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To: ADSUM

Um, how do you offer this metaphor: “Jesus wants us to be consumed with Him”? Is that to be read we are to be eaten with Him? Are we to be eaten by Him? Are we to walk daily with Him ever in our minds and hearts consuming our thoughts all the day long? Are we to be eaten continuously? Is He supposed to consume us all day long, every day? ... Perhaps you get the gist of the false conundrum posed by your assertion!


353 posted on 06/21/2015 12:26:16 PM PDT by MHGinTN (Is it really all relative, Mister Einstein?)
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To: MHGinTN

I see the problem, you can be selective in your choice of meanings, instead of using common sense.

When I said consumed, it was meant to “engage fully” or to be Christ-like. That is to love God with you heart, mind and soul and to do God’s will.

Some people promote an especially attractive idea: All true Christians, regardless of how they live, have an absolute assurance of salvation, once they accept Jesus into their hearts as “their personal Lord and Savior.” The problem is that this belief is contrary to the Bible and constant Christian teaching.

Keep in mind what Paul told the Christians of his day: “If we have died with him [in baptism; see Rom. 6:3–4] we shall also live with him; if we persevere we shall also reign with him” (2 Tim. 2:11–12).

If we do not persevere, we shall not reign with him. In other words, Christians can forfeit heaven (CCC 1861).

The Bible makes it clear that Christians have a moral assurance of salvation (God will be true to his word and will grant salvation to those who have faith in Christ and are obedient to him [1 John 3:19–24]), but the Bible does not teach that Christians have a guarantee of heaven. There can be no absolute assurance of salvation. Writing to Christians, Paul said, “See, then, the kindness and severity of God: severity toward those who fell, but God’s kindness to you, provided you remain in his kindness, otherwise you too will be cut off” (Rom. 11:22–23; Matt. 18:21–35, 1 Cor. 15:1–2, 2 Pet. 2:20–21).

Note that Paul includes an important condition: “provided you remain in his kindness.” He is saying that Christians can lose their salvation by throwing it away. He warns, “Whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall” (1 Cor. 10:11–12).


362 posted on 06/21/2015 1:18:57 PM PDT by ADSUM
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