OSAS being False Doctrine!

[CadyandZoe]

I agree, you are correct. Eternal security is offered at our salvation, however it has a conditional clause; just as any WILL does! Our eternal security hinges on our remaining in the vine, continuing in the faith!

Eternal security is not something we do for ourselves, it is something that God does for us. God pours out his spirit within the heart of an individual. And due to this, that individual will remain on the vine continuing in the faith. God is the one saving us. He is the one who keeps us on the vine and keeps us in the faith.

John 15:
4 As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, EXCEPT IT ABIDE IN THE VINE; NO MORE CAN YE, EXCEPT YE ABIDE IN ME.except it abide in the vine; 5 I am the VINE, ye are the BRANCHES,I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for WITHOUT ME ye can do nothing.

Colossians 1:23
23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm AND DO NOT MOVE FROM THE HOPE HELD OUT IN THE GOSPEL. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

These conditional clauses are often misread or at least I can say that there is another way to take them.

Let me explain. Consider the following passage. Notice that here, Paul removes all contingency, supposition, and uncertainty.

Romans 5:1-5

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we also have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we celebrate in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also celebrate in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.​

The passages you mentioned include conditional clauses that outline the requirements for individuals to be saved. However, the passage above is a clear and categorical statement stating that certain people will be saved without any exceptions. Trials of faith and persecution are common reasons why people lose their belief. While some people withstand the trials of faith, others succumb to them. Paul specifies one condition that can help individuals survive such trials - it is through the love of God, which has been poured out within their hearts through the Holy Spirit. In this context, the love of God is an act of kindness. God has done something for them that guarantees their salvation. All individuals who have been granted the Holy Spirit will be saved without any exceptions. Some will hope for salvation and be disappointed, but ALL of those in whom God has placed his Holy Spirit, such people will not be disappointed.

Consider this passage also. The following passage is another categorical statement indicating individuals who will experience salvation without exception. In this context, "glorification" (perfect moral goodness) is the completion of the salvation process.

Romans 8:28-30

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.​

Here Paul draws a straight, unbroken line between predestination and glorification. Without exception, all those whom God foreknew will be glorified (saved in the ultimate sense.)

Foreknew --> predestined --> called --> justified --> glorified.

Such people, Paul says, are predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son.

Previously, many of us had interpreted passages like John 15 in a certain way. We used to think that when Jesus said "My disciples are liable to remain on the vine," He meant that it was possible for them to fall away from the faith. However, I now understand that Jesus meant something different. He meant that His disciples have the potential to remain on the vine, and that those whom God has chosen will definitely remain on the vine. As we saw in the passages above, God's will removes all uncertainty and guarantees that His chosen ones will stay faithful.

@Big Boy Johnson

 

[CadyandZoe]

God decides who is saved. Not you are me or anyone else. Keep that in mind, who the authority and judge are. Jesus is Christ.

In fact, God has given Jesus Christ the authority to choose whom to save. Jesus will choose.

 

[Ritajanice]

Eternal security is not something we do for ourselves, it is something that God does for us. God pours out his spirit within the heart of an individual. And due to this, that individual will remain on the vine continuing in the faith. God is the one saving us. He is the one who keeps us on the vine and keeps us in the faith.

Excellent!!...Hallelujah!....Amen!!...Praise God..

 

[Ritajanice]

In fact, God has given Jesus Christ the authority to choose whom to save. Jesus will choose.

Amen!!!

 

[CadyandZoe]

Why yes... Christians can sin all they want and they'll still fo to Heaven... according to those that believe in OSAS. (there, I took you out of it)

Okay, but I was expecting a comment on our position that the Seal of the Holy Spirit is an earnest of our inheritance. Consider the following passage from Paul's epistle to the Ephesians.

Ephesians 1:9-14

He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He set forth in Him, regarding His plan of the fullness of the times, to bring all things together in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him we also have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things in accordance with the plan of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in the Christ would be to the praise of His glory. In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise, who is a first installment of our inheritance, in regard to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.​

The passage above is a categorical statement wherein Paul describes a group of people whom God will save without exception. He introduces the Ephesians to a mystery of God's will. Describing God's plan to bring the entire "pleroma" (translated as "fulness") together under Christ. The "pleroma" is Paul's term indicating the entire group of people whom God will save and give to his son Jesus Christ as servants. This group will be gathered from each and every time in history, no matter where and when they lived. And the entire "pleroma" will survive with Jesus into the next age.

