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NASB | Romans 8:39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 8:39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the [unlimited] love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
Subject: is there security of the believer |
Bible Note: Henry and Emmy: I must ask you to justify your premise in light of the many scriptural references I provided in my two posts on this thread entitled THE FINAL PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS. A premise is merely another name for a preconceived idea, and that preconceived idea may be derived from any number of sources, scriptural, church dogma, hearsay, or what seems reasonable in one's own eyes. You say, "One can fall away." How do you interpret "falling away" -- what does this term mean to you? If -- and I emphasize if -- Hebrews 6:4-6 teaches that Christians can actually lose their salvation, notice that the passage also teaches that it is impossible to be saved a second time. ...... Dear friends, you point out the assumed consequences of your being right and my being right. Then you conclude it with what strikes me as being a curious statement. You say, "If I am right, I am likely to be more vigilant, knowing the possibility exists that things could turn out wrong in the end." I must ask you some questions, please, if you don't mind. Do you believe that God gives ETERNAL life to those who believe on His Son? When does eternal life end, or how can one "lose" eternal life? (see John 3:16). Why then does the possibility exist for things to turn out wrong? What does one's vigilance have to do with God's saving grace? Is human vigilance an adjunct to Christ's finished work on the Cross? Finally, Henry and Emmy, do you believe that salvation is wholly of God, the gift of God; that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ; and that salvation is not a result of anything we do or can possibly do, that is, not of works? (Ephesians 2:8,9). Finally, do you believe our vigilance is more effective than the indwelling Holy Spirit in keeping ourselves saved? The doctrine of the final perseverence of regenerated believers is by no means cheap grace, a fact that I emphasized in my previous pair of posts. The doctrine encompasses vigilance of a high order; it most certainly lays heavy stress on sanctification, on good works. But these things do not save or keep one saved. Paul, immediately after he laid it down clearly in Ephesians 2:8,9 that we are saved by grace and not works, follows up with these words, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we should walk in them" (v.10). The doctrine of perseverance does not downplay good works at all. But neither does it tie good works to salvation. Good works don't save. Good works don't keep us saved. Good works are the outward manifestation of salvation, the result of salvation but emphatically not its cause. --Hank |