“Reprobate” is a KJV term which, like many other KJV terms, conjures up misleading ideas.
Too often, it has even been preached or inferred that (1) a “reprobate” cannot get saved OR (2) that if one backslides after many years of serving God – having much knowledge of the Word beforehand – then he becomes a “reprobate” and can never return to salvation again. Neither one of these scenarios is true. Note the following verse where “reprobate” is used:
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a REPROBATE mind, to do those things which are not convenient (Rom 1:28, KJV).
The context of Romans 1:28 refers to homosexuality, showing homosexuals have a “reprobate mind” (KJV). The NIV says a “depraved mind”. So, can homosexuals get saved? The answer is a definite, unequivocal and absolute YES!
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor HOMOSEXUALS, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such WERE some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. (1 Cor. 6:9-11, NASB)
So again, the “depraved” (NIV) or “reprobates” can indeed get forgiven, based on a comparison of scripture with scripture. But what about 1 Cor. 9:27, where the same Greek word translated “castaway” has elsewhere been inconsistently translated “reprobate” in the KJV?
But I [Paul] keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a CASTAWAY (1 Cor. 9:27, KJV).
The point Paul is making in 1 Cor. 9:27 is: though he himself has preached the Word to others, he also MUST crucify the flesh (“die daily” – 1 Cor. 15:31) and walk holy OR he too will be a “castaway” (KJV), that is, “rejected” by God for salvation. Hence, Paul ‘kept his body in subjection’ in order to avoid losing his salvation.
Similarly Paul taught, if he himself preached “another gospel“, that is, a different gospel other than the one and only true gospel, he would be “anathema” (CONDEMNED) just for preaching that false plan of salvation (Gal. 1:8,9). Preachers, YOU get no spiritual “brownie points” just because you are a preacher, except you will be given a MORE STRICT JUDGMENT (James 3:1), and you have a chance for the “crown of glory,” if you qualify (1 Pet. 5:4). IF preachers don’t live HOLY, they too will be DAMNED to eternal torment! Remember, the Apostle Judas Iscariot was a preacher, and he ended up going to HELL (Mk. 14:21; Jn. 17:12).
Remember the following truth about backsliding; Peter was an APOSTLE (one of the elite “TWELVE”) – a preacher – yet he returned to salvation after he lost his salvation by disowning Jesus three times, he returned to salvation (Mt. 26:34 cf. Mt. 10:33; Lk. 22:32b). ALL backsliders can return to salvation, unless they commit eternal sin (Mark 3:22-30 cf. Heb. 6:4-6), commit suicide (1 John 3:15b; Rev. 21:8) or take the mark of the beast (Rev. 14:9-12), which is not out yet.
Finally, in Calvinism, a “reprobate” is, according to their FLAWED theology, simply a non-elect person – one doomed to be thrown into eternal fire with no free will and no chance of ever being saved! Such a repulsive concept smears Almighty God as an unloving, spiritually diabolical maniac, who has created some people only to be ETERNALLY TORTURED IN FIRE FOREVER!
The true God does not want any to perish (2 Pet. 3:9); commands all to repent (Acts 17:30); draws all to Jesus (Jn. 12:32); and wants all to come to the knowledge of salvation (1 Tim. 2:4); etc. God has given us free will, and he wants us to voluntarily choose to love him (obey him). He does not force us to love him.
All five points of Calvinism are DOCTRINES OF DEMONS, with the last point being the most dangerous of all. To read scripture refuting the HERESY OF ETERNAL SECURITY see https://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/eternal-security.htm
