In Defense of the Friday Crucifixion Theory

N DEFENSE OF THE FRIDAY CRUCIFIXION THEORY

Note: If you disagree, don’t simply tell me I am wrong. Please write me a detailed rebuttal and cover every point as I would do with your article.  Thanks.

1.      Matthew 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Only once, in Mathew 12:40, the Bible records Jesus saying that He would be resurrected after “three days and three nights.” So the cry goes out “if this is not literally true, then Jesus is a liar. Absolutely no other explanation can be accepted.”

However, Matthew alone subsequently records SEVEN TIMES Jesus’ words that He would be resurrected “in three days” (26:61; 27:40), “after three days” (27:63) and “the third day) (16:21; 17:23; 20:19; 27:64).  Why, why, why do not these same people cry out saying the same words about these texts? --- “if these are not literally true, then Jesus is a liar”???

When Mark, Luke and John are added to Matthew’s list, a total of 17 (SEVENTEEN) statements of Jesus read “in three days; after three days” and/ or “the third day.” That 17:1.  Every word is inspired.  However, rather than reconcile all 18 references, those who insist on Matthew 12:40 (by their actions) teach that the 17 other quotations of Jesus are wrong.

Book	“In three days”	“After three days”	“The third day”
Matthew	26:61; 27:40	27:63 (12:40 & 3 nights)	16:21; 17:23; 20:19; 27:64
Mark	14:58 (within)	8:31	9:31; 10:34
Luke			9:22; 18:33; 24:7, 21, 46
John	2:19-21

It is obvious from the above chart that “in three days,” “after three days,” “the third day” and even “three days and three nights” are all equivalent.” Matthew uses all four phrases for the same period. Mark. Luke and John have 10 (TEN) phrases among them and do not repeat Mathew 12:40 even once. The interval from Friday afternoon to Sunday morning is three days and three nights, by inclusive reckoning.

2.      INCLUSIVE RECKONING: The common mode of counting employed in the Bible is shown to have been inclusive reckoning, that is, counting both the first and the last unit of time in calculating an interval.  The following commentaries agree with the inclusive majority reckoning position: Adam Clarke; Barnes Notes; Jamieson, Fausset and Brown;  Mathew Henry; and The Bible Knowledge Commentary. The Wycliffe Bible Commentary takes the 72-hour position and Wilmington’s King James Bible Commentary is neutral.

3.      JEWISH ENCYCLOPEDIA: [This should not be ignored.] “A short time in the morning of the seventh day is counted as the seventh day; circumcision takes place on the eighth day, even though, of the first day only a few minutes after the birth of the child, these being counted as one day.” Vol. 4, p. 475.

Scores of contradictions would appear in both Old and New Testament if this principle were ignored –especially with the kings’ list of accession and regnal years in Kings and Chronicles.

4.      EGYPT, GREECE AND ROME: Inclusive reckoning was also used generally by other ancient nations.

(1) An EGYPTIAN inscription recording the death of a priestess on the 4th day of the 12th month relates that her successor arrived on the 15th, “when 12 days had elapsed.” Today, we would say that when 12 days had elapsed after the 4th, the date would be the 16th.

(2) The GREEKS followed the same inclusive method. They called the Olympiad, or the four-year period between the Olympic Games, a pentaeteris (five-year period), and used other similar numerical terms.

(3) The ROMANS also, in common usage, reckoned inclusively; they had nundinae (from nonus, ninth), or market days, every ninth day, inclusive, actually every eight days, as indicated on ancient calendars by the letters, A through H.

(4) TODAY our current musical OCTAVE (8) is actually only 7 notes long since the 7^th note of one octave is the first note of the next octave.

SOME BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF INCLUSIVE RECKONING:

5.      Genesis 17:12 A Hebrew boy was circumcised when “eight days old”, that is, “in the eighth day” (Levites 12:3).

Luke 1:59; 2:21 Similarly Luke speaks of circumcision “on the eighth day” or “when eight days were accomplished”. Evidently “when eight days were accomplished” does not mean eight full days from the date of birth, but eight inclusive.

6.      I KINGS 12:5, 12; 2 CHRONILE3S 10:5, 12 When, at the death of Solomon, Rehoboam was petitioned to lighten the tax burden, he told the people to depart “for three days” (1 Kings 12:5) and then return for his decision “after three days” (2 Chronicles 10:5). They came “the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day” (1 Kings 12:12; cf. 2 Chronicles 10:12).

