Posted on 05/31/2017 1:41:09 PM PDT by ealgeone
Question: "Can a Christian lose salvation?"
Answer: First, the term Christian must be defined. A “Christian” is not a person who has said a prayer or walked down an aisle or been raised in a Christian family. While each of these things can be a part of the Christian experience, they are not what makes a Christian. A Christian is a person who has fully trusted in Jesus Christ as the only Savior and therefore possesses the Holy Spirit (John 3:16; Acts 16:31; Ephesians 2:8–9).
So, with this definition in mind, can a Christian lose salvation? It’s a crucially important question. Perhaps the best way to answer it is to examine what the Bible says occurs at salvation and to study what losing salvation would entail:
A Christian is a new creation. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). A Christian is not simply an “improved” version of a person; a Christian is an entirely new creature. He is “in Christ.” For a Christian to lose salvation, the new creation would have to be destroyed.
A Christian is redeemed. “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:18–19). The word redeemed refers to a purchase being made, a price being paid. We were purchased at the cost of Christ’s death. For a Christian to lose salvation, God Himself would have to revoke His purchase of the individual for whom He paid with the precious blood of Christ.
A Christian is justified. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). To justify is to declare righteous. All those who receive Jesus as Savior are “declared righteous” by God. For a Christian to lose salvation, God would have to go back on His Word and “un-declare” what He had previously declared. Those absolved of guilt would have to be tried again and found guilty. God would have to reverse the sentence handed down from the divine bench.
A Christian is promised eternal life. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Eternal life is the promise of spending forever in heaven with God. God promises, “Believe and you will have eternal life.” For a Christian to lose salvation, eternal life would have to be redefined. The Christian is promised to live forever. Does eternal not mean “eternal”?
A Christian is marked by God and sealed by the Spirit. “You also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:13–14). At the moment of faith, the new Christian is marked and sealed with the Spirit, who was promised to act as a deposit to guarantee the heavenly inheritance. The end result is that God’s glory is praised. For a Christian to lose salvation, God would have to erase the mark, withdraw the Spirit, cancel the deposit, break His promise, revoke the guarantee, keep the inheritance, forego the praise, and lessen His glory.
A Christian is guaranteed glorification. “Those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified” (Romans 8:30). According to Romans 5:1, justification is ours at the moment of faith. According to Romans 8:30, glorification comes with justification. All those whom God justifies are promised to be glorified. This promise will be fulfilled when Christians receive their perfect resurrection bodies in heaven. If a Christian can lose salvation, then Romans 8:30 is in error, because God could not guarantee glorification for all those whom He predestines, calls, and justifies.
A Christian cannot lose salvation. Most, if not all, of what the Bible says happens to us when we receive Christ would be invalidated if salvation could be lost. Salvation is the gift of God, and God’s gifts are “irrevocable” (Romans 11:29). A Christian cannot be un-newly created. The redeemed cannot be unpurchased. Eternal life cannot be temporary. God cannot renege on His Word. Scripture says that God cannot lie (Titus 1:2).
Two common objections to the belief that a Christian cannot lose salvation concern these experiential issues: 1) What about Christians who live in a sinful, unrepentant lifestyle? 2) What about Christians who reject the faith and deny Christ? The problem with these objections is the assumption that everyone who calls himself a “Christian” has actually been born again. The Bible declares that a true Christian will not live a state of continual, unrepentant sin (1 John 3:6). The Bible also says that anyone who departs the faith is demonstrating that he was never truly a Christian (1 John 2:19). He may have been religious, he may have put on a good show, but he was never born again by the power of God. “By their fruit you will recognize them” (Matthew 7:16). The redeemed of God belong “to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God” (Romans 7:4).
Nothing can separate a child of God from the Father’s love (Romans 8:38–39). Nothing can remove a Christian from God’s hand (John 10:28–29). God guarantees eternal life and maintains the salvation He has given us. The Good Shepherd searches for the lost sheep, and, “when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home” (Luke 15:5–6). The lamb is found, and the Shepherd gladly bears the burden; our Lord takes full responsibility for bringing the lost one safely home.
Jude 24–25 further emphasizes the goodness and faithfulness of our Savior: “To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”
Isn’t it interesting that Catholic writers used various styles of writing.
