DOES BELIEF THAT ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED MEAN WE CAN SIN?

[GodsGrace]

St. SteVen said:
My position.

We cannot by an act of our own will undo what only God can do in the first place.
Even in the case of reprobation, it is God's decision. And the Good Shepherd goes after the lost sheep.

Right.
Do you understand what reprobation is?

[

SS,,,,the NT will not agree with you that man cannot undo what God has done.
Is this going to turn into a reformed thread?

Here was my point regarding OSAS:

Jesus went after the sheep.
He went looking for a lost sheep.

WHY was the sheep lost?
Wasn't he in the flock?

This means that a sheep that is in the flock
could wander off and BECOME LOST.

God will ALWAYS want that sheep to come back and will always help
that sheep to come back...He will always look for the lost sheep.

Sometimes they come back......The Prodigal Son.
Sometimes they don't.

OSAS is a false doctrine.

 

[St. SteVen]

SS,,,,the NT will not agree with you that man cannot undo what God has done.

Here's what I wrote in post #57

Study is good, but the Bible is contradictory on the subject. IMHO

So, ultimately, a person needs to decide whether their relationship with God
reflects peace and security, or doubt and insecurity. Are we trying to save ourselves
by living the Christian life as if we are walking a tight-rope over an abyss?
One false move and we are toast? I don't think that is what God wants for us.

God will ALWAYS want that sheep to come back and will always help
that sheep to come back...He will always look for the lost sheep.

The Good Shepherd finds the lost sheep and brings them back.

Luke 15:4-6 NIV
“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them.
Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country
and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?
5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders
6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says,
‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’

[

 

[GodsGrace]

Here's what I wrote in post #57


The Good Shepherd finds the lost sheep and brings them back.

Luke 15:4-6 NIV
“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them.
Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country
and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?
5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders
6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says,
‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’

[

I can't read each and every one of your posts.
I reply to what you post to me...which is what I did.

I don't see any doubt and insecurity and I don't see any tightropes
in the Christian religion/faith.

If some do...it doesn't change truth doctrine that the Christian religion teaches.
There's no reason to have fear if GOD IS OUR FATHER.
If someone has fear, there's a reason - and, usually, it's because of a sinful life-style.
I said LIFE STYLE...not sin. We all sin.

Also, I took issue with your statement that we cannot undo what God does.
That sounds reformed and reformed theology is not biblical.
It denotes that we do not have free will...
and free will is throughout the bible.

And I agreed with the parable of the lost sheep....
I would also point to The Prodigal Son...(I may have mentioned it already).

 

[ElectedbyHim]

Yes, you can lose your salvation. One way is too renounce christ after you've been converted as the newly converted Jews were warned of in the book of Hebrews.
And, there is a remedy for sin after conversion; it's repentance

Hebrews was talking about apostacy.

How do you maintain your salvation?

Do you live life wondering if you are going to heaven or hell?

 

[GodsGrace]

Study is good, but the Bible is contradictory on the subject. IMHO

So, ultimately, a person needs to decide whether their relationship with God
reflects peace and security, or doubt and insecurity. Are we trying to save ourselves
by living the Christian life as if we are walking a tight-rope over an abyss?
One false move and we are toast? I don't think that is what God wants for us.

BTW: Welcome to the forum.

[

The Jews in Hebrews were being warned of apostacy.

I do not believe one can lose his salvation or renounce Christ.

If this is true, it is evidence that they were nevere truly regenerated.

1 Jonn 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they were of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be manifested that they all are not of us.

I don not buy it and do not see it as Biblical.

To many Scriptures that say the opposite.

However, to each his own.

@DJT_47​

Can you share how you maintain your salvation?

What if you commit one small sin (lying), do you lose your salvation.

What is the process to get your salvation back?

Grace and peace to you.

WHY do you ask such silly questions?

Study up on 1 John 2:19
John was referring to gnostics that had infiltrated the church.
This will require studying some church history.
Maybe some commentaries might do the trick.

And, as to the idea that those that FALL AWAY:
1. WHAT are they falling away from?

2. Did JESUS know what He was saying in the following??

Luke 8:13
13“Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away.


JESUS repeats this in the following parable....This is JESUS telling the parable:

Luke 15:24
24for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again;


THEY BELIEVE FOR A WHILE AND THEN FALL AWAY. Again,,,,fall away from what?
THE SON HAS COME TO LIFE AGAIN. The son had life, lost life, and has come to life AGAIN.