7.      2 KINGS 14: 2, 17, 23  Jeroboam II of Israel succeeded his father Jehoash in the 15th year of Amaziah of Judah (2 Kings 14:23), and Amaziah “lived after the death of Jehoash … of Israel fifteen years” (2 Kings 14:17). A modern reader would mentally add 15 to 15, reaching Amaziah’s 30th year, yet Amaziah reigned only 29 years (verse 2). Inclusive reckoning is again the most logical explanation, since 15 years, inclusive, from the 15th year is the 29th, in which he evidently died.

8.      2 Kings 18:9-10. The siege of Samaria lasted from the fourth to the sixth year of Hezekiah, which is equated with the seventh to the ninth year of Hoshea, and yet the city is said to have been taken “at the end of three years.” In modern usage we would say two years, by straight subtraction. Obviously the Bible writer reckoned inclusively (years four, five, and six totaling three years).

9.      ESTHER 4:16; 5:1  Esther asked the Jews of Shushan to fast, and by implication, to pray, for her before she went in to the king unbidden, and then she approached the king “on the third day” (Esther 4:16; 5:1). Obviously a period of “three days” ended on the third day, not after the completion of the three days, as we would reckon it.

10.    JOHN 20:26 “And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.”

“After eight days” – not “seven days later” or “a week later”—means “the following first day of the week. This extremely evident use of inclusive reckoning is attested by the all eight commentaries at my disposal – including Wycliffe which supports the 72-hour theory: Adam Clarke; Barnes Notes,  Jamieson, Fausset and Brown; Matthew Henry; The Bible Knowledge Commentary; Wiersbe’s Bible Exposition Commentary; and Wilmington’s King James Bible Commentary.

11.    HEBREW CALENDAR: WIKIPEDIA

The Hebrew lunar year is about eleven days shorter than the solar cycle and uses their own 19-year cycle to bring it into line with the solar cycle, with additional months every two or three years, for a total of seven times per 19 years. Even with this, the average Hebrew calendar year is longer by about 6 minutes and 40 seconds than the current mean tropical year, so that every 216 years the Hebrew calendar will fall a day behind the current mean solar year; and about every 231 years it will fall a day behind the Gregorian calendar year. When to add extra months was based on observation of natural agriculture-related events.

The system was gradually displaced by the mathematical rules used today. The principles and rules were fully codified by Maimonides in the Mishneh Torah in the 12th century. Maimonides' work also replaced counting "years since the destruction of the Temple" with the modern creation-era Anno Mundi.

12.    A CHART OF THE 72-HOUR THEORY:

According to BeyndToday.tv, this is the sequence of events for the 72-hour crucifixion theory. It is true that Jewish months began at the first sighting of the new moon. While this did not affect the day of the week or the weekly Sabbath, it did affect the timing of all non-weekly holy days such as Passover, Firstfruits and The Day of Atonement. Passover always fell on the 14^th day of the first month determined by the new moon and was always on a full moon. Since non-weekly holy days did not normally fall on the weekly Sabbath (one to seven chance), they were called High Sabbaths. Historically the Passover which followed Jesus’ crucifixion coincidentally also fell on the weekly Sabbath. However, the 72-hour-crucifixion theorists teach that Jesus was crucified in the middle of the week on a Wednesday and the Passover which followed was a Thursday High Sabbath.

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WEDNESDAY:

(1) Jesus was placed on a cross at the 3^rd hour of the day at 9 AM (Mark 15:25); darkness covered the earth between the 6^th and 9^th hours between 12PM and 3PM; He died at the 9^th hour at 3PM on Wednesday, the preparation day for the High Passover Sabbath (Mt 27:45-46; Mk 15:33-34; Lk 23:44; Jn 19:14).

(2) Joseph bought linen and wrapped Jesus’ body (Mk 15:46; Mt 27:59; Lk 23:53; Jn 19:40).

(3) The women observed Joseph’s entombment (Mt 27:61; Mk 15:47; Lk 23:55). .

THURSDAY:

(4) PASSOVER, the 14^th day of the first month, is determined by the first sighting of the new moon. Since it must be on a full moon, the odds are one in seven that it will fall on the weekly Sabbath day (Ex 12:1-6).

