Replies

2 Timothy 2:15 is an excellent addition to this thread.

The primary evidence folks use that seems to indicate Eternal Life could be lost, which is what we are ultimately discussing, are found in the following passages - (Romans 11; Hebrews 6:4-9; 10:26-29; 2 Peter 2:20-22). These letters were written primarily to Jewish Believers while the Kingdom of Heaven was still being preached, and BEFORE Paul unveiled the Mystery of the Body of Christ. Failure to understand the differences in what was taught before Acts 28, and after Paul received his Revelation from God for the Church, has caused way too much confusion these last 2,000 years.

When you study the Prison Epistles, you see the awesome plan that was hidden in God until after the KOH was rejected by Israel, unveiled for the Church of this age. (see also metmom’s post #26 for more related verses)

Ephesians 2:4-8 (AMP)
4 But God—so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us,
5 Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation).
6 And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
7 He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor) in [His] kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus.
8 For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God;

Jesus added this powerful statement:

John 10:27-29 (AMP)
27 The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me.
28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never lose it or perish throughout the ages. [To all eternity they shall never by any means be destroyed.] And no one is able to snatch them out of My hand.
29 My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater and mightier than all [else]; and no one is able to snatch [them] out of the Father’s hand.

The adoption analogy is one of the best ways to understand God’s Grace - especially in the context of 1st Century Roman Law. Also, its important to understand the difference between the sin nature (spiritual death), and sins committed before or after one is made alive in Christ. You are saved in a moment of time, but sanctification is a process.

Its also important to consider that God IS LOVE. It is His desire that ALL be saved. He will defend your right to reject Him (the only sin that ultimately matters) all the way to Hell, always desiring that you choose LIFE, that you choose HIM!

1 Timothy 2:3-4 (AMP)
3 For such [praying] is good and right, and [it is] pleasing and acceptable to God our Savior,
4 Who wishes all men to be saved and [increasingly] to perceive and recognize and discern and know precisely and correctly the [divine] Truth.

2 Peter 3:9 (AMP)
9 The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people’s conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance.

I believe there will be MANY folks, like the thief on the cross, that have/will make a decision for Christ at the last moment of their life. And I suspect we will be pleasantly surprised when we get to Heaven by how many make it.