I continue to accept 2000 years of Sacred tradition passed down to us by Christ, the Apostles and their successors.
As compared to the interpretations that came from heresies of man. Some pick and choose what they want to understand instead of the way it has been passed down for 2000 years.
I guess we will always have protestors and false prophets.
For your information, Jesus repeated several times and emphasized (Amen, Amen I say) that this was His Body and Blood in the Sacrament of the Eucharist and given to the Apostles and Catholics over the last 2000 years. Whereas His words not to call anyone father were not a commandment like do not commit adultery.
Seek the TRUTH, not what the world says.
Is this not a veiled attack? Is this a Catholic forum, Freerepublic?
We are saved and sealed by GOD’s Grace, not by our merits. We are also instructed by the Word of God to know we are born from above at the moment we are born from above. Try it, you’ll like it!
The teaching of the Catholic church is that all salvation comes from Christ the head through the Church which is his body:
Basing itself on Scripture and Tradition, the Council teaches that the Church, a pilgrim now on Earth, is necessary for salvation: the one Christ is the mediator and the way of salvation; he is present to us in his body which is the Church. He himself explicitly asserted the necessity of faith and baptism and thereby affirmed at the same time the necessity of the Church which men enter through baptism as through a door. Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it.
“Although in ways known to himself God can lead those who, through no fault of their own, are ignorant of the gospel, to that faith without which it is impossible to please him, the Church still has the obligation and also the sacred right to evangelize all men” (CCC 846-48, footnotes omitted).
We show and act on our Faith by our Love of God and love of neighbor.
“We are saved and sealed by GOD’s Grace, not by our merits.”
Seems like I’ve heard that somewhere before...
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”—Ephesians 2
But just to drive the point home...
“So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.”—Romans 11
You mistakenly conflate church (the body of ALL believers in Jesus as Savior and Lord, faithing in HIS Grace) with the institutional ORG (rhymes with Borg) call the Catholic Chruch.
The Catholic Church is the Body of Christ made up of all baptized members.
Jesus said his Church would be “the light of the world.” He then noted that “a city set on a hill cannot be hid” (Matt. 5:14). This means his Church is a visible organization. It must have characteristics that clearly identify it and that distinguish it from other churches. Jesus promised, “I will build my Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18). This means that his Church will never be destroyed and will never fall away from him. His Church will survive until his return.
Among the Christian churches, only the Catholic Church has existed since the time of Jesus. Every other Christian church is an offshoot of the Catholic Church. The Eastern Orthodox churches broke away from unity with the pope in 1054. The Protestant churches were established during the Reformation, which began in 1517. (Most of today’s Protestant churches are actually offshoots of the original Protestant offshoots.)
Read the rest of the article: https://www.catholic.com/tract/pillar-of-fire-pillar-of-truth
Jesus established only one Church, not a collection of differing churches (Lutheran, Baptist, Anglican, and so on). The Bible says the Church is the bride of Christ (Eph. 5:23–32). Jesus can have but one spouse, and his spouse is the Catholic Church.
His Church also teaches just one set of doctrines, which must be the same as those taught by the apostles (Jude 3). This is the unity of belief to which Scripture calls us (Phil. 1:27, 2:2).
Jesus’ Church is called catholic (”universal” in Greek) because it is his gift to all people. He told his apostles to go throughout the world and make disciples of “all nations” (Matt. 28:19–20)
The Church Jesus established was known by its most common title, “the Catholic Church,” at least as early as the year 107, when Ignatius of Antioch used that title to describe the one Church Jesus founded. The title apparently was old in Ignatius’s time, which means it probably went all the way back to the time of the apostles.
You can either lack understanding (ignorance)or have an animus towards the Catholic Church. You can try to believe some of the teachings of Jesus to suit your needs, but where does that get you?
The derivation of ‘catholic’ is universal, the body of believers. You have erroneously conflated your ORG with the universal body of believers in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. God may wink at ignorance, but I have it on good authority that he can be severe with purposed deceit.
Context, context, context.
Jesus was talking about addressing men by those titles.
He did not forbid the use of them in generic usage, or as a child would in calling his father *Dad, or *Father*.