(5) “And they [the women] returned … (Luke 23:56a)

The 72-hour-theorists teach that there are 5 (FIVE) days and two Sabbaths involved in Luke 23:56 and 24:1. They returned home Wednesday before sunset

(6) [and rested Thursday during the High Passover Sabbath] (no texts!).

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­FRIDAY:

(7) “… and bought and prepared spices and ointments” Luke 23:56b [on Friday following Thursday Passover] (no texts)

(8) [and did nothing else all day Friday] (no texts)

SATURDAY; WEEKLY SABBATH:

(9) “… and rested [a second] Sabbath day [that week] according to the commandment” (Luke 23:56c).

(10) Jesus arises on the weekly Sabbath just before sunset exactly 72 hours after he was buried on Wednesday.

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SUNDAY:

(10) The women come to anoint the body which is gone.            

PROBLEMS WITH THE CHART:

(1) There is no proof that “preparation day” does not refer to the day before the weekly Sabbath in Mt 27:62; Mk 16:42; Lk 23:54 and John 19:14, 31, 42. One must reason in reverse in order to force the texts to refer to Wednesday rather than Friday. Neither Matthew, Mark, Luke, nor John mention or allude to more than one Sabbath.

(2) The fact that Joseph bought linen late on the day before the Sabbath proves that stores stayed open until the last moment. Sunset dates for Easter allowed for at least four hours of daylight before sunset.

(3) A plain simple literal reading of Matthew, Mark. Luke and John reveals that the women intended to anoint the body at the earliest possible time.

(4) Literal conservative Christians almost always reason from God’s Word outward and reject scientific methodology. Yet here some get their “proof” from a Naval Observatory. Even then they disagree about the exact year of Christ’s crucifixion. The odds are that sometime between 30 and 33 AD Passover fell on the weekly Sabbath.

(5) Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all say that the women rested on the Sabbath. None say that they rested TWICE that week as is taught by the 72-hour theorists.

(6)  This is fabrication to force God’s Word to agree with the 72-hour theory. The Bible does not tell us “when” the women bought their spices. Since there were about 4 hours between Christ’s death and sunset, there was time to buy them (as Joseph had done in Mark 15:46) before sundown on Friday.

(7) This is a very weak point in the 72-hour theory. If the women had bought their spices at the earliest opportunity on Friday following a Thursday High Sabbath Passover, they would have certainly gone directly to the tomb on that Friday to anoint the body. They would not have wasted all day Friday.

(8) This is another very weak point in the 72-hour theory. A very careful reading of the last two chapters of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John reveals nothing about a mid-week Thursday Sabbath, two preparation days, two Sabbath days and the women resting twice before finally reaching the tomb to anoint it.

(10) Common sense should alert the Bible student of error in logic.  It makes no sense to teach that the women would not go to the tomb after buying spices on Friday after a Thursday High Sabbath, yet they rush at the very earliest possible moment 3 ½ days after a Wednesday crucifixion to anoint the body on the following first day of the week. Why the great rush when there was no rush the preceding Friday?

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12.    COMPARING MATTHEW, MARK AND LUKE

Matthew 27:57 to 28:1

Matt 27:57-61 “When the even was come”
Joseph “took the body, wrapped it, and placed it in his own tomb” while the women watched 27:57-61). “Now the next day” (Saturday) the soldiers guarded the tomb (Mt 27:62-66). “In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week (Matt 28:1).

……………….

Mark 15:42 to 16:2

Mk 15:42-47 only adds that Joseph “bought fine linen.” The next verse, 16:1-2 says “And when the sabbath was past” the women came on “the first day of the week.”

…………….

Luke 23:54 to 24:1 reads “the preparation day” of “the Sabbath” (23:54). “The women returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment” (23:56). They returned “the first day of the week, very early in the morning.”

13.  72-hour theorists must conclude that either:

A. Jesus told the truth in Mt 12:40 and lied 17 other times.

B. Jesus lied in Mt 12:40 and told the truth 17 times.

C.      All 18 references are to the same time using inclusive reckoning as was common to Jews.

14.  “BeondToday.tv” errs when he says that the women bought spices on a Friday following a Thursday High Sabbath. This makes no sense. After buying spices they had the almost all of Friday to go to the tomb to anoint the body; thus it would have been unnecessary to rest during the weekly Sabbath!!! Think this through.

