However, the implications of Calvinism's idea regarding God's sovereignty do not stop at the point of man's initial reception of God's grace. If God is truly to demonstrate His sovereignty, the Calvinist believes that God cannot allow a single individual saved by God's grace to become lost. This doctrine is often called the "Impossibility of Apostasy" or "Once Saved, Always Saved." Let us examine a few statements affirming this doctrine by Calvinistic creeds:
"They whom God hath accepted in his Beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace: but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and br eternally saved. This perseverance of the saints depends, not upon their own free-will, but upon the immutability of the decree of election, flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father" (The Westminster Confession of Faith, XIX, 1-2).
"We believe the Scriptures teach that such as are truly regenerate, being born of the Spirit, will not utterly fall away and perish, but will endure unto the end" (Hiscox's Baptist Manual, Articles of Faith, XI).
"Those whom God has justified, he will also glorify; consequently, the truly regenerated soul will not totally fall away from a state of grace, but will be preserved to everlasting life" (Confession of Faith and Government of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Sect. 60).
Do these statements from the creeds of man correctly represent the teaching of the Scripture? Let us examine the word of God and compare it to these creeds.
The warnings given to those people should serve as a lesson for Christians today who might be tempted to forsake the service of the Lord in obedience to the Gospel by returning to worldliness or false religion. Several passages in the book of Hebrews plainly teach that one may fall from grace or lose salvation.
Hebrews 6:4-6 - "For as touching those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come, and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame."
How could it be made any clearer? The Scripture affirms that Christians may fall away and be in a lost state after being saved initially. People can receive all the benefits of salvation listed without being saved by God's grace. Yet, the same people who were saved and enjoyed the abundant blessings of God could also be lost through rebellion to Christ. If this passage was the only one found in Scripture pertaining to this subject, it would be enough to show that the "Once Saved Always Saved" doctrine is false. One may, after initial salvation, apostatize from God's grace and be in a lost condition.
Hebrews 2:1-3 - "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that were heard, lest haply we drift away from them. For if the word spoken through angels proved stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; how shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation? Which having at the first been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed unto us by them that heard..."
One cannot "drift away" from a place without first being there. Calvinism says that sinners cannot give heed to God's word until they are "regenerated" by God's sovereign act of irresistible grace. After that "regeneration" by God's grace, the Calvinist says those so save cannot be lost. But this passage teaches that individuals who have heard and obeyed the Gospel may depart from it. The writer warns that those who depart from God to consider their inescapable fate given the justice meted out to others who departed from God under the old law. Does that sound like an affirmation of the impossibility of apostasy? No, it is a clear affirmation of the possibility of apostasy.
Hebrews 10:26-27 - "For if we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries."
Yes, the Bible teaches that one who has been saved may so sin as to be lost in the eternal judgment. The same writer goes on to says,
"A man that rejected Moses' law died without mercy on the word of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?" (Heb. 10:28-29).
Who was it that could be guilty of such vile actions? Was it some atheists who had always rejected God? Was it those who had never believed that Jesus was the Divine Christ? No, those guilty of such sins were Christians who had turned away from their faith in denying their Lord. Yes, it is possible for us to be saved by the blood of Christ initially, but then sin so as to be lost eternally.
Hebrews 12:15-16 - "Looking diligently lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright."
As Esau had a physical inheritance, Christians have a spiritual inheritance (Rom. 8:14-17; 1 Pet. 1:3-5). Just as certainly as Esau lost his inheritance, Christians can lose their inheritance. The Christian who sells his inheritance for fornication or profane living cannot expect God's grace to cover him while living in such. He will "fall short of the grace of God." Though in salvation he was sanctified unto God, through sin he may "become defiled."