What we all need to remember is.......it is not our salvation!!
The Lord saves us when we come to Him as broken repentant sinners and as someone mentioned above we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise Ephesians 1:13.
Someone else mentions Judas Iscariot. I don't believe he had the holy spirit, I believe he is the son of perdition and remember Jesus says about whoever he will touch with the "sop", interesting initials.
We are part of the body of Christ if we are truly saved. Do you really think He will amputate us if we commit a certain number of sins and cause us to lose the salvation that He has given us. It isn't ours, it's His free gift to us.
Remember too that when Judas killed himself Jesus hadn't died so the new testament and the new dispensation of the church age where we have eternal security hadn't come into place. They didn't have eternal security during the time of the old testament, remember how the Holy Spirit left Saul. It also left Samson but came back to him. I truly believe that the books of Hebrews especially and also James are written to Jews during the time of Jacob's trouble, which hasn't happened yet, because the body of Christ won't be there, we will have left to be with the Lord, see 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 and 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18. It is so important to rightly divide the word of God as it is all writted to us, but not all of it for us 2 Timothy 2:15. If we don't rightly divide it that's when we make a mess of it and start thinking parts contradict other parts when they don't. I praise the Lord for showing me this.
The Son of God, Jesus, was presented as a lamb without spots. He came as the second Adam to reconcile an account that fell out of order and became unrighteous and sinful. That would be my account because I believe by faith and saw my very own cry in my heart for peace. I heard the call of His salvation and came to hear. I saw his peace and his humility and by his mercy I understood my sin and reached out to Jesus by faith and repented of my sin. By grace from his grace I found myself a new creature, forgiven and reconciled to God the Father by his son the Lamb of God. I had peace with God and man and most importantly love for my neighbor as myself. The Holy Spirit dwelling in my soul guides me and reproves me, sanctifies my life in me for His good purpose.
Stephende, I actually was one of those who, on the 25th October 1979, cried out "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus". I had come to see the greatness of my sins before God, by a deep intrusion into my heart by God's Spirit. It was a miracle in a moment: the burden of my sins was removed when I cried out in repentance & instantly the Peace of God from His forgiveness flooded my soul. It was a great personal transaction that can never be forgotten.
Yes, I was born again by God's Spirit; if that is 'an empty cliche' to you, it has been to me, the very source of bringing a worthless, hell-bound sinner to understand the greatness of God Love & His eternal Plan to restore mankind to Himself.
"What the Law (as perfect & Holy as it was) could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Romans 8:3,4.
It is wonderful to read of your love & obedience to God. And do you obey Him fully? Remembering: "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." James 2:10. If that is you & your perfection is that which is attributed to God & His Christ, it is true, you have no need of such 'empty cliches' & you're Heaven-bound. However, I would say, for the rest of us, we would need His Sacrifice desperately as we could never keep His Laws & satisfy His Demands perfectly. To that end, God sent His only begotten Son into this World, for our sake & for our redemption through the shedding of His Blood. What the blood of bulls & goats couldn't do for Israel, Jesus Christ's Blood fully did for the sins of both Jew & Gentile alike. Keep reading His Word: Light & Truth are its blessings for all with a singular heart for God.
In Hebrews, Paul speaks to his own. These days, where our world is in danger of imploding on itself for pestilence and racial warfare, corruption of our government, in part facilitated by right wing Christians and their weeping for donation preachers. To whom shall we turn for truth, for our daily bread? I find that there is noone. Of course, all on this site say it's Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. That does me no good. Born again is any empty cliche! But I do read the bible religously and am comforted by God, El Shaddai, my creator who sits in Zion and is a God of Gods. His Son's are those who obey the Pact, which He spoke to Moses in the dessert. He is both Creator and Destroyer. He requires obedience un questioned and rewards accordingly.
Growing in the gospel of salvation, Christ speaks of clearly. The danger of loosing ones faith is not impossible! This is a war between good and evil. This battle is not only here on earth but in the heavens. When you come to Christ and are baptized into his death and risen in His resurrection, you are a new creature in Him. Created in Him.Most religion today teaches a social gospel, based on works. When you understand the power of the holy Spirit, it will guide you into all truth. The last idea you would have is loosing so precious a gift. Temptation and Satan never leave. When your roots are deep He will have a hard time deceiving you. Remember its soly by grace we are saved not our works
1 Corinthians 15:51-56 51Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed- 52in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." 55"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" 56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. Matthew 4:4
Carol read the Bible for its not what someone thinks but what sayeth the Lord. Luke 15:11-32
II Peter 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 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. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
Kim, Can you direct me to a scripture that says we cannot lose our salvation? Judas lost his. Before his betrayal he was a disciple of Christ. Surely he thought his salvation was secure. Mark 13:13, Matthew 24:13, Rev 3:5, Ecc 12:13, Rev 22:14 There is no assurance of salvation. We believe and we live a certain way because of it. If one truly believes fear of the Lord should keep you from sin.
God's gift is Free Eternal Life. Once you have been born again The Holy Spirit seals you until the day of redemption. He will lose none. Those people spoke of in Hebrews never believed. He says they fell because of unbelief. Salvation is not probational. If you have been saved the flesh was crucified with Jesus. Paul says when he sins it is no longer him that does it but his flesh.
It delights the Father when people put their sins at the cross and rest in Jesus. If we don't have unbelief, then we are living in the total rest and peace of Jesus. Everything else that comes after that works is the evidence of our salvation not the cause of it. Matt. 7:23 was caused by doing works while in unbelief and not completely trusting in the work of Jesus completely.
