The Dr Craig there have been some really good questions of the week and people are interacting with those at

reasonable faith.org here's a recent question to you that you answered and

Jonathan MS Pierce who is a non-theist a tipling philosopher blog

responds to this and so here is the question that you received not long ago.

It says hi Dr Craig I've been studying the perseverance of the

Saints and I found your paper on the subject very thought-provoking let me stop

right there the perseverance of the Saints means that once a person comes to Christ,

that the Holy Spirit preserves them, that God keeps them, and that they don't

apostatize or lose their salvation salvation it deals with that whole issue yes that's right okay so he says I've been wrestling with the subject as of late and there appear to be certain difficulties with the traditional understanding of perseverance, some of which

you have highlighted in your paper. However, I would like to ask about a difficulty I see on the other

side. My question pertains to reconciling God's loving nature with the teaching

that Christians can become lost or lose of salvation.

If God loves his children enough to send Christ to die for them, why wouldn't he simply

take the life of the believer before they apostatize, given his foreknowledge that if they're kept alive they will apostize.

After all, God is in control of when we die and scripture repeatedly affirms that God loves his sheep deeply and desires none of them to be lost,

seems to me that it is well within God's capabilities

and that it is more consistent with his character to take one's life while they are still in a state of grace.

My mind jumps to 1st Corinthians 1132, which appears to repeat this sentiment if he is able to

well then why doesn't he I would love to know your thoughts on this as I have a

hard time reconciling God's love with his allowing apostasy to occur, especially when it appears

it could be prevented. Bill I'll invite you to read your answer to him.

All right here's what I wrote in reply. invite you to read your answer to him.

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