Subject: What are your views of once saved always |
Bible Note: N.C. You better read your sermons over alot more. Or you might be getting your info from sources who are misleading also. ;) As Jibbs quoted in his response to your answer, "Spurgeon is not preaching against once saved-always saved but is preaching for it." If I may quote some lines from Spurgeons sermon, "Final Perseverance": "...God preserves his children from falling away; but he keeps them by the use of means; and one of these is, the terrors of the law, showing them what would happen if they were to fall away...So God says, "My child, if you fall over this precipice you will be dashed to pieces." What does the child do? He says, "Father, keep me; hold thou me up, and I shall be safe." It leads the believer to greater dependence on God, to a holy fear and caution, because he knows that if he were to fall away he could not be renewed, and he stands far away from that great gulf, because he know that if he were to fall into it there would be no salvation for him.If I thought as the Arminian thinks, that I might fall away, and then return again, I should pretty often fall away, for sinful flesh and blood would think it very nice to fall away, and be a sinner, and go and see the play at the theatre, or get drunk, and then come back to the Church, and be received again as a dear brother who had fallen away for a little while. No doubt the minister would say, "Our brother Charles is a little unstable at times." A little unstable! He does not know anything about grace; for grace engenders a holy caution, because we feel that if we were not preserved by Divine power we should perish. We tell our friend to put oil in his lamp, that it may continue to burn! Does that imply that it will be allowed to go out? No, God will give him oil to pour into the lamp continually." Spurgeon also eludes to John Bunyans,"Pilgrims Progress." Which is a great read! I would put more of this sermon in but you can read it for yourself at www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0075.htm You might want to read more Spurgeon to gain some insight on other subjects as well. ;) Thanks again Brother Jibbs, you are a very knowledgable brother and I thank God for your input! Sola Scriptura Mike |