Important to the modern world is "Biblical Canon" it being the accepted standard for Christians and a measuring stick for God inspired truth revealed to his people.
2 Timothy 3:16 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"
"Scripture" extant in this passage is Masoretic Text which is the authoritative Hebrew text in the Jewish Bible. Codex are manuscripts of Masoretic Text. The Old Testament used by Protestants are translations of Masoretic Texts. These texts were translated between the seventh and tenth centuries A.D. Masoretic Text was the accepted verified and accurate codexes of the Hebrew Bible handed down over the years. The original Hebrew Bible is mentioned in the Hebrew book of written and oral law, the Talmud. The King James Version of the Holy Bible was taken from the Bishop's Bible, the Geneva Bible, the Septuagint, the Textus Receptus and Erasmus's Latin translation known as the Vulgate. The King James Version was written in 1611 and has undergone many changes since, clarifying words and correcting printing errors.
Only the gospels of Mark and Luke were written before 2 Timothy, so it could be that when Paul wrote this letter he was including contemporary scripture as well, but the authority of those scriptures were probably not widely accepted at that time. Likewise, twelve of Paul's own letters were already in existence. Paul considered himself inspired of God, so he may have included his own writings as "scripture". The books of Acts and James were also in existence and it's hard to believe that a book describing the formation of the Christian Church would have been ignored by Paul as scripture. However, it is best to recognize that it's likely that only Hebrew Canon was scripture.
Various religious groups have "closed" canon. Scripture can no longer be added to, deleted nor altered. Biblical Canon are based on whether the writings are of the original apostles, whether they are accepted by Christians universally, whether they have been read historically in religious services and whether the messages are internally consistent and the teachings of Christ. (The last three prevent newly discovered gnostic texts from being accepted as canon as well as that many were written years after the alleged authors were dead). The church has had closed canon since between 1546-1647 for the various Christian movements. There are 66 canonical books including 27 which are New Testament.
Martin Luther did not include Esther, Hebrews, James, Jude and Revelation as canon. Esther is historical and doesn't mention God. Revelation was "unintelligible". Strangely it is Revelation which has these words:
Revelation 22:19 "And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book."
Luther went even further in an attempt to reject deuterocanonical (secondary canonicals), II Peter, II and III John. That effort failed as did his attempt at canonical books after about one-hundred years.
Luther had an agenda. It was sola gratia , by grace alone, and any scripture which even hinted at the dignity of "works" playing any part in a Christian's salvation was anathema to him. Although historically John Calvin has been credited for the "reformed" movement in protestantism, his writings are mostly a reflection of the writings of St. Augustine and Martin Luther. Hence, Calvinism is the doctrine of the reformation.
Those opposing Catholicism are "Protestants". These are the "Reformed Churches" and include the Presbyterians. Baptists are technically not "protestants" although the description is in vogue for simplicity's sake. Baptists are schismatics of the Church of England who left the Catholic Church for political reasons (the Pope wouldn't allow Henry VIII to divorce). General Baptists separated from the Anglicans (mid-1600s) first, followed shortly thereafter by the Particular Baptists. General Baptists believed in the "general atonement" whereas the Particular Baptists believed in predestination for the elect only, hence "particular".
Most modern churches are a blend of Armineanism (those at odds with Calvinism) and Calvinism itself. Five point Calvinists have adhered to all the points of John Calvin: 1) Total depravity, 2) unconditional election, 3) limited atonement, 4) irresistible grace and 5) preservation of the saints. Most baptists today are either one or two point Calvinists, being either proponents of total depravity or preservation of the saints or both. Each point can stand on the previous points only. They can't stand alone. They're as stairsteps. One point leads to the next and the previous point is the basis for the subsequent point.
"Preservation of the Saints" is called "eternal security" and "once saved, always saved". Those in opposition believe in "conditional security" and most often believe in apostasy, but not multiple instances of "salvation" as accused by the opposition.
Hebrews 6:5 "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."
