marry, or not as desirable as they'd at first assumed - so he or she breaks off the engagement. It is proper to discontinue something we later discover is not something that would be good for us. Another example: Sometimes, we buy something we overwhelmingly think is desirable and "just what we need" - but later on, we regret we had bought it, and get rid of it.
The same thing often happens in that matter of choosing to accept God's gift of salvation. As can be seen in the parable of the Sower. Some of them who begin with Christ, faithfully continue on throughout hardships & temptations they encounter - without falling away from Christ. But others of them, turn away from Christ, after having been tried by hardships or temptations long enough for it to be possible to determine how faithful they will eventually will be - after that initial starting period.
No one helplessly falls away from Christ, as we all have the ability to make choices in life - God has made it that way. Everyone who chooses to remain faithful to Christ, has ways to help keep himself faithful in Christ - ways the Bible tells us of: Regular prayer, putting on the whole armor of God regularly, etc. God has explained all of that to us, so that we have plenty of ways to keep ourselves faithful to God to the end of our lives.
Paul had full certainty (Philippians 1:23) that he would end up in heaven and that he wouldn't fall away from Christ in this life. That's because he chose to make pleasing God in this life, the most important thing he wanted. He had good certainty, but not complete, absolute certainty about Timothy - it seems, since he also warned him to be careful to remain true to God (I Timothy 6:15). But that shouldn't be surprising - none of us knows what's in other people's hearts as well as God can. All we can know with certainty, if we prayerfully and sincerely serve God and have been tried enough - is that we unbendingly plan to continue to be faithful to Him throughout the end of our lives, and that therefore, God has given us the power to do so.
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I respect your view, and know many other sincere Christians believe as you do - that "it is not possible for a true Christian to fall away." But this is not what I see in the scriptures. I do agree there is a point where a Christian - after a time of being "tried" - show themselves to be solidly faithful to God and fully surrendered to God. At that point and ever after - yes, there is full protection against falling away, so that it is no longer a danger for them. No one helplessly falls away. And the Bible shows plenty of ways to be kept safe from having that ever happening.
2 Peter 1:4-11
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
KJV
I see your difficulty in interpreting the James passage about how faith is dead without works. I know it isn't in modern wording. But I do know many scripture passages that show that obedience (often called "works" or 'fruit" and regular, sincere repentance is required, following accepting Jesus as Lord (God) and Savior of one's life. Here's one verse I know that shows the sad plight of anyone who turns away from God through willful (unrepented of) sins, if he never turns back to God:
Heb 6:4-6
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
KJV
2 Peter 1:4-11
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
KJV
I see your difficulty in interpreting the James passage about how faith is dead without works. I know it isn't in modern wording. But I do know many scripture passages that show that obedience (often called "works" or 'fruit" and regular, sincere repentance is required, following accepting Jesus as Lord (God) and Savior of one's life. Here's one verse I know that shows the sad plight of anyone who turns away from God through willful (unrepented of) sins, if he never turns back to God:
Heb 6:4-6
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
KJV
He was not perennially helpless, in this event, since he repented afterwards. God always forgives those who are sincerely repentant.
1 John 1:9
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
KJV
None of us humans are able to be sinlessly perfect, as Jesus was. But at least we are capable of choosing with our hearts - to obey God with our lives, that is - if we've first received Jesus as Lord (God) and Savior of our life. We all need to prayerfully repent of all unintentional sins, sincerely - and if we do so - God always forgives us.
Paul recognizes the struggle between flesh and spirit that is common and to be expected among God's children:
Rom 7:15-25
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
KJV
1 John 1:9
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
KJV
None of us humans are able to be sinlessly perfect, as Jesus was. But at least we are capable of choosing with our hearts - to obey God with our lives, that is - if we've first received Jesus as Lord (God) and Savior of our life. We all need to prayerfully repent of all unintentional sins, sincerely - and if we do so - God always forgives us.
Paul recognizes the struggle between flesh and spirit that is common and to be expected among God's children:
Rom 7:15-25
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
KJV
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