All of those "in him" without exception, have been given the Holy Spirit as an earnest of their inheritance. None of those individuals to whom God gave his pledge will fail to receive their inheritance. Not everyone who is called "Christian" has received the Holy Spirit of promise, but all those who have received it will inherit life in the age of ages.

It certainly doers when OSAS peoples go around telling everyone that it's not possible to lose their salvation!

You and I draw a different conclusion from the situation. Whereas you find fault with the doctrine, I find fault with the character and maturity of the person who continues in sin. Either they are uninformed of our Faith or they find a rationale in the doctrine that isn't there.

Correct... and when Jesus says ion John 15 that those not abiding IN Him will be cut off and cast in to the fire.... He's not changing His mind out that either.

According to Jesus, salvation is conditional upon not living for self, but living for the Lord abiding IN Him baring fruit. It's curtains for those that don't abide in Christ and go back to sin

2 Corinthians 5:15 says….Jesus died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again.

I don't believe that Jesus' statement necessarily rules out God's miracle of salvation. Jesus intends to say that he will hold an individual responsible for whether or not he or she remains on the vine. And of course, whether or not an individual remains on the vine is uncertain. Maybe they will or maybe they won't. But from other passages of scripture, we come to understand that the gift of God removes all contingency. Someone who has been granted the miracle of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit will always remain on the vine. There will be no exceptions.

And the OSAS peoples claim even if one goes back to living in sin they will be saved.

Sadly, this is true. But their behavior is not predicated on the doctrine itself. Their behavior is explicable in terms of a corollary they added to the doctrine. "I am saved for all time, therefore I can do anything I want." The portion I underlined is the part they add. It is not true that I can do whatever I want. In fact, the New Testament teaches us that forgiveness and pardon gives us the freedom and motivation to do good, because we no longer live in fear. We obey God out of gratitude. We love him because he first loved us.

So your righteous indignation is actually directed toward those who have added error to the Faith.

If they don't say that, then they are admitting that OSAS is false doctrine.

Well certainly, anyone who is using OSAS as a rationale to continue in sin, is admitting the corollary is true. Their behavior doesn't render the doctrine as untrue.

 

[CadyandZoe]

Salvation is a PAID FOR GIFT, For ALL of manKIND to TAKE, (according to Gods WAY) or REFUSE.

* Refuse the Gift, and you lose that Gift by forfeiture.
* Lie to the Holy Spirit, and you lose that Gift by forfeiture.
* You never TAKE possession of that Gift…and THEN lose it.

Salvation is the Gift of God (restoring) and Saving that mans SOUL, that that SOUL will NEVER have Gods breath of life departed from that SOUL.

A mans receipt of his souls Salvation is After a Bodily Death, whereby that Bodily Died, having given his bodily Life TO God.

Before Christ Jesus arrived and Gave a BETTER Testament…For 4,000 years, men received their Salvation of their SOUL After Bodily death.

Once Christ Jesus arrived and was KILLED on the Cross, His NEW, BETTER TESTAMENT Offered, men an option for a LIVING Sacrifice, whereby they would Give their Body unto death FOR God, by way of BEING Crucified WITH Christ Jesus, which according to Gods WAY, He accepts that BODY given to Him, as a Living Sacrifice, and is by the Word of God, a recipient of Gods gift of assurance of Saving that mans soul…right then.

Heb 7:
[22] By so much was Jesus made a surety of abetter testament.

Rom 12:
[1] I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

A mans Works of God is to Believe IN God and Christ Jesus.

A mans Service is to God is to Heartfully Believe AND Confess his BELIEF.

A man Giving his Bodily Life unto Death For God, IS a mans “reasonable” Service.

Certainly a man can do MANY Works to Glorify Gods Name….but If he doesn’t, his reasonable service is sufficient to Forever be with God.

