How Does Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Interpret Difficult Bible Passages on Perseverance of the Saints?

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones provides a systematic approach to interpreting difficult Bible passages that seem to contradict the doctrine of the final perseverance of the saints (the belief that true Christians cannot lose their salvation). Here's his methodology:

What principles should we use when interpreting difficult Bible passages?

According to Lloyd-Jones, we should follow these key principles:

1. Deal with Scripture alone - "When you are dealing with a difficult passage of scripture, you must keep to the scripture. Don't let philosophy come in."

2. Compare Scripture with Scripture - "Scripture does not contradict the scripture. There cannot be. It's God breathed. It's God inspired. It's God's word."

3. Start with clear positive statements - "Start with the great positive statements of the scripture... There are certain positive statements in the scripture that are plain and explicit and clear and quite unambiguous."

4. Interpret difficult passages in light of clear ones - "Deal with the difficult statements or the doubtful statements or the ones that don't seem to be quite clear to you in the light of those first great statements."

5. Pay careful attention to details and context - "Be careful always to pay great attention to details. Be careful to observe exactly what is being said. Be very careful to consider the context."

What are some examples of "proof texts" that support perseverance of the saints?

Lloyd-Jones cites several unambiguous passages:

1. John 10:27-29: "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish."

2. John 17:11-12: Jesus' high priestly prayer where He says, "Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me..."

3. 1 Peter 1:3-5: Believers are "kept by the power of God through faith... unto salvation."

4. 1 John 5:18-19: "Whosoever is born of God sinneth not... and that wicked one toucheth him not."

How does Lloyd-Jones explain passages that seem to teach believers can fall away?

He applies his principles to several challenging texts:

1. The Parable of the Sower - Only the good soil represents true Christians. The others never had "root in themselves" - they appeared Christian but weren't.

2. John 2:23-25 and John 6:66 - These "disciples" who fell away never truly believed. Jesus "knew what was in them" and stated "there are some of you that believe not."

3. 1 Timothy 1:19-20 - Hymenaeus and Alexander made "shipwreck" of their faith, but this doesn't mean they lost salvation; rather, their understanding became confused.

4. Hebrews 6 and 10 - These passages never state these people were regenerate. They had experiences but not true conversion.

5. 2 Peter 2:1, 20-22 - Peter uses different words ("pollution" vs. "corruption") to distinguish surface-level change from true conversion. The illustration of washed pigs returning to mud shows these were never transformed in nature.

Why is this doctrine important for Christians?

Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that this isn't merely academic: "We are not meeting together, in other words, simply to have a theological discussion." Rather, this doctrine provides:

1. Assurance in uncertain times - "If we rarely know this doctrine and believe it and know it to be true, well, then, as Christian people, we shouldn't be frightened."

2. Pastoral comfort - "The apostle had a great pastoral concern."

3. Spiritual growth - Understanding this doctrine has "promoted as a direct consequence their growth in grace and in holiness."

The ultimate purpose of predestination is not debate but assurance: "We must remember that doctrine is only a means to an end... you're predestinated unto this conformity, to the image of God's son to be finally glorified."