Posted on 02/20/2017 5:31:52 AM PST by metmom
A common question for many is, “Can I lose my salvation?” I’ve heard both sides of the argument, and only God truly knows a person’s heart, but I can share a few thoughts. The reason there is a debate is because the Scriptures teach that salvation is a gift from God that cannot be earned, but they also offer warnings about falling away. There should be a healthy tension between God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility. This issue should not create a spirit of division, elitism, or theological superiority.
One school of thought suggests that salvation cannot be lost, as in losing your car keys, but that it can be left, as in walking away from it. This may be why Jesus spoke of the man who said in his heart “my master delays His coming; therefore, I will turn from living a godly life”. When the master returned unexpectedly, the servant was banished because he chose to turn from what he knew to be right.
In another passage, Jesus said, “You have left your first love,” when speaking to the church in Ephesus (Revelation 2:4). James 5:19-20 adds, if anyone wanders from the truth and someone turns him back, a soul is saved from death. If anything, these Scriptures, and many more, reinforce the fact that we have certain responsibilities.
(Excerpt) Read more at westsidechristianfellowship.org ...
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>> “To use your analogy, are you saying that God doesn’t know who is going to get in the boat and stay in the boat?” <<
Its not what he knows, but how we obey what he has commanded. We are creatures with a free will; no other people could be purified to be with Yehova for eternity.
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Amen!
"You're too cleaver by half." - your own words
Thanks! For awhile, I was unsure if "unboxable" was even a real word. ;)
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>> “*Patterns of Evidence*, site the discovery of a piece of red material within the remaining portion of the wall of Jericho.” <<
And Tim Mahoney’s diligent work is something that every believer should experience.
It removes all doubt for those that have an honest spirit.
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He is also claimed to have said,
"Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in." - MT
He then says,
"The dog is a gentleman; I hope to go to his heaven, not man's." - MT
All of which deserves its own thread someday.
Go to heaven for the climate and hell for the company.
- Mark Twain
Indeed. It's awesome and goosebump inspiring!
Seeing the irony in His judgments, the Almighty must have a very keen sense of humor. ;)
Beware of “Theology.” (different pictures than the plain words of scripture)
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That still doesn’t reconcile what you are claiming to the verses that I posted about the assurance of our salvation and the guarantee of it that the deposit of the Holy Spirit is.
God knows. But yes, God has given men the ability to decide. Thus the call to repent is a real call and not a lie. It involves a real choice, as is clearly taught in scripture.
"Not to mention how they get in the boat, being dead to their trespasses and sin."
That contradicts its clear meaning in scripture.
1 And He said, “A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them. 13 And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living.
14 Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him.
17 But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.”’
20 So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; 23 and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.
Luke 15
How could the Prodigal Son decide to return to his father? How could he pick himself up and walk? After all: he "was dead", and no one went to him and forced life into his dead body.
Did the Prodigal son ever not be the son of his father? While feeding the pigs in the fields, was he ever not the son of his father, therefore still a member of the family to which he eventually returned? ... Take care how you view that story. The son who stayed behind exposed his heart of jealously ...
The OPINION of someone lauding the ravings of a Michael Rood sycophant is imminently ignorable.
What did the Father say? “...this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’”
Dead.
How can a dead man return to his father? Except, of course, “dead” is used to mean totally alienated, not incapable of action. And while we are described as having been “dead” in our sins, we are also described as acting on our choices.
When Jesus said, “Repent!” - did he mean it? Or was repentance impossible? If it were impossible, how could He honestly command people to repent?
What about Peter?
““Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” 40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!”
Why exhort a dead man? Hmmm?
Indeed, the entire Bible teaches we ARE capable of making choices. Genesis 4: “Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”
Cain is clearly described as having a choice to make. And so it goes, clear thru the Bible.
“... Take care how you view that story. The son who stayed behind exposed his heart of jealously ...”
????????????????????????????????????
I have no clue what you are worried about on my behalf.
Seek counseling.
Your insult aside, do a little research on Michael Rood.
Oh...
I was referring to old maps...
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