Bible Question: If we sin every day and Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world and once you have salvation then we should understand that Jesus died for our past,present,and future sins so how can one say that any sin unrepented will cause a child of God to be lost eternally? that sounds like a contradiction look at Romans 8:1 |
Bible Answer: Good day to you BF and thank you for your response. Romans 8:1 is not a contradiction at all but is supportive of the scriptures that I gave in my last posting. The "no condemnation" in this verse is in reference to being "in Christ", freed from the condemnation produced by the law (of Moses), as well as the grip of sin. How does one get "into Christ"? By being baptized into his death (Romans 6:3; Gal. 3:27). All spiritual blessings are found "in Christ" (Eph. 1:3). Let us, however, realize that this "freedom" from condemnation is NOT in a comprehensive, complete, and total sense. Getting "into" Christ and "remaining" faithful "in Christ" are "conditional" in nature, and those requirements and restrictions must be both "met" and "continually kept". This "no condemnation" is certainly not an area of logical, valid reasoning for the doctrine of the "impossibility" of apostasy. The following is a four-point, simple outline illustrating this fact: 1) The Bible warns us against falling away (1 Cor. 10:5-12; 2 Pet. 2:20-22; Gal. 5:4; Heb. 4:1, 11; 6:4-6). 2) The Bible tells us how to keep from falling away (2 Pet. 1:5-10; Jude 21; Acts 13:43; Heb. 10:39). 3) The Bible tells us what to do when we fall away (Acts 8:20-24; Rev. 2:5; 1 John 1:9; 2:1-2; James 5:16). 4) The Bible gives examples of those who have fallen away (Acts 8:13-24; Gal. 2:11-14; 2 Tim. 4:10). Let's look at Jude vs. 24 - Reading from the American Standard Version - 1901. "Now unto him that is able to guard you from stumbling, and to set you before the presence of his glory without blemish in exceeding joy". The doxology is to Jesus Christ. Jude here affirms that Christ was (a) able to guard Jude's readers from stumbling; and (b) to set them before the presence of his glory without blemish in exceeding joy. The word "guard" indicates the protection which the Lord extends to his saints who "keep themselves" in God's love (vs. 21), a protection which extends even to "stumbling", an act to be distinguished from "falling", since it is possible for one to "stumble", and not necessarily to "fall". To "stumble" is a step short of "falling", and a condition precedent to it. It follows, therefore, that if one NEVER stumbles, he will NEVER fall. This passage does NOT teach the impossibility of apostasy; it is not here affirmed that God guards all whether they keep themselves in his love or not; on the contrary, only those who AVAIL THEMSELVES of the means of escape provided (1 Cor. 10:12-13) are thus protected. The verb "to set" means, literally, "to cause to stand," and this the Lord will do for those who are "faithful" to him to the end (Rev. 2:10). Such shall stand before him "without blemish" (i.e., blameless, faultless, pure), because they have kept themselves from defilement and have lived in such fashion as to merit his approval. These "faithful" shall experience "exceeding joy" because of the marvelous blessings that shall be given them (Rev. 7:13-17; 21:3-4). The idea of "once saved always saved" is not supported in the Bible thus it is a false teaching. Mike |