Are there verses that support that eternal salvation can be lost? The phrase itself is an oxymoron when you carefully consider it. Let’s take a look and carefully breakdown one of these verses of scripture.
II PETER 2:1-2 SUPPORTS THOSE THAT JESUS BOUGHT WITH HIS BLOOD CAN SUBSEQUENTLY BE DAMNED RIGHT?
Now that’s a controversial question, but it’s worth exploring. Here are the verses in question: 1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
2 Peter 2:1-2 (KJV)
The most troubling phrase of this verse is “denying the Lord that bought them”. Who’s “them” in this verse? Is it the false teachers or is “them” making reference to someone else? When you look at the verse at face value, it appears that the Apostle is making reference to Jesus paying the price for the sins of these false teachers, but they still are doomed to destruction; meaning that at one point they were saved, but they denied the Lord that bought them (i.e. the false teachers) and are doomed to hell. Simply put, they were once heaven bound, and now they’re hell bound due to persistent, habitual sin in their lives. That is a fair and popular assessment of this verse. That is what a lot of people believe. We must remember, we can’t build a theology on one verse without reading the context that preceded this thought. Now, let’s define some terms.
Bought in the Greek language is the word agorazo. It means initially to buy in the market place. To purchase. Spiritually it means those whom Jesus came to redeem by shedding his blood to save them from their sins. The same word bought is used in I Corinthians 6:20, For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. Also I Corinthians 7:23 says we’re bought with a price; be not servants of men. In Revelation 5:9 it says, And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. The word redeemed is the same Greek word as bought agorazo. And one more scripture, and they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
Rev 14:3 (KJV)
The word Lord in II Peter 2:1 is the word despotes where we get the English word despot; which means a master, a ruler of slaves. Speaks of ownership and servitude primarily. In the N.T., this is used of the Father God. The Greek word used for the Lord Jesus Christ is kurios which means one having supreme power and also one that has concern for those entrusted in his care. This describes Jesus perfectly. Both terms for Lord are used in Jude 1:4, For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God (Depostes), and our Lord (Kurios) Jesus Christ.
I’ve read several articles on what the phrase may mean, “denying the Lord that bought them”, and some have been compelling. I’ll share with you some of what I read:
There is a view that teaches that when the term bought is used in II Peter 2:1, it’s analogous to Old Testament Israel being bought by God when he delivered them from Egyptian bondage; and not Jesus redeeming or saving these false teachers. We’ll take a look at the following verses of scripture:
16 Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O Lord, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased
Ex 15:16 (KJV)
6 Do ye thus requite the Lord, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee?
Deut 32:6 (KJV)
The point of those that hold this view is saying although Israel as a nation was purchased and delivered by God the Father, not all of them were saved individually. Which is true; they were indeed purchased out of the slave market by God nationally but not all in the nation were saved or justified by faith. Why? Because of their unbelief. Unbelief is denial of the Lord.You can read this in Numbers 13-14;Psalm 78;Psalm 95.
Going back to II Peter 2:1, those that were bought are like those that were bought in Israel, but not unto salvation because of their denial of the Lord. These false teachers were bought by the Lord (Depostes) in the since that they owed their Master (not they’re Savior) obedience and denied him. They were definitely to be blamed because they dwelt amongst the faithful, true Saints God and knew his word. Let’s get the whole flow of Peter’s thought by going to the end of the first chapter of second Peter: We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you who will secretly bring in destructive/damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 Peter 1:19-21- 2:1 (KJV)
So we see that Peter is making a contrast between holy men of God and the end of chapter one and false teachers at the beginning of chapter two. That’s the import of chapter two, false teachers not the loss of salvation. Also if you notice in verse one of chapter two the writer never says specifically why they were bought as the writers clearly indicated in I Corinthians 6:20; I Corinthians 7:23; Revelation 5:9; Revelation 14:3. These verses indicate they (the redeemed) were bought with a price; the purchasing agent being Christ’s on blood. This reference isn’t made to the false teachers in II Peter 2:1 now is it?
Another view is that the “them” in II Peter 2:1-2 is making reference to the believers and not the false teachers at all. So one could read it like this: But there were false prophets also among the people (Old Testament Israel), even as there shall be false teachers among you (Christians) who privily (covertly, unnoticed, secretly) shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them (Christians), and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
This view is “Calvinistic is scope because it upholds the doctrine of limited atonement and perseverance of the saints. It supposes that these false teachers are not the “bought”, only the redeemed that some will be lead away with damnable heresies – Greek is hairesis. Literally means destructive choices. These false teachers will choose to spread lies about the truth and many will follow them. This is how false doctrines and cults are established; by destructive lies! The result is that they’ll be bring upon themselves swift destruction.
