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NASB | 2 Peter 1:10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 2 Peter 1:10 Therefore, believers, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you [be sure that your behavior reflects and confirms your relationship with God]; for by doing these things [actively developing these virtues], you will never stumble [in your spiritual growth and will live a life that leads others away from sin]; |
Subject: CONDITIONAL ETERNAL SECURITY |
Bible Note: Teregram123, this is an interesting phrase that you have introduced: conditional eternal security. Is it a biblical term, do you suppose, or is it a term that, while not stated in Scripture in so many words, can be justly supported by scriptural doctrine? It seems to me -- and I confess to being no theologian -- that something there is about the term that smacks of internal contradiction. I mean this: is it possible to be the recipient of God's gift of grace, i.e., salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, and yet have certain strings attached to it? And what are those strings? Works, perhaps? But that takes us back, doesn't it, to the faith plus works equation, which in fact denies that we are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. What I am saying is that once we begin to attach qualifying adjectives such as "conditional" to a term such as "eternal security" or to the word "salvation" itself, are we not treading into dangerous waters? I restrict this particular post to these questions first and will not venture into the other issues addressed in your rather complex and many-faceted question-essay except to note that in your reference to the New Testament teaching about backsliding, the word "backslidng" never appears in the New Testament. A final thought: I join my friend BradK in inviting you to post a note about yourself in the user profile section so that we may come to know you a little bit better. Cordially, --Hank |