15. The argument that the women must have waited until Friday morning to buy spices has no biblical validity.

A.      All agree that Jesus died around 3PM. Passover is always a full moon.

B.      Passover (Easter) Sunset in Jerusalem this year is between 6:55 and 7:16. (Washington, GA is 6:43 PM, Wednesday, March 23, 2016).

C.      Therefore there was between 3 hours and 55 minutes to 4 hours and 16 minutes before sunset for Joseph to purchase the linen shroud and the women to purchase spices after Christ died.

D. According to Mark 15:45-46, after Joseph of Arimathea had received permission from Pilate to have the body, he “bought” the “fine linen,” removed and wrapped the body. This must have occurred Friday before sunset.

E. According to Mark 16:1 the women “had bought sweet spices”.  The 72-hour advocates state categorically that the women could only have bought their spices on Friday following a Thursday High Sabbath. This is not true. Like Joseph of Arimathea, they still had time to buy spices after seeing the tomb and before sunset Friday. As previously mentioned, if the 72-hour theory is correct, the women had all day Friday to anoint the body and would not have needed to do so on the first day of the week.

16.    Vallowe very seriously errs when he uses Daniel 9:27’s “in the midst of the week” to argue that it pointed to Wednesday as the day of crucifixion. This is horribly wrong!!! “Week” and “weeks” in 9:24-27 (6 times) are “weeks OF YEARS” --- not days of the week. Even worse, the reference in 9:27 is to ANTICHRIST, not Christ!!! “In the midst of the week” is 3 1/2 YEARS after ANTICHRIST makes his covenant with Israel in the last days. Vallowe is evidently not dispensational.

17.    Vallowe makes another error when he uses Leviticus 23:10-11 to argue that Christ arose on Sunday as the “firstfruits” of Pentecost –the 50th day after the second High Sabbath of Passover.

A.      This argument has no relevance to the 72-hour resurrection theory.

B.      This argument counters “BeyondToday’s” weekly Sabbath resurrection argument.

C.      The Passover Sabbath could fall on any day of the week – a full moon depending upon which day the New Moon began the New Month.

D.     Traditional interpretation (which I agree with) teaches that Christ was crucified on Friday when High Sabbath was also a weekly Sabbath.

18.    Vallowe errs when he categorically states that Jewish days are from 6 AM until 6 PM. In reality, even today Jewish days begin at sunrise and sunset which change every day.

19.    Vallowe greatly errs when he states that Jewish months are 28 days long. In reality, their months have always begun at the first sighting of the new moon and ends with no moon at all to be seen. Lunar months are 29.53  days long, or 29 ½ days long. Thus each Jewish year is 11.5+ days shorter than a solar year. Because of this Jews add extra days 7 times every 19 years to keep current. [In 2016 there are Adar I and Adar II beginning the year.] Yet Vallowe plays games with “28” to reach 1512 years from the Exodus (when most scholars only guess at the correct date).

CONCLUSION: It is far easier to reconcile “three days and three nights” using inclusive reckoning than to ignore the 13 texts which state that Jesus would rise again on the third day itself (and not “after the third day”).

20.  THIS IS HOW THE 72-HOUR CRUCIFIXION THEORY INERPRETS Luke 23:56:

A.      And the women “returned” home Wednesday before sunset …

B.      and rested Thursday the High Sabbath Passover day

C.      “and prepared spieces and ointments”  two days later on Friday

D.     and did absolutely nothing the remainder of that Friday

E.      “and rested the [weekly] Sabath

F.      but rushed to anoint the body following the weekly Sabbath

THE SIMPLE TRUTH IS:

A.      [FRIDAY] They “returned and prepared spices and ointments” Friday evening before sunset

B.      [SATURDAY] “and rested the weekly sabbath day according to the commandment

C.      [SUNDAY] “and upon the first day of the week” rushed to anoint the body.

D.     Thus fulfilling 17 times Jesus promised to rise “the third day,” “on the third day” and “after three days.”

Russell Earl Kelly, PHD

russkellyphd@yahoo.com

See my book of plays: From Gethsemane to Ascension: An Ultimate Harmony of the Gospels

FALLING FROM GRACE: 48 VERSES

 

 

FALLING FROM GRACE

 

The following forty-eight (48) texts are examples of how and why believers can fall from grace. While a few may be questionable, the majority clearly teach that believers can indeed fall from grace. Since it only takes one example to destroy the doctrine of eternal security, 2^nd Peter 2:20-22 is the best example.

