Once Saved....always Saved - Results of Questionnaire.

[Taken]

NOBODY is completely saved until they are in Heaven.

It is impossible to have a factual conversation with you....BECAUSE once in a conversation with you.....YOU change another's premise and then respond upon the CHANGED premise.

Like here for example; "Completely" savED.
Where is THAT in Scripture?

ALL are born IN SIN, which means ALL are born Spiritually SEPARATED FROM GOD.

From the beginning of mankind, God has provided WAYS for ALL men to hear and Learn ABOUT HIM.

And from the beginning MANY men have Rejected Him, clung to "their gods" and "their traditions" and "their cultures".

Jesus arrives, as a BABY, grows, begins TEACHING a NEW WAY for men to become....
"RECONCILED" "FOREVER" WITH God, "THOUGH" Belief IN JESUS, Belief IN GOD, and that Jesus IS the CHRIST, and what Jesus DID, He DID FOR the "FOREVER" Reconcilation to be MADE POSSIBLE.

Jesus sought out FIRST, men who believed IN GOD, but whom did not believe IN Jesus...

THEY became Jesus' followers and students called "Jesus'" disciples and eventually Apostles, as they came into Belief IN Jesus, being the Christ, and the WAY TO Reconcilation FOREVER, WITH God....THEY became the TEACHERS "OF" the Jews who (believed IN GOD, but that) had not yet heard of Jesus the Christ.

And Paul, Was chosenHe being ALL KNOWING, BY Jesus, TO LEARN ABOUT Jesus the Christ, and BE the Apostle Teacher of Gentiles....WHO neither Believed IN God "or" Jesus the Christ.

You do not recognize the differences OF the people (Jews and Gentiles, ), IN SCRIPTURE.

You pull out Scriptures that apply to a Jew who believed in God, and was learning about Jesus, and argue THEY "BELIEVED", thus they were SavED, and BORN AGAIN.

Then you toss in the....well well, people can take their gift of salvation, and then throw it back in the Lords face; AS IF HE IS A FOOL, and He being ALL KNOWING, had NO CLUE, this person would change their mind and REJECT HIM!!

The Lords WAY IS Reconciing NATRUAL MEN Unto Him, that Believe in their HEARTS, (not their minds), IN HIM, "AND" CHOOSE TO Submit themselves "TO" THE Lord.

You sort of SKIP THAT PART.
You LOOSLY use the word "BELIEVE" "as if" it applies to EVERY MAN, WHO believes IN....
God, the Lord Jesus, AND Has Chosen to SUBMIT their Lives TO THE Lord....

WHICH IS NOT THE CASE.

Many People believe in God....and DO NOT Believe their Salvation comes THROUGH Christ the Lord Jesus.

Many People believe in God...AND...the Lord Jesus BUT have NOT YET Chosen to GIVE their LIFE (ie submit) to the Lord Jesus.

Salvation IS A GIFT, FROM Christ the Lord, TO men .... WHO HAVE Believed IN their heart..
AND CHOSEN to Submit their Lives TO Christ the Lord.

And NO it is not a kind of sort of GIFT.
And NO it is not by the mans POWER it is Forever KEPT "BY" the man.

Part of a man Receiving the gift of Salvation IS that gift IS forever the mans Gift, BY and through the Power of God, WHO IS Christ.

You give some nonsensical commentary that men can receive ANY GIFT, then give it back.

Dude...Salvation is a Gift from God....NOT a present from a man you can say, eh, changed my mind, I don't want it...

Men do not receive the Gift of Salvation from the Lord, by WHAT THE mans MIND THINKS!!!

The Lord LOOKS to a mans HEARTS thoughts...NOT his minds thoughts!!

And ONCE a mans Hearts thought DECLARE TO THE Lord BELIEF IN THE Lord ... The Lord Himself gives that man the Gift of Salvation...

AND By the Power of the "INDWELLING" Spirit of God, that Gift is Forever KEPT for the man.

A man is NOT "COMPLETELY" savED, until he is in heaven? <---NONSENSE.

You are teaching "a man has to SEE IT to BELIEVE IT".

Earthly MEN can not SEE their RECONCILIATION!
Earthly MEN "TRUST" their Lord and that His word IS TRUE.

Men SHALL SEE their Transformed BODIES, When the Lord Calls the Reconciled men up TO HIM, and Transforms their bodies, into Glorious bodies.

You confuse the Gift of Salvation with Gifts given FOR Works that glorify God.
They are Separate Gifts.

As for the "unsaved believers" - I assume you are including the demons, correct (James 2:19)??

Why would I include DEMONS?
There is NO teaching for a reconcilation of Fallen angels.

Commandments are and ALWAYS have been for God's faithful.

Now you introduce the "FAITHFUL".

Faith IS a gift from God.
Faith IS given men, WHO are following along, hearing, learning, believing........THAT does not MEAN the MAN has RECEIVED Salvation.

Faith INCREASES to a fullness, ONCE the man HAS learned, believed, and SUBMITTED to the Lord.

NOBODY else is expected to follow them.

Until you learn the differences of HOW belief and belief in what applies to different men, and what reconcilation means, you will likely continue misapplying "the understanding" of Belief and continue to use it IN a general sense, in application to a mans mind, rather than his heart, and continue to to make a mans KEEPING of his Salvation dependent upon his own power.

And precisely why so many are in disagreement with YOUR perspective.

