Results 21 - 25 of 25
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Author: Joseph3 Ordered by Verse |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
21 | Freeze-dried Salvation? | John 15:6 | Joseph3 | 88451 | ||
Greetings AO! You said… “In Matthew 25:14-30, was the lazy slave a subject of the kingdom? If so, how would he have lost his salvation due to laziness since he already was a recipient of the daily protection and caring of his master? Did he not believe that his master was serious about the orders he had given him? Does effort matter to salvation?” I think what is being illustrated here is that the first two servants showed their true faith in the Lord because they trusted Him as an honest master. Notice that the rewards given were based on faith, not the results of the servants’ works. What the third servant showed was his hypocrisy. He first off he stated that he “knew you were a hard man”. This shows that the third servant really never knew his master, because if he did, he would have shown faith like the first two servants and known that the master was a fair man. With this, the master uses the mans own words to indict him as lazy and not a true servant, then casting him into out darkness. We know from the biblical record that Christ would never cast a true believer into hell. Therefore, I would argue that the third servant was never truly regenerate. ”In John 15:6, are the branches which were thrown away and burned originally part of the vine? John 15:1 tells us that the vine is Christ. If those branches were part of the vine, how is someone part of Christ without being a Christian? Were these "false branches"?” In this section, there are two types of branches, ones that bear fruit, and ones that do not bear fruit. Christ teaches that we must abide in Him, rest in Him, find safety in Him. Those who do this show their true faith, they show the fruits and prove they are of the elect, because they endure until the end. The other braches show that they are not really true because they do not bear fruit. In addition, they do not abide in Christ. If a person professes Christ, yet does not bear fruit and shows no sign of regeneration, I think it is prudent to conclude they never really believed in the first place, for if they did, according to other passages in the Word, they would have stayed in Christ. ”Is salvation like a freeze-dried fruitcake, lasting indefinitely without spoilage or must those who seek for eternal life with God constantly discipline themselves to ensure they are faithful until death? If they must discipline themselves, how do they do that by belief? Is there an expectation that they will be disciplined miraculously or must conscious decisions be made to control their own behavior?” 2 Pet 1:10-11: “Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble: for thus shall be richly supplied unto you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” (NAS 1901) Fruitcake!? According to Peter, we must give due diligence to see if we are of the elect, to make our calling and election sure. True Christians discipline themselves out of obedience to Christ. Not out of a feeling that THEY must do something to “keep” their salvation. A true believer knows they are saved because of the many promises God makes to Christ throughout the Bible. Therefore, if we are found in Christ, those promises are for us, His chosen flock. I am not arguing though, that a person who once professed Christ, but then left the visible church, is not saved. Clearly Jesus taught about the prodigal son(Luke 15), so we must hope for the best and pray that folks who leave the visible church will come back in faith. I wrote more about persevering until the end at ID# 88279 if you want to check my comments out there. I think I am pushing the “character” limit in the Forum! ;-) I hope and pray this was of some help. I will pray that the Spirit will guide you into all truth. God be with you AO, have a blessed day! I’ll leave you with some passages from Scripture that I believe speak to the issue at hand… Is. 54:10; Jer. 32:40; Matt. 18:14; John 3:16, 3:36, 5:24, 6:35, 6:37, 6:40, 6:47, 10:27-29; Rom. 5:8-10, 8:1, 8:29, 8:34-39; 1 Cor. 1:8-9; 2 Cor. 4:14, 5:5, Eph. 1:5, 1:13-14, 4:30; 1 Thess. 5:23-24; 2 Tim 4:18; Heb. 7:25, 9:12, 9:15, 10:14; 1 Pet 1:5; 1 John 2:19, 2:25; 2 John 5:11-13; Jude 24-25 In Christ, Joe |
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22 | OSAS? | Gal 5:4 | Joseph3 | 88380 | ||
Dear Biblekidd, Greetings and welcome! I just posted about this topic elsewhere in the Forum. If you look at the upper right corner of the Forum, you will see a Quick Search box. Enter ID#88279 to see my comments. I hope it sheds some light on your questions. I will pray God will lead you into all truth! In Christ, Joe Proverbs 3:5-6 |
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23 | Heb. 7:25, A great comfort | Heb 7:25 | Joseph3 | 87456 | ||
Greetings! I want to leave a comment regarding this wonderful portion of Scripture because it is a great comfort and encouragement to me as a follower of Christ. Hebrews 7:25: “Consequently, He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” What is so wonderful about not only this verse, but the context as well, is the stress on the supremacy of Christ as our (believers) High Priest in heaven. As Easton’s Bible Dictionary defines Christ’s intercession: Intercession of Christ Christ's priestly office consists of these two parts, (1.) the offering up of himself as a sacrifice, and (2.) making continual intercession for us. When on earth he made intercession for his people (Luk_23:34; Joh_17:20; Heb_5:7); but now he exercises this function of his priesthood in heaven, where he is said to appear in the presence of God for us (Heb_9:12, Heb_9:24). His advocacy with the Father for his people rests on the basis of his own all-perfect sacrifice. Thus he pleads for and obtains the fulfillment of all the promises of the everlasting covenant (1Jo_2:1; Joh_17:24; Heb_7:25). He can be “touched with the feeling of our infirmities,” and is both a merciful and a faithful high priest (Heb_2:17, Heb_2:18; Heb_4:15, Heb_4:16). This intercession is an essential part of his mediatorial work. Through him we have “access” to the Father (Joh_14:6; Eph_2:18; Eph_3:12). “The communion of his people with the Father will ever be sustained through him as mediatorial Priest” (Psa_110:4; Rev_7:17). One important point: the basis for all that Christ does as the risen Savior is based solely on His own all-perfect and all-powerful sacrifice. Because His intercession is based on His perfect work at the cross, His intercession is perfect, meeting all of our needs as we struggle through our Christian lives on this side of glory. I am eternally thankful that my Savior saves completely and powerfully (Phil. 1:6; Rom. 8:32), and that I can rest in the fact that He lives to intercede for me before the throne of the Holy Father. I just get chills thinking about it!!! Take heart if you are reading this and are struggling in your pilgrimage with Christ. Take comfort in knowing the Savior, your Savior, is interceding for you at this very moment, advocating for you in the throne room of the Father, against the wiles of Satan and his minions. His work is perfect, able to save to the uttermost, completely, perfectly. Trust Christ and His righteousness, not your own!! Comments!? In Christ, Joe |
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24 | Heb. 7:25, A great comfort | Heb 7:25 | Joseph3 | 87515 | ||
Dear mommapbs: Thank you for sharing your story, what an encouragement! Reminds me to share with you this great passage from Philippians 4:4-7: 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. The key is, “in Christ Jesus”. We can do nothing outside our Lord Jesus Christ. And know this, the prayers of a righteous man avail much (James 5:16), and because our righteousness comes from the ultimate source of righteousness, Christ Himself, just think of how powerful the prayers and supplications of Christ are on our behalf in the throne room of the Father (Heb. 7:25)! What a grand reality!! May the Lord guide you and keep you, In Christ, Joe Soli Deo Gloria!! |
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25 | Our name erased or added to Book of Life | Rev 13:8 | Joseph3 | 87310 | ||
Dear John Reformed: Amen! God is powerful, He can and will save to the “uttermost” (Hebrews 7:25). I could not agree more! As well, if Christ makes intercession for believers as 7:25 says, Jesus “lives to make intercession for them”, then how could a believer be lost? I hope no one would say that the prayers of the risen Lord are futile prayers, prayers that have no power over a mere creature!! In Christ, Joe |
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