 

1.       Ex 32:32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.

 

God’s plan of salvation is the same in both testaments. Evidently Moses did not believe in eternal security. Otherwise, he would not have asked God to remove his name from the book of life. Since everybody’s name would be in the book of the physically living, Moses was not referring to physical death.

 

2,       Ex 32:33 And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.

 

The name must be in the believers’ book of life in order to be blotted out. Only God (Jesus Christ) can be responsible and die for every sinner (Heb 9:26).

 

3.       Eze 3:20; 18:24

Eze 3:20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

…

Eze 18:24 But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.

 

The “righteous” are believers.  When these believers “turn away from righteousness, commit iniquity, and do according to all the abominations that the wicked man does,” “he shall die in his sin and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered.”

 

4.       Matt 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

 

Since unbelievers have no “savor” to lose, the text must be referring to real believers. “Ye” believers are the salt of the earth. When believers “lose their savor,” they become “good for nothing,” are “cast out” and are “trodden under foot.” That is a description of one who has fallen from grace.

 

5.       Matt 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

Matt 5:28 But I say unto you, That “every one continuously looking upon” [participle] a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Matt 5:29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell (Gehenna, the lake of fire).

Matt 5:30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell (Gehenna, the lake of fire).

 

Since unbelievers are already destined for hell, Jesus must have been speaking to believers. In order to prevent offending body parts from causing the whole body to go to hell (Gehenna), the believer must remove them. In context, this includes castration.

 

6.       Matt 6:15 if [ean: probable] ye continuously forgive not men their trespasses [present tense], neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

 

This is addressed to believers. It is part of the disciples’ prayer. When believers/disciples continuously fail to forgive each other, they will either receive lesser rewards in heaven, or they will fall from grace if non-forgiveness of sins become extreme and habitual. The latter is far more logical.

 

7.       Matt 10:33 But whosoever shall deny [past tense subjunctive] me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

 

“Whosoever” refers to both current believers and those who never believed. A literal interpretation and application of this verse leaves no room for debate. If one who has made a sincere profession of faith in Christ as Lord and Savior, afterwards stops continuously believing and denies Christ and His gospel, Christ will deny him before His Father and the believer will fall from grace. This is not eternal security doctrine.

 

8.       Luke 8:13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

 

Only true believers “receive the word with joy” and “for a while believe.”

 

9.       Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, “having put his hand to the plough and continuously looking back” [past participle] is fit for the kingdom of God.

 

The two participles must be interpreted as continuous action. The same believer who changes from continuously believing to continuously looking back is not fit for the kingdom of God. He has fallen from grace.

 

10      Luke 13:8 … I shall dig about it, and dung it:

Luke 13:9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

 

The fig tree represents believing Hebrews who later habitually fail to produce fruit. Exactly as in John 15:1-6, they will fall from grace.

 

11.     John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

John 15:2 Every branch in me that “is not bearing” fruit he taketh away: and every branch “the one (continuously) bearing” [participle] fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

John 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it “is continuously abiding” in the vine; no more can ye, except ye “are continuously abiding” in me.

John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: “the one (continuously) abiding” [present active participle] in me, and I in him, the same “is bearing” much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

John 15:6 If [ean: probable] a man “does not continuously abide” in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

 

These verses are quoted by all Arminians to prove that believers can fall from grace. They do not describe mildly disobedient believers who are merely being disciplined by God.

 

12.     1 Cor 3:17 If [ei: factually] any man “is continually defiling” [present] the temple of God (the believer’s body), him shall [future] God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

 

God will “destroy” the believer who continually “defiles” (destroys) his/her own body. “Destroy” appears twice in the Greek. This is much stronger than mere discipline.  

 

13.     1 Cor 8:10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;

1 Cor 8:11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

1 Cor 8:12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.   KJV

 

Believers with knowledge can “sin against weak believers (the brethren),” “wound their weak conscience” and cause them to “perish.” This is illogical if it is only referring to physical death.

 

14.      1 Cor 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 

 

A “castaway” is not a crewmember who is merely being punished. A castaway is one who has been completely rejected, disowned and left to perish.

