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 ...
You’ve managed to ignore other possibilities. JESUS IS God with us. He has every sovereign right to select a devil, unsaved, never saved, to be in the company. Try not to limit GOD.
LOL
But does this mean that they were saved, or merely attending religious services and making an outward appearance, but their hearts were not changed?
The Pharisees thought they were believers, and followed the customs and rituals of the Jews, but when they came in contact with Jesus Christ, they were exposed for unbelievers that they were.
I honestly don't see how someone who is truly born of the Spirit can deny God, I mean seriously deny Him.
Although Peter did deny knowing Christ and Christ's response shows how God responds.
I think there's then the issue of choosing to reject Him, which I see as a different situation. I think that gives people the most trouble in the whole losing your salvation thing.
1 Co 10:21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table and of a table of demons.
1 Ti 4:1 But the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and teachings of demons,
Jesus chose Judas, knowing he would betray Him.
He had already failed.
Jesus didn’t set him up to fail and I suspect that if Judas had repented as Peter did, that Jesus would have welcomed him back.
Do you imagine your Scripture choices somehow answer the passage I posted for you? Want to explain?
Indeed you can. We're not saved until we're in the boat. Until then we're still subject to drowning in sin.
Our life jacket is the Almighty's Grace, it helps keep your head above water while swimming toward that far of Shore.
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Remember, Salvation is a double layered cake. While most of the icing is on the top layer, there is another layer called "Judgement Day" for those not "in Christ". Many forget this added complexity when discussing issues like the one above.
Much of the NT talks about not only being saved, but saved from Judgement Day as well.
Lost - saved - lost - saved - lost - saved - lost - saved???
I didn’t read most of what you posted (although I will), but for example Ephesians 4:30 - being sealed unto the day of redemption (KJV) is somewhat different than being sealed for the day of redemption.
The former give assurance that the seal will be there all the way until the day of redemption, and the latter can be construed as the believer is sealed in Christ, but does not seem to indicate assurance that seal is there for good. Some might say that I’m splitting hairs with this, but I don’t think so.
Just a quick glance at a search turns up this: av1611.com/kjbp/articles/flanders-whykjv.html (Why We Use the King James Version of the Bible). If you can please at least read the highlights.
At any rate, I am NOT looking to argue or appear more knowledgeable or experienced than you. I am made of the same flesh and blood and subject to the same imperfections as anyone.
Just trying to participate in what is arguably one of the most important discussions any of us could ever have.
εἰς eis, ice; a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:—(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), …ward, (where-)fore, with.
Also, from the same source: The KJV translates Strong's G1519 in the following manner: into (573x), to (281x), unto (207x), for (140x), in (138x), on (58x), toward (29x), against (26x), miscellaneous (322x).
Thou art the Lord,
And all beings are Thy servants, Thy domain;
And though those who serve idols vain
Thine honor is not detracted from,
For they all aim to The to come. —Solomon ibn Gabirol, 11th century synagogue hymn writer
Well:
"...who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come..."
Seems pretty clear. Takes a lot of gymnastics to turn that into a description of someone who has never believed.
We don't *find out when we get there*.
Being born again, we are already there.
Our salvation is a done deal.
And the saved are *in Christ* and not subject to Judgment day. They have been already judged.
Judgment Day is for the unbelievers, those not in Christ.
They will be judged by their works and found wanting as without being forgiven and in Christ, there is nothing but the Law by which to judge them.
That’s what some people think.
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’
“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’
So were they ever saved, or not?
Not necessarily so.
I know of people who have heard the gospel, many times, have experienced God's work in their lives and seen miracles, and STILL resist and fight God.
They are people who have experienced the work of God in their lives as He has reached out to touch them and yet, even some of those people will continue to reject God.
Judas is a prime example.
He was one of the Twelve and was sent out to preach and perform miracles.
Jesus gave him the same ability as the other apostles. He partook and was certainly enlightened to a degree and chose to reject.
Jesus never spoke of him in a way that indicated that He considered him saved.
*Son of perdition* I believe is the term Jesus used.
I find that Scripture speaks for itself.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.