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To: LearsFool
>To be sure there are some who teach you can lose your salvation through your sins. This is not supported in the Word.<

But that wasn't my question. My question was whether leaving Christ for "another gospel" causes one to lose his salvation. Paul wasn't writing to unbelievers in Galatia. He wrote this warning to Christians, lest they be led astray, lest Christ profit them nothing and they be lost without Him.

I again defer to 1 John 2:19

They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us. (NASB)

>If it were possible to lose salvation due to a sin you commit, that means the blood of Christ is insufficient to cover the sin.<

Is the blood of Christ insufficient to cover the sins of disbelievers?

If by disbelievers you mean people who have not placed their faith/belief in Christ......then no. Those sins are not forgiven.

For the believer, all sins are forgiven....past, present and future. We may not believe/feel they are, but they are based on the Word.

The question is not one of sufficiency to cover sins, but rather WHOSE sins are covered. Those who abide in Christ or those who abandon Him? Those who "walk in the light as He is in the light" or those who leave the light to walk in darkness?

I again defer to 1 John 2:19

Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called 'Today,' lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, while it is said: 'Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.'" - Heb. 3:12-15

The warning here is against unbelievers.

Is the following a conditional statement?...

"Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience." - Heb. 4:11

Not in the Greek if I've read my books correctly. It is a Hortatory Subjunctive which can be used as an exhortation....which in this case fits as the writer is saying we should fear.

I think the key word here is ὑστερηκέναι. The root word for this verb means to fall short, miss out on what is vital.

What would be vital to enter His rest? Faith in Christ.

If there's no risk, then hasn't the author of Hebrews deceived us with these empty warnings?

Again, this all comes down to faith in Christ. None will enter "His rest" without faith in Christ.

The real issue here is this:

Jesus said: Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. (John 5:24)

On your security in Him: My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand. (John 10:27-28)

Do you believe Jesus at His word?

139 posted on 03/26/2015 7:56:34 PM PDT by ealgeone
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To: ealgeone
"Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God"

Is it possible for believers ("brethren") to develop an evil heart of unbelief? Or is this an empty, unnecessary, and deceptive warning?
140 posted on 03/27/2015 4:31:29 AM PDT by LearsFool ("Thou shouldst not have been old, till thou hadst been wise.")
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To: ealgeone
Consider also the warnings and strong encouragement the author of Hebrews gives to his readers here:

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord. And again, 'The Lord will judge His people.' It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise"
- Heb. 10:23-36


141 posted on 03/27/2015 6:50:16 AM PDT by LearsFool ("Thou shouldst not have been old, till thou hadst been wise.")
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