joeboonda
Well-Known Member
Hi, there is a book by Charles Stanley, called something like, Can a Christian Ever Lose Their Salvation? (My parents have had it for years, so I forgot the title exactly) Anyway, he believed one could lose their salvation all through college and finaly near the end of Seminary he saw it differently and teaches once saved always saved. I could throw out a bunch of verses, but I wanted to address the deal of how we, having been transformed from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light, and adopted by God as His children, sealed by the Spirit unto the day of redemption, bought with the blood of the Lamb, imputed with Christ's righteousness, and not our own, held in God's hand who is greater than all, including ourself, promised he will in no wise cast us out (in the greek no wise, I am told is 5 negatives- I will never, no, never, no, never cast you out), one is enough for me. That nothing can separate us from the Love of God, not the highest thing in heaven or lowest thing in Hell nor any other creature, that salvation is a free gift, paid in full by Our Lord Jesus Christ, (I know I ramble), how can WE do something to lose it?
Now, we as God's children, when we sin, are most miserable and aware of our sin, and we can be, and this is important, out of FELLOWSHIP with God, but NEVER out of RELATIONSHIP. My children can disobey me and we may lose some of our closeness, our fellowship, maybe they won't even speak to me, but they will NEVER not be my children.
Also we are a NEW CREATURE, like a catepillar turned into a butterfly, we may walk around like a catepillar, we may land on things we should not, but we are now a beautiful butterfly capable of flight if we only realize it, and take God's Word for it. A butterfly will never turn back into a catepillar. In Corinthians there is a man who is in adultery with his father's wife, Paul says turn him over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the soul may be saved. The Bible speaks of many who will be in Heaven, but will have no reward, saved,'yet as by fire' or 'by the skin of their teeth' I like to say.
Ephesisans 2:8-10 says it well, we are saved by grace-undeserved favor, God has no reason to save us except he loves even us vile sinners, saved by grace through faith, not of works lest any man should boast, then says we are saved to go on to do good works. James says the same thing, If we SAY we have faith, men should see evidence of it by change in our life and by our good deeds that glorify God. What are works? Anything you do out of love for God and your fellow man. GIve a cup of water, visit a friend in prison, help at church, help out at home, say an encouraging word, pray for others, feed, clothe, help the needy, go to work and spend your money wisely, the list is endless. People will see a difference in you, believe it, they will. But, man looks at the outward appearance, God looks at the heart, so we mustn't be quick to judge ppl in meat or drink or holy days, or anything like that. Ok, I think I ramble, but I would like to say, this is my OWN flow of conscience typing no cutting and pasting, those who know what I mean, you may laugh now!
Love to ALL!
Michael
Now, we as God's children, when we sin, are most miserable and aware of our sin, and we can be, and this is important, out of FELLOWSHIP with God, but NEVER out of RELATIONSHIP. My children can disobey me and we may lose some of our closeness, our fellowship, maybe they won't even speak to me, but they will NEVER not be my children.
Also we are a NEW CREATURE, like a catepillar turned into a butterfly, we may walk around like a catepillar, we may land on things we should not, but we are now a beautiful butterfly capable of flight if we only realize it, and take God's Word for it. A butterfly will never turn back into a catepillar. In Corinthians there is a man who is in adultery with his father's wife, Paul says turn him over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the soul may be saved. The Bible speaks of many who will be in Heaven, but will have no reward, saved,'yet as by fire' or 'by the skin of their teeth' I like to say.
Ephesisans 2:8-10 says it well, we are saved by grace-undeserved favor, God has no reason to save us except he loves even us vile sinners, saved by grace through faith, not of works lest any man should boast, then says we are saved to go on to do good works. James says the same thing, If we SAY we have faith, men should see evidence of it by change in our life and by our good deeds that glorify God. What are works? Anything you do out of love for God and your fellow man. GIve a cup of water, visit a friend in prison, help at church, help out at home, say an encouraging word, pray for others, feed, clothe, help the needy, go to work and spend your money wisely, the list is endless. People will see a difference in you, believe it, they will. But, man looks at the outward appearance, God looks at the heart, so we mustn't be quick to judge ppl in meat or drink or holy days, or anything like that. Ok, I think I ramble, but I would like to say, this is my OWN flow of conscience typing no cutting and pasting, those who know what I mean, you may laugh now!
Love to ALL!
Michael