Life in the Son: A Study of the Doctrine of Perseverance

by Robert Shank

Book Overview

Does one moment of faith secure a person's eternal destiny with God--even if that person later stops following and trusting in Jesus? Or does a person have to keep on trusting and following Jesus in... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 091162001X
• ISBN13: 9780911620016
• Release Date: January 1960
• Publisher: Westcott Publishers
• Length: 380 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Well Organized Debate

I became a Christian in 1989 and at the time of my conversion did not know much about what each of the denominations within Christianity believed at the time so I did not have to unlearn any beliefs from previous Roman Catholic doctrine I once held as a child. Even when I became a Christian under the umbrella of the Assemblies of God, I still had some issues concerning some of their doctrines, specifically speaking in tongues. I do believe that the gift of tongues is active today but I just have an uncomfortable feeling about the way the Churches use such gift. I came to know, the hard way, about what most, if not all, Southern Baptists believe concerning salvation and the election. I had, and still have, a hard time believing that once a person becomes a Christian in the past, that his future is secured, though the Scriptures teach that they must persevere to the end and that they must be aware, lest any man deceive them. The book "Life in the Son" addresses the issue of Unconditional Security in such a way that the reader must make a determination whether to follow this belief, or accept that this belief has no Scriptural foundation. The argument is not whether there is more evidence for one position and less evidence for the other position; the argument is about what does the Scriptures say and teach. Interpreting the Holy Scriptures is no light matter and everyone who wishes to study them must do so in a humble and teachable spirit or they will be unable to find the truth in them. The case against the belief of Unconditional Security is not stating that salvation is based on faith plus works or, in the case of the Roman Catholic Church, in works alone. The case is that "we are saved by faith alone, but faith is not alone". Many who believe this doctrine to be true, believe that "Once a son, always a son". If that is true, what happens to those who do the works of their father, the devil, and become sons and daughters of God? If they were sons and daughters of Satan, or if Satan was their father, do they still sons and daughters of Satan after they have received Jesus as Lord and Savior? Of course not. Though the spiritual birth is compulsory to go to heaven so is the continual relationship with the new Father; our heavenly Father. If the Unconditional Security is true, what must a person do with the warnings found in the Scriptures against turning away from God? I admire Robert Shank and those like him that through much study of the Scriptures dare to challenge a doctrine they once held. A great student of the Holy Scriptures is the one who dare to see his/her beliefs from a different point of view and be able, if necessary, to change views by the evidence presented. The reading of this book will certainly make the reader much more knowledgeable about the Scriptures in spite of whether he/she believes or not in the belief of Unconditional Security. Salvation is not, by no means, attained by works, but those who think they a