remember though, we are Kept by the power of God, not our faith or works
we are SEALED until our redemption
It looks like your article claims that a man can lose his salvation
Is that one of your points?
Thanks Race. There is not a hint of works salvation in my article,is there? Because certainly I do not believe we can be saved or kept by anything but the power and grace of God. Salvation is His all the way through.
As for “losing” salvation, no, I don’t believe one can “lose salvation” as they lose keys or lose anything valuable.
But I do believe that there is a real warning of apostasy in scripture, that is real people, who start out with faith in the gospel, but who reject faith for whatever reason. Else why the warnings in Hebrews 6 qnd 10?
Perhpas the greaest problem in our day is that many are not even saved and yet led to think they are. Jesus wanred us this would be the case. All I am seeking to do in this series is underscore he true nature of saving faith. Thanks for your comments, Race.
Maybe this will help...
A person is drowning in open ocean.There is no land in sight,no flotsam or jetsom to grap on to,absolutely nothing to help you stay afloat other than your own efforts and they won't continue indefinently.You are all at sea,tossed by the waves and all,and have zero hope.
Then out of the blue a helicopter hovers over you and lowers a bouyancy ring right down over the top of you.For all intents and purposes you are saved.You didn't earn it,you couldn't earn it.It came to you and was given freely.It litterally fell out of the sky and landed on you.The ONLY requirement on you is that you take hold of it.
To that end...
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life
This is the work of God,that ye believe on Him whom He has sent
work out your salvation with fear and trembling
lay hold on eternal life
we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height
be diligent to make your election and calling sure,for if ye do these things ye shall never fall
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved
paraphrasing here...if you believe and confess Jesus is Lord and you take hold of and it sinks into you the FACT that God raised Him from the dead you WILL be saved!...in fact the most marvelous promise in 2 Peter 1:10 GUARANTEES that you will NEVER FALL if you do these things.What things? making "your election and calling sure"...ie:take hold of the life preserver!
Confessing with our mouths is one thing and having it sink into our hearts is another.No doubt we would shout for joy that the helicopter has lowered our salvation right onto us but unless we take hold of it we won't 'go up' with it!
God is trying to drop a bomb into our desperately wicked hearts...."for He careth for you."
Hope this helps.
God bless