Glory to God,
Taken

Thanks for your reply and well said. I suppose that I should answer my own question. :) Not to disagree with what you said but simply to highlight the point I would like to make.

In short, salvation is God's transformation of an individual from his or her current state into a glorified state, which includes but not limited to being recreated to be like Jesus Christ: perfect moral character and perfect love. Not to be too technical, but Paul refers to this final state as our "glorification." Today, at the present time, we are being sanctified, which involves living in righteousness, goodness, truth and love to the best of our abilities and under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. But at the final Trumpet, as Paul says, we shall all be changed.

My point is this. The debate question "OSAS" assumes that salvation is a one-time, climactic, crisis event when a person confesses faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. I can't deny that some people experience a crisis event wherein they are prompted to confess faith in Jesus Christ. But I don't think the Bible teaches that such an event is the moment of salvation. In some cases, it may be the incipient moment of a lifetime of salvation, but it isn't THE moment of Salvation as if "done and done." The proposed concept of "once saved" is not Biblical as I understand things.

Rather, as Paul says, we are granted the Holy Spirit as a "pledge" of our inheritance, which is granted later.

That's it. Thanks for your post. I appreciate it.

 

[L.A.M.B.]

Salvation is the gift of God thru Jesus to any, all & whosoever will accept.
Sanctification is the process of The Spirit working the word in our life, cleansing & maturing believers.
Glorification is when we are received into the place where Jesus returned to the Father after he completed the Father's will.

Sorry for addressing a post of one who holds a calvinistic view of the word of God !

 

[Eternally Grateful]

Correct, so when someone who got born again.... and later goes back to sin, you then admit they are then lost meaning OSAS is false doctrine?

It says they CAN'T Go back to sin.

what part of can;t do you not understand?

there will never be a "When"

The difference is, I "used" to deserve hell.... now, I've been washed in the Blood of Jesus and made righteous.... and have sense enough to accept the whole counsel of God to know and understand if I turn away from Him and go back to sin... then I would be deserving of hell once again.

So you have not really been washed.. And God is not powerful enough to keep you from returning to sin.

The OSAS peoples get their false doctrine from John Calvin who claims we all sin every day in thought word and deed cause we're all sinners, we cannot help but to sin, and none of us can quit committing sin.

No.

I got it from the word,. From the mouth of Jesus himself..

Your hatred of calvin has you blinded to the truth

Folks living that that are walking after the flesh and are actually deserving of hell!



The part you miss is... both are true and since God decided to make man in His Own Image, man has free will. and because of this God's promises are in fact conditional. You mised the conditions Jesus spoke of in John 15... but, that's what OSAS peoples do!

Meaning, if a man decides to sin he has sown to the flesh and has reaped corruption and is not longer in right standing with the Lord because the man decided to turn away from the Lord!

This is WHY the Lord put provisional promises in His Word for those that have sinned and become corrupt... to repent and come back to the Lord and be cleansed of all unrighteousness.

Proverbs 28:13
He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.




So the question remains... do you think once someone is born again, it's not possible for them to ever sin again?

lol

Your argument falls on its face

John 15 is not about how to get saved, it is about how to produce fruit.

If you commit one sin, your unworthy of heaven..

Until you admit this fact.. you will remain blind to the truth of your sinfulness

 

[Eternally Grateful]

A true Born Again can not harden their hearts.

I go by the living word of God.
And God’s given you a reminder below..take note... @amigo de christo

Audio Crossref Comm Hebrew
Verse (Click for Chapter)
New International Version
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

New Living Translation
And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.

yes sister they can.

They can have a besetting sin, and harden their heart to how deceitful that sin is, and hide from it..