 

[BreadOfLife]

It is impossible to have a factual conversation with you....BECAUSE once in a conversation with you.....YOU change another's premise and then respond upon the CHANGED premise.

Like here for example; "Completely" savED.
Where is THAT in Scripture?

ALL are born IN SIN, which means ALL are born Spiritually SEPARATED FROM GOD.

From the beginning of mankind, God has provided WAYS for ALL men to hear and Learn ABOUT HIM.

And from the beginning MANY men have Rejected Him, clung to "their gods" and "their traditions" and "their cultures".

Jesus arrives, as a BABY, grows, begins TEACHING a NEW WAY for men to become....
"RECONCILED" "FOREVER" WITH God, "THOUGH" Belief IN JESUS, Belief IN GOD, and that Jesus IS the CHRIST, and what Jesus DID, He DID FOR the "FOREVER" Reconcilation to be MADE POSSIBLE.

Jesus sought out FIRST, men who believed IN GOD, but whom did not believe IN Jesus...

THEY became Jesus' followers and students called "Jesus'" disciples and eventually Apostles, as they came into Belief IN Jesus, being the Christ, and the WAY TO Reconcilation FOREVER, WITH God....THEY became the TEACHERS "OF" the Jews who (believed IN GOD, but that) had not yet heard of Jesus the Christ.

And Paul, Was chosenHe being ALL KNOWING, BY Jesus, TO LEARN ABOUT Jesus the Christ, and BE the Apostle Teacher of Gentiles....WHO neither Believed IN God "or" Jesus the Christ.

You do not recognize the differences OF the people (Jews and Gentiles, ), IN SCRIPTURE.

You pull out Scriptures that apply to a Jew who believed in God, and was learning about Jesus, and argue THEY "BELIEVED", thus they were SavED, and BORN AGAIN.

Then you toss in the....well well, people can take their gift of salvation, and then throw it back in the Lords face; AS IF HE IS A FOOL, and He being ALL KNOWING, had NO CLUE, this person would change their mind and REJECT HIM!!

The Lords WAY IS Reconciing NATRUAL MEN Unto Him, that Believe in their HEARTS, (not their minds), IN HIM, "AND" CHOOSE TO Submit themselves "TO" THE Lord.

You sort of SKIP THAT PART.
You LOOSLY use the word "BELIEVE" "as if" it applies to EVERY MAN, WHO believes IN....
God, the Lord Jesus, AND Has Chosen to SUBMIT their Lives TO THE Lord....

WHICH IS NOT THE CASE.

Many People believe in God....and DO NOT Believe their Salvation comes THROUGH Christ the Lord Jesus.

Many People believe in God...AND...the Lord Jesus BUT have NOT YET Chosen to GIVE their LIFE (ie submit) to the Lord Jesus.

Salvation IS A GIFT, FROM Christ the Lord, TO men .... WHO HAVE Believed IN their heart..
AND CHOSEN to Submit their Lives TO Christ the Lord.

And NO it is not a kind of sort of GIFT.
And NO it is not by the mans POWER it is Forever KEPT "BY" the man.

Part of a man Receiving the gift of Salvation IS that gift IS forever the mans Gift, BY and through the Power of God, WHO IS Christ.

You give some nonsensical commentary that men can receive ANY GIFT, then give it back.

Dude...Salvation is a Gift from God....NOT a present from a man you can say, eh, changed my mind, I don't want it...

Men do not receive the Gift of Salvation from the Lord, by WHAT THE mans MIND THINKS!!!

The Lord LOOKS to a mans HEARTS thoughts...NOT his minds thoughts!!

And ONCE a mans Hearts thought DECLARE TO THE Lord BELIEF IN THE Lord ... The Lord Himself gives that man the Gift of Salvation...

AND By the Power of the "INDWELLING" Spirit of God, that Gift is Forever KEPT for the man.

A man is NOT "COMPLETELY" savED, until he is in heaven? <---NONSENSE.

You are teaching "a man has to SEE IT to BELIEVE IT".

Earthly MEN can not SEE their RECONCILIATION!
Earthly MEN "TRUST" their Lord and that His word IS TRUE.

Men SHALL SEE their Transformed BODIES, When the Lord Calls the Reconciled men up TO HIM, and Transforms their bodies, into Glorious bodies.

You confuse the Gift of Salvation with Gifts given FOR Works that glorify God.
They are Separate Gifts.

Nobody is saved until they are in Heaven.

We can have a moral assurance of salvation on earth IF we are Baptized and endure in faith. HOWEVER - Scripture never guarantees that once we come to Christ and are born again that we are saved "forever" - UNLESS we endure in faithfulness.

Anything else is a man-made fallacy . . .

 

[Heb 13:8]

We are now living in that 1000 years that is the last dispensation which is the gospel dispensation.

No Ernest, the Grace dispensation we're in now is not the 1000 year reign with Christ. The 1000 years begins after the 70th week of Daniel.

The faithful that die whether they lived under the OT law or NT law will go to paradise when they die, Abraham's bosom.

Right, just like Jesus promised the thief.

The OT law required different laws (animal sacrifices, purifications, etc) for men to obey than the NT with different requirements (repentance confession baptism for remission of sins).

No, the only requirement in the NT is believing and confessing. The OT requirements were put away with when Jesus died on the cross.

It does not say Holy Spirit baptism.

Well how else will you get saved, H2O or the indwelling Holy Spirit?

