CAN SAINTS APOSTATIZE? by Eld. S. Osborn.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 27, 1879

CAN SAINTS APOSTATIZE?

By Eld. S. Osborn.

ELD. S. OSBORN.

(Continued.)

Heb. 6:16–20 is also quoted and much relied upon to sustain the so-called final perseverance of the saints; and as the agency of God and man are both brought in here we will consider it well:—

“For men verily swear by the greater; and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath; that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us.”

First point, verse 17: God by the immutability of his counsel was willing to assure his heirs by an oath. Second: This oath was made to Abraham. Verses 13, 14. This oath is found in Gen. 22:15–18, and 26:2–5, where the reason for making the oath is also found. It was because of obedience on his part. Third: God could not lie; and in view of that fact we are to have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. Fourth: On the part of God it is sure and steadfast, and on the part of man great diligence should be shown to full assurance of hope unto the end. Verses 11, 12. This text is fatal to the view we are opposing. For in reference to man, it is said that he must “flee for refuge,” “lay hold,” “be diligent,” and “continue to the end.” I could not frame a text more fatal to their theory.

Isaiah 49:14–16: “But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget; yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.”

This is considered, by our friends, sufficiently strong to settle the question in their favor. Pp. 502, 3. We can admit every point the Dr. tries to make here, and then the case is only half made out. For this makes mention only of the interest on the part of God for his people. It is true that God is more compassionate for his children than a mother is for her infant. It is also true that he engraves them upon the palms of his hands. But who are his children? Who is Zion? Let verse 18 answer: “Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith the Lord, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on thee, as a bride doeth.” Notice from this text what men must do in order to be the children of God. First, they must gather themselves together, and come unto the Lord; secondly, they must clothe themselves, and bind the requirements on like a bride. The last clause strikes a death-blow to the system we are opposing. When a bride binds herself as an ornament to her husband, is it not to obey him during life? If any one will thus bind himself to God, he will never fall. Thus the strongest text, when it is allowed to explain itself, is shown to prove the reverse of what they would have it prove.

The same idea is sustained by many scriptures. We can only offer a few here. Peter says, Acts 2:40: “Save yourselves from this untoward generation.” This is plain. These were the converts “such as should be saved.” Verse 47. Paul is very clear on this point. Phil. 3:11, 12: “If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect; but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which I am also apprehended of Christ Jesus.” “Apprehend: to lay hold on—to seize—to conceive by the mind—to fear.”—Worcester. Let us read this according to the meaning. Paul (a converted man no one will deny) had not laid hold on the resurrection yet; he had fear; but if he would follow on he would be laid hold upon by Christ. Verse 13 says: “Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Thus he might attain unto it. Paul did not think his condition was safe by any means.

This is further sustained by what follows: In verses 16, 17, Paul instructs his brethren how they should walk, and in verses 18, 19, he says, “Many walk (many of his brethren of course, for this was what grieved him so) of whom I have told you often, and now tell you, even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ.” Now comes the penalty of those apostates: “Whose end is destruction.” Can anything be plainer?

The last positive text used by the doctor is on page 506 of his work. It is found in—

Heb. 13:5: “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

This refers wholly to God’s aid in temporal matters, as the text and context prove. And there could be no more than a mere inference from this text in support of the theory against the possibility of apostasy; hence we will let it pass.

(To be continued.)