OSAS is a false doctrine not supported in scripture and certainly not supported by Jesus.

 

[ElectedbyHim]

WHY do you ask such silly questions?

Study up on 1 John 2:19
John was referring to gnostics that had infiltrated the church.
This will require studying some church history.
Maybe some commentaries might do the trick.

And, as to the idea that those that FALL AWAY:
1. WHAT are they falling away from?

2. Did JESUS know what He was saying in the following??

Luke 8:13
13“Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away.


JESUS repeats this in the following parable....This is JESUS telling the parable:

Luke 15:24
24for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again;


THEY BELIEVE FOR A WHILE AND THEN FALL AWAY. Again,,,,fall away from what?
THE SON HAS COME TO LIFE AGAIN. The son had life, lost life, and has come to life AGAIN.

OSAS is a false doctrine not supported in scripture and certainly not supported by Jesus.

Nothing silly in what I ask.

I understand why first John was written.

You would do well to study Soteriology, then you can understand that you cannot lose your salvation or turn you back on Christ.

A few verses do not prove what you are conveying.

You should read some commentaries on those verses you provided and not the Arminian ones that your beliefs follow.

 

[St. SteVen]

OSAS is a false doctrine not supported in scripture and certainly not supported by Jesus.

Are you really claiming that there is no biblical support for eternal security?
I'm not planning to trot them all out for you to dismiss.

Do you claim a doctrine is "not supported in scripture" simply because you disagree with it?

[

 

[ElectedbyHim]

WHY do you ask such silly questions?

Study up on 1 John 2:19
John was referring to gnostics that had infiltrated the church.
This will require studying some church history.
Maybe some commentaries might do the trick.

And, as to the idea that those that FALL AWAY:
1. WHAT are they falling away from?

2. Did JESUS know what He was saying in the following??

Luke 8:13
13“Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away.


JESUS repeats this in the following parable....This is JESUS telling the parable:

Luke 15:24
24for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again;


THEY BELIEVE FOR A WHILE AND THEN FALL AWAY. Again,,,,fall away from what?
THE SON HAS COME TO LIFE AGAIN. The son had life, lost life, and has come to life AGAIN.

OSAS is a false doctrine not supported in scripture and certainly not supported by Jesus.

ETERNAL SECURITY

There are two distinct views concerning the eternal security of the believer. The Arminian says that man has received his salvation as an act of his will and he may forfeit his salvation as an act of the will—or through specific sins. The Calvinist says that the true believer will persevere in his faith. This doctrine is sometimes called “perseverance of the saints,” which is not a proper title since it places the emphasis on man’s ability to persevere rather than on God’s ability to keep the believer. A better title might be “perseverance of the Lord.”
This doctrine does not suggest that the believer will never backslide or sin. It means, however, that when a person has genuinely believed in Christ as His Savior from sin he is forever secured by God by His keeping power.
The basis for the security of salvation does not rest with man, but with God. The security of the believer is based on the work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.


Securing Work of the Father

Believers are secure because the Father has chosen them to salvation from eternity past (Eph. 1:4). The Father predestined believers to come to the status of sonship in Christ (Eph. 1:5). The Father has the power to keep believers secure in their salvation (Rom. 8:28–30). The ones the Father foreknew, predestined, called, and justified are the same ones He brings to glorification in the future. None are lost in the process. The Father’s love for believers also guarantees their security (Rom. 5:7–10).


Securing Work of the Son

The Son has redeemed the believer (Eph. 1:7), removed the wrath of God from the believer (Rom. 3:25), justified the believer (Rom. 5:1), provided forgiveness (Col. 2:13), and sanctified the believer (1 Cor. 1:2). Moreover, Christ prays for believers to be with Him (John 17:24); He continues to be their Advocate at God’s bar of justice (1 John 2:1); and He continues to make intercession as the believer’s High Priest (Heb. 7:25). If a believer could be lost it would imply Christ is ineffective in His work as the believer’s Mediator.
In addition, Jesus has promised His followers life everlasting: “I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand” (John 10:28–29). Note that Jesus promised eternal life. If a believer could lose their salvation, it would not be eternal. Further, Jesus said “they will never perish.” “Never” is a double negative in the Greek text (ou me), which would translate “not never” to reinforce the point. Additionally, the word stands in the emphatic position in the text, emphasizing the follower of Christ will not never perish.
Believers are in Christ’s hand and in the Father’s hand—and no one can snatch them from either hand. For believers to lose their salvation would require some one or a force greater than Christ and stronger than the Father. Clearly, our salvation is secure.