Only the Lord can baptize with the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11) and men cannot not.

That's right only the Lord can do that, and where is Jesus Christ right now? Is He dead, or is He baptizing people through belief in Him?

1) Christ is not one earth today personally forgiving the sins of men.

No, He isn't. He's in heaven forgiving the sins of men.

These were not required of the thief for he did not live under the NT gospel making salvation different for him than for us today.

Well, luckily Jesus is the judge of the heart and not Ernest Bas

..

Again, what other scripture in 2 Cor 5:1-10 is referring to nonbelievers, and why is the Bema seat and the GWThrone 1000 years apart?

 

[Heb 13:8]

Saved is saved.

If you are drowning in the ocean and a boat comes along to rescue you - and you get into the boat - you are SAVED.
HOWEVER - nobody is forcing you to stay ON that boat - and neither does God force us to stay with Him.

Well, that's the thing. His sanctification is based on love, not force. For example, God doesn't serve a jealous child, rather the child serves a jealous God.

If you are DOING something else - then this is cooperation with God's grace. This proves the Catholic position that WE need to do something in order to be saved.

And that's why Jesus will say to you, "I never knew you, you did all these works in my name but you never fully surrendered and gave your life to me."

This is a completely FALSE premise because the Church has never taught that ANYBODY is in Hell. That knowledge is for God alone.

I do believe heaven and hell are vacant right now with believers and nonbelievers, but the day is coming when the Great White Throne Judgment will open up. And boy is there gonna be a lot of religious people there.

As for losing our salvation (secure position) - the bible is filled with examples of this (Matt. 5:13, Matt. 7:21, Rom. 11:22, Heb. 10:26-27, 2 Peter 2:20-22, 2 Peter 3:17, Rev. 3:5, Rev. 22:19).

All in which you've taken out of context.

First of all - Baptism of the Holy Spirit comes about in the way JESUS prescribed - NOT in the way you and your man made Protestant "pulpit commentaries" do. Jesus prescribed WATER and Spirit (John 3:5) - NOT just Spirit.

Spiritual water that flows from the kingdom of God itself. In order to receive it you must believe and confess, Rom 10:9.

As for enduring to the end in faith to the end - this is something that we ALL must do.
The rules don't "magically" change for end-time believers.

All believers in the 70th week will die as martyrs. That's why it's important to accept Christ now in the Grace dispensation.

 

[Heb 13:8]

Scripture never guarantees that once we come to Christ and are born again that we are saved "forever" - UNLESS we endure in faithfulness.

It's not about you BOL.

1. Eph 1 - belief
2. 2 Cor 1 - it is God who makes..
3. 2 Cor 5 - the one who has fashioned us

Eph 1:13-14 And 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, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

2 Cor 1:21-22 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

2 Cor 5:5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

God bless

 

[Grams]

12 REASONS THE BELIEVER

IN THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD

IS ETERNALLY SECURE



1. THE CROSS PAID FOR ALL SIN

According to I Corinthians 15:1-4, Jesus Christ "died for our sins." He became our substitute and died in our place. His blood paid for our sins giving us "redemption" - freedom from sin by payment of the price (Ephesians 1:7; I Peter 1:18). The good news is, Jesus Christ's death, burial and resurrection paid for all sins. In addition, Romans 3:24,25 says, He is the "propitiation" (full satisfying payment for our sins). God the Father is satisfied with the payment Jesus Christ has made for sin. Salvation is by grace through faith because sins are fully paid for, the work is finished, done! In fact, believers are declared forgiven according to Colossians 1:12-14; and Colossians 2:13; through the blood of Christ. His blood paid for all sins: past, present and future!


Colossians 1:14 & 2:13 says: "In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins ... And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses."


Now "where sin abounded, grace did much more abound" (Romans 5:20). There is no sin unpaid that could send a Believer to hell.


2. GOD ALREADY DECLARED THE BELIEVER RIGHTEOUS

Romans 3:24 says "being justified," Romans 3:26 says "to declare, I say, at this time," and Romans 3:28 concludes "that a man is justified by faith...". Justification is the judicial act of God declaring the sinner righteous, which he does the very moment they "believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification" (Romans 4:24,25). This is the testimony of Abraham (Romans 4:1-5), the blessedness David describes, (Romans 6-8 saying "Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin,") and God's testimony to us (Romans 4:21-5:1) "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." The point is, justification takes place upon believing. It is spoken of in the past tense. God has already declared the Believer righteous. It is not something He will do in the future if we endure. If God declares you righteous, who can say otherwise.

Romans 3:24 We are justified freely by God's grace - the means
Romans 4:25 We are justified by Christ's resurrection - the guarantee
Romans 5:1 We are justified by faith - the appropriation
Romans 5:9 We are justified by the blood of Jesus Christ - the basis
Romans 8:33 We are justified by God himself - the source

 

[Grams]

3. JESUS CHRIST MAKES INTERCESSION FOR US

Not only does Romans 8:33 inform us that God has already justified the believer, but Romans 8:34 goes on to tells us that no one can condemn the believer because Christ already died for us and was raised and is now at “the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”


If anyone would want to condemn us it is Satan, who according to Revelation 12:10 is “the accuser of our brethren …, which accused them before our God day and night.” But whatever anyone, even the Devil thinks he can accuse us of, Jesus Christ is at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us. His hands and His side bears the evidence that our sins are paid for.


