While it is difficult to say what is meant by some Scripture passages, we can always narrow the possibilities by eliminating interpretations that cannot be. For example:
Said an individual to him: “Do you believe in the doctrine of the saints’ perseverance ?”—“It is my opinion,” he replied, “that that doctrine is taught in the Bible.” “I should like, then,” said the individual, “to have you explain this passage, Ezek. xviii. 24: ‘When the righteous turneth away from his righteousness and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All the righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.’”
Said Dr. Nettleton: “You have imposed upon me a hard task. That is a difficult text to explain; and what renders it the more difficult is, that the commentators are not agreed as to its meaning. Some have supposed, that by a righteous man in this passage, is meant a self-righteous man.” “I do not believe that,” said the individual.—“Neither do I,” said Nettleton; “for, in that case, it would seem to teach, that if a self-righteous man should persevere in his self-righteousness he would be saved. Some have supposed, that by a righteous man is meant one who is apparently righteous.” “I do not believe that,” said the individual.—“Neither do I,” said Dr. Nettleton; “for, in that case, the text would seem to teach, that if a hypocrite should persevere in his hypocrisy, he would be saved. You suppose, do you not. that by a righteous man in this passage, is meant a true saint?”—“Certainly I do.” “And you suppose, that by a righteous man’s turning away from his righteousness, is meant falling away, as David did, and as Peter did?”—“Certainly.” “And you believe that David and Peter are now in hell?”—“No, by no means. David and Peter repented, and were restored to the favour of God.” “But,” said Dr. Nettleton, “when the righteous turneth from his righteousness—in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die—in them shall he die. Now, if David and Peter did turn from their righteousness, in the sense of this passage, how can we possibly believe that they were saved?” The individual now found the labouring oar in his own hands; and after attempting for some time unsuccessfully to explain the difficulty in which he found his own doctrine involved, Dr. Nettleton said to him: “If there is any difficulty in explaining this text of Scripture, I do not see but you are quite as much troubled with it as I am.”
—Bennet Tyler, The Life and Labours of Asahel Nettleton (Banner of Truth, 1975), 409–411.
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