 

[Eternally Grateful]

How Can We Have Assurance of Salvation?​

The sun sank into the west, and the last light of the sinking sun spread across the world as I walked back home after a meeting, thinking of what the pastor had said: “Once saved, then we are always saved, for the Bible says, ‘That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart man believes to righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made to salvation’ (Romans 10:9-10). As we believe in the Lord Jesus, as long as we believe in our hearts and acknowledge Him with our mouths, then we are saved, and if we are saved once then we are always saved. As long as we keep working and expending ourselves for the Lord and endure till the very end, then when the Lord returns, we will immediately be raptured up into the kingdom of heaven!” I gave an Amen to the pastor’s words: “Yes! The Lord Jesus was nailed to the cross so that we could be redeemed, so as long as we call upon the Lord’s name, confess our sins and repent to the Lord, then our sins will be absolved and we will be saved by His grace—once saved, always saved, and afterward we will surely be raptured up into the kingdom of heaven.” Over the years of my belief in the Lord, I had always firmly believed that this view was correct, and never once doubted it.

This is confusing

once saved we are always saved

But then he says only as long as we do this.. meaning we may not always be saved.

do you see the contradiction?

 

[Eternally Grateful]

In fact, God has given Jesus Christ the authority to choose whom to save. Jesus will choose.

yes he will. and he chooses by the will of the father

John 6: 35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

so who did Jesus chose to save?

1. Those who come to him
2. Those who trust him

 

[Eternally Grateful]

I will have to disagree with you on this one Brother...I must go by the Living word of God.

I have that heart of flesh and that new Spirit of God within..the Holy Spirit..we cannot harden our heart when he indwells our spirit...absolutely not..that’s my belief and opinion..I’ve also posted God’s Living word on the subject..

Audio Crossref Comm Hebrew
Verse (Click for Chapter)
New International Version
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

New Living Translation
And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.

once again, We can harden our heart, I have done this myself and became a prodigal son for 5 years.

I am not just speaking from a knowledge of the word. but personal experience.

 

[Ritajanice]

yes he will. and he chooses by the will of the father

John 6: 35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

so who did Jesus chose to save?

1. Those who come to him
2. Those who trust him

Unfortunately there are a few who think this is a Calvinist view..how very wrong they are...they don’t have those eyes that see and ears that hear..where it’s all been spoken in the Spirit ....

See how the enemy blinds them from the truth....or maybe they aren’t even in the truth of God’s word.

They’re in their “ own truth”...

 

[Taken]

Thanks for your reply and well said. I suppose that I should answer my own question. :) Not to disagree with what you said but simply to highlight the point I would like to make.

In short, salvation is God's transformation of an individual from his or her current state into a glorified state, which includes but not limited to being recreated to be like Jesus Christ: perfect moral character and perfect love. Not to be too technical, but Paul refers to this final state as our "glorification." Today, at the present time, we are being sanctified, which involves living in righteousness, goodness, truth and love to the best of our abilities and under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. But at the final Trumpet, as Paul says, we shall all be changed.

My point is this. The debate question "OSAS" assumes that salvation is a one-time, climactic, crisis event when a person confesses faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. I can't deny that some people experience a crisis event wherein they are prompted to confess faith in Jesus Christ. But I don't think the Bible teaches that such an event is the moment of salvation. In some cases, it may be the incipient moment of a lifetime of salvation, but it isn't THE moment of Salvation as if "done and done." The proposed concept of "once saved" is not Biblical as I understand things.

Rather, as Paul says, we are granted the Holy Spirit as a "pledge" of our inheritance, which is granted later.

That's it. Thanks for your post. I appreciate it.

In part we agree. I mainly express (according to Gods WAY), which are the Details, the Specifics, of the Manner, Way, God requires a man ACCEPTING his Offering OF:
Forgiveness
Soul salvation
Spirit quickening
Becoming MADE Set apart, justified, sealed ONLY unto God.
Raised in Glory.

It’s a consideration of Gods Offering to ALL of manKIND…and the specific WAY (Being according to Gods WAY) any man has FREEWILL Option to willingly choose and ACCEPT His Offering according to His WAY..(ie TERMS)…or NOT.

The OFFERING IS already established, Has a COST, IS already PAID FOR,(By, the Lord) For ALL of ManKIND to…agree, take, have, possess FOREVER…or REJECT.

Believing IS a “WORKS” a man can DO…(or not). Simply Believing is NOT a commitment.
A Living man, can Believe, stop Believing, Again Believe, Wonder, Doubt, Deny, Believe….(the Hebrews, the Israelites, even the Appointed Apostles are Biblical examples of such things, and for 2,000 years to this day, individual Gentiles, do the same things.)

