Grace in Focus – Can Someone Believe in Both Annihilationism and the Promise of Life?

Podcast: Grace in Focus
Hosts: Bob Wilkin and Sam Marr
Date: November 26, 2025
Length: ~13 minutes

Episode Overview

In this episode, Bob Wilkin and Sam Marr address a listener's question: Can someone hold the doctrine of annihilationism and still exercise saving faith in the biblical promise of eternal life? The discussion examines the definition of annihilationism, its biblical validity, and whether holding this view contradicts saving faith as presented in Free Grace Theology. Both hosts navigate assurance of salvation, differing views on the afterlife, and the sufficiency of faith in Jesus for salvation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Defining Annihilationism (01:35–03:40)

• Annihilationism is explained as the belief that after the final judgment (Revelation 20:11-15), unbelievers are cast into the lake of fire where they cease to exist—they are destroyed and are no longer conscious.
• It's also known as conditional immortality: only believers receive immortality, while unbelievers die forever, ceasing to be.
• Hosts contrast this with biblical texts indicating that those in the lake of fire remain physically alive, able to experience torment after being raised from the dead.
• Bob Wilkin: “That's why it's called annihilationism. So that they are no longer conscious. In fact, they're no longer existing.” (02:12)

2. Does Annihilationism Contradict Saving Faith? (04:17–06:30)

• The critical question: Can someone believe in annihilationism and still have saving faith in Jesus for everlasting life?
  • Saving faith, as defined here, is believing in Jesus for everlasting life as promised in John 3:16—eternal security.
  • Secondary doctrinal errors, like annihilationism, do not negate saving faith if the core gospel is believed.
• Wilkin: “If they have other views that are wrong, but they don't contradict the message of life, then they're still born again. And annihilationism would be one of those views.” (04:44)
• Sam Marr: “I don’t think so. I wouldn’t say that it contradicts the promise of life. It would just be an incorrect view of the afterlife.” (05:14)

3. Analogy: Charms and Amulets Among Believers (06:30–08:58)

• Wilkin shares a story about indigenous believers who maintained superstitious practices unrelated to salvation—demonstrating that secondary false beliefs do not nullify genuine faith in Jesus for salvation.
  • Example from Acts 19: early Ephesian believers kept magic books even after coming to faith, only burning them much later.
• Wilkin: “So yeah, we should give that up. Let's go back to the first part. How do we know that annihilationism is not true?” (08:07)

4. Biblical Arguments Against Annihilationism (08:07–11:26)

• Revelation 14:11: The smoke of torment ascends forever, suggesting ongoing conscious existence.
• Revelation 19:20: The beast and false prophet are cast alive into the lake of fire—implying continued existence.
• The resurrection of the unbelieving dead (Revelation 20) before facing the lake of fire underscores ongoing physical existence.
• God's original intention (from Eden): for humanity to live forever, not to be annihilated.
• Wilkin: “God’s original intention is going to be fulfilled. Everyone will live forever.” (10:22)

5. Theological and Emotional Arguments (11:26–12:55)

• Sam Marr: “You can't build a theology off an emotional argument. You build your theology off of what God has stated…” (11:26)
• Reflection on divine justice: Even if eternal conscious punishment is disturbing, God's justice and sovereignty take precedence over human feelings of fairness.
• Wilkin: “If we see something God does and we think it’s unjust, the problem’s with us, not with God.” (11:58)
• The lake of fire fits into God’s good and just plan, even if not fully understood.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Saving Faith and False Doctrine:
  • “There’s lots of false doctrines that people could believe and yet still be born again.” – Wilkin (05:22)
  • “The issue is at the moment of faith, does the person believe the promise of everlasting life in John 3:16? … If they have other views that are wrong, but they don't contradict the message of life, then they're still born again.” – Wilkin (04:44)
• On Emotion vs. Scripture:
  • “You can't build a theology off an emotional argument. You build your theology off of what God has stated…” – Marr (11:26)
  • “Therefore, everything He says and does is just. If we see something God does and we think it’s unjust, the problem’s with us, not with God.” – Wilkin (11:58)
• On the Promise of Life:
  • “And the promise of everlasting life is glorious and true. … Just believe in him and you have eternal life.” – Wilkin (12:36)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:51 – Listener question introduced on annihilationism and saving faith
• 01:35 – Explanation and definition of annihilationism
• 03:40 – Discussion shifts to annihilationism and the effect on saving faith
• 06:30 – Analogy of believers with secondary false beliefs (charms/amulets)
• 08:07 – Biblical case against annihilationism
• 11:26 – Emotional arguments and biblical justice
• 12:36 – The promise of eternal life and concluding exhortations

Summary

This episode squarely addresses whether holding to annihilationism—the belief that the wicked are annihilated rather than eternally tormented—invalidates one's saving faith in Christ. The hosts clarify that, according to Free Grace Theology, as long as a person believes in Jesus for everlasting life as promised in the gospel, secondary misunderstandings (like annihilationism) do not nullify that faith. Scriptural arguments are presented against annihilationism, emphasizing ongoing conscious existence after judgment. Ultimately, God's justice and the sufficiency of faith in Jesus for eternal life are underscored as central truths for listeners to rely on.

For more, visit faithalone.org.