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To: jo kus; annalex
Now if you are saved, then you cannot lose that salvation (Eph. 4:30).

"Do not grieve the Holy Spirit" Why not? We can't lose our salvation anyways ...


Would this not be appropriate instruction to christians … even if there was no chance of losing our salvation ?

The race being run has to do with rewards not salvation. (1 Cor. 9:24-26)

LOL!!! Read the next verse. As usual, you have to cut and paste Scriptures to get it to say your heretical views of the Word of God.

"I keep my body under, and bring [it] into subjection, lest preaching to others, I myself should become reprobate" 1 Cor 9:27

Other translations say "become disqualified". In either case, "there's no soup for you!" You don't get a prize for being disqualified or reprobate!


A major problem with the argument that Christians may, repeatedly, lose their salvation (i.e. fall from grace) … and, yet, be restored back to their saved status, … after being granted forgiveness of their sin by a priest …

… is that Hebrews 6:4-6 says that it is impossible … for those which have fallen from grace … to be restored to a state of necessary repentance.
Hebrews 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
So the notion that one can lose one’s salvation, … and have it restored … even once … is unbiblical.

There may, indeed, be a danger of falling away, but such a falling would necessarily entail much more than, say, missing a weekend’s Mass.

Jesus said that there was only one sin which is unforgivable … that of blaspheming the Holy Ghost.

As such, it should be clear that “falling from grace” … is, ultimately, … a heart issue, … rather than a practice issue. If one’s heart is open towards relationship with God, then one will sekk His forgiveness for one’s wrongdoing.

The unforgivable, unrecoverable state of falling from grace will only occur when one desires a life totally unrestricted by the demands of a relationship with God.

It is when I am willing to do nothing … to foster my relationship with God, … that I have fallen (hopelessly).

8,287 posted on 06/09/2006 11:20:05 AM PDT by Quester
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To: Quester
A major problem with the argument that Christians may, repeatedly, lose their salvation (i.e. fall from grace) … and, yet, be restored back to their saved status, … after being granted forgiveness of their sin by a priest …

… is that Hebrews 6:4-6 says that it is impossible … for those which have fallen from grace … to be restored to a state of necessary repentance.

Brother, the writer of Hebrews was not making a blanket statement, not one of absolute certainty, but one of expectation:

"For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries" Heb 10:27-28

It is when I am willing to do nothing … to foster my relationship with God, … that I have fallen (hopelessly).

I agree.

"What [doth it] profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith [without works of love] save him?" James 2:14

The writers of the Scriptures expect a person who has received the Spirit to love others as Christ did. But practically speaking, they realized that some will refuse to, returning to their former life "as a dog returns to the vomit" (cf. 2 Peter 2:22)

Regards

8,288 posted on 06/09/2006 12:52:05 PM PDT by jo kus (There is nothing colder than a Christian who doesn't care for the salvation of others - St.Crysostom)
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To: Quester; jo kus
In Hebrews 6 a specific sin of apostacy is described, not just any sin. Nevertheless it is clear from that passage that ordinarily restoration is possible. Note that St. Paul speaks of renewal "to penance" (v 6), which suggests that ordinarily penance would constitute renewal.

The rest of the passage is filled with references to work as an ingredient of penance, and speaks of salvation as a process rather than one-time event. The soul of a Christian is compared to a field, invoking the agricultural metaphore; the believer is characterized as "nearer to salvation (v. 9).

Let's see how many references to work can you spot in this short passage:

10 For God is not unjust, that he should forget your work, and the love which you have shewn in his name, you who have ministered, and do minister to the saints. 11 And we desire that every one of you shew forth the same carefulness to the accomplishing of hope unto the end: 12 That you become not slothful, but followers of them, who through faith and patience shall inherit the promises.

St. Paul teaches salvation by works no less than St. Matthew and St. James.

8,308 posted on 06/09/2006 5:01:12 PM PDT by annalex
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