An ALIVE man…(even in ancient days/ primarily Hebrews/Israelites…and historical days/ including Gentiles…to this day and future until no mortals exist)… WHO is Believing (truly in his Hearts thoughts) even though NO CONFESSION was MADE (by him), while ALIVE in his FLESH, SHALL BE SAVED, after his BODY Dies.

Do “we” KNOW the true thoughts in a mans Heart, at the moment of his physical bodily death (he being whom “we” never heard him Confess Belief)? No we do not.

As a matter of FACT…men can routinely Believe, not Believe, and can be heard this day, and not another day of their wondering, believing, denying, believing….may be musing, mindfully thinking, speaking their minds thoughts, doubting in their hearts thoughts….WE can guess…but that is no matter that determines their Salvation.
Only God and the individual man KNOWS the thoughts in his HEART at the very moment a mans physical body dies.

Jesus Himself, OFFERED for an ALIVE man, Who IS Freely WILLING to MAKE a COMMITMENT of Heartful Belief, and OFFER their own Body’s LIFE Unto the Lord God…
AN ASSURANCE OF Forgiveness ..RIGHT THEN…(for having HAD not Believed.)
AN ASSURANCE OF their soul’s SALVATION;
Given them…RIGHT THEN.
AN ASSURANCE OF their spirit’s Re-BIRTH;
Given them …RIGHT THEN.
AN ASSURANCE OF their body to BE RE-MADE on the DAY it is RAISED UP Glorified, (Holy, Sinless).

THAT ^^ is the Specific Application for which the premise, the understanding, of the acronym (OSAS) and it’s phrase (Once Saved Always Saved) and to WHOM ASSURANCE IS Applicable.

It IS ASSURED…BECAUSE …
Soul Saving…
Spirit Quickening …
IS ALREADY Accomplished by the Word and Power of God and heartful Submission of the individual man.
IT IS KEPT Accomplished by the Word and Power of God.

And the … manifestation of a Glorified Body, is Trusted by “some men”, that God IS faithful and Shall raise their body in glory.

Point Being…It doesn’t really matter, IF some men BELIEVE soul salvation and spirit quickening (ie born again spirit) IS possible In an Alive man, IS permanent….The Lord says it is, and some men Trust to Believe it.

(Which OSAS, is simply a notice of men who DO Believe it.)

Glory to God,
Taken

 

[L.A.M.B.]

Resist :
Reject:
Quench:
Grieve:
These can be done against the Holy Spirit, by believers. Look them up for edification and exhortation to grow in the word!

 

[Ritajanice]

On saying that @Eternally Grateful ..we can have nasty thoughts about others..that’s hardening our heart,agreed.

The thing is though God is in control, with this child of his and he will discipline them ...and convict them of this wrong behaviour...we have absolutely nothing to worry about as we rest in him...the Holy Spirit will always sort us out ...

As long as we have been birthed in the Spirit.

My friend was telling me, she thought she was Born Again..it turned out she wasn’t.....she is now...

 

[Ritajanice]

Some who preach that others need to grow in the word...they need to take their own advice.

Especially when you can see they are holding on to anger, pride and arrogance themselves.

They have a critical spirit..you can see it in their many posts.

They can see the speck in another’s eye....yet can’t see the HUGE PLANK in their own...they will be stunted..until they let go of their pride,etc..

God hates PRIDE....but as I’ve explained God will sort them out through the Spirit.

That’s providing they are truly Born Again and have received that spiritual rebirth.

 

[Ritajanice]

once again, We can harden our heart, I have done this myself and became a prodigal son for 5 years.

I am not just speaking from a knowledge of the word. but personal experience.

I deleted my posts...that said we can’t harden our hearts.

I would like you to explain how you hardened your heart towards God?

I have never done that.imo/ belief...so maybe you can explain what a hard heart means?

