Bible Question: John 15:6 - what is this verse actually saying? Most people who are advocates of "conditional security" rather than "eternal security" use this verse among many others. Can anyone please explain the matter of "thrown into the fire..." and "burned." |
Bible Answer: Stephanos, I had to take care of some business so this is just a small addition to my previous reply. Your questions of "thrown into the fire..." and "burned" is pretty much just what it says. According to the Bible, all unbelievers will eventually be cast into the lake of fire that was created for the devil and his angels. I believe, based on my study of scripture, in a literal heaven and a literal hell. I will probably be criticized for this statement, but those who believe in a 'conditional salvation' do not understand what salvation is. In a nutshell, God created man with God's life - His Spirit in him. Adam and Eve chose to disbelieve God (that is the root of all sin - unbelief in what God says. The day they sinned, they 'spiritually' died. (They died physically much later.) Because of sin, God's Spirit left them. Everyone ever since, except Christ was 'born dead in trespasses and sin.' And, as you probably know, the wages of sin is death. Under the Old Testament sacrificial system, God, in mercy allowed for substitutionary animal sacrifice to cover sin. "Without the shedding of blood, the is no forgiveness of sin." But the Old Covenant (law) could not impart God's life because sin hadn't been taken away yet. When Christ died, He took away the sins of the world. All sins were taken away. He was made sin on our behalf. God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, not counting men's sins against them. Three days after His death, Christ was raised from the dead and has become a life-giving spirit (and, yes, He does have a body). He now imparts His life to all who come to Him by faith in what He has done. As I said in my last reply, the reason the Holy Spirit can't leave us now is because the only thing that could make Him leave, sin, has been eternally dealt with at the cross through Christ's blood. To give eternal life, God had to deal eternally with what caused death - sin. That is why, when a believer sins '...there is now NO condemnation for those who are IN Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of LIFE IN CHRIST Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.' (if you sin, you must die) Christ cured what caused our death, sin, and then imparted His life to us. That is why, I believe, salvation is secure. It is not based on what we do or don't do. It is based on what our Savior did for us. He said, "It is finished." I hope this helps. God bless. |