“The contention was so sharp between them that they departed one from the other.”1

In a classroom it is easier to judge by the face of a student whether an answer has helped or not.  Replying to an email from a distance, there is no sure way to know whether my reply met a need or not.  My cogitating mind has considered further about a group debating whether one indwelt by the Holy Spirit can apostatize so as to lose his salvation.  So far, I have tried to stress that only God can tell whether a person is a true believer or just faking it.  Then I endeavored to point out that many who have appeared to be commendable believers were not actually born again.  In denying the Savior, they were but revealing the true condition of their souls.

This further contemplation is to point out that differences of doctrine may often occur among Christians, but although these might lead to another denominational affiliation, it is in no way indicative of severance from the faith.  An apostate is not one who differs from me or my church.  He is one who opposes or denies such basic truths of the Gospel that he cannot honestly be considered a Christian.  The dividing line between the faith delivered once for all to the saints and teachings contrary to the faith has been drawn in careful consideration of the fundamentals of divine revelation.

Doctrinal differences have arisen where there is some question of proper interpretation of Scripture, or where Scripture is silent on a subject.  Doctrinal differences are purely matters of personal viewpoint.  There are many such.  Christians differ concerning details of observance of the Lord’s Supper.  Unless there is difference as to the death and resurrection of Christ and our union in the body being pictured, there is no apostasy.  World-wide, a great majority of professing Christians think one who has openly followed Christ can “lose his salvation.”  Those who emphasize once saved, always saved are in the minority.  Doctrinal differences do not mean departure.

Where teaching is that salvation is by works, or maintained by works, however, the teaching is contrary to the clear teaching of Scripture.  That view denies that salvation is of grace, not of works.  It negates the necessity of a Savior dying in our place to redeem us.  That is a heresy all believers should oppose.  Achieving redemption by any human endeavor is not in any way the same as receiving redemption by pure grace.  By grace alone is not some human viewpoint.  It is crucial to the provision of our salvation.  Anything else, especially something depending on human endeavor, is absolutely contrary to the revealed message.The books on the fundamentals were summarized as emphasizing five areas of doctrine which if opposed or denied should be considered outside the Christian faith.  These basic beliefs have included the virgin birth of Christ, the substitutionary atonement of Christ, the deity of Christ, the inspiration of Scripture, and the bodily resurrection and a second coming of Christ.  Some have started suggesting that that list needs to be more specific or to be enlarged to clarify departures from the faith in recent years.  Most of us will not be consulted regarding any enlargement, but we certainly will welcome anything that will enable us to withstand the infringements of the Devil.

- “Cogitations”, Dr. Warren Vanhetloo2

  1. Acts 15:39 [↩]
  2. To begin subscription, ask questions, or make comments, email Dr. Van at cbsvan@sbcglobal.net [↩]