 

15.     1 Cor 10:1 - 4

Every person who left Egypt with Moses had been saved. They were all under the cloud, all passed through the sea (10:1), all were baptized (10:2), all ate the same spiritual food (10:3) and all drank of Christ (10:4).

1 Cor 10:5 -12

But God was not pleased with many of them and they were overthrown (10:5).  They lusted (10:6), worshiped idols (10:7), fornicated (10:7), tempted Christ, were destroyed (10:9) and murmured and were destroyed (10:10). “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall (10:12).” See Jude 5 also. Again, this is illogical unless it refers to falling from grace.

 

16.     Gal 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth …

Gal 3:2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Gal 3:3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Gal 3:4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

 

This refers to believers who had “received the Spirit” (3:2). Those former believers had since become “bewitched” and had stopped obeying the truth (3:1). The only literal logical explanation for “in vain” is falling from grace.

 

17.     Gal 5:1 “Stand fast” therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.   KJV

 

When a “freed” believer is once again yoked, that believer is no longer “standing fast” and is no longer “free.” He has fallen from grace.

 

18.     Gal 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.  KJV

 

Speaking to the same former believers of 3:1 who had “since become bewitched” and “yoked” of 5:1, Paul says “Christ is become “of no effect “to you.” They had ceased believing in righteousness by faith and had turned to good works to be saved (5:2-3). Interpreted literally in context, verse 4 clearly states that they had fallen from grace as the only path to salvation.

 

19.     Gal 5:19, 21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest (5:19-21a).

Gal 5:21b … they which do such things [habitually] shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

 

Paul is still speaking to former believers whom Christ had made “free” (5:1). Former believers who subsequently habitually sin literally “shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”

 

20.     Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.  KJV

 

This is contrary to what the eternal security doctrine teaches. The doctrine knows nothing of believers crucifying the flesh after justification.

 

21.     1 Tim 1:18 … believers … war a good warfare;

1 Tim 1:19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

…

1 Tim 1:19 “Continuously having” [present participle] faith, and a good conscience; which “some having continuously put away” [participle] faith have made shipwreck:

1 Tim 1:20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

 

While some believers are “continuously holding faith (believing)” [participle] and a good conscience, other believers “have continuously put away faith” (stopped believing) and have become “shipwreck.” “Shipwreck” means banishment --- spiritual life stops. Paul delivered two of the latter group “unto Satan.”

 

22.     1 Tim 4:1Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

1 Tim 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.  KJV

 

“Some shall depart from the faith” refers to believers who were once in the faith. Their consciences have become seared with a hot iron must refer to believers who have fallen from grace.

 

**23.  2 Tim 2:12 If we suffer (and we shall suffer), we shall also reign with him: if we deny him (and some will deny Him), he also will deny us.

 

“We” refers to believers like Paul himself. Literally, those believers who later deny Christ will be denied by Him and fall from grace. See Matthew 10:33.

 

24.     2 Tim 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world.

 

Paul’s long-time companion, Demas, abandoned him. This means he had probably stopped believing.

 

**25.  Heb 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

 

Interpret this literally. It means exactly what it says.

 

26.      Heb 3:18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that “continuously believed not” [aorist participle]?

Heb 3:19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief (no faith, stopped believing).

 

See 1 Cor 10:1-10 for more context. These are former believers, not unbelievers.

 

27.      Heb 4:1 Let us fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

 

“Us” are fellow believers. Since true believers who cannot fall from grace should have nothing to fear, this text is illogical for the eternal security doctrine. Again, see 1 Cor 10:1-10.

 

28.      Heb 4:6 Seeing therefore it “remains” that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief.

 

Everybody who left Egypt with Moses had believed and had been saved by the Passover Lamb. However most (over age 20) must have subsequently fallen from grace. They did not enter into Canaan, a symbol of heaven. Also see 1 Cor 10:1 -10.

 

29.      Heb 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

 

Again, interpret literally. The eternal security doctrine does not teach that believers can fall from grace.   

 

30.      Heb 6:4-6 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

 

A literal interpretation teaches once-saved-then-lost-always-lost. A saved person who falls away and denies Christ cannot be saved a second time. See Matthew 10:33 and 2 Timothy 2:12.

 

31.      Heb 10:38-39 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who “are continuously drawing back” [participle] unto perdition; but of “them that continuously believe” [participle] to the saving [present tense] of the soul.