Securing Work of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit has regenerated the believer, giving him life (Titus 3:5); the Holy Spirit indwells the believer forever (John 14:17); He has sealed the believer for the day of redemption (Eph. 4:30), the sealing being a down payment, guaranteeing our future inheritance; the believer is baptized into union with Christ and into the body of believers (1 Cor. 12:13).
For a believer to lose his salvation would demand a reversal and an undoing of all the preceding works of the Father, Son, and Spirit. The key issue in the discussion of the believer’s security concerns the issue of who does the saving. If man is responsible for securing his salvation, then he can be lost; if God secures the person’s salvation, then the person is forever secure.
The eternal security of the believer by the grace of God is the completion and crowning glory of God’s plan of salvation.


Paul Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology, ed. Jim Vincent and Allan Sholes, Revised and Expanded. (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2014), 354–356.

 

[St. SteVen]

The basis for the security of salvation does not rest with man, but with God. The security of the believer is based on the work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

There it is in a nutshell. Thanks.

As the title of this topic infers and NOSAS proponents claim,
the belief in eternal security is demonized as a license to sin.

[

 

[FearTheLord]

The Bible does not teach eternal security. It teaches that we must obey Jesus' commandments to remain in Christ. There is no salvation outside of Christ.

[Jhn 15:10 NASB95] 10 "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.

[Jhn 15:12 NASB95] 12 "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.

[1Jo 3:23-24 NASB95] 23 This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. 24 The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

​

Does eternal security teach or encourage a sinful lifestyle???

Well, not explicitly, but it certainly does avoid God's truth, misrepresent the gospel, and as a result dampen the fear of the Lord.

Jesus and the apostles taught that faithful obedience is necessary to remain justified and saved. So if we're going out of our way to avoid that teaching in the scriptures, that is a suppression of truth, which ultimately leads to moral depravity, as seen in Romans 1:18-32.

If losing salvation is a very real possibility that an individual refuses to acknowledge, well then that individual really isn't allowing themselves to fear the Lord as deeply as they should, are they?

The bottom line is that eternal security is a false gospel, and teachings a false gospel incurs condemnation (anathema).


Fear God. Speak the truth and walk in it.

 

[St. SteVen]

Fear God. Speak the truth and walk in it.

If you don't have eternal security, you have a very good reason to fear God.
Better hope you got it right. You'll have to wait and see.

[

 

[FearTheLord]

If you don't have eternal security, you have a very good reason to fear God.
Better hope you got it right. You'll have to wait and see.

[

No one on this side of heaven has eternal security, not even you.

 

[St. SteVen]

No one on this side of heaven has eternal security, not even you.

We cannot by an act of our own will undo what only God could do in the first place.

Do you really think you can save yourself?

[

 

[FearTheLord]

We cannot by an act of our own will undo what only God could do in the first place.

[Heb 10:26-27 NKJV] 26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.​

Do you really think you can save yourself?

[1Ti 4:16 NKJV] 16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
​

I'll take God's word over your opinions.

 

[St. SteVen]

I'll take God's word over your opinions.

You have my blessing. Take care.

[

 

[St. SteVen]

I'll take God's word over your opinions.

Fair enough.
I guess you will have to contend with these then.

Believers are secure because the Father has chosen them to salvation from eternity past (Eph. 1:4).

The Father predestined believers to come to the status of sonship in Christ (Eph. 1:5).

The Father has the power to keep believers secure in their salvation (Rom. 8:28–30).

The ones the Father foreknew, predestined, called, and justified are the same ones He brings to glorification in the future. None are lost in the process. The Father’s love for believers also guarantees their security (Rom. 5:7–10).

The Son has redeemed the believer (Eph. 1:7), removed the wrath of God from the believer (Rom. 3:25), justified the believer (Rom. 5:1), provided forgiveness (Col. 2:13), and sanctified the believer (1 Cor. 1:2).

Moreover, Christ prays for believers to be with Him (John 17:24); He continues to be their Advocate at God’s bar of justice (1 John 2:1); and He continues to make intercession as the believer’s High Priest (Heb. 7:25). If a believer could be lost it would imply Christ is ineffective in His work as the believer’s Mediator.

