We raise a question with our title. Can something be taken away from one who has a part? Just what part are we talking about? The passage in Revelation mentioned above says "his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." Who has such a part? It seems it could only be one who at one time qualified for these things. This brings in one "begotten...again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3). Those enjoy a hope of an inheritance that does not fade away.

This reference is to one kept by the power of God "through faith," This salvation is "reserved in heaven," "revealed in the last time." (1 Peter 1:3-5), Hence it does not refer merely to what is real and happened when one first trusted Christ. It refers to believers who have reached a state of maturity or are prospects of such, but who allow all of this to be taken away. Since this is almost unheard of among Baptists I would like to deal with some Scriptures that seem to suggest such. Each reader will draw his own conclusions. We are sure of a certain security for believers, but when conditions are specified it is important that we observe these.

WHO HAS SUCH A RESERVATION?
We believe it is only one who has proved His walk by a life that proves his faith is for more than a ticket to heaven. To attempt to require of men what God does not require, or to absolve them from what he does require, is a great sin, and exposes those who practice it to his curse such as we see in Revelation.

We believe God requires one who trusts Him to recognize Him for more than a Savior from past sins. He rose from the dead and was given all authority at God's right hand. This makes Him our Lord. We must learn to recognize Him as Lord and constantly seek His will for our lives. We believe He actively seeks to reveal Himself to us as sufficient in every area of service and takes care of our every need. We feel that much has been sacrificed to our traditions that allow us to overlook these important matters and to find some comfort in less than the obedience that he asks.

The Pharisees felt they knew what God was like and did not need further help. They resented the forwardness of Jesus to interfere with the lives of men on earth (See the story of a case in point in Matthew 22:15-22).

Are we ever going to learn that Scripture does not allow just any of our feeble ideas to be forced into them? If all we know about salvation is that it takes a lost sinner and so changes him in an instant until he is qualified to stand before God and in the judgment will receive an inheritance in the kingdom to come, then how do we understand the language of 1 Peter 1:3-5? The first problem is the statement that we are begotten to a lively hope.

"By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." 1 Peter 3:1-5

Though it is said we are 'begotten to this hope,' when it is laid out simply for us it becomes obvious that while' hope' is in the bargain, it is a long way down the avenue of spiritual progress.

He says we rejoice in hope of 'the glory,' but then describes the process between there and the experiencing of the glory. First there is tribulation. In this we must also rejoice because we know that tribulation works patience, and patience works experience (approved-ness, proof, tried character), which in turn works a calm satisfaction and without shame because we know that the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts.

Hope is that calm satisfaction, but we need to know whether our hope is, indeed, an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast (Hebrews 6:19). Or is it mere wishful thinking? See the context of this passage. The products of grace and mercy work for us, in our hearts, when we have our eyes on Jesus, when we are considerate of our brethren, not merely a selfish, even a covetous concern for self and no regard for our brethren (Hebrews 6:1-20). God prescribes such a disposition that requires our submission and step-by-step brings us to a continuing faith (Romans 15:4):

"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope."

Gently he brings us to "the mind of Christ," working in us that which gives Him glory and gives us joy for ourselves (Hebrews 6:19):

"Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil."

REWARD FOR THIS DISPOSITION
The "comfort of the Scriptures" serves wondrously to encourage and keep us in His hands. "For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drinkin my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward" (Mark 9:41).

"Not lose his reward" explains the thought we are dealing with. Observe that giving a cup of water to one of the weak brethren, because he belongs to Christ, will certainly be rewarded. But giving a service for selfish reasons does not afford such a promise (cf. Matthew 10:42). In fact we are warned that it is our disposition or attitude that determines whether any of our good deeds is worth anything (James 1:2-8):

"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways."

Even when our works qualify at the moment they are being done, later turning away jeopardizes that work (2 John 1:8):

"Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward."

