Falling From Grace Part 1 – by Elder C.H. Cayce

We have been requested to write an article on "falling from grace." We suppose the one making the request wishes us to write something on the doctrine of the final preservation of the saints, or as to whether it is possible for a child of God to so fall away as to be finally lost. There is more in this subject than can be told in one article. We will try to comply with the request by saying a few things.

Hebrew 6 -4,5,6 is a text used by many in trying to prove that a child of God may be finally lost and go to eternal torment. If the text does prove that, it proves too much for them; and a text that proves too much is as bad as a text that proves nothing. Those who advocate the doctrine of the possibility of final apostasy tell us that if a child of God does fall away he can be renewed and get back into a saved state by repentance. Now, let us read that text and see just what it says and what it does teach.

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 work 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. - Hebrew 6 4, 6.

The text says, "For it is impossible …if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance." Thus we see that if the text proves that one may thus fall away, it also proves that it is impossible to renew such a one again; and it thereby proves too much for them.

But does the text teach that a child of God may be finally lost? No; but it teaches the very opposite. "If they shall fall away" it is impossible "to renew them again unto repentance." Why? Because "they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame." That is, if they fall away, the Son of God would have to be crucified for them again; and He would thereby be put to an open shame. He died once for the purpose of saving them in glory, and if they fall away and fail to reach heaven, He would be put to an open shame and His work branded as a failure, and He would have to come back and die for them again.

Will the blessed and holy Son of God be put to an open shame? Most emphatically, No. Then they shall not fall away; it is impossible, because He cannot be put to an open shame. Will He ever die again? He said, "I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore." - Revelation 1-18. As He is alive forevermore He will never die again, and therefore they shall not fall away and be finally lost.

Again, the blessed Saviour said, "Because I live, ye shall live also." - John 14, 19. The reason why they shall live is that He lives. His living is the cause, and they live as the effect. In order that the effect cease, the cause must first cease; but this cause will never cease, because He is alive forevermore. It follows, therefore, that they shall live forevermore. They will live as long as Jesus lives. If Jesus never dies again, then they shall never die. Jesus said to Martha. "Whoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?" This is the blessed and sure promise of the Lord of glory for His little ones. What a precious promise! How sweet that promise is to the poor pilgrim here.

We feel like we have hardly got started with the subject, but our physical strength is giving way from the labors of the day, and we will have to stop for this time. Perhaps we can write some more on this subject next week. Remember us in your prayers. C. H. C.