In addition, Jesus has promised His followers life everlasting: “I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand” (John 10:28–29).

Note that Jesus promised eternal life. If a believer could lose their salvation, it would not be eternal. Further, Jesus said “they will never perish.” “Never” is a double negative in the Greek text (ou me), which would translate “not never” to reinforce the point. Additionally, the word stands in the emphatic position in the text, emphasizing the follower of Christ will not never perish.

The Holy Spirit has regenerated the believer, giving him life (Titus 3:5); the Holy Spirit indwells the believer forever (John 14:17); He has sealed the believer for the day of redemption (Eph. 4:30), the sealing being a down payment, guaranteeing our future inheritance; the believer is baptized into union with Christ and into the body of believers (1 Cor. 12:13).

For a believer to lose his salvation would demand a reversal and an undoing of all the preceding works of the Father, Son, and Spirit. The key issue in the discussion of the believer’s security concerns the issue of who does the saving.

If man is responsible for securing his salvation, then he can be lost;
if God secures the person’s salvation, then the person is forever secure.

The eternal security of the believer by the grace of God is the completion and crowning glory of God’s plan of salvation.

Source: Paul Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology, ed. Jim Vincent and Allan Sholes, Revised and Expanded. (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2014), 354–356.

[ cc: @ElectedbyHim

 

[FearTheLord]

Fair enough.
I guess you will have to contend with these then.

Believers are secure because the Father has chosen them to salvation from eternity past (Eph. 1:4).

The Father predestined believers to come to the status of sonship in Christ (Eph. 1:5).

Not everyone who is born again is of the elect. A born-again believer can fall from grace through disobedience.

[Gal 3:2-3 NASB95] 2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?​

[Gal 5:4, 7 NASB95] 4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. ... 7 You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?​

[1Jo 2:19 NASB95] 19 They went out from us, but they were not [really] of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but [they went out,] so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.​

​

The Father has the power to keep believers secure in their salvation (Rom. 8:28–30).

The ones the Father foreknew, predestined, called, and justified are the same ones He brings to glorification in the future. None are lost in the process. The Father’s love for believers also guarantees their security (Rom. 5:7–10).

Yes, God can and does keep secure those believers who use their free will to walk by the Spirit. We have to choose to obey Christ by the Spirit (not by our own power) and suffer with him. If we do this, God keeps us.

[Rom 8:13 NASB95] 13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.​

[Rom 8:16-17 NASB95] 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with [Him] so that we may also be glorified with [Him.]​

[Jhn 15:10 NASB95] 10 "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.​

[1Jo 3:23-24 NASB95] 23 This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. 24 The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.​

The Son has redeemed the believer (Eph. 1:7), removed the wrath of God from the believer (Rom. 3:25), justified the believer (Rom. 5:1), provided forgiveness (Col. 2:13), and sanctified the believer (1 Cor. 1:2).

This is only true for those who keep their faith alive through obedience. This is possible by the power of the Holy Spirit, not our own, but the choice is ours. Faith without works is dead. Dead faith does not justify or save anyone.

[Jas 2:24, 26 NASB95] 24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. ... 26 For just as the body without [the] spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.​

​

Moreover, Christ prays for believers to be with Him (John 17:24); He continues to be their Advocate at God’s bar of justice (1 John 2:1); and He continues to make intercession as the believer’s High Priest (Heb. 7:25). If a believer could be lost it would imply Christ is ineffective in His work as the believer’s Mediator.

Jesus prayed for the elect (those given to him by the Father), not for all born-again believers. He is only advocate and intercessor as long as we continue in obedient faith, otherwise we prove ourselves not to be of the elect.

In addition, Jesus has promised His followers life everlasting: “I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand” (John 10:28–29).

He made that promise to the elect who endure until the end.

[Mat 24:13 NASB95] 13 "But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.​

Note that Jesus promised eternal life. If a believer could lose their salvation, it would not be eternal. Further, Jesus said “they will never perish.” “Never” is a double negative in the Greek text (ou me), which would translate “not never” to reinforce the point. Additionally, the word stands in the emphatic position in the text, emphasizing the follower of Christ will not never perish.

Eternal life (ζωὴν αἰώνιον) is life pertaining to the age.

What age?

The age of the kingdom of heaven on earth - the 1,000-year reign and the New Heavens and New Earth. A believer can and will lose eternal life by simply hating his fellow brother in Christ.

