Can A Brother Perish?

There are many passages that clearly teach a child of God can fall from grace (e.g., Galatians 5:4). However, many try to get around this truth by saying one of two things about every passage that teaches it.

About some passages the argument is made the person involved had never been truly born again. Other passages are passed off with the comment that the passage in question is just teaching the unfaithful Christian will lose some of his heavenly reward, not that he will actually be lost. But without fail, the passages in question are teaching a person, once saved, will be lost if he doesn’t live faithfully unto God (Rev 2:10).

Those who get around the Bible’s teaching in this way need to deal with I Corinthians 8:11. The passage reads, “And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?” There can be no doubt this passage is talking about a brother; it says “brother.” Likewise there shouldn’t be any doubt about what is to happen to the brother according to this passage. Does “perish” sound like to you the brother is going to go to heaven but just not have as much reward as others in heaven?  Or does it sound like he is going to be lost? (see “perish” in John 3:16)  The last phrase of the verse reads “for whom Christ died.” Paul’s point here is Christ provided the opportunity for this man to be saved by dying on the cross, but that opportunity is going to be wasted by this man. If this man were still going to heaven, then Christ’s death would still be everlastingly beneficial to the man, and there would no point to Paul saying, “for whom Christ died.” Contrary to Calvinistic opinion, a person for whom Christ died can be lost (Jesus died for all, not just the elect) – that is, if you believe I Corinthians 8:11.

The Bible teaches in many places a person, once saved, can “fall” (I Corinthians 10:12). I Corinthians 8:11 is one of those places. It is talking about a “brother” and it says that brother will “perish.” Yes, the Bible shows a brother in Christ can perish.

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