Another view I’ll present is the “Arminian” view which argues the false teachers were indeed saved, or “bought” but fell from a state of saving grace based on denying the Lord that bought them (i.e. the false teachers). I reject this view due to the fact that these false teachers were never born again. This is the unlimited atonement theory that suggest that Jesus Christ died for every person that has or will ever live. This has disturbing implications. I’ll do my best to explain why a little later.
The last view I’ll present is the logical view. Since scripture clearly teaches that salvation is eternal, it’s only logical to believe that these false teachers are not saved and that this word bought in II Peter 2 can’t mean these people are born again if they’re obviously ungodly men. When you read further down in the chapter it says this: And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
2 Peter 2:3-6 (KJV)
And further more: These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the polutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
2 Peter 2:17-22 (KJV)
So you see, these are men who claim to be righteous but Peter warns his readers against and be on the lookout for them because they teach falsehood and will be doomed. Similar language is in the book of Jude: For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage. But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; how that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
Jude 1:4-19 (KJV)
The logical view is someone who does not have the Spirit of God dwelling on the inside does not belong to the Lord. It’s the Holy Spirit that seals and places a pledge or earnest on the believer (Romans 8:9; Ephesians 1:13).
Who did Christ die for
Now back to the idea of Jesus dying for all men without exception; meaning Jesus died for every man that will ever live. That’s what most Christians believe right? That is called unlimited atonement. If one holds to the unlimited atonement view or universal salvation, then you believe that Jesus Christ died for people he knew would never believe in him and go to hell. The verses they’ll sight are John 1:29; John 3:16; 1 John 2:2. Now I know what someone will say, “Of course Jesus died for every man, the one that believes in him are saved, and the ones who do not believe are lost.” “Why wouldn’t Jesus die for all men without exception? Everyone needs to be saved right?” Yes, that much is true. But as I stated in my previous article, to espouse that Jesus died on the cross just to make men savable is not why he came; he came to actually save men (the elect) from every tribe, tongue and nation. This is what he accomplished on Calvary’s cross and that is what the bible teaches.
The unlimited atonement view has Jesus dying for all men, but saving no one. Why? Because it’s incumbent upon the sinner to activate the salvation that’s been made available. That’s only a potential atonement and not an actual one. That view is unbiblical. Limited atonement or particular redemption as some call it argues that Jesus died only for the elect, those chosen before the foundation of the world, those whom the Father gave to the Son to come and save (See John 6:37; John 10:27-30; John 17). Jesus gave his life for his sheep. These elect are the ones that were appointed to eternal life, and they’re the ones that will believe (Acts 13:48). Unlike the Pharisees in John 10. He specifically told them, “But you believe me not because you are not of my sheep as I said unto you.” (John 10:26). Those that are unbelieving and die in that unbelief will never be saved; not in this life or in the life to come.
Another problem I see with unlimited atonement is the fact there were countless millions of people already in hell being justly punished for their sins before Jesus was even born! So are the proponents of unlimited atonement (Arminianism) going to say that Jesus died and shed his blood for the sins of those that were already in hell being punished for their own sins when they have no hope of redemption? That’s absurd! Even Arminians can’t believe some nonsense like that! The only way that were possible is that Jesus after dying on the cross would have had to go to hell and preach the gospel to the wicked dead which is nowhere in scripture. Once again that line of reasoning is called reductio ad absurdum.
Everyone believes in a limited atonement; whether you’re an Arminian or a Calvinist. You either believe Jesus died for all men without exception but secured the salvation of no one because you have men dying and going to hell for whom Christ died, or you believe he secured the salvation of the elect from every tribe, tongue and nation (I John 2:2). This is what it means when the apostle John said he died for the sins of the whole world. The atonement is limited in that it effects the elect of God, but it’s unlimited in it’s power to save those for whom it was intended for.
Finally, I do not believe for one minute that Jesus spilled his blood for those who would never believe. Logically, it does not make any sense. What good is an atonement that can save no one? That’s why God in his foreknowledge decided to choose those he wanted to save, but in order to make his plan work, he didn’t leave it up to the sinner to choose Jesus first and God would then choose the sinner before time began; that would mean the faith of man dictates election and not election dictating faith. That wasn’t the plan of God. Man is depraved and can and will not choose God on his own because he’s dead in his trespasses and sins (Romans 3:11;Romans 8:7; Ephesians 2:1). Salvation is all of God. God is the one that has to draw men to Christ. God is the one that grants the repentance and the faith (Acts 11:18;Ephesians 2:8,9) to believe and offers the salvation which the elect of God chosen before the foundation of the world will receive at the precise time God appoints, not against our will, but according to his will (John 1:12-13). When a chosen sinner believes, God gives him a heart of flesh so that he recognizes his depravity and desires forgiveness of his sins. It will be sole pursuit and desire of his very heart and life. As I stated before, God knows who will be saved, he chooses who will be saved, and we have to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved. The human finite mind can not fully comprehend this blessed reality, but that’s how it all works.