[1Jo 3:15-17 NASB95] 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?​

The Holy Spirit has regenerated the believer, giving him life (Titus 3:5); the Holy Spirit indwells the believer forever (John 14:17); He has sealed the believer for the day of redemption (Eph. 4:30), the sealing being a down payment, guaranteeing our future inheritance; the believer is baptized into union with Christ and into the body of believers (1 Cor. 12:13).

For a believer to lose his salvation would demand a reversal and an undoing of all the preceding works of the Father, Son, and Spirit. The key issue in the discussion of the believer’s security concerns the issue of who does the saving.

Hebrews 10:26-27 and Matt 18 shows that exact undoing can indeed happen. God will not keep us against our will.

[Heb 10:26-27 NASB95] 26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES.​

[Mat 18:32-35 NASB95] 32 "Then summoning him, his lord said to him, 'You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 'Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?' 34 "And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. 35 "My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart."​

[Mat 6:14-15 NASB95] 14 "For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 "But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.​

If man is responsible for securing his salvation, then he can be lost;
if God secures the person’s salvation, then the person is forever secure.

Like I said, God secures salvation for those who remain obedient. If you have the Holy Spirit, there is no sin that you are powerless to avoid.

[1Co 10:13 NASB95] 13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.​

The eternal security of the believer by the grace of God is the completion and crowning glory of God’s plan of salvation.

Source: Paul Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology, ed. Jim Vincent and Allan Sholes, Revised and Expanded. (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2014), 354–356.

[ cc: @ElectedbyHim

This book you've cited teaches a false gospel. It is anathema and belongs in the trash.

 

[St. SteVen]

This book you've cited teaches a false gospel. It is anathema and belongs in the trash.

Very well.
Continue in your fear and insecurity. You earned it.

What makes a doctrine false?

What makes a doctrine false? Please quote what you would like to respond to. Thanks. 1. You've never heard it before. (knee-jerk defensive response) 2. You have heard of it before, but assume it's false. (haven't looked into it) 3. Doesn't align with your church's doctrine (your church...

www.christianityboard.com

[

 

[mailmandan]

[Heb 10:26-27 NKJV] 26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.​

In regard to Hebrews 10:26, to "sin willfully" here carries the idea of deliberate intention that is habitual, which stems from rejecting Christ deliberately. This is continuous action, a matter of practice. Now we don't walk along our daily life and "accidentally" fall into a pit called sin. We exercise our will but, the use of the participle clearly shows continuous, willful, habitual, continuous action. The unrighteous practice sin (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21); not the righteous, who are born of God. (1 Corinthians 6:11; 1 John 3:9)

Confidence is rooted in the sacrificial death and blood of Jesus, yet those who draw back to perdition and do not believe to the saving of the soul (Hebrews 10:39) demonstrate a lack of confidence which culminates in a lack of perseverance. So, those Hebrews who reject the sacrificial death and blood of Jesus for the Levitical system, have in effect of trampled the Son of God underfoot, counting the blood of the covenant as a common thing, and insulting the Spirit of grace. For such folks, there no longer remains a sacrifice to atone for their sins, no further offering to anticipate.

[1Ti 4:16 NKJV] 16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.​

I'll take God's word over your opinions.

Believers are not passive in continuing in sound doctrine, but it's not merely in our own power that we continue. God alone saves, but "in a sense" we save ourselves and others through continuing in sound doctrine, as we continue to believe the gospel and are used as God's instruments to bring about the salvation of others through preaching the gospel to them as well.

If you fell into a well with no way out and someone threw down a rope and pulled you out of the well, "in a sense" you can say that you "saved yourself" by choosing to grab and hold onto the rope and allowing that person to pull you out of the well, but ultimately, the person who pulled you out of the well saved you and ultimately, it is Jesus Christ who saves us.

 

[mailmandan]

Very well.
Continue in your fear and insecurity. You earned it.

What makes a doctrine false?

What makes a doctrine false? Please quote what you would like to respond to. Thanks. 1. You've never heard it before. (knee-jerk defensive response) 2. You have heard of it before, but assume it's false. (haven't looked into it) 3. Doesn't align with your church's doctrine (your church...

www.christianityboard.com

Prior to my conversion several years ago while still attending the Roman Catholic church, I had absolutely no assurance of salvation and was miserable! Fear and bondage to IN-security is no way to live the Christian life. Our assurance is found ONLY in Jesus Christ. (1 John 5:11-13)