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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | You can fall away, can you come back? | Bible general Archive 1 | lovetosign | 17774 | ||
Hello Zecharia7! Good Question! I will see if I can give you some ideas on how to "digest" this seeming difficult passage. First, let's take a look at the person who fits the criterium of this passage (I use NASB, NIV works too): v.4 1. who have once been enlightened 2. have tasted of the heavenly gift 3. partakers of the Holy Spirit v.5 4. tasted the good word of God 5. [have tasted] the powers of the age to come 6 have[ing] fallen away My primary arguement would be for these 6 situations is in the form of a question: Which of these experiences are defined as Salvation? Enlightenment? tasted of the Heavenly Gift? Partakers in [the work of] the Holy Spirit? Tasted the Good Word of God? Tasted the powers of the age to come? I think that there may be a stronger connection with people who go to church, but have never made the connection with their heart. They get very comfortable and people just associate the with being Christian. If this person then falls away, how can they come back? To what would they come back to? Can they repent to Jesus whom they never truely accepted in the first place? No, instead because they have called themselves Christians and have fallen away, they put the name of Christ to shame. It reminds me that all Christians should be sure of thier salvation as Paul says: Philippians 2:12: "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling," (NIV) I was not raised as a Christian but accepted Christ When I was 22 yrs old. I wonder how many people, who consider themselves Christians, have worked out thier salvation critically. Now, what I am NOT saying is that we should all doubt our salvation. Insted, critically take a look at our lives and ask ourselves if we really have that living growing dynamic relationship with Christ. If not. Why? Have you worked it out with God? With fear and trembling in the presence of God? I have been there (Not the pentecostal tremors). I have thought of what it means to follow Jesus and just how unworthy I am to get this salvation and I stand in AWE! Chief of sinners I come before God. Don't we all? Shouldn't we? Another arguement against this particular theology has to do with judgement. The Bible speaks many times to restore our brother. If the person is unrepententent, continue to reach them, then remove them from the fellowship of believers if they continue to remain in sin. Then it says to treat them as you would a non-christian. How then do we do that anyway? As an evangelical Christian should... with he Gospel. I do not know how this would fit into the faling away theology. In the falling away theology, the person loses thier salvation and are Damned to go to Hell forever, without the hope of salvation. Whew, what a judgement call! Jesus said we will be judged according to the measuring stick to which we measure others. When it comes to judging others as one who has "fallen away", i'm not touching it. I prefer to my choice over Judging the soul of another who once proclaimed Christ. I look forward to your reply. God's Blessings! Lewis. |
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2 | You can fall away, can you come back? | Bible general Archive 1 | Zacheriah7 | 17851 | ||
Lewis, I think that Tim pretty much supplied all the info that I was trying to get at. I think if nothing else it provides a solid example of one losing their salvation, or at least the possibility of it. I realize the context of this passage and that the author was writing to the Jews, people who had been around with Jesus and had seen / been converted by miracles. But one is still able to lose their saved status. You might want to have a look at 1 Cor 5:5? ‘…………hand this man over to Satan so that his body may be destroyed……………? Read that whole chapter and I find that a person can lose their salvation. And then they can also be restored. But not by us it is that brother’s choice. They are not forever gone, but they are until they change. I would not be implying in any way that you should be judging your brothers salvation. I was just pointing out that you can’t live your life on cruise control thinking that you will always be saved. You must understand also that some people are going to be damned to hell forever. God will judge us and our fruit, so let us all go out and bear fruit for him, and provide the works along with our faith. Saying that you are always saved or can’t lose your salvation is a little foolhardy, you can choose as long as you are here. My friend I appreciate your challenge to me to work out my faith with fear and trembling, I am doing so, and while I too am the most unworthy and stand in awe, I know that my salvation takes continuous effort on my part. I am not saved for life; I need to continue to do the work, to live for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In Him, Zach |
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