Such losing of reward is a consequence of that deception which brings departing from the faith of which Jesus warned us (Matthew 24:4, 5). We must not apply all such losing to mere false professors (Matthew 24:24):

"For there shall arise false christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."

At least the test is faced by the humblest of disciples. By these we see whether our standing is truly what we think it is. When God has chosen us we "make our calling and election sure" through that process described in this context (2 Peter 1:4-10). But we may fail to make it sure through failing to keep our eyes fixed on Him. We lose sight of His promises and may actually lose out on the receiving of the promise. This principle is illustrated in the parable of the pounds. (Luke 19:23-26):

"And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that bath ten pounds. (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him."

How could one have that taken away which he did not have?

"For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that bath not shall be taken away even that which he bath." Matthew 25:29

"Take heed therefore how ye hear.' for whosoever bath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have." Luke 8:18

There is a technical explanation for this passage that may help. The word "seemeth" means to think. How many people think things that are not true! An investor may think he has a large nest egg at the bank but learns his money has disappeared or diminished considerably. The passages, as Luke 19:26 and Mark 4:25 use another word that means to have, or to acquire. A progressive acquiring results in a large or extensive reward, but if one fails to serve, thinking it is already his and nothing else is required, may find at the judgment seat of Christ that he has nothing. How many surprises there will be in that day! Those who think to have a reward in the kingdom may not even attain to the kingdom. Those who expect, think, that the Lord will return and catch them out of the earth before the man of sin comes on the scene will certainly be disappointed when that happens and the end is not yet (Matthew 24:6).

Luke 8:18 "Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever bath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have."
An admonition like this last passage is in the Bible for a good reason. How we hear, what we hear, when to hear, for some things should not even be heard, each provide us a reason to pay attention to the man of God, especially to the Word of God. A few passages suggest this conclusion.

• Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
• Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is wnong you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think,' but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
• 1 Corinthians 3:18 Let no man deceive himself If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
• I Corinthians 8:2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
• 1 Corinthians 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord
• Philippians 3:4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hat/i whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
• James 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridieth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

DEALING WITH THE TAKE AWAY FEATURE
John 15:2 "Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit."

Nobody can out claim the Baptists relative to the promises of God doctrinally. We claim an everlasting salvation, the security of the believer, once saved always saved, and the benefits of future reward as the Bride of Christ. But there is a problem, we go on making those claims without considering whether we trust the Lord for them.

Traditionally Baptists have joined the non-denominationalists making the first faith of a sinner to include all that extends on beyond his salvation in that step. When we say "security of the believer" many confuse the promise of reward, including the future kingdom as reward in the age to come. We have touched on this idea when we describe the word "seemeth to have." Many are thinking they have it all in the bag by that one step. They then neglect to add to their faith as Peter admonishes us to do (2 Peter 1:5-11). Be sure to notice the word "so" in v. 11. It means "thus" or "in this manner." That manner is described as a progressive adding or walking by faith, supplying the attributes of the fullness of Godhood in our lives.

Observe the words faith and faithful in passages below:

• Matthew 13:12 For whosoever hath to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever bath not, from him shall be taken away even that he bath.
  
• Matthew 25:28 Take therefore the talent from him,and give it unto him which bath ten talents.
• Matthew 25:29 For unto every one that bath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hat/i not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
  
• Luke 8:18 Take heed therefore how ye hear.' for whosoever bath, to him shall be given; and whosoever ha/h not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.
• Luke 16:9-12 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?
• Luke 19:24-26 And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that bath ten pounds. (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he bath shall be taken away from him.
• John 15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bringforth more fruit.

GOD'S PROMISES ARE CONDITIONAL AND UNCONDITIONAL
This sounds like a contradiction, and would be, except for the fact that God never surrenders His right to be in charge. His covenant with Israel was unconditional as regards its reality, its continuity, and the fact that God is God;

• Psalms 105:8 "He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations."
• Deuteronomy 7:9 "Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;"

A thousand generations would be at least 40,000 years, much longer than men have been on this earth. So what happened to the nation when they refused to accept the Messiah when he came? (Matthew 21:43):

"Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof."