 

[Ritajanice]

The Bible speaks often of the heart. The word heart can mean different things depending upon the context. Most often, the heart refers to the soul of a human being that controls the will and emotions. The heart is the “inner man” (2 Corinthians 4:16). The prophet Ezekiel makes several references to a “new heart” (e.g., Ezekiel 18:31; 36:26). An oft-quoted verse is Ezekiel 11:19 where God says, “I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.” So what does this mean?

In Ezekiel 11, God is addressing His people, the Israelites, promising to one day restore them to the land and to a right relationship with Himself. God promises to gather the Hebrews from the nations where they had been scattered (Ezekiel 11:17) and give them a new, undivided heart (verse 19). The result of their receiving a new heart will be obedience to God’s commands: “Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God” (verse 20). This prophecy will be fulfilled in the millennium, when Jesus the Messiah rules from Zion and Israel has been restored to faith (Romans 11:26).

Someone whom God has given a new heart behaves differently. Saul is an example of this in 1 Samuel 10:1 and 9. God had chosen Saul to be the first king of Israel. Saul was a nobody, but God chose him anyway and sent the prophet Samuel to anoint him king. “Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him, saying, ‘Has not the Lord anointed you ruler over his inheritance?’” Samuel made several predictions to prove to Saul that God had sent him, and verse 9 says, “As Saul turned and started to leave, God gave him a new heart, and all Samuel’s signs were fulfilled that day.” The new heart God gave Saul transformed him from an average nobody to the king of Israel. Not only was his status changed, but his entire outlook was transformed by the power of God.

The human heart was created to mirror God’s own heart (Genesis 1:27; James 3:9). We were designed to love Him, love righteousness, and walk in harmony with God and others (Micah 6:8). But part of God’s design of the human heart is free will. That free will carries with it the opportunity to abuse it, as did Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:11). God desires that we choose to love and serve Him. When we stubbornly refuse to follow God, our hearts, which were designed to communicate with God, are hardened. God compares rebellious hearts to stone (Zechariah 7:12). A heart of stone finds it impossible to repent, to love God, or to please Him (Romans 8:8). The hearts of sinful humanity are so hardened that we cannot even seek God on our own (Romans 3:11), and that’s why Jesus said no one can come to Him unless the Father first draws him (John 6:44). We desperately need new hearts, for we are unable on our own to soften our hard hearts. A change of heart toward God requires a supernatural transformation. Jesus called it being “born again” (John 3:3).

When we are born again, God performs a heart transplant, as it were. He gives us a new heart. The power of the Holy Spirit changes our hearts from sin-focused to God-focused. We do not become perfect (1 John 1:8); we still have our sinful flesh and the freedom to choose whether or not to obey it. However, when Jesus died for us on the cross, He broke the power of sin that controls us (Romans 6:10). Receiving Him as our Savior gives us access to God and His power—a power to transform our hearts from sin-hardened to Christ-softened. When we were separated from God with hardened hearts, we found it impossible to please Him. We tended toward selfishness, rebellion, and sin. With new hearts we are declared righteous before God (2 Corinthians 5:21). The Holy Spirit gives us a desire to please God that was foreign to us in our hardened state. Second Corinthians 3:18 says that we “are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” God’s desire for every human being is that we become like His Son, Jesus (Romans 8:29). We can become like Jesus only when we allow God to rid us of our old, hardened hearts and give us new hearts.

 

[Ritajanice]

I thank God @Eternally Grateful that my heart is open to learn.

I don’t want that prideful heart, where I think I know it all...is that a hardening of heart?

I want to be like Jesus and I know 100% I am being made into his image by the power of the Holy Spirit...because I am his and am Born Again.

You see I know God is softening my heart...because it’s his will..and I know this through the Spirit...God wants the very best for me.

That’s why I deleted those posts...because I believe you were right, in saying we can harden our hearts.

God spoke to me and said let go of your pride and listen to EG....only the Holy Spirit can speak to my Spirit...therefore I submitted to him...I heard, I submitted....

All according to the will of God..if I don’t let go...God will ignore me and he knows I can’t stand him IGNORING me......therefore here we are..growing in Christ.

It’s NOT about me..it’s all about Christ....still we take on SELF at times...the good thing is..I’m recognising self in me much more quicker these days.

Praise God for that.