Is it Wrong to Say the Christian is on Probation?

Probation is a period of testing or trial used to evaluate a person’s conduct or fitness. A period of testing or trial is the very essence of probation. Is it wrong to apply this to the Christian in relation to preparation to meet God on Judgment Day? Many vehemently say that it is wrong.

Consider Acts 24:24-25: “And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he (Paul) reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.”

Now consider if Felix had believed in Christ right then and there. Would his need to live righteously and temperately be removed thereby? Obviously not. To claim otherwise would be a contradiction of Paul’s faithful Gospel preaching. Felix obviously understood that believing in Jesus and his own pursuits in life were not compatible with each other.

Evangelical Christianity tells people to think that their Christian race is as good as over and won as soon as they are born again in Christ. Many preach about how it is damnable to live in sin while also teaching that the Christian has unconditional eternal security. Is anyone going to fight the Christian war and run the Christian race successfully in God’s eyes to the end because of such preaching? How is it logical to not see this as a self-contradicting message which calls people to get right with the Lord today so they can sin boldly tomorrow?

When properly understood, the new birth is the entrance to the Christian race rather than the finish line.

Philippians 2:12-13 says: “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

The text itself makes it clear that the preceding counsel was directly written to people who had already obeyed the Gospel of Christ and been born-again The Philippians whom Paul wrote to had already repented of their sins and bowed to Jesus Christ’s Lordship. They had already obtained mercy through His precious blood. They yet had to work their own salvation with fear and trembling. There is no true conversion to Christ unless one submits to Him to be His disciple to keep His Word. The Lord works in the Christian not just to teach them to do right, but to mold their mind to better discern, appreciate, and to want yet more what is pleasing to Him. However, this work truly can be resisted.

Moses of course served Jesus faithfully (see Hebrews 3:1-6). Neither the first coming of Christ nor anything since has changed the reality that His true people can turn away from Him just as the people under Moses’ leadership could turn away from heeding him.

Hebrews 12:22-29: “But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spoke on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.”

As Peter was concluding his first epistle, he told people who had been genuinely converted to Christ the following.

1 Peter 5:8-9: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”

Does it not make sense that the devil would want authentic Christians to think that all who fall away from Christ were never really true believers in Him at all? In that case, they would not believe that they could be the next spiritual casualty.

Very shortly afterwards, it is written in 1 Peter 5:12: “By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.”

Shortly before these things, it is written in 1 Peter 4:1-2: “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.”

Look at what the true grace of God demands. It surely does not change the established reality that anyone and everyone who practices sin is on track to being condemned in the eternal fire of hell.

Matthew 5:29-30: “And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.”

Titus 2:11-14: “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

God’s grace and man’s need to cooperate with his own rescue are not opposing concepts like many teach. Jesus’ atonement was made in the context of seeking to make people faithful subjects of His kingdom. Can an honest person deny that this involves trial and testing?

1 Peter 1:7: “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”

2 Thessalonians 1:3-5: “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer.”

Look then at what the Risen Jesus told the faithful first century church of Smyrna.

Revelation 2:8-11: “And unto the angel (i.e. the messenger) of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life . He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.”

How can anyone overcome when they are not tested and tried? Note in the preceding verses that there is no alternative to overcoming besides the second death in the lake of fire. Those who do not overcome will indeed be hurt by the second death.

The Risen Jesus’ words to the seven churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 are simply an evident, constant refutation of unconditional security for Christians and proof that they are indeed under testing and trial which their salvation depends upon.

2 Timothy 2:16-19: “But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker (i.e. a gangrene): of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

“Overthrow the faith of some” further testifies against unconditional eternal security and irresistible grace for those who have exercised a living faith in Christ. Overthrowing a dead faith would actually be a good thing. Those who have really been born-again and entered the narrow way to life in Christ can fall away from Him instead of enduring on the narrow way. Those who do not endure do not inherit the fullness of eternal life. A key ingredient in this happening is lack of patience in doing right in God’s eyes.

Hebrew 12:1-3: “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”

The preceding and following passages demonstrate the probationary state of the Christian.

James 1:12-15: “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”

The Bible firmly rebukes the concept of justification by faith alone. Martin Luther did not understand the nature of saving faith himself. He also is responsible for one of the most subtle, misleading, and consequential twistings of the Bible by popularizing the phrase “justification by faith alone.” It is no wonder that the book which literally, directly rebukes the concept of justification by faith alone (James) is a book which Luther himself called “an epistle of straw.” Luther didn’t see anything of the Gospel in James because Luther preached a false gospel which does not recognize that James’ epistle and Paul’s epistles are totally consistent with each other.

Note that Abraham was actually justified by faith more than once. Romans chapter 4 speaks of him being justified by faith when he believed in the Lord in Genesis chapter 15. He was clearly justified by faith again in Genesis chapter 22 when he obeyed God by offering up his son Isaac as he was commanded.

James 2:21-24: “Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.”

Both Paul and James taught that works in line with what the Lord commands are a necessary expression of living by faith. James’ illustration proves that those who wonder how a person would need to be justified continually by faith only need to look at Abraham’s life. Abraham had to endure in faith. In order to endure and overcome, Abraham had to do some very difficult things. He had to work in order to continue believing the Lord and walking by faith. Having faith previously didn’t guarantee he’d pass the test of offering up Isaac. Abraham faced many, many tests of faith. Offering up Isaac is just one the most notable ones.

Some claim that Abraham was only justified before men when he offered Isaac upon the altar. That is a foolish claim. Besides Isaac, no other person even witnessed this. The Bible actually teaches that those who make sacrifices and do deeds with the intention of being seen by men are hypocrites. Moreover, many (even people in conservative, supposedly Bible-believing churches) will often criticize those who are doing right in God’s eyes.

Abraham demonstrated his faith by his works. Abraham’s faith was tested. Since that is so, Abraham was under probation. Abraham is clearly set forth many times in the New Testament as a key model of faith for Christians. Abraham was on probation to the end of his life on earth. This is demonstrated by the trial imposed upon him by God concerning Isaac when he was an old man. Abraham needed to pass this test in order to remain justified by faith. No one is ever lifted from probationary status in this life. Therefore, the Christian is on probation.

The Apostle Paul surely believed and taught that one who is justified by faith needs to continue in the faith whereby they were initially justified in order to enter God’s kingdom.

Acts 14:21-22: “And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”

Though many are admitted proponents of Calvinism, many others are at least practically Calvinists since they don’t actually believe that man’s diligent cooperation to endure on the narrow way to eternal life is really necessary. They think that good works in God’s sight are just an inevitable by-product of conversion to Christ. That thinking is Calvinistic to the core. They do not adequately recognize the test nor what is at stake in the test.

If someone is told that they will be given a passing grade on a test even if they fail, then why would it be a surprise if they don’t diligently study and end up failing the test? Saying that Christians are not on probation is telling them that they do not need to pass the test which their very salvation depends upon them passing.