I just borrowed a book from one of my friend called "Convictions without Compromise" by Norman Geisler and Ron Rhodes.
I was flipping through the chapter, "The extent of salvation" ,where extreme calvinsim , moderate calvinism and arminianism were discussed.
One of the charges against arminianism was that it teaches that Salvation is conditional whereas according to scripture especially Romans 11:29 and 1 Timothy 2:13 , salvation is unconditional .
So I decided to check those scriptures to see if that's what they really mean.
As far as the gospel is concerned, they(Israel) are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, v29 for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable.
Romans 11:29
This passage does not deal with personal salvation but the nature of the covenent of God with Israel.
11:28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. Their rejection of the gospel had proved a blessing to the Gentile world. See Ro 11:11. Hence their enmity was allowed for the sake of the conversion of the Gentiles.
As concerning the election, they are beloved for the father's sake. The nation was a chosen nation. Though enemies of God, God still remembered that they were children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and did not cast them off forever, but remembered them in love. To this day he has preserved Israel, and yet purposes the salvation of the nation.
11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. God does not change his purposes or fail to keep his covenant. What he has promised concerning Israel will be fulfilled.
A covenent involves commitment from two sides. This passage states that even as Israel became unfaithful to the promise , God still remained faithful and is still faithful . The Abrahamic covenant is still in place, God is faithful . But Israel has been unfaithful to the promise and are unrepentant which has strained the relationship from Israel's side. This does not mean unconditional salvation by any means.
if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself. 2Timothy 2:13
This passage talks about God's character. His character is to be faithful. He will be truthful to the promises he has made. He will save the repentant and faithful and damn the unrepentent and unfaithful. If we are faithless or become unfaithful then he will have to damn us because he cannot accept unfaithfulness as faithfulness.
Vincent's Word Studies
If we believe not (εἰ ἀπιστοῦμεν)
Better, are faithless or untrue to him. Comp. Romans 3:3. In Pastorals only here.
Faithful (πιστὸς)
True to his own nature, righteous character, and requirements, according to which he cannot accept as faithful one who has proved untrue to him. To do this would be to deny himself.
"That is, though some believe not, God will make good all his promises to them that do believe. He cannot deny himself - His word cannot fail." - John Wesley
"If we believe not - Should we deny the faith and apostatize, he is the same, as true to his threatenings as to his promises; he cannot deny - act contrary to, himself." - Adam Clarke
To use this passage to mean salvation is unconditional would be very mistaken.
Salvation is a gift of God and the call of the Gospel is for everyone to believe , but that does not make salvation unconditional. Salvation is conditioned upon repentence and faith and bearing fruit in keeping with repentence.
This is what Jesus preached , the kingdom of God is at hand , "Repent and believe the Gospel".
God has designed everything so that people have to just repent and believe. He has given Christ on the cross and asks "everyone everywhere to repent"(Acts 17)
But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation-- if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. Colossians 1:22,23
The believers are promised salvation conditioned on their continuing belief ,which is established and firm. If it is not possible for believers to fall away from the faith ,then why would the Scripture use a conditional clause.If salvation were unconditional , God would not use a conditional clause.
Salvation is conditioned on repentance , faith and bearing fruit in keeping with repentance(the changed life). God is working towards that end but we must keep believing and responding. God according his nature and promises will be faithful . We also need to be faithful in responding to God with the power of the Holy Spirit given to us. If we lose faith , we will lose salvation. There is a response which God expects from us and that is the condition on which God offers salvation to anyone and that response is repentance , faith and bearing fruit in keeping with repentance.
I was flipping through the chapter, "The extent of salvation" ,where extreme calvinsim , moderate calvinism and arminianism were discussed.
One of the charges against arminianism was that it teaches that Salvation is conditional whereas according to scripture especially Romans 11:29 and 1 Timothy 2:13 , salvation is unconditional .
So I decided to check those scriptures to see if that's what they really mean.
As far as the gospel is concerned, they(Israel) are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, v29 for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable.
Romans 11:29
This passage does not deal with personal salvation but the nature of the covenent of God with Israel.
11:28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. Their rejection of the gospel had proved a blessing to the Gentile world. See Ro 11:11. Hence their enmity was allowed for the sake of the conversion of the Gentiles.
As concerning the election, they are beloved for the father's sake. The nation was a chosen nation. Though enemies of God, God still remembered that they were children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and did not cast them off forever, but remembered them in love. To this day he has preserved Israel, and yet purposes the salvation of the nation.
11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. God does not change his purposes or fail to keep his covenant. What he has promised concerning Israel will be fulfilled.
A covenent involves commitment from two sides. This passage states that even as Israel became unfaithful to the promise , God still remained faithful and is still faithful . The Abrahamic covenant is still in place, God is faithful . But Israel has been unfaithful to the promise and are unrepentant which has strained the relationship from Israel's side. This does not mean unconditional salvation by any means.
if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself. 2Timothy 2:13
This passage talks about God's character. His character is to be faithful. He will be truthful to the promises he has made. He will save the repentant and faithful and damn the unrepentent and unfaithful. If we are faithless or become unfaithful then he will have to damn us because he cannot accept unfaithfulness as faithfulness.
Vincent's Word Studies
If we believe not (εἰ ἀπιστοῦμεν)
Better, are faithless or untrue to him. Comp. Romans 3:3. In Pastorals only here.
Faithful (πιστὸς)
True to his own nature, righteous character, and requirements, according to which he cannot accept as faithful one who has proved untrue to him. To do this would be to deny himself.
"That is, though some believe not, God will make good all his promises to them that do believe. He cannot deny himself - His word cannot fail." - John Wesley
"If we believe not - Should we deny the faith and apostatize, he is the same, as true to his threatenings as to his promises; he cannot deny - act contrary to, himself." - Adam Clarke
To use this passage to mean salvation is unconditional would be very mistaken.
Salvation is a gift of God and the call of the Gospel is for everyone to believe , but that does not make salvation unconditional. Salvation is conditioned upon repentence and faith and bearing fruit in keeping with repentence.
This is what Jesus preached , the kingdom of God is at hand , "Repent and believe the Gospel".
God has designed everything so that people have to just repent and believe. He has given Christ on the cross and asks "everyone everywhere to repent"(Acts 17)
But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation-- if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. Colossians 1:22,23
The believers are promised salvation conditioned on their continuing belief ,which is established and firm. If it is not possible for believers to fall away from the faith ,then why would the Scripture use a conditional clause.If salvation were unconditional , God would not use a conditional clause.
Salvation is conditioned on repentance , faith and bearing fruit in keeping with repentance(the changed life). God is working towards that end but we must keep believing and responding. God according his nature and promises will be faithful . We also need to be faithful in responding to God with the power of the Holy Spirit given to us. If we lose faith , we will lose salvation. There is a response which God expects from us and that is the condition on which God offers salvation to anyone and that response is repentance , faith and bearing fruit in keeping with repentance.
