Review of Dan Corner's 801 page book

Dan Corner had written an 801 page book called 'The Believers Conditional Security' that argues that a believer can lose his/her salvation.

My other blogs will certainly will refute his writings but this post today will show what many people miss when reading his book. I purchased Dan Corner's book nearly two years ago and was amazed as to how anyone could take this guy seriously. This is not a scholarly book and it certainly does not compare to other books that I have read that promoted conditional security of the believer.

Here are some things you should be aware of when you read Dan Corner's 801 pages of non-sense. First, look at the Scriptural index in the back of the book. Make note that nearly every so-called proof text of his he quotes it more than a dozen times. Many verses are quoted nearly 40 to 80 times throughout his book. You might say, "So what?" That would be like me quoting Ephesians 4:30 70 times; Romans 5:9,10 nearly 40 times; Acts 16:31 38 times and so on to prove my position.

Dan will deal with a proof text that is used to support eternal security and he will seek to drown out the meaning by quoting a whole host of Bible verses from all over the place. Let's take Ephesians 4:30 for example. Dan will make a quick comment about Ephesians 4:30 but will then quote 1st Corinthians 6:9-11 and will tell you that clearly Paul did not mean eternal security in Ephesians 4:30 because look what he said here in 1st Corinthians 6 (This was merely an example and not that he used this verse in that passage. You will find that this is what he often will do). I would never take first Corinthians 6:9-11 and say, "Paul clearly did not mean that one can lose their salvation because look at what he said over here in Ephesians 4:30" and end it there. Dan avoids many problem texts by throwing out verses from all over the place and you will find this consistently done throughout his entire book.

You will find that Jehovah Witnesses as well as other cults will do what Dan Corner loves to do with the Bible. The idea is to overwhelm you with Bible verses that appear to teach what the person is trying to say. If you ramble enough verses off out loud to a person then the person most likely will stand there with nothing to say. Gail Riplinger is notorious for bombing you will tons of information and quotes to overwhelm on KJV onlyism, but they all fall to pieces when the actual sources are investigated in light of its context. Always study each verse at a time viewing each verse in light of its context. Examine the verse and ask yourself if it is a warning to individuals or a nation?? Ask yourself if the warning is not relating to physical death and not spiritual?? Examine the verses before and after and make sure that the verse isn't being ripped from its context. Examine the words the author used and compare it to how he uses it elsewhere.

You will find that many verses that Dan appeals too are often not clear as to the actual meaning because a verse has been plucked from its context. We NEVER interpret the clear passages of Scripture through the obscure passages. You do not take Hebrews 6:4-6 that has at least 5 different possible interpretations and read it into John 3:16. John 3:16 is clear and Hebrews 6:4-6 is not. Hebrews 6:4-6 is clear to me but many not understanding what was going on with these Jewish believers will focus on the words, "It is impossible..." and they cannot see around it.

Dan Corner makes many of his arguments from logic. When someone tells you that a gift can be lost, stolen, destroyed or given back and then equates that to the free gift of eternal life is arguing what the physical world can somehow do to the spiritual. There is not a single verse that says that God's gift can be given back, stolen, destroyed or even lost and it is wicked to add to the Word of God. The one verse that sticks out in my mind is found in Romans 11:29 that tells us that God's gifts and calling are irrevocable (without repentance).

When Dan Corner compares the physical tomb of Jesus and how the physical seal (stone) was removed and then equates that to the spiritual seal then I seriously have to question his intelligence and intentions here. How does the seal of the Holy Spirit have any relation to a physical seal placed in front of a tomb? NONE!! However, you can find in Scripture about the seals of God in Revelation and that NO MAN is worthy or capable of removing it. Dan Corner makes it as though we can break the seal of God simply by grieving the Holy Spirit. Examine the verse in Ephesians 4:30 and you will find that such words do not exist. We are not to grieve the Holy Spirit that has sealed us for the day of redemption so where does Dan come up with his exception clause???

Dan Corner also uses a variety of Bible versions. If a particular version doesn't argue the verse strongly enough to prove his argument then he will find one that does. It is not uncommon to find him quoting at least 3 or 4 different Bible versions on a single page. What I find interesting is Dan Corner using the KJV when quoting Romans 8:1 and hopefully you know why. I find it interesting because he spent considerable time writing articles and good ones too against the KJV onlyism problem in many of our churches. Dan said, "827 words and phrases" found in the KJV do not even exist in our today's English. Dan in his article called, "Understandeth What Thou Readest?" said that the KJV Onlyist are promoting "a very hard, if not sometimes IMPOSSIBLE translation to understand." Dan even shared some of his personal beliefs that the KJV is used by those that believe in eternal security. He went on to give what he believed should be the versions that we ought to be using today and they are "NIV, NASV AND NRSV" but not the KJV.

This sent off a red flag to me as to his suggested Bible versions when he merely quoted Romans 8:1 from the KJV. The KJV and not the NIV, NASV and NRSV have the added phrase "who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Dan wanted the verse to appear as a condition and none of his recommended versions had that phrase inserted. Instead of answering his recommended Bible versions that render Romans 8:1 as, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" that clearly has no conditions here Dan simply chose to ignore it and quoted the one version that he had written articles against it. He should of at least attempted to explain the differences in versions and why he believes the exception clause belongs there but he didn't. With all of Dan's so-called scholarly work then he would have known how the phrase "who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" made it in there by our translator's, but Dan somehow forgot to mention that. Dan would have told you that none of our earlier translations had the exception clause there. Sounds like a dishonest Dan to me.

The one thing that I found interesting too is how negative Dan's book is. He clearly had an agenda and that was to rip whatever confidence you have in eternal security out. If you have his book then take some time and list all of the sins that you can commit once and lose your salvation instantly. You will find that you are history for just about anything. I think one would be afraid to not say grace over his/her meal in his presence because who knows what Dan might misquote. I think overweight people would probably have reason to fear the presence of Dan because gluttony is a sin and who knows what Dan thinks. I am exaggerating but the beliefs of Dan Corner are certainly out there.

I personal believe that Dan Corner is a lost man and does not know Christ. Reading his book was convincing enough to prove that Dan has placed his confidence in himself and his works. I have very little hope for him or anyone else that embraces the heresy of Conditional Security. The teachings of free grace theology requires that one cast all of his confidence upon Christ and nothing else. Free grace theology clearly teaches, "Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to Thy cross I cling." The fruit of Conditional Security is doubt, fear, self righteousness, pride, critical spirit and frustration that all mirrors the same fruit of Lordship salvation.