[[You are equating our past salvation, our acceptance of Jesus Christ and projecting that same salvation event into the future salvation event, entering heaven. They are NOT the same event, nor does the former guarantee the latter.]]
Jokus- God tells us that the saved’s names are written in the Lambs book of life- it’s a done deal.
[[ Really, how are you going to explain away so many Bible verses that talk about losing inheritance, returning to the former life of sin, and losing the Blood of Christ - AND STILL claim they are saved for heaven?]]
I’m afraid it’s not me fitting an ideology to scriptures, Christ Clearly states that it is NOT through works that we are saved, but that it is entirely a gift of God- with no ‘strings attached’ so that man can NEVER boast of his own salvation. Christ went into great depth talking about being freed from the law- the same law that condemned the Jews when they slipped up, and made a very clear point about the law being done away with in regards to salvation. Under the old law, man did have to work to keep from sinning in order to be saved, and had to keep giving sacrifices, but when you examine the Apostles words and Christs, you will clearly see that the final sacrifice has doen away with hte law- why? So that NO man can EVER boast that he has saved himself. What you propose is that we can indeed boast of our salvation by always walking upright and making sure we never sin and always ask forgiveness so that we won’t lose our salvation when we do sin- You are putting us BACK UNDER the law that Christ’s death abolished.
Hebrews 6: 4-6 state the following that if we could lose our salvation, then we could NEVER AGAIN regain salvation-
4 For it is impossible to restore to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit,
5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come—
6 and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people to repentance again because they are nailing the Son of God to the cross again by rejecting him, holding him up to public shame.
So, if we can NEVER be restored, the EVERY PERSON would be lost and go to Hell because EVERY PERSON continually sins- there are no degrees of sin- sin is sin, and ANY sin could result in lost salvation IF losing salvation were a possibility. EVERY sin is a turning away from God- A willful act of defiance to God. We know we shouldn’t, but we conciously make the decision to turn away from God and do the sin.
Jo Kus- if you can swing it, there is an excellent book by Charles Stanley called Eternal Security. Charles is an excellent teacher of God’s Word, and His books are always uplifting and helpful. In Eternal Security, He tackles thie often misunderstood concept of conditional salvation. I’m not trying to convert you or anything, but I think it’s a subject that is well worth exploring as the burden of Sin HAS been lifted from us once and for all, and living a life believing that we are responsible for maintaining our own salvation puts a yolk around our necks, and a heavy heavy burden on our shoulders that Christ NEVER itnended for us- here’s a link to hte book- or perhaps your local library might have it. Stanley is a trustworthy teacher, and a righteous man of God who has deep insights into God’s word http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?event=AFF&p=1011693&item_no=64175
God's Word also tells us that names can be blotted out of the book of Life.
I’m afraid it’s not me fitting an ideology to scriptures, Christ Clearly states that it is NOT through works that we are saved, but that it is entirely a gift of God- with no ‘strings attached’ so that man can NEVER boast of his own salvation
I don't believe I ever said otherwise. You are getting off topic. My point of contention is your belief that man is saved by once and for all by accepting Jesus as their savior at some point in the past and no matter what happens, they are going to heaven. This is un-Scriptural, as I have pointed out. I didn't say anything about earning salvation - although you CAN earn LOSING it.
Hebrews 6: 4-6 state the following that if we could lose our salvation, then we could NEVER AGAIN regain salvation
That's hyperbole. Paul cannot believe that a person would fall away to the point of going to their former life and then repenting again. However, God has told us that He would forgive seven times seventy times, so IF a man fell away, became atheist, and then later in life, returned and repented, what proof do you have that God would not forgive this man?
IF losing salvation were a possibility. EVERY sin is a turning away from God- A willful act of defiance to God. We know we shouldn’t, but we conciously make the decision to turn away from God and do the sin.
Willful sin that is greivous is called "mortal" sin, or as John says, deadly. It ruins our relationship with God. But as I said before, a repentant person can again regain that relationship with God. That's the Good News of the Gospel - REPENT!
I’m not trying to convert you or anything, but I think it’s a subject that is well worth exploring as the burden of Sin HAS been lifted from us once and for all, and living a life believing that we are responsible for maintaining our own salvation puts a yolk around our necks.
Yes, the burden is light, as Christ has said. It is not removed. Why do you think Paul said "Work out your salvation in fear and trembling"? We are responsible for our actions. We are responsible for persevering. That is a major theme of Scriptures. Is that a difficult burden? Not while in Christ it isn't.
Regards