ealgeone:
Well, I don’t like name calling and try to always post things with substance, even if a protestant FR poster here in the end does not agree. The name calling stuff ticks me off and there are some here who I just do not and will not post, even if they post me. Some here I am done with. You have been civil poster and acted with decorum, for the record.
Now, in my view, nothing in those passages speak to Once saved always saved. The entire NT corpus does not support it. Yes, those who are in Christ Jesus will be saved, but that does not prevent those from falling away. You keep saying does not line up with Paul, it is as if you are trying to fit a view of sin into a few verses. As for Christ saying my sheep and no one can take them away from him that is true, but that is from God’s perspective, to assume we are on auto-pilot to heaven is a sin of presumption and actually is an offense against the theological virtue of hope.
I can cite other statements from Christ himself that also have to be read and incorporated into the doctrine of sin, justification, salvation, etc. For example, in Mt 24:13 after talking about persecutions and false prophets, Christ states “But he who endures to the end will be saved”. This is the 2nd time Christ makes that statement in Saint Matthew’s Gospel for we read the same thing in Mt 10:22 “But he who endures to the end will be saved”
As for Christ statements, Christ, since he is Divine will always be true to himself and his promises to give his Grace to those who repent. That is true, but to Love God can’t be forced, as that is not True Love. Christ act of freely laying down his life on the Cross is the Truest act of Love. He gave himself freely. In numerous passages in the NT, Christ speaks about Love of God, Saint Paul says among the 3 great theological virtures of Faith, Hope and Love, Love is the greatest. Thus once we receive God’s Grace, we can turn away from it, God does not turn away from us, but individuals can turn away from God.
Even if you continue reading Saint Paul beyond vs. 3:28, you see for example in Chapter 6:15-18, what then, are we to sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means, Do you know that if you yield yourselves to any one as an obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death or of obedience, which leads to righteousness...you have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed.
In 1 Corinthians, Saint Paul reminds the Church at Corinth about Israel’s history and warns them “Therefore let any one who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall”, once he gives that warning to the Corinthians, those who take heed and worship God, pray, etc, will have the Grace given to them by Christ to overcome temptations. But again, it seems clear that Saint Paul is warning against presumption here.
How do you square away Ephesians 1:13-14 13 "In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory."
The word seal in the greek indicates ownership and the full security by the backing of the owner. sealing in the ancient world served as a legal signature which guaranteed the promise of what was sealed. Helps Word Studies.
the greek word for pledge indicates earnest-money, a deposit which guarantees the balance. it represents the full security backed by the purchaser who supplies proof they will fulfill the entire pledge. Helps Word Studies.
From this verse it sure sounds like once a person has placed their faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit is then given as a pledge of the promise of eternal life. Going back to John with the sheep not being lost....it sure sounds like Jesus is saying once we place our faith in Him, we're saved for an eternity.
Reading Ephesians 2:8-9 gives the same indication of security in that God is giving us the gift of faith.