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While it is scriptural that Jesus does promise "whosoever shall believe on me shall not perish, but have everlasting life, I think there is confusion on what, precisely, he was asking us to believe.

I haven't found any contradictions in the Bible. You need to go to the scriptures that are very clear first. The Doc posted several on #51165. If verses seem to conflict I have found that I am the one misunderstanding. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand. Also reading the complete passage helps me when I get stuck.

Paul says this: 1Cr 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they [do it] to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring [it] into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. So Paul is saying -to believers in the Lord- that they must run in this race in order to obtain -Salvation, what else?- and that even he must struggle against sin (keep his body under subjection) in order that he will not lose his salvation.

Read what Paul also says in Acts 13:48. Since he wrote this, to me it means he was talking about "our walk" (or run :')) after salvation. Paul is either contradicting himself or the verses mean something else. I vote for the latter,but JH explains it in the post he sent to you, much better than I can.

There are no contradictions in the Bible. Paul says he can lose his salvation. I believe him. The Greek word translated as castaway in 1Cr 9:27 is the same word for reprobate and unapproved. It means, elsewhere as here, someone who is truly lost.

There are no contradictions in the Bible. There are however doctrines and interpretations, however strongly believed, that do contradict Scripture. OSAS is one of those.

There is no inconsistancy in Paul's teaching Act 13:48 either, if you can understand that the gift can be lost. No man can pluck you out of his hand, but you yourself can fall away. So fear the Lord. Paul does say this, there is no getting around it. Eternal life is for recipients of the Gift who "persevere to the end."

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While it is scriptural that Jesus does promise "whosoever shall believe on me shall not perish, but have everlasting life, I think there is confusion on what, precisely, he was asking us to believe

Well, I think I will just bow out and follow your and JH's threads. Very interesting. The only thing that I can add is that I do the works because I want to and not because I have to. CD