Results 1 - 3 of 3
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Some will depart from the faith | 1 Tim 4:1 | Robert Nicholson | 33253 | ||
Dear brother: The question I ask myself on such an important question is how does this fit in with the other promises of God? Paul writes to the Romans chp. 8: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ: shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril or sword? v.8 "Nay in all these things we are more than conquerers through him who loved us.V.10" "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" Our position in Christ is a personal bond which cannot be broken. We are placed in the body by adoption and are given eternal life by God himself. In other words, once we are in a family, our subsequent behaviour cannot affect our position which is secured by the new birth. All believers according to 1 Cor. 12:13 and 27. The church which is his body does not have any imposters. However, in contrast the local church which consists of professing believers can be infiltrated by those who are "tares" They look like a Christian, they appear to live like a Christian, talk like a Christian and walk like a Christian; however, in the end we find that they were never in the family of God by the new birth. Church History has shown us in part the fulfilment of the scriptures you have qoted from 1 Timothy and Titus. As the church grew, it was it many years before humans made a mockery of the simplicity which is in Christ Jesus. False teachers and false doctrines became prevalent and it appeared that the true gospel was lost. I believe the apostates where ones who understood the truth intellectually, appeared to accept it, but were never rooted in Christ. In Acts 8:13 we read of Simon the sorcerer who "himself believedalso and was baptised..." It appeared that Simon's profession was genuine. The thing which God alone knew were his motives. We find that he hoped to add the gift of "laying on hands" to add to his repretoire of powers. He even offered them money for the gift.V18-19 Sadly, Peter exposed him for what he was: "Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because you thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money, Thou has neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right with God" 19,20 In my life time I have known people who profess to be Christians and are part of Christian organizations. Their motive appears to more for self-exaltation and for positions of control; than to live for the glory of Christ. Our profession is not worth a dime if it is not anchored in Christ. It appears that in last day teaching much is said regarding professing Christendom. After Jesus takes his people away, there will be still professing Christians on the earth who appear to blend in with the falling away as the man of sin is reavealed. 2 Thess 2:3-12 In fact Paul teaches us that that spirit doth already work in the world, but is held back by the Spirit of God in the church. 2 Thess2:7 When this influence is removed those who have a profession, but no possession will believe the lie of the Anti- Christ "That they all might be damned who believed not the truth..." v.12 Believers at times can get cold in heart, deny the Lord and live far away from him and yet as the father of the prodical son, he is always are father who watches with open arms to forgive us when we come home. If we should die in this condition of coldness, I believe we are still Sons. Our eternal life is dependent upon the work of Christ on Calvary and is not dependent on our works after we are saved. Our works after we are saved are motivated by devotion and love to him and are the external evidence that we belong to him. Praise his name. Peace in his Name Robert |
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2 | Some will depart from the faith | 1 Tim 4:1 | zach† | 33448 | ||
Robert; I appreciate your comments and will post some scripture for you to think about and possibly comment on. The same Saviour who said, "I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish" (Jn. 10:28) also said, "Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able." (Lk. 13:23-24) The same apostle Peter who said, "In his great mercy he has given us new birth . . . into an inheritance that can never perish" (1 Pet. 1:3-4) also said "Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure" (2 Pet. 1:10) Paul who said nothing "will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 8:39) also said, "I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize" (1 Cor. 9:27) |
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3 | Some will depart from the faith | 1 Tim 4:1 | Robert Nicholson | 33510 | ||
Zach: Thank you for your response. I will attempt to address the scriptures which you have provided. I am experiencing trouble with the preview function on the forum, hence, I am sending this response in 3 parts. Part One: The first example: On the one hand we have those who are promised by Jesus that “they will never perish” John 10:28 and on the other hand he speaks of those “who will seek to enter in but will not be able”Luke 13:23 On the surface my question would be “Is God’s grace in salvation limited? In the same verse you have quoted Jesus words “Strive to enter in at the narrow door” In John 10 the Lord Jesus is using the metaphors of the sheep fold, the shepherd and the sheep to represent; the place of safety, Christ himself and people of this world. In v.5 “Jesus states, “ I am the door, by me if any man enter in he shall be saved and shall go in and out and find pasture” What does Jesus mean? He explains: The sheep fold in Jesus time was a walled structure which has only one opening. The door to the opening when the sheep were inside was the shepherd himself who would lay across the opening during the night. Anything or one who tried to get into the fold had to go through the door which was the shepherd. The safety of the sheep was dependent on the care of the shepherd. Secondly, not only does the shepherd keep us in the fold, he leads us out into good pasture which would suggest that this shepherd looks after all our needs both day and night. In light of this metaphor, the Lord Jesus tells them plainly v. 7 “I am the good Shepherd, the good Shepherd giveth his life for the sheep” and because of his death for the sheep he tells us “I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish” He goes on to tells that those who are in his fold are kept in his hand and in his Father’s hand. I believe that we see the eternal security of those who belong to Christ from the God-ward side. What does Jesus mean “some will seek to enter and will not be able?” In Luke 13:23 Jesus makes it clear that humans who have heard the word must “Strive or agonize to enter in at the narrow door” Paul quotes from Isaiah “Behold now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation” In the message of Jesus and of Paul we find that there is an urgency and responsibility on the part of humans to put everything they have into finding Christ before their day of visitation is past. God speaks to sinners by his spirit and would convict them of their need of Christ, however if they choose to ignore his call, they may find themselves outside of Christ or the door forever. The security of those who have entered the door by faith are dependent on the Shepherd for safety. On the other hand, as humans we cannot trifle with the Grace of God when he calls us by his Spirit, if we desire to be safe for eternity, we must listen to his voice and enter by the door which is Christ himself. In Christ Robert |
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