Subject: Can you lose your salvation? |
Bible Note: Dear Joe, Please study the scriptures that I have given in my posts before you "immediately" come to a conclusion. I cannot "change" what God's Word says any more than any man can. God's Word, for the most part, does not "conform" to "man's thinking" and therefore why he often "rejects" God's Word. This is why we MUST HAVE an open mind when we approach God's Word and get rid of preconceived ideas, philosophies, opinions, etc. As you well know, one of the major rules of interpretation is to allow ALL of God's Word to answer our questions - NOT just the part of scripture that we like or want to adhere to. Many false teachings have arisen because of this fact. The inspired Apostle Paul stated in Acts 20:20, "I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you"; and in Acts 20:27, "For I have not shunned to declare unto you ALL (emphasis mine) the counsel of God." Christ stated this application of scripture in Matt. 4:4 as He was tempted of the devil. "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by EVERY WORD (emphasis mine) that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." The inspired Apostle Paul stated in 2 Timothy 3:16 that "All scripture is given by inspiration of God" (not just the part that WE want to adhere to). The religion of the Bible is not a "cafeteria style" religion where you can "pick and choose" certain verses in the Bible but not include the "whole body" of scripture in your interpretation. This applies to ALL men in approaching the scriptures. We must also have the attitude of the Berean Jews in Acts 17:11. They demonstrated a "readiness of mind" in receiving the word as well as having a willingness to "search the scriptures daily" to see whether or not Paul and Silas were teaching the Truth of God's Word. If all followers of Christ would adhere to the above principles, there wouldn't be any denominations in the religious world - only Christians belonging to the Lord's church that he built, purchased, and died for (Matt. 16:18-19; Acts 20:28). Mike |