He kept His covenant faithfully, trying numerous strategies to get the covenant nation, Israel, to bring forth the fruits of righteousness, that being a condition for their receiving the kingdom.

Somebody says, but those Jews were never saved. Do you know that to be a fact? And was being saved the condition? No. Kingdom fruits were the condition. They brought forth wild grapes instead of the choice vine fruits He expected. Isaiah 5:4-7 "What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof and it shall be eaten up, and break down the wall thereof and it shall be trodden down: And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry." The New Testament tells us about this at Matthew 21:43.

GOD NEVER CHANGES
"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. " (Hebrews 13:8).
It is the Person of God that never, changes. His methods may change as He adapts to the needs of the moment or the people. He is not static. He is always in charge.

Between B. C. 4000 and the coming of Christ the world did not see or know the terms of the New Covenant. His holiness and His righteousness require that some things among men never change. He cannot stand before sin so it was necessary for him at times to cut off, take away, or modify features of His work, but the ultimate system is unconditional. His purpose to bring in everlasting righteousness did not waver. The seed of Abraham which are like the sands of the seashore and the stars of heaven will certainly receive the promised inheritance, but those individuals who would not submit to His authority shall have no part in that prophetic time.

"Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, 0 God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second." Hebrews 10:8, 9

THE KEY TO THE BOOK OF HEBREWS
It shows up in the use of the word "better." (Hebrews 6:9) "But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak" A whole series of references shows that the things of Christ are better than Judaism. It appears that believers in Christ among the Jews became discouraged because of the persecution they now faced, whereas they had no such trials as ordinary Jews. It seems there was a temptation to turn back to the old ways. But the writer to the Hebrews would have them realize that it is necessary that they go on to produce the fruits of righteousness in their lives, something that Judaism failed to do. In the early church, especially at Jerusalem, there was a tendency to mingle the outward acts prescribed by Judaism with service to Christ. Some of the brethren there even persuaded Paul to take a Jewish vow (Acts 21:18-24). Paul was willing to pacify his Jewish brethren, but would never surrender the Truth on that ground.

Some of us realize that there are good things in every religion but we know better than to deny the Christ for the sake of outward harmony. The language of the New Covenant is so strong until we know that God has made all the concessions that may be made to get people to see things His way. Those Jews about to go back to their old ways traditionally set among the Jews must learn that going on to maturity is the goal, not mere concession to tradition (Hebrews 5:11 ~ Hebrews 6:12).

God had always meant to bring in the Christ to bring other men to Himself through the merits of His sacrifice (Hebrews 9:26). We must never feel that any ritual, any ordinance, any law, or any effort of man will accomplish the standard of righteousness that God expects. The answer lies in a continuing faith in Him.

• Hebrews 7:19 "For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God."
  
• Hebrews 7:22 "By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament."
  
• Hebrews 8:6 "But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises."

In our emphasis on a working faith we overlook the value of hope and love. The nineteenth verse above points this out. When the law could not produce the fruits of righteousness that God required he brought in a better covenant, established on better promises. The hope generated by the promises gives us a "better hope," tending to maturity. It is sad for those of us who see a generation, or more than one, approaching the coming of the Lord while people are so immature.

The law made nothing perfect; the ceremonial law was not designed for that. It answered the local and temporary purpose for which it was intended, but its sacrifices could not, like the sacrifice of Christ, purge the conscience from dead works to serve the living God, cleanse from sin, justify and sanctify the soul, give it access to God, and inspire that hope which purifies it as Christ is pure. But the bringing in of a better hope; the gospel through the atonement, righteousness, and intercession of Christ, does all this.