The balance of Romans 8 testifies to the fact that there is no one and nothing that can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. And when you read I Corinthians 12:13 or II Corinthians 5:17 or Romans 6:3-5, you will see that “in Christ” is where the believer resides and according to Ephesians 1:6 we are “accepted in the beloved” and according to Romans 8:33-39 the believer can never be separated from that love.


"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Roman 8:38,39).



4. GOD DID THE SAVING AND HE SAID “YE ARE SAVED”


According to I Corinthians 15:2, if a person believes the gospel that Paul delivered. the gospel he declares in I Corinthians 15:3,4, verse 2 says “…ye are saved.” The very word “saved” implies security, implies safety, implies rescued permanently. Jesus Christ died one time for all sins for all mankind. When a person believes in that, trusts in that for the payment of their sins and their acceptance before God, they are saved eternally not temporarily. God does the saving. He saved those that believe! Then He said “ye are saved.”


If God said it, it's true! Ephesians 2:5 says it also: “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)” In addition, Titus 3:5 says “he saved us” (notice that is past tense,) and I Corinthians 6:11 says “…ye are washed, ye are sanctified, ye are justified…” and Ecclesiastes 5:13 says “whatsoever God doeth, it

shall be forever.” Therefore salvation is forever.



5. THE GIFT OF SALVATION WE RECEIVED IS “ETERNAL LIFE”


Romans 5:15-18, 21 says: “But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life…. That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”

All the above is summed up in Romans 6:22,23 by saying: “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”


These verses affirm two facts. First that salvation is a free gift from God, and secondly, that gift is ETERNAL LIFE. When a person trusts the gospel they receive eternal life. God gives them eternal life that very moment. How long does eternal life last? Forever! It is not possible to have eternal life today and not have it tomorrow!

 

[Grams]

6. THE MOMENT A PERSON GETS SAVED, A SPIRITUAL CIRCUMCISION TAKES PLACE


Philippians 3:3 says “we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.” That is because the Apostle Paul is speaking about a spiritual circumcision that has separated us from the flesh. Colossians 2:9-11 explains:

“For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ. ”


This circumcision is made without hands. It is something God does. He has removed the sins of the flesh from us. Our flesh which is called "the body of sin" (Romans 6:6) has been separated from us. We are then placed “in Christ,” and in Christ we have been disassociated from the flesh and the sins of the flesh. The flesh will sin, and the flesh will die, but the Believer is no longer in the flesh before God. Romans 8:9 says “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you…”.


This is way Paul can say what he does in Romans 7:17-20 “Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.” Therefore the believer is disassociated from the sins of the flesh in the eyes of God and eternally secure in Christ.



7. THE MOMENT A PERSON GETS SAVED HE IS REGENERATED


Titus 3:5 says: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”


"Regeneration" means to be made new, it is sometimes referred to as" born again." The prefix “Re” means “new” and the last part of the word “Generated” is from the word “Genesis” or “generation” meaning “beginning.” When we get saved have a new beginning. II Corinthians 5:17 says we are “a new creature.” Ephesians 2:15 we are made “one new man.” We have a new life, and according to the same verse (Titus 3:5) we are kept new by the Holy Ghost. This new life in Christ, this new creature in Christ, this one new man in Christ, is eternal!


The believer today, in the age of the dispensation of the grace of God, is made a new eternal creature in Christ. This is the point of II Corinthians 5:14-21 and the statement of verse 17: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." The "all things" is not speaking of a person's habits, it is speaking of who the believer is, the "new creature" he has become, now that he is "in Christ."



8. THE MOMENT A PERSON GETS SAVED HE IS INDWELT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT


The imparting of God’s Spirit to our spirit is the imparting of God’s life. Romans 8:2 the Holy Spirit is called “the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” and Romans 8:9 declares “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”


The Spirit of God in the Believer makes us a child of God, and an heir, according to Romans 8:15-17 “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him that we may be also glorified together.”


The very Spirit of God has entered into our being, into our soul, and joined to our spirit imparting the very life of God in us. I Corinthians 3:16 and 6:19,20 remind us of this truth, saying: “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

….What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”


Because the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of life and He indwells the believer, then this life is a present possession. The believer has eternal life as a present possession.

 

[Grams]

9. THE MOMENT A PERSON GETS SAVED HE IS BAPTIZED INTO JESUS CHRIST


When a person trusts the gospel the Holy Spirit of God baptizes them into the Body of Christ. I Corinthians 12:13 and 12:27 says: “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit….Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”


This is not a water baptism. This is not a minister baptizing a person in water. It is the Holy Spirit baptizing (placing the believer) into Jesus Christ. The word “Baptize” means to be placed into for the purpose of identification. Upon believing the gospel a person is placed into and identified with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ as taught in Romans 6:3-7 which says: “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.”


Every believer in this age of grace is made a member of the Body of Christ. We are one with Him. He is the head and we are His body. If it were possible for a saved person to lose their salvation and end up in hell, then a part of Jesus Christ would be in hell.



10. THE MOMENT A PERSON GETS SAVED HE IS SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT


Clearly from Ephesians 1:13,14, when a person trusts the gospel, they are not only sealed with the Spirit of God but that sealing last until God takes possession of the person purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:12-14 says: “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”


The Holy Spirit himself is the seal. We are not just sealed by the Spirit, but with the Spirit. The word “Earnest” speaks of sincerity. It is a financial expression meaning a deposit or down payment. God has promised us eternal life with Him in heaven. The full price of our salvation has been paid in full already by the death of Jesus Christ on the cross and by his burial and resurrection. Upon trusting the gospel, the Holy Spirit is given to the believer as a down payment of life until such time as Jesus Christ returns to rapture us unto himself in new resurrected, glorified bodies, in which we shall be caught up into heavenly places.


