MISC. ARTICLES '05 
AN EXAMPLE OF WICKED ANTINOMIAN (ONCE SAVED- ALWAYS SAVED) HERESY STRAIGHT FROM THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION - CHARLES STANLEY’S BOOK, “ETERNAL SECURITY, Can You Be Sure?”  
The following excerpt from Charles Stanley’s book is his belief concerning Hebrews 6:1-12, where we have Paul clearly setting forth the scenario that a born again believer can allow his heart to be hardened (Heb. 3:12-14); and though having enough faith to start into the narrow way, he will not have the faith to continue to the end. He will lack diligence, faith, and patience (Heb. 6:11-12) in running the race, and so turn away from Christ when the going gets tough. This man, due to the great light he possessed will not have another chance to repent, but will receive the sorer punishment spoken of later in Heb. 10:26-29. and will be damned –“whose end is to be burned” (Heb. 6:8) 
Charles Stanley believes that a Jew (or any believer) can be fully converted to Jesus as the Messiah, be born again, and follow for a while; then turn away and deny Christ; but still go to heaven and be saved. Everyone who stubbornly holds to the antinomian heresy of “Unconditional Eternal Security” must ultimately agree with Stanley, or else deny man’s free will (as a Calvinist) – there is no other choice. Here are Stanley’s own words: 
“The persons described in these verses were genuine, born again believers. As followers of Christ, they had experienced the Christian life in its fullest sense. They had seen the power of God at work in their lives and in the lives of others. Then for some unexplained reason they began doubting the claims of Christ. That continued until finally they turned their backs on all that they at one time embraced and returned to Judaism... By turning their backs on Christ, these Jews were in essence agreeing with the Jews who had Christ arrested and ultimately put to death. If He was not THE Christ – and apparently they did not think He was – He was a false Christ and deserved to die. The phrase “to themselves” is the author’s way of pointing out the groups attitude. Insofar as they were concerned, Jesus deserved to die.  
Since they had at one point publicly professed Christ as their Savior and thus the Messiah, their public denial would bring shame on those who maintained their belief in Christ. Outsiders would conclude that there must not be much to Christianity if those who at one time said they believed changed their minds and went back to their former religion.  
If one takes seriously the original context of the writer’s statements, it is clear that this solemn warning in no way threatens the security of the believer. Actually, it is evidence for the believer’s security. If a Jew, who was awaiting the coming of the Messiah, could find salvation through Christ and then walk away from Him without the threat of losing his or her salvation, what do the rest of us have to fear? No other group had more revelation concerning the coming of the Messiah. Their whole culture was centered on God’s law and His promises about ultimate salvation from sin. For a Jew to come face to face with the claims of Christ and to accept them for a while and then walk away seems unforgivable. But our ways are not his ways – and it’s a good thing they aren’t!  
The writer of Hebrews offers a serious warning. It is a dangerous thing for a believer to turn his back on Christ. To do so is to run the risk of drifting beyond the point of return – not a return to salvation, but a return to fellowship with the Savior.”  
Mv heart breaks to know that so many people believe this devilish twisting of the Scripture. It reveals something about their heart, because the Bible isn’t that hard to understand. People believe this simply because they want to – it fits the way they want to live--they want salvation without obedience and death to self. 8