6. 1 John 3:4 15. Matthew 20:15, NRSV
Q. 30. Can they fall from grace?
O make me all like thee, 'Acpaled sabaia nck R q da : y can.
Reason and experience put this Before I hence remove! b ATR R CN RSET: h ; eyond dispute.
Previously we thoug at one who was Settle, confirm, and stablish me, ; e :
: saved from sin could not fall. But now we know this is Aad eee op Jn Jove. not true. We are surrounded with examples of those who 'Let me thy witness live, recently experienced all that I mean by perfection. They
When sin is all destroyed; had both the fruit and the witness of the Spirit. But now
"And then my spotless soul receive, they have lost both. No one may ever expect to stand by id take me home to God. virtue of anything implied in the nature of Christian perSeen ees fection. There is no height or strength of holiness from Collection, #424, stanzas 9-10 which it is impossible to fall. If there are any who cannot fall, this depends completely upon the promise of God.
Q. 31. Can those who fall from this state recover it?
A. Why not? We have many instances of this also. Indeed, it is very common for people to lose it more than once before they are established in it.
O God of peace and pardoning love It is therefore to protect the ones who are saved from Whose bowels of compassion move sin and from every occasion of stumbling that I give the To every sinful child of man, following words of advice. But first I will speak plainly
Jesus, our Shepherd, great and good, about the work itself.
Who dying bought us with his blood, I consider this ongoing work to be of God and probaThou hast brought back to life again. bly the greatest now upon earth. Yet like all others, this
His blood to all our souls apply work is also mixed with much human frailty. But these
(His blood alone can sanctify weaknesses are far less than might have been expected,
Which first did for our sins atone): and ought to have been joyfully carried by all those who The cov'nant of redemption seal, loved and followed after righteousness. That there have
The depth of love, of God, reveal, been a few weak, excitable people is no dishonor to the And speak us perfected in one. work itself. Such behavior is no just ground for accusing ig $406, scaiea 1 a multitude of sober-minded people who are patterns of strict holiness. Yet the opposition is great and the helps are few. This is exactly the opposite of what should have been. By this means, many are prevented from seeking faith and holiness by the false zeal of others. Some who at first began to run well are misled.
Endnotes 1. See Matthew 22:37, 39.
10. 1 John 4:13, NRSV 2. See 1 Corinthians 13.
11. 1 Thessalonians 5:16, 18 3. See James 3:2.
12. See Romans 8:38-39.
4. 1 John 2:20
13. Hebrews 3:14
5. John 8:12; 9:5; 11:9
- 14. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NRSV 6. 1 John 3:4
15. Matthew 20:15, NRSV 7. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 16. See Ephesians 1:13.
8. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 17. Hebrews 6:11
9. Luke 11:4a 18. See 2 Corinthians 7:9-11.