A Critique Of "Eternal Faith" - Can Christians Apostasize?

King Solomon apostasized in 1 Kings 11

The belief that true Christians cannot apostasize is a hallmark of Reformed Theology. However, even among those who do not teach Lordship salvation, such as the NIFB (New Independent Fundamental Baptists), there are still proponents of the idea that apostasy is impossible for the Christian, and that all true Christians will persevere in the faith.

This article aims to demonstrate that true Christians, while capable of being deceived, can still remain saved. Although this perspective is unpopular today, it is biblically supported when we allow the Scripture to speak for itself.

The clearest example of a saved people apostasizing is the book of Galatians. We see this in the book of Galatians, which was written to the Galatians to try to correct their apostasy. We see this in many verses, where Paul calls them "bewitched":

Galatians 3:1-2

3 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Notice how despite being bewitched, they had still received the Holy Spirit? Now, some Arminian could argue that they lost the Holy Spirit, however Paul later on still calls them "brethren" in the present tense:

Galatians 6:1

6 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 

 This shows that despite their apostasy, Paul did not doubt the salvation of the Galatians. This same sentiment is moreover re-affirmed in the Second Epistle To Timothy, where Paul writes:

2 Timothy 2:13

13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

The "we" is referring to Christians, since Paul includes himself in the statement.  Thus, Paul is saying that it is possible for Christian to "believe not", which is a reference to apostasy. But even in such a radical case, God abides faithful. 

Additionally, the Bible is full of examples of apostasy. Paul talks about "departing" from the faith (1 Timothy 4:1), and we see it in the parable of the sower (Matthew 13), which shows that some depart from the gospel after a accepting it. A major example in King Solomon, who also departed from God in the book of Kings. However, we know he was saved as God promised to discipline him (2 Samuel 7:14), which he does not do for unbelievers (Hebrews 12:8). 

Advocates of the claim that those who fall away were never true Christians often use 1 John 2:19, which reads:

1 John 2:19

19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

This may sound persuasive at first sight, however one must look at this verse more carefully. The verse does not say they were never of us, but uses a simple past tense "were not of us". The "us" is referring to the believing community. This verse merely states that prior to them leaving the community of believers externally and visibly, they had already apostasized in their inner being, and if they hadn't they wouldn't have left the Christian community. However, nowhere does this verse imply that they were "never" of us, the simple past tense just requires that at some point prior to their apostasy they had already apostasized in their heart, being "not of us".