 

“God has no pleasure” in those who “draw back” unto “perdition” means He will not save them. This text must refer to believers “drawing back” because unbelievers are already destined for perdition. The participles are noteworthy.

 

32.     Heb 12:8 But if ye “are” without chastisement, whereof all [true believers] are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

 

This is a warning to believers to “consider Christ” “lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds” (12: 3). Those believers have not resisted unto blood as Christ had (12: 4). Next, they changed. “You have forgotten that God called you sons” and promised to discipline His children (12: 5-7). Therefore, in context, verse 8 means “if you are no longer being disciplined, you have fallen from grace and are now bastards.”

 

33.     Heb 12:13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

 

Believers who are not “making straight paths for their feet” risk becoming lame and being “turned out of the way.”

 

34.     Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all men and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

 

As discussed previously, the chapter is addressed to believers. “Holiness” refers to continued believing which produces sanctification. Those believers who do not “follow peace and holiness with all men” literally shall not see the Lord. The instructions are meaningless if one cannot fall from grace.

 

35.     Heb 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled. KJV

…

Heb 12:15 “overseeing” (taking care) lest “anyone is continually falling” [present participle] “away from” the grace of God [and] lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.

 

Believers who are not “taking care” of their spiritual lives risk “falling short of the grace of God” and becoming “defiled.”

 

36.     Heb 12:17 For ye know how that afterward, when he [Esau] would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. See Malachi 1:3-4.

 

Esau probably fell from grace when he stopped believing God’s promises and gave up his birthright. The Bible says he was “rejected” and “found no place for repentance.”

 

37.     James 5:12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

 

Rom 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” When the “brethren” “fall into condemnation,” they have fallen from grace.

 

38.     1 Pet 5:8-9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

 

If eternal security were true, there would be no reason to tell believers to “be sober, be vigilant” and “resist steadfast” because the devil seeks to “devour” them.

 

39.     2 Pet 2:1 … there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

 

Many true believers who have been “bought” by the Lord will become “false teachers” and “deny” the Lord.

 

40.     2 Peter 2:20 For if [ei] after they [the unjust from 2:9] “having continually escaped” [participle] pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

2 Peter 2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

2 Peter 2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

 

Interpreted literally, these are the strongest texts in God’s Word which teach that true believers can subsequently fall from grace.

(1) They began as lost and unjust (2:20).

(2) They escaped being lost by becoming saved (2:20).

(3) They were “entangled again” and “overcome” (2:20).

(4) The latter end is worse than the beginning” (2:20).

(5) It would be better to have never been born than to turn back (2:21).

 

This is radically different from eternal security theology which states that once-saved, one cannot fall from grace.

 

41.      2 Pet 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.

 

“Beloved” believers are warned to “beware” “lest you be led away” and “fall from your steadfastness.”

 

42.      2 John 8-9 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and “abideth not continuously” [participle] in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that “continuously abideth” [participle] in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

 

Believers have to be “in the doctrine” in order to be warned to “abide” in it. Believers who do not “continuously abide in the doctrine of Christ “do not have God.” That is very clear! It does not allow believers to remain saved who later deny Christ and stop believing.

 

43.      Jude 5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved [participle] the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed “the ones not believing” [participle].

 

According to this text, all those who left Egypt had been saved by believing in the sacrificial blood of the Passover lamb. Many (if not most) who stopped believing were later “destroyed.” They did not enter Canaan (a type of heaven). See 1 Cor 10:1-10.

 

44.      Jude 6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

The fallen angels who had been created as sinless beings willfully sinned with full knowledge of sin’s consequences. They fell without any hope of restitution.

 

45.     Rev 2:4-5 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

 

Many had “fallen” away from God and “left thy first love,” but not completely. However, they risked falling completely and having their candlestick removed from the presence of God.

 

46.      Rev 3:2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

Rev 3:4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

 

Most believers in Sardis had fallen from grace. Only “a few” “remained” “who had not defiled their garments.” And only those “few” will “walk with Christ in white.” See 3:5 and white garments of imputed righteousness.

 

47.     Rev 3:5 “To the overcoming one” [participle], the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.

 

The true believer already has his name in the Book of Life. The threat to remove it is meaningless if such an event cannot occur.

 

48.     Rev 3:16-17 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.

 

God threatened to “spew the lukewarm believer out of His mouth.” He “needs nothing” and does know that he is “wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked.”