For the gospel to purge the conscience from dead works to serve the living God we must be soaked with its message, in love with its author. What are "dead works"? Works, like worship, must be "in the spirit" for God to have the glory. Works of the flesh are dead works, no matter how right the actions may be. Preaching, praying, singing, teaching, witnessing, the whole system of religious activities are works of the flesh when done for any reason other than that prompted by the Spirit to give glory to the Lord Jesus Christ.

People judge their works by their own feelings of good intentions. They can have no idea that a thing could be bad if the end is intended for something good. Visitation, for example, is intended for the winning of lost souls, or the bringing back of wayward or careless believers. This is like saying that sincerity is all it takes. But sincerity is not the same as "in the spirit." Paul said, "I verily thought with myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth" (Acts 26:9). I presume that most people are sincere, or have moments of sincerity, when working at things supposed to be of the Lord. But we must check these things by the pattern of the Word. Paul was very wrong in his thinking "with himself." That is the kind of thinking that most of us do. The only way to think otherwise is to become saturated with the written Word and open our hearts to the Lord to enable us to see its true sense.

Paul was saying in Acts 26:9 what he often said, as in Acts 23:1. His conscience was clear in what he did. Conscience is not a safe guide. It must be properly educated. A believer must be saturated with the Word of God. Conscience only performs in the light it has.

May I make another suggestion about "thinking with myself'? It frequently is a form of dishonesty. Wishful thinking is not hope, surely not the better hope. Men may have an agenda which seems very right, yet when not measured by the Word of God, not a seeking of the will of the Lord, it is merely a fleshly desire. Even when it seems like a good thing, when it leaves out the mind of Christ for the using of our own mind, it is fleshly.

Having been born in a Christian home, come up in a Baptist church, I knew about right and wrong. Many things about Baptists, and about the Lord, I did not know, so I thrust aside the convicting Spirit with a defense based on a morality which was not truly my own. But God did not let me rest in this evil conscience. He has continued through the years to turn the light of His word on ideas that I thought were right. One is not likely to come to full knowledge of Truth in the world. He certainly cannot do it measuring by tradition. Good men often are wrong. Even the arguments they derive from Scripture may be corrupted by wrong opinions gathered from earlier in life. As seemingly good as Paul's earlier life was he had to come to count it all loss. His pedigree as a Hebrew, of the tribe of Benjamin, would not hold up in the light of the perfection of Christ. He had whereof to glory in those elements of his flesh, but he came to reckon them all as refuse. They had been accepted as "gain." He came to desire to "win" Christ. Gain and win are the same word in Philippians 3:7,8.

SALVATION IS NOT A SUBJECT TO BE TRIFLED WITH
This inclusive word covers much more than the work of God in bringing an alien sinner to trust Him. It also deals with bringing a life to righteousness. Other aspects of this delivering grace are abundant in the Word, as justified, sanctified, glorified. All are a part of saving grace. It certainly does not all come as experience in the first moment of faith. Read a significant passage on salvation:

"Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hat/i shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lor4 Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God and you yourselves thrust out. And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last." Luke 13:23-30

THE SCOPE OF THIS SUBJECT
Salvation is free. It is by grace. Brethren often say "plus nothing, minus nothing." We rejoice that it is within reach of any and every man. But it is definitely conditional. Since it embraces all that it takes to conform us to the image of Christ, we plead with all our readers to take note of the extensive language describing what lies before us. Note the state of the depraved heart. Remember that each man has the ability to choose, called "free moral agency."

When one first trusts Jesus as Savior he experiences a change that affects his mind, his emotions, and even his will. There will soon be evident, however, a conflict between these new feelings and the old nature. The same mind and will operate relative to these new feelings and the old. The grace wrought as a gift from God has brought about a conflict. At first there is more to object to old feelings than merely the training of Christian parents, or teachers or law enforcement officers. The feelings reach deeper than any such education. Read a description of this conflict

"For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do!. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good Now then ills no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would! do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if! do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 0 wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin." Romans 7:14, 15

A decision by the believer in favor of the old nature (flesh) results in suffering loss (1 Corinthians 3:15).