Carol, having said that, as long as you have continued to follow Jesus' precepts, continued to grow your faith, and haven't disavowed Jesus in your heart, you have nothing to be concerned about. Your Salvation is secure, and always will be unless "you" choose to give it back.
Carol, pleased don't be deceived. While it is correct that you cannot be snatched from God's hand. Because of the "unconditional" free will that God gave us, we can if we choose, give up our own salvation. We change God's intention by adding the condition, "that it doesn't apply to salvation." At that point, it is no longer unconditional. That was not God's intention when he gave us free will.
Steve, I don't believe Paul leads anyone to be presumptuous about their fate. In fact, all thoughout his Epistles, he makes it very clear that the door to heaven is not by faith alone. Paul's writing to the Galatians is dedicated to this subject. But it can also be seen in many of Pauls other writings including, Romans, 1 Corinthians, and 2 Corinthians.
Steve's words: "It is way more then inviting Jesus into your heart whilst the pastors prays" is also what I believe. That is the beginning, but one must follow Jesus' commands thereafter, live following his example, bring forth fruit. It's not a 1 time event, but an entire life style of devotion to Him.
I believe that Moses was spared by God as he climbed the
Mount overlooking the promise land, as he fullfilled what God had him do, bringing the people to the their homeland at last. Paul, the least of the Apostles, has lead Christians to be presumptuous about their fate, that their Salvation is assured, which it isn't. It is way more then inviting Jesus into your heart whilst the pastors prays
Carol: I have never posted on here but your message touched my heart. We can slide so far back that the devil makes us question our salvation. I heard this said long ago and I have never forgotten this...you cannot unknow God. We may forget a lot in this life and fall short but we can never lose our salvation. That's our promise from him!
Carol: We are Sealed with The Holy Spirit: Ephesians 1:13. You Need a Church that Believes Eternal Security. You Need to Tell Others What Christ Done in Your Life. Tell Them how to be Saved: When The Father Calls then Ask Forgiveness. If Saved, They will be Washed in His Blood. Revelation 1:5 / Baptize with The Holy Ghost. Mark1:8 / You will be Changed. 2Corinthians 5:17. Impossible not to Know.
I am scared because although I have known the Lord for over 40 years, something has caused me to slide away. I do not have that blessed assurance of my faith or my salvation. I have been crying out to the Lord for years but all I get is silence. I am scared because I feel that I may be that person that is spoken of in Hebrew6.
When the believers flock to the false prophet that shall rise and pervert their faith into something abhorent to God, being swayed by lies and casting their lot with the hypocrites, how shall they stand in judgement. Will not the Lord say"I knew ye not! Flee from me, ye unbelievers! God will not be mocked. We,as servants must hold fast our faith in the true God and not be swayed by lies
For correct wording
But one testimony I really like is Jobs when he says " I shall see my redeemer in the flesh . "
That's on resurrection day . The last day as Jesus said .
Found in the book of Job in OT .
The Lord saves us when we come to Him as broken repentant sinners and as someone mentioned above we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise Ephesians 1:13.
Someone else mentions Judas Iscariot. I don't believe he had the holy spirit, I believe he is the son of perdition and remember Jesus says about whoever he will touch with the "sop", interesting initials.
We are part of the body of Christ if we are truly saved. Do you really think He will amputate us if we commit a certain number of sins and cause us to lose the salvation that He has given us. It isn't ours, it's His free gift to us.
Remember too that when Judas killed himself Jesus hadn't died so the new testament and the new dispensation of the church age where we have eternal security hadn't come into place. They didn't have eternal security during the time of the old testament, remember how the Holy Spirit left Saul. It also left Samson but came back to him. I truly believe that the books of Hebrews especially and also James are written to Jews during the time of Jacob's trouble, which hasn't happened yet, because the body of Christ won't be there, we will have left to be with the Lord, see 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 and 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18. It is so important to rightly divide the word of God as it is all writted to us, but not all of it for us 2 Timothy 2:15. If we don't rightly divide it that's when we make a mess of it and start thinking parts contradict other parts when they don't. I praise the Lord for showing me this.
Yes, I was born again by God's Spirit; if that is 'an empty cliche' to you, it has been to me, the very source of bringing a worthless, hell-bound sinner to understand the greatness of God Love & His eternal Plan to restore mankind to Himself.
"What the Law (as perfect & Holy as it was) could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Romans 8:3,4.
It is wonderful to read of your love & obedience to God. And do you obey Him fully? Remembering: "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." James 2:10. If that is you & your perfection is that which is attributed to God & His Christ, it is true, you have no need of such 'empty cliches' & you're Heaven-bound. However, I would say, for the rest of us, we would need His Sacrifice desperately as we could never keep His Laws & satisfy His Demands perfectly. To that end, God sent His only begotten Son into this World, for our sake & for our redemption through the shedding of His Blood. What the blood of bulls & goats couldn't do for Israel, Jesus Christ's Blood fully did for the sins of both Jew & Gentile alike. Keep reading His Word: Light & Truth are its blessings for all with a singular heart for God.
18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Matthew 4:4
II Peter 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 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. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
Mount overlooking the promise land, as he fullfilled what God had him do, bringing the people to the their homeland at last. Paul, the least of the Apostles, has lead Christians to be presumptuous about their fate, that their Salvation is assured, which it isn't. It is way more then inviting Jesus into your heart whilst the pastors prays