Even if you are irrevocably saved ... God still desires that you will grow. He doesn't want us to be spiritual babes forever, ... but He will not discard us for being spiritual babes, either.
What is the purpose of our growth in this scenario? If one sees salvation as a strictly legal issue, then does it matter, legally speaking, if one has obeyed God a bit more? Under such a scenario, we are nothing but dirty rags anyway. Apparently, God is ready to pounce on what we have done wrong - and they would outway any good we might do during our sanctification. When we consider salvation as only a legal issue, sanctification is meaningless, because salvation is ALREADY a done deal.
Who considers salvation to be a strictly legal issue ?
Salvation is about hearing and believing the truth, ... about being reunited with our spiritual Father, ... about rediscovering our real selves, ... about becoming part of a loving family, ... about learning to work with your brothers and sisters to accomplish some good in the world.
And our loving Father desires that we grow up to just like Him, as all good fathers do.
While we grow, He has promised not to cast us away.
This is not biblical - because salvation is NOT a done deal in Sacred Scriptures. Salvation is seen as a past, present and future event. Thus, when one looks at only the past, denying the present and future aspect exists, one runs into problems with Scriptures.
Scripturally, ... those who believe ...... have become the children of GodOne may be able to consciously decide to walk away from such as this salvation, ... but it is certain that we don't work to maintain our standing with God. Our works proceed as the result of our relationship with God ... which is based upon our faith.
... have become new creations in Christ
... have been sealed by the Holy Spirit unto the day of salvation
... are indwellt by the Holy Spirit
... dwell in the spiritual safety and security of the Fahter's own hand
Our security in Christ is as strong as ... His promise ... and our faith.Romans 4:1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Not you, but many whom I have spoken with that believe in a legal imputation of righteousness alone believe that salvation is merely a legal issue. Once we accept the Lord as our Savior, we have already been legally imputed with His Righteousness and nothing can take that away (so the idea goes). With such thinking, there is no point in sanctification, because Christ's righteousness is applied to the credit line, and it erases any debt we have on our side of the ledger...
Salvation is about hearing and believing the truth, ... about being reunited with our spiritual Father, ... about rediscovering our real selves, ... about becoming part of a loving family, ... about learning to work with your brothers and sisters to accomplish some good in the world.
Of course. Glad to see you agree with me. Perhaps you have misunderstood my posts. I am not saying I believe that sanctification is pointless. I am posing a rhetorical question to those who believe in "once saved, always saved", those who believe that they cannot be disinherited from the Kingdom of Heaven and believe that our actions have nothing to do with eternal heaven.
One may be able to consciously decide to walk away from such as this salvation, ... but it is certain that we don't work to maintain our standing with God. Our works proceed as the result of our relationship with God ... which is based upon our faith.
Yes. And how do you walk away from salvation, Quester? Don't your actions have something to do with that? I am certain you are familiar with the concept of love - and that "doing something" is not work, but an act of affection towards the beloved. I buy flowers for my wife out of love, not out of try to earn something... We obey the commandments out of love, not out of trying to earn salvation.
Regards