Even when we sometimes grieve the Holy Spirit, Ephesians 4:30 says we remain sealed: “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” This promise is referred to again in II Corinthians 1:20-22, where again the Holy Spirit is called “the earnest.” Redemption spoken of in Ephesians 1:14 and 4:30 is not speaking of the soul. The soul has been redeemed by the blood of Christ. It is the “redemption of the body” that the believer is waiting for according to Romans 8:24-25.


A “Seal” is a guarantee. We see how it was used in the Persian Empire in Esther 8:7,8 where it is written: “Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, … Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.” A “Seal” is a sign of ownership, of authority, of absolute power, an unchanging decree; hence security!



11. THE REASON WE HAVVE THIS ABSOLUTE SECURITY IS TO THE PRAISE OF GOD’S GLORY.


Looking again at Ephesians 1:3-14, we can see that salvation is not only for the benefit of those who are saved by the grace of God, but that God himself has a purpose in saving us. Notice these verses in Ephesians 1:


In verse 6, after telling us how blessed the believer is according to the good pleasure of God’s will, the verse then explains why, saying: “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”


Verses 9,10 explain God's eternal purpose to make Jesus Christ the head of all things in heaven and earth.


Then Verse 11 explains, the believer today has been given “an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.” God is working out a purpose of his own will.


A will in which God's purpose according to Verse 12 is: “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.”


For that reason, according to Verses 13 and 14, God has sealed the believer with the Holy Spirit until He takes us for His possession as Verse 14 concludes: “ unto the praise of his glory.”


If a person could lose their salvation, then God’s purpose in saving us would have been over turned. God would lose some of the praise of his glory. But that will not happen, because God has sealed the believer … "unto the praise of his glory."


The whole reason we are saved by grace through faith is to display “the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus,” in the heavenly places, as stated in Ephesians 2:5-9 which reads as follows:


“Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

 

[Grams]

12. WE ARE ETERNALLY SECURE IN CHRIST BECAUSE GOD IS FAITHFUL


As we said earlier, a person is saved and sealed the moment they trust the gospel because it is Christ who died for them and rose again, and it is God who saved them and the Holy Spirit who sealed them, as God said in His Word. A person is saved by the grace of God, meaning they cannot earn it and they do not deserve it. They are saved by faith and not by works as Ephesians 2:8,9 clearly says: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”


Since it is God and His grace that saves, then the actions whether good or bad, or unfaithfulness of a person, even choosing sometime later, after they believed, if they would choose not to be save or not to believe, these things cannot keep God from keeping His word.


This is the point of the following verses (notice especially the words in bold):


"I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord." - I Corinthians 1:4-9


"Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;" - Titus 1:1,2


"Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." - II Timothy 1:8-12


"Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him if we deny him he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself." - II Timothy 2:7-13


What a glorious promise, what blessed assurance we have. If we believe the gospel of the grace of God, we have been placed into the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 6:3-5), and therefore we are "dead with him" and therefore guaranteed "we shall live with him." The added glory is," if we suffer" in service for the Lord, we will also "reign." We shall be rewarded a reigning position with the Lord Jesus Christ eternally. "If we deny him" instead of suffering in service, we will be denied that reign. Yet, even more than denying him, "if we believe not" (something in life causes us to lose our faith;) God remains faithful. Upon faith we were made a member of the "body of Christ" ( I Corinthians 12:13,27) and God "cannot deny himself." We may not abide faithful, but God will be faithful to his Word, "he abideth faithful."


That is eternal security!

 

[BreadOfLife]

It's not about you BOL.

1. Eph 1 - belief
2. 2 Cor 1 - it is God who makes..
3. 2 Cor 5 - the one who has fashioned us

Eph 1:13-14 And 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, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
2 Cor 1:21-22 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
2 Cor 5:5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
God bless

1. We are given the grace to believe - but belief and faith is up to US.

2. WE choose to endure or to walk away from God (Matt. 5:13, Matt. 7:21, Rom. 11:22, Heb. 10:26-27, 2 Peter 2:20-22, 2 Peter 3:17, Rev. 3:5, Rev. 22:19).

3. God allows US to choose whether or not we want to continue to be fashioned according to His will
(Matt. 5:13, Matt. 7:21, Rom. 11:22, Heb. 10:26-27, 2 Peter 2:20-22, 2 Peter 3:17, Rev. 3:5, Rev. 22:19)


.

 

[BreadOfLife]

And that's why Jesus will say to you, "I never knew you, you did all these works in my name but you never fully surrendered and gave your life to me."

WRONG.
We are admonished to be DOERS of the word (James 1:22) - and NOT just "hearers" like YOU . . .

I do believe heaven and hell are vacant right now with believers and nonbelievers, but the day is coming when the Great White Throne Judgment will open up. And boy is there gonna be a lot of religious people there.

If you believe that Heaven and Hell are vacant - then don't know the word of God . . .

Heb. 9:27
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

All in which you've taken out of context.

Then please enlighten me instead of just skipping over those verses.
NONE of you have been able to refute these passages.

