Subject: Didn't God give man freedom of choice? |
Bible Note: Greetings Teacher: I respect your opinion and know that his disagreement has been going on for years. The reason that I believe that one can know that they have eternal life is based simply upon the promises of Christ himself and God's word. I find that when we discuss this question that much of the disagreement is due to persective. Some would teach that we can be saved and then turn away and lose what God has given us in Christ. On the other hand, I believe that in the scriptures and in life we have people who make professions of faith in Christ and for a while they appear to walk, talk and act like a Christian. However, as time some will turn against Christ and there lost will be much like 2 Peter 2 in that they are the worst for ever knowing something of Christ in the first place. I do not think these people fell away, but that they were never born again in the first place. I know this is where the argument starts. In 2 Peter 2 we are being warned of false teachers v. 1 "who secretly brin in in damnable heresies, even deny the Lord who bought the, ..." I believe that these are apostates of the worst kind. I see an apostate as one who has been made aware of the truth, who seem to have grasped it and yet they turn away and pervert the truth. In 2 Peter 2: 4-20 we are given solemn warnings that God will judge such people. The characteristics of such teachers are: a) they are eloquent and deceptive v.3 b) there motive is self not for Christ v.3, v14 c) they walk after the flesh v.10 c) they have no respect for man or God v.10-11 e) they cannot cease from sin v.14 f) they are wells without water (water speaks of the Spirit of God. In. v. 21-22 we read a sad commentary which is based on the principle that God will judge according to that which we profess. In other words they profess to be teachers of righteousness and yet are agents of satan. Their later end is that they have defiled themselves to the point where they are without hope, they have totally given themselfs to evil and will be judged as such. I believe that in so called Christianity we have the wheat and the tares, the real and the unreal which Jesus referred to in Matt.7:21 "Not every one that saith Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my father which is in heaven" However, to those who are saved through faith in the finished work of Christ Jesus said "They shall never perish" John 10:28, "...is passed from death unto life" John 5:24 "...should not perish, but have everlasting life" John 3:16. Paul reminds us "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Cor. 5:17 John gives us the reason for the Holy Scriptures "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God" 1 John 5:14 Peter writes that we are redeemed "...with the precious blood of Christ as a lamb without blemish and without spot" 1 Peter 1:19 I agree that a Christian cannot be perfect, that they will fail and fall, but within their heart the Holy Spirit will speak within their heart and they will have a desire to be right with God. We must remember that we are not clothed in our own righteousness, but in the righteousness of Christ. Peace in his name RobertTherefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. |