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NASB | John 6:37 "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 6:37 "All that My Father gives Me will come to Me; and the one who comes to Me I will most certainly not cast out [I will never, never reject anyone who follows Me]. |
Bible Question:
In studing 'once saved always saved' I come to the verses in Hebrews 6:4-6 and Hebrews 10: 26-31. I have to say that we can loss our Salvation if we turn from God? Is this correct? |
Bible Answer: Ka Lynn, Thank you for your desire to study the Bible and see what God has to say about a matter (Acts 17:11). When we look at the doctrine of "once saved always saved" we need to first ask ourselves, "Is this phrase located anywhere in the Bible"? Get a Young's or Strong's concordance and look up the word "once" and see if that phrase is located anywhere in the Bible. If it is not - then we need to reject the doctrine - it's not a teaching of God's Word. Now, after saying that we see that as a result of your study of Heb. 6:4-6 and 10:26-31, you came to the conclusion that we can loose our salvation if we turn from God. Your question was, "Is this correct?" The answer you received through your study of God's Word was "YES", a Christian CAN loose his salvation IF we turn from God (Heb. 6:4-6; 10:26-31); and other passages as well (Numbers 15:30-31; Deut. 17:9-13). Let's examine the scriptures that Lionstrong (who gave you an opposing answer) quoted from John 6:37-40 as his "proof" of the doctrine "once saved always saved". (In other words, you can't "loose" your salvation no matter how much you sin). Let's see if he's correct in his interpretation. Remember, one of the rules of correct interpretation of the Bible is to include the "total" body of scripture in your interpretation (Psa. 119:160; 139:17; Matt. 4:4; 2 Tim. 3:16). 1) Vs. 37a - "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me" - There is a recognition in the scripture that is a certain "class" of people with honest hearts desirous to know and to do God's Will. This "class" (those who are obedient) of people is here represented as given to Christ by God. In the tenth chapter, Christ speaks of having sheep not of the flock then with him (John 10:16), referring to the Gentiles who would receive him when His Gospel was preached to them (Eph. 3:6). Again, at Corinth God told Paul, "I have much people in this city" (Acts 18:9-10). This statement was made BEFORE any of them had confessed and rendered obedience to Him. Some of the Corinthians had already rendered obedience to the word of God (Acts 18:7-8). God has called and predestinated (2 Thess. 2:14; Rom. 8:29-30; Eph. 1:4-5) to eternal life the "class" of people who display a "willing" mind in being "obedient" to His Will (Matt. 7:21; Rom. 6:17). 2) Vs. 37b - "and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." - All that "class" (the obedient) Jesus receives. Some who are of this "class" are obedient only for a "temporary" period of time (Judas who betrayed our Lord is an example of this type of character - Matt. 13:20-21). Christ will "in no wise cast out" those who are obedient and who continue to remain obedient and faithful) to His Gospel (Matt. 24:13; Rev. 2:10). 3) Vs. 38 - "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me." - The end of all God's dealings with men is to bring them to DO the will of God. Jesus came down from heaven to earth to lead men in this way. He had no will of his own (his own agenda) apart from the will of his Father (Note Jn. 4:34; 5:30). To accomplish his Father's will was the supreme and only object of Jesus and should be the exact same object of his followers. 4) Vs. 39 - "And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day." - God's will was that Jesus should save all who would believe and follow him (be obedient to his will)(Rom. 2:4; 1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9). However, like Judas, some people start out to follow the Lord's teachings and render obedience to his teachings but when persecutions and trials begin to "test" their "faithfulness" to the Lord, they turn back to the ways of the world, and walk with him no more (Matt. 13:20-21); also note Demas (2 Tim. 4:10). 5) Vs. 40 - "And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day." - It is God's will that all who will OBEY Jesus (John 15:7-10) should have eternal life (1 John 5:1-13). These Jesus will raise up at the last day (judgment day - 1 Thess. 4:14-16). The obedient "class" of people have the spiritual insight and faculties to "see" and "believe" (Matt. 13:10-16; Mark 4:11-12) God's Truth that He presents to them through the saving Gospel of His Son, Jesus (Rom. 1:16). If people refuse or reject that saving Gospel (Acts 28:23-27), they will be eternally lost (Rom. 2:1-11; 2 Thess. 1:8-9). May the Lord richly bless you as you continue to study His Word! Mike |