What does the author mean in 2:3
regarding “neglecting” salvation? Does the author include himself in that
warning? Do you think that Christians can “neglect” salvation? Give reasons for
your answer. How would you encourage a person who was afraid that they were
“neglecting” his salvation? What would you say to help him avoid this
situation?
It would seem that in
the authors’ time there were many believers who were falling away from the
faith. While the word neglecting may seem strange until you take a closer look
at the actual Greek word behind it. The
word paorreo describes a ship at sail
that has drifted off course, or a ship in harbor that has slipped its moorings.[1] It
also has the connotation of a ring slipping off of a finger or an object going in
the wrong direction.[2]
I would say yes that he includes
himself in the warning because when you read it he uses the personal pronoun of
we twice in giving this exhortation. George Gutherie believes that the word
translated “ignore” in the NIV is an appropriate translation; because the
original word there means to neglect through apathy or not care enough about
something.[3] It
sounds as though the pastor was not only preaching to his congregation, but was
preaching to himself as he was writing.
Do I think Christians can neglect
salvation? That is a loaded question if I have ever heard one. I do not feel
that a true Christian can neglect their salvation, I do feel that they can
negelect the means in which they grow in sanctification. Richard Phillips
describes what begins to happen, “without giving heed to the spiritual
resources God provides, your heart will revert to greed, pride, avarice,
sensuality and malice—all those characteristics that define our natural state in
sin and lead to destruction.”[4] We
are told in the New Testament that there will come a time when some we called
brother will fall away, and not to be mad because they were never really one of
us. Through the neglect or ignorance of the means of growth all believers will
become stunted and stale.
I
would first ask the person what do they mean when they say that they are
neglecting their salvation? I say that because if they think that they have
control of their salvation or misunderstand what it really is; then this is the
time to help lovingly guide them back to the “dock” and “anchor” them is sound
theology. Explain that there are two main areas to our salvation our
justification which is passive and our sanctification which is active, and by
not reading the Bible and praying then you are neglecting that aspect of your
salvation. After clarifying this, I would then offer to help pray with and for
them and offer some recommendations on things to help them grow in appreciation
of the Bible so they would want to read it more often.
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