Feedback: “A Christian Can’t Lose Their Salvation Because They’re a ‘New Creation’”

A little bit later than I was expecting, but here is this week’s chosen feedback:

Question: “Regeneration is to be made new.  Paul says in 2 Cor 5:17 that we are a new creation.  How in the world can such a change become undone?  It can’t.  Plain and simple.  Paul also says in Rom 8:1 that there is no condemnation.  If you believe otherwise, you are contradicting the Word of God.  God said that He will never leave us or forsake us.  How in the world can salvation then be lost?  It can’t.  If you believe otherwise, you are calling God a liar and denying His truth.  The truth will set you free.”

Answer: Thanks for taking the time to write in.  Without going into too much depth, I just have a few quick points to make.

As I see it, the Arminian position is not that regeneration can be “undone”, per se.  It is more along the lines of believing that just as that which is born physically can die physically, so that which is born spiritually can die spiritually (Cf. John 15:1-6; Romans 1:1-2:11; 6:1-23; 8:12-13; 1 Corinthians 6; Galatians 5:19-21; 6:7-9; Ephesians 5:1-7; Hebrews 5:11-6:8; 10:26-39; James 1:12-15; 4:4; 2 Peter 2:20-22).

Secondly, the way I see it, arguing that a person cannot lose their salvation simply because they are a “new creation” (as 2 Corinthians 5:17 says) is circular reasoning, as being a new creation is specifically conditioned upon being “in Christ” (as 2 Corinthians 5:17 also says). So you have to first assume ‘once in Christ, always in Christ’ (which is the very point in question) in order to prove ‘once a new creation, always a new creation’, which in turn proves ‘once saved, always saved’. In effect, you have to assume that 2 Corinthians 5:17 teaches OSAS in order to prove that 2 Corinthians 5:17 teaches OSAS.

Same goes for Romans 8:1, as there now being “no condemnation” is specifically conditioned upon being “in Christ” (as Romans 8:1 also says).  So once again, you have to first assume ‘once in Christ, always in Christ’ in order to prove ‘now no condemnation, always no condemnation’, which in turn proves ‘once saved, always saved’. In effect, you have to assume that Romans 8:1 teaches OSAS in order to prove that Romans 8:1 teaches OSAS.

Lastly, as far as I can see, your reference to God’s promise to “never leave us or forsake us” has little Scriptural basis insofar as actually providing assurance of salvation.  Of the four instances that those words are spoken in Scripture (three times in the Old, once in the New Testament), not once do they have anything to do with assurance of salvation specifically, nor even salvation generally.

Best regards,

Arminian

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