Subject: Show in the Bible once saved always |
Bible Note: Blessings New Creature, what you are saying is great and we know that all Scripture has a primary interpretation and many applications. At this point we are just trying to get the primary on straight, I would assume. You used the writings of Paul to emphasize and make your point. (It may be better to understand the life of faith we live in the way Paul sometimes mentioned it. as a "race" Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,) The problem with using this for your basis is that the writer of Hebrews isn't known, so you can't say with certainty that it was Paul. The race that was mentioned by Paul in found in is found in II Timothy. 2 Tim. 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: The problem with trying to use this as the answer to maintaining your position on the negative aspect of eternal security is that you would have to pull it out of context with the following verse. 2 Tim. 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. This is what I have been trying to tell you all along, our salvation is secure in Christ but rewards are another story. Rewards can be lost if one doesn't go by the rules. 1 Cor. 9:24-27 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. The word castaway comes to us from the word (ADOKIMOS), which carries the connotation of not being a metal winner because they were found to be on steroids or in our case sin in the life. It is not talking about salvation because we are more then winners through Christ when it comes to salvation. People who are constantly striving to maintain their salvation are running alright, but the are running for the wrong purpose. That race for eternal life is over for those in Christ at the point of salvation when we became new creatures in Christ; we are more then conquerors through him. Romans 8:37-39 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. You are trying to convince me that I don't know something that I am sure of, by telling me that you don't believe it. If the Lord has not convinced you that you can have eternal security, through what he has done, then far be it of me to try and convince you, run on! It is about like telling a person about salvation when they are not saved yet; they will argue till they are blue in the face that a person can't know such a thing until they die. Matthew 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. Dear New Creature I have nothing more to say on this matter except study, study, study. Maybe the Lord doesn't reveal the same things to all believers I really don't know but this one thing I do know and that is Romans 8:38-39 NIV For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Yours in Christ forever, CDBJ |