Spiritual water that flows from the kingdom of God itself. In order to receive it you must believe and confess, Rom 10:9.

The first 3 chapters of John's Gospel are literally DRENCHED in Water - ACTUAL Water (H2O).
John 1 - Jesus is Baptized in WATER - ACTUAL Water
John 2 - Jesus turns WATER into wine - ACTUAL Water
John 3 - Jesus tells Nicodemus that we must be born again of WATER and spirit. Immediately after this, He and the Apostles go a'Baptizin' in WATER - ACTUAL Water.

Your failure here is to think that everything Jesus said and did was symbolic.

All believers in the 70th week will die as martyrs. That's why it's important to accept Christ now in the Grace dispensation.

And again - the rules of faith NEVER change - no matter WHAT time in history you are in.
All of this "Dispensation" nonsense is man-made . . .

 

[LC627]

• Those that believe "once saved always saved" is true (16.67%)
  
  
• Those that believe "once saved always saved" is a false docterine. (50%)
  
  
• Not sure. (33.33%)

If we could lose our salvation, trust me, we all would. Thank God Jesus is our Advocate and intercedes for us. Having eternal security does not mean a person has a license to sin. As Christians it is our desire and passion to serve God, we obey Him because we love Him.

 

[Reggie Belafonte]

OSAS, some claim water baptism saves, well it does not save but it's done in the hope that they will be born again.
When one is born again then you are what is called saved, because you can not be un born of the Holy Spirit.

But the problem is that, is one truly born again ? you may have the Holy spirit to a point but it is not truly born again in fact. such does not mean one is not going to Heaven, one need only to have hope and Faith in Jesus for that to be possible but that's up to Jesus only to say who will and they must be at his right hand, not his left to enter.

Even being born again can not claim they are going to Heaven, because it's not for any man to say such a thing. such is just boasting before men.
When one comes before Jesus, we will just see how much you can boast then.
Were can we point to being born again ? once you have total faith in Jesus then you still grow according to the gift you have.

But OSAS is not biblical and it would of been so easy to of have such written, but it is not written, is it.
OSAS is a mans works doctrine and it's a tricky thing to deal with, but narrow minded and short sighted have no problems sprouting it, ranting and raving like a chook flapping their wings crowing about such. but the thing is with such is they need to have this assurance it's like a legal document to them they can fall on, when talking to men ? it's just a boast !
What about when they are before Jesus ? it comes across as like they will come up and push him off the Cloud.
OSAS such people come across as worldly dolts with there ego out of control, anyone can sprout such a thing.

Sure there is foundation for the claims but it's the shallowness that they come at me with that gets on my goat, it's like they are trying to over power you, that they truly lack Grace ?
I have no problem with one casually saying OSAS with Grace but not worldly barking mad like a mongrel dog ranting and raving like one I have seen, claiming that he can kill anyone do anything he wants and because OSAS he is going to Heaven regardless. BS ! Jesus Christ is the only one who give that call, not men ever ! because to say such a thing is biblically wrong as it says such is to bring Jesus up from the grave or to drag him down from Heaven. I will have to find the verse to put it correctly but it's putting your self in the position of a god and that's a Sin that is truly rejecting Jesus. the problem is they have no Grace ! when sprouting such a line as OSAS.

Once truly Born again of the Holy Spirit you can not go back and reject the Holy Spirit because it's a God given gift, but you have to pick that gift up because the Holy Spirit compels you to do so, with the gifts God has given you.

Now one that I know says he has made it ! because of OSAS he hands out childish slanderous tracks and also can save people by having them repeat words and bingo ! they are saved regardless he says and he gets rewards for this in heaven he claims.

 

[Helen]

If we could lose our salvation, trust me, we all would. Thank God Jesus is our Advocate and intercedes for us. Having eternal security does not mean a person has a license to sin. As Christians it is our desire and passion to serve God, we obey Him because we love Him.

That is a message which needs repeating many, many time..."preach it! " :)

 

[Heb 13:8]

1. We are given the grace to believe - but belief and faith is up to US.

2. WE choose to endure or to walk away from God (Matt. 5:13, Matt. 7:21, Rom. 11:22, Heb. 10:26-27, 2 Peter 2:20-22, 2 Peter 3:17, Rev. 3:5, Rev. 22:19).

3. God allows US to choose whether or not we want to continue to be fashioned according to His will
(Matt. 5:13, Matt. 7:21, Rom. 11:22, Heb. 10:26-27, 2 Peter 2:20-22, 2 Peter 3:17, Rev. 3:5, Rev. 22:19)

1. BOL, you're mixing up belief and faith in Rom 10:9 vs belief and faith on our daily walk which is sanctification
2. A believer in Christ can never fully walk away from God. He is sealed until redemption.
3. Notice 2 Cor 5:5 says that God has given us His seal. This is the gift of salvation BOL.

We are admonished to be DOERS of the word (James 1:22) - and NOT just "hearers" like YOU . . .

Born again Christians are doers of the Word, we just don't rely on our works to keep us saved. The blood of Christ does that for us.

If you believe that Heaven and Hell are vacant - then don't know the word of God . . .

Aside from Jesus Christ sitting on the throne with His angels, human beings are sleeping in their graves awaiting their resurrections.

Heb. 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Right, judgment which is the Bema seat and the Great White Throne.

NONE of you have been able to refute these passages.

