40 of 47 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Charismatic applauds this treatment of the subject, April 7, 2000
This review is from: Eternal Security: Can You Be Sure (Hardcover)
As a Charismatic in theology, I was raised in an atmosphere that was conditioned upon the belief that it was possible for a born-again christian to fall away and lose the salvation they had. Although it wasn't constantly spoken about, the belief lurked in the theological background as a sort of warning to luke-warm believers. Interesting thing that I have noticed is that not one preacher who believes this can state exactly at what point and what degree of sin will cause this precious loss. Interesting. I had had nagging doubts about "conditional security" for many years and the theological contradiction that goes with it. Then I found Dr. Stanley's book.
Charles Stanley has done a masterful job of tackling tough scriptures and dealing with the issue from both sides - exploring every nuance. Although I differ slightly on his handling of Heb 6:4-6, I am in agreement that it does not refer to losing one's salvation (but that is splitting hairs and being bald, I don't have many to split with!)
In general, if you believe in the unconditional eternal security of the believer, you will find this book a refreshing and vibrant polemic against "maintenance-based" salvation. If you do not believe in eternal security, still this book provides a foundation as to why those of us who are fear-free in regards to our security believe this way.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
GREAT BOOK!, July 19, 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: Eternal Security: Can You Be Sure (Hardcover)
This book is a must-read for anyone hung up on religious rules & regulations! The book is easy to read and understand, and Mr. Stanley's practical approach is sure to touch anyone that has any doubts on their eternal salvation!
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28 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not very deep theologically, but helpful nonetheless., July 15, 2001
Charles Stanley is writing this book with the layman in mind, not the scholar. But the book can be a blessing nonetheless. The problem with conditional security boils down to an unscriptural qualification of sins. The person who teaches conditional security has set up their own law whereby they condemn those who don't measure up. But there are several reasons why a born-again believer cannot lose his salvation.
1) The most obvious reason is that the Bible says that God gives us eternal life when we believe (John 5:24). How long is eternal? If you read the popular conditional security teachers they all agree that once a person is condemned to eternal death, there is no hope for any reversal of their circumstances. Why? Because eternal death is eternal. Yet these teachers ignore the fact that believers don't have to wait until they die to get eternal life, but they can have it now! "Verily, verily, I say unto you, whoever hears the words of mine, and believes on Him that sent Me, has everlasting life and shall never come into condemnation, but has passed out of death into life." (John 5:24) Interestingly, in Robert Shank's book on conditional security there is a chapter entitled "Can Eternal Life Be Lost"...and he never directly answers his own question. Why, you ask? Because conditional security teachers know that the expression "conditional eternal life" is a misnomer. It's like teaching conditional eternal death.
2) The gifts of God are irrevocable (Romans 11:29). Is salvation a gift, or not? Conditional security teachers can't find a single verse of scripture where God revokes something that is said to be a "gift". Why? Because a gift isn't earned to begin with. If it is worked for, then it is a wage, not a gift (Romans 4:4). Any blessing of God in scripture which is revoked was never a gift to begin with.
3) Conditional security is salvation by works. No stretch of logic by the conditional security teachers can avoid this point. They do not believe that a person is saved by grace through faith, but by grace through faith + holy living. And this is dangerous, because Paul suggests in Romans 9:30 - 10:3 that those who trust in their works to save them are lost.
One final point...conditional security teachers tend to ignore verses that condemn their own sins while pointing the finger at those who they deem "worse sinners" than themselves. Romans 6:23 says "The wages of sin is death." I know that Wesleyans and other such groups love to read qualifications into verses where no such qualifications are given, but there is not the slightest qualification of "sin" in that verse. If it's a sin, then it is worthy of death. Ecclesiastes 7:20 says "There is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and never sins." If God revokes one person's salvation because of sin, then he is required out of justice to revoke every Christian's salvation since none of us can completely stop sinning in this life. But conditional security teachers ignore this fact. They ignore the warning of James when he says "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all...so speak and so act, as those who are going to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment." Notice that last verse..."mercy triumphs over judgment." It doesn't matter what you do in this life, if you are saved then mercy will triumph over judgment.
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