So I have to agree with you on one thing, the Catholics use the same old meaningless protest against following the clear concise command of Jesus and continue to weasel out of obeying Jesus by calling their priests *Father*.
Matthew 23:1-12 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.
They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others.
But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
One thing we can be sure of. When the Catholic church takes a verse out of context and misapplies it, it's CERTAIN that it does not mean what they claim it means.
I have never seen anyone as good at rationalizing, justifying, and excusing sin as legalistic religionists.
Maybe that's one of the reasons that God never established a Law that could save. He knew how good people are at weaseling out of it, just like the Pharisees.
It's not Holy Spirit inspired Scripture penned by one of the apostles, therefore they are meaningless.
Considering the sordid history of Catholicism, you are going to have a really, really hard time convincing someone not already brainwashed into Catholicism, that the Catholic church is really the body of Christ, aka the One True Church, OTC..
How’s that new pope working out for you all? You know, the one who is supposed to be the Vicar of Christ? Real Christ-like, isn’t he?
Further, Christianity has but one mediator Who is Christ, where Roman Catholicism has elevated Mary, to a position seemingly equal to Christ as Mediatrix.
Paul knows what a father is...We know what a father is...And even tho Paul acted like a spiritual father, Jesus told him to call no man father...And Paul nor his disciples addressed anyone as father...
there are numerous examples in the New Testament of the term “father” being used as a form of address and reference, even for men who are not biologically related to the speaker.
Oh please, outside of the OT Patriarchs and God, show me one time where someone was addressed as Father...
Mat 23:4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
Mat 23:5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
Mat 23:6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
Mat 23:7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
Mat 23:8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
Mat 23:9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
Mat 23:10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
Do you know why Jesus says to NEVER call (address) someone as father??? Apparently not...It's because the title in a religious sense elevates the person who wears the religious attire and is called father above the common sinner...It's even claimed those 'fathers' become Jesus Christ at times...
Your entire religion has got it entirely wrong...Outside of church and even in church no one should be able to recognize a Christian leader because of the way he dresses or is addressed...Jesus says to Christians, do not call a religious leader father, or master, or teacher, and we Christians don't...
Those phony fathers are not special...Christian leaders have been given a gift that is no more special than the person who has been given the gift of accounting for the funds of a church or one who keeps the place clean...
Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
I not only would never, ever call another mere human being, Holy Father, I would be shakin' in my boots if someone ever addressed me that way...I can just imagine when these fools stand before God..."So you think you are the Holy Father, eh"???
Failure to acknowledge this is a failure to recognize and honor a great gift God has bestowed on the Church: the spiritual fatherhood of the priesthood.
Sorry Charlie, it didn't happen in Jesus Christ's church...There aren't any priests in Jesus Christ's church...You guys got your church mixed up with someone else...
...If you can't admit that there are many, many scriptures in the bible that show and teach that Christians CAN lose their salvation, you'll never convince me nor hundreds of millions of other bible believing Christians that you understand the bible...
I agree with you...But how do you reconcile those differences???
Do they STILL have to 'endure'?
The people this was spoken to potentially could have gone thru the Great Tribulation...And since it didn't happen at that time, the Great Tribulation was postponed to the near future, where people will again have the opportunity to 'endure to the end' (of the Tribulation)...
For your information, there is no sacrament of the Eucharist in the Holy Scriptures...
Jesus never turned wine into blood nor did he turn bread into his flesh or anyone else's...You will not find a single incident in the scriptures where this happened...
All that happened is Jesus claimed, 'this bread is my flesh'...He didn't say I will turn the bread into flesh...Same with the wine...
Had Jesus done what you claim, he would have instructed the apostles to turn these things into flesh and blood...And he would have instructed them on how to do it...
Joh 6:55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
However, the word used for meat does not mean meat...It means food...And that is significant because the bible also says he is a loaf of bread (rye?)...
Joh 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
So what is it??? Jesus turns the bread into meat (his left arm?) or Jesus turns his flesh into bread???
And the bible of course explains that Jesus was talking spiritual food...
Basing itself on Scripture and Tradition, the Council teaches that the Church, a pilgrim now on Earth, is necessary for salvation
So what??? The mormon church says something different but equally legitimate and the muzlimaniacs make the same claim...The question is: WHAT DOES GOD SAY???
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