“Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20).
“Once saved, always saved” is a lie. James 5:19-20 plainly proves this fact. (See yesterday’s post.) Not only does James succinctly imply that apostasy is possible, he even states it is something “anyone” can do.
A common analogy for humans in the Scriptures is with sheep. Both have the tendency to wander off (Isaiah 53:6). Both can get themselves in a great deal of danger in a very short period of time. This is something “anyone” can do.
Not everyone who apostatizes does so with evil motivation. Some just wander off. Their apostasy was not premeditated. Their straying was not ever intentional. It all occurred gradually and subtly. The lack of evil motives, however, does not change the certainty and seriousness of their state. They are sinners who are dead/separated from God, and unless they are turned back to the Shepherd and Bishop of their souls, they will be lost eternally. This is something which can be true of “anyone”.
Don’t be “anyone”!