The first 3 chapters of John's Gospel are literally DRENCHED in Water - ACTUAL Water (H2O).
John 1 - Jesus is Baptized in WATER - ACTUAL Water
John 2 - Jesus turns WATER into wine - ACTUAL Water
John 3 - Jesus tells Nicodemus that we must be born again of WATER and spirit. Immediately after this, He and the Apostles go a'Baptizin' in WATER - ACTUAL Water.

Your failure here is to think that everything Jesus said and did was symbolic.

And again - the rules of faith NEVER change - no matter WHAT time in history you are in.
All of this "Dispensation" nonsense is man-made . . .

Well, it's not necessarily about refuting as it is understanding the things of God.

Take 1 Cor 2 for example. If you can't understand spiritual water than you still need milk and are not ready for solid food. God bless.

God’s Wisdom Revealed by the Spirit

6We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9However, as it is written:

“What no eye has seen,

what no ear has heard,

and what no human mind has conceived” —

the things God has prepared for those who love him—

10these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. 14The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 15The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, 16for,

“Who has known the mind of the Lord

so as to instruct him?”

But we have the mind of Christ.

 

[BreadOfLife]

1. BOL, you're mixing up belief and faith in Rom 10:9 vs belief and faith on our daily walk which is sanctification
2. A believer in Christ can never fully walk away from God. He is sealed until redemption.
3. Notice 2 Cor 5:5 says that God has given us His seal. This is the gift of salvation BOL.

And a "gift" can be rejected - even AFTER receiving it.

The Scriptures NEVER indicate that a believer can "never fully" walk away from God.
Being "sealed" has conditions - the condition that we endure in faith (Matt. 7:19-23, Matt. 10:22, Matt. 24:13, Matt. 25:31–46, John 15:1-6, Rom. 11:22, 1 Cor. 9:27, 1 Cor. 4:4, 1 Tim. 4:1, Heb. 3:6, Heb. 3:12-14, Heb 6:4-6, Heb. 10:26-27, 2 Pet.r 3:17, 1 John 2:24, 1 John 5:13, Rev. 3:5, Rev. 22:19).

Faith = belief + Obedience (works)
One without the other is worthless (James 2:14-26) . . .

Born again Christians are doers of the Word, we just don't rely on our works to keep us saved. The blood of Christ does that for us.

And again - you cannot hope to be saved if you simply "believe" and live a life of disobedience (Matt. 7:21-23).

Aside from Jesus Christ sitting on the throne with His angels, human beings are sleeping in their graves awaiting their resurrections.

The resurrection is of the BODY of the believer. Our BODIES will be glorified and reunited with our souls at the resurrection.
The Bible CLEARLY states that there ARE souls in Heaven.

Rev. 5:8 tells us that the Elders is Heaven are taking our prayers before God.
Rev. 6:9-10 tells us that the souls of the Martyrs are in Heaven crying out for justice.

Your denial of these verses speaks to your lack of faith . . .

Right, judgment which is the Bema seat and the Great White Throne.

Yes, eventually.

Heb. 9:27 states that we are judged immediately after we die. There is the Particular Judgement (Heb. 9:27) and the General Judgement(Matt. 25:31-46).

Well, it's not necessarily about refuting as it is understanding the things of God.
Take 1 Cor 2 for example. If you can't understand spiritual water than you still need milk and are not ready for solid food. God bless.
God’s Wisdom Revealed by the Spirit

6We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9However, as it is written:
“What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived” —
the things God has prepared for those who love him—
10these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. 14The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 15The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, 16for,
“Who has known the mind of the Lord
so as to instruct him?”
But we have the mind of Christ.

And you have failed once again to refute or even exegete the the verses I presented.
You simply avoided them. Try again . . .

The first 3 chapters of John's Gospel are literally DRENCHED in Water - ACTUAL Water (H2O).
John 1 - Jesus is Baptized in WATER - ACTUAL Water
John 2 - Jesus turns WATER into wine - ACTUAL Water
John 3 - Jesus tells Nicodemus that we must be born again of WATER and spirit. Immediately after this, He and the Apostles go a'Baptizin' in WATER - ACTUAL Water.

Now - explain why H20 is used in these verses.

 

[BreadOfLife]

If we could lose our salvation, trust me, we all would. Thank God Jesus is our Advocate and intercedes for us. Having eternal security does not mean a person has a license to sin. As Christians it is our desire and passion to serve God, we obey Him because we love Him.

And, as humans - our desires and passions fail us every time.
We STRIVE to be obedient, but we stumble - and some of us fall away.

Yes, the Bible tells us that we CAN lose our salvation - and warns us of the consequences . . .

Romans 11:22
“See, then, the kindness and severity of God: severity toward those who fell, but God's kindness to you, provided you REMAIN in his kindness; otherwise you to will be cut off.”
Paul is warning the faithful to REMAIN in God’s favor or they will lose their salvation. How can they lose what they never had?

Hebrews 10:26-27
“If we sin deliberately AFTER receiving KNOWLEDGE of the truth, there no longer remains sacrifice for sins but a fearful prospect of judgment and a flaming fire that is going to consume the adversaries.”
This is a clear warning that falling away from God will result in the loss of our salvation. The Greek ford for “knowledge” used here is NOT the usual word (oida). This is talking about a full, experiential knowledge (epignosei). This verse is about CHRISTIANS who had an EPIGNOSIS of Christ and who can fall back into darkness and LOSE their salvation by their own doing.