In modern English this means that if you're a Christian and apostatize (fall away) and if you were able to be saved again, you would be crucifying Jesus again and shame Jesus. The truth is that a Christian can "fall away" and give up their salvation, but they are reprobate, not being able to be saved again.
Those who profess a belief in eternal security disavow this scripture by saying "This was written for the Jews (Hebrews) only and doesn't pertain to others." That is a concoction to make scripture agree with flawed doctrine and is a strategy first tried by John Calvin to remove the Book of Hebrews from canon. However, even if it did pertain to Hebrews only, it would establish a different doctrine for Jews and Gentiles. God is no respecter of persons in this regard!
Romans 2:10 "But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 11 For there is no respect of persons with God."
No, God did not offer a different scripture for Jew and Gentile. There is one salvation.
Galatians 3:28 ( ESV) "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
Hence, eternal security is a false gospel propagated by Martin Luther and John Calvin. That doctrine has caused more sin than any other false doctrine. Salvation becomes "fire insurance" in that it allows the sinner to escape hell, but it is at odds with living a sanctified holy life which is considered merely "works".
John 15:10 "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love."
Keeping commandments is "works". It's what those who truly love Christ do! This is reinforced many places including the Book of James, which Luther also loathed!
James 2:20 "But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?"
Martin Luther didn't believe these truths. He sought to distort truth to suit his own doctrine. Likewise, John Calvin did the same. Today eternal security is a false doctrine damning many to hell!
Galatians 1:6 "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed."
I would suppose that Paul was referring to gnosticism to be honest since it was prevelent in that time and that place. However, he made a general statement about "another gospel". That means any message about Christ which is not truth! "Eternal Security" is not scriptural truth. Those teaching that doctrine are not ant-Christian, but merely deceived by the deceiver. They are earnest Christians many of who do live a holy life, confused because of their upbringing and the doctrines of those who mentored them. Although Billy Graham, one of the most spiritual men I've listened to, teaches that doctrine, he's not Christ! He still errs and this is a great error!
If there is one place in scripture which is at odds with eternal security, it means the doctrine is wrong!
Acts 8:13 "Then Simon (the Sorcerer) himself believed also: and when he was baptized..."
The wicked magician, Simon, got saved! However, we learn later that he was beguiled by power and apostatized. In fact literature by our early church fathers report that Simon Magus roamed all Asia ridiculing the gospel. The Christian Simon abandoned Jesus!
Many in the eternal security movement say that "They believe you can lose your salvation!" No true proponent of "conditional security" preaches that. It's a misrepresentation! We all believe what scripture says:
Hebrews 13:5b "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."
Although God will never leave you, but as free moral agents, we can all leave him, and many do! We're not automatrons. We're human and our free will is God's gift to mankind!
Although God will never leave you, but as free moral agents, we can all leave him, and many do! We're not automatrons. We're human and our free will is God's gift to mankind!
Although those who believe in eternal security use this verse for refutation of conditional security, it is to be noted that by using their own argument "This only applies to the Jews since it was written to the Hebrews!" they are inconsistent. If a theologian rejects a book of scripture in one case, the same person cannot use it as a defense in another case! That is arguably intentional deceit!
If the "to the Hebrews only" argument holds for the Book of Hebrews, by the same logic Romans is just for Romans; Corinthians applies only to those in Corinth; and etc. All canon is for all people of all ages since there is one gospel! Any who attempt to rationalize false doctrine often use general text selectively!
My intent is not to ostracize those who believe in eternal security. It is am attempt to get those to examine their doctrine. Do they believe the way they do because of their parents, their early church, their denomination, or their mentors; or do they believe what they believe because it's scriptural.
Like everybody else, I humbly admit that I can be wrong! That's a first step in finding truth. Get rid of pride. Pride blinds the revelation of truth. However, based on scripture, I believe in conditional security. I would like to believe in eternal security because then I could do anything I want, even murder, and still make it to heaven. That's not God's plan! His plan is the gift of grace, but grace tempered by being righteous! Yes, it's hard to be righteous and we never will be, but trying to be so is evidence of our love. If we love him we are to follow his commandments. That's Jesus speaking, not the Pharisees!
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