2 Peter 2:20-22
For if they, having escaped the defilements of the world through the KNOWLEDGE of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ, again become entangled and overcome by them, their last condition is worse than their first.
For it would have been better for them not to have KNOWN the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment handed down to them.
Here, Peter illustrates that those who had a full, experiential knowledge (epignosei) of Christ – CHRISTIANS – who can fall back into darkness and LOSE their salvation by their own doing.

Matt. 5:13
You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
This one is self-explanatory - even to a blind, deaf and dumb person . . .

1 Cor. 9:27
"I pummel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified."
Paul is saying that he wrestles with his own fleshly desires so that he might not fall back into sin.

2 Peter 3:17
Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position.
Peter is warning the faithful not to fall back into sin and lawlessness.

1 John 2:24
See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. IF it does, you also will REMAIN in the Son and in the Father.
This is an admonition to try to remain faithful.

Rev. 3:5
He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.
God cannot "blot out" a name that was never there in the first place. He is talking about CHRISTIANS who are already saved and how they can LOSE their salvation.

Rev. 22:19
And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
How can God "take away" somebody’s share of heaven if they never had it to begin with? This is about CHRISTIANS who may or may NOT make it into Heaven.

 

[LC627]

And, as humans - our desires and passions fail us every time.
We STRIVE to be obedient, but we stumble - and some of us fall away.

Yes, the Bible tells us that we CAN lose our salvation - and warns us of the consequences . . .

Romans 11:22
“See, then, the kindness and severity of God: severity toward those who fell, but God's kindness to you, provided you REMAIN in his kindness; otherwise you to will be cut off.”
Paul is warning the faithful to REMAIN in God’s favor or they will lose their salvation. How can they lose what they never had?

Hebrews 10:26-27
“If we sin deliberately AFTER receiving KNOWLEDGE of the truth, there no longer remains sacrifice for sins but a fearful prospect of judgment and a flaming fire that is going to consume the adversaries.”
This is a clear warning that falling away from God will result in the loss of our salvation. The Greek ford for “knowledge” used here is NOT the usual word (oida). This is talking about a full, experiential knowledge (epignosei). This verse is about CHRISTIANS who had an EPIGNOSIS of Christ and who can fall back into darkness and LOSE their salvation by their own doing.

2 Peter 2:20-22
For if they, having escaped the defilements of the world through the KNOWLEDGE of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ, again become entangled and overcome by them, their last condition is worse than their first.
For it would have been better for them not to have KNOWN the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment handed down to them.
Here, Peter illustrates that those who had a full, experiential knowledge (epignosei) of Christ – CHRISTIANS – who can fall back into darkness and LOSE their salvation by their own doing.

Matt. 5:13
You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
This one is self-explanatory - even to a blind, deaf and dumb person . . .

1 Cor. 9:27
"I pummel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified."
Paul is saying that he wrestles with his own fleshly desires so that he might not fall back into sin.

2 Peter 3:17
Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position.
Peter is warning the faithful not to fall back into sin and lawlessness.

1 John 2:24
See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. IF it does, you also will REMAIN in the Son and in the Father.
This is an admonition to try to remain faithful.

Rev. 3:5
He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.
God cannot "blot out" a name that was never there in the first place. He is talking about CHRISTIANS who are already saved and how they can LOSE their salvation.

Rev. 22:19
And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
How can God "take away" somebody’s share of heaven if they never had it to begin with? This is about CHRISTIANS who may or may NOT make it into Heaven.

If I am faithfully serving God then there is nothing to worry about. Yes we all stumble in life and sin but that is why Jesus is our Advocate. You don't add anything to your salvation - the only thing you added was the sin that killed Jesus to purchased it for you.

Romans 8:30 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
John 6:39 39And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.

 

[LC627]

12. WE ARE ETERNALLY SECURE IN CHRIST BECAUSE GOD IS FAITHFUL


As we said earlier, a person is saved and sealed the moment they trust the gospel because it is Christ who died for them and rose again, and it is God who saved them and the Holy Spirit who sealed them, as God said in His Word. A person is saved by the grace of God, meaning they cannot earn it and they do not deserve it. They are saved by faith and not by works as Ephesians 2:8,9 clearly says: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”


Since it is God and His grace that saves, then the actions whether good or bad, or unfaithfulness of a person, even choosing sometime later, after they believed, if they would choose not to be save or not to believe, these things cannot keep God from keeping His word.


This is the point of the following verses (notice especially the words in bold):


"I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord." - I Corinthians 1:4-9


"Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;" - Titus 1:1,2


"Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." - II Timothy 1:8-12


"Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him if we deny him he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself." - II Timothy 2:7-13


What a glorious promise, what blessed assurance we have. If we believe the gospel of the grace of God, we have been placed into the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 6:3-5), and therefore we are "dead with him" and therefore guaranteed "we shall live with him." The added glory is," if we suffer" in service for the Lord, we will also "reign." We shall be rewarded a reigning position with the Lord Jesus Christ eternally. "If we deny him" instead of suffering in service, we will be denied that reign. Yet, even more than denying him, "if we believe not" (something in life causes us to lose our faith;) God remains faithful. Upon faith we were made a member of the "body of Christ" ( I Corinthians 12:13,27) and God "cannot deny himself." We may not abide faithful, but God will be faithful to his Word, "he abideth faithful."


That is eternal security!

AMEN to everything! :)