Subject: "Once Saved Always Saved" |
Bible Note: Hi Norrie, prayer and giving people the word is all that we can do. A person's will is what the problem is because God does not over power their will when it comes to salvation. We know this because of two verses. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. The lord isn't willing yet many are going to destruction. Mathew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: People are not willing to put ALL their faith in Jesus for eternal life; they like to hang on to their denominations and other little security blankets that they have. There are many that talk the talk and use most of the vernacular but they are missing the key ingredient. That key ingredient is faith. The Greek word for faith says so much more then the word faith in the English. It is more then just believe or faith, in the Greek. I think the story that best portrays it is the story of a famous tight wirewalker that walked over Niagara Falls. As the story goes he walked over the falls, and then came back and ask if everyone believed that he could go across with a load of rocks in a wheelbarrow with the tire removed? The all said that they believed in him that he could do it. He went over and back with no problems. He then asked, when he returned, do you believe that I could take a person across in the wheelbarrow? They all clapped and said that they believed in him that he could do it. He then said OK, would someone please get in the wheelbarrow; nobody moved! Getting in the wheelbarrow is what the Bible means by believe in Jesus Christ. All we can do is trust in the one that is doing all the work, Jesus; and sit real still and have faith in him. No denomination, no works, no this that or the other thing just complete trust in the one taking us across the span of this life into eternity. Catholics and a lot of protestant are not willing to commit their salvation to Christ in complete trust. They want to do something even if it is something that sounds biblical like being baptized, joining a church or going forward in a Billy Graham crusade. I ask a person one time how they knew that they were saved. They said that they knew they were saved because they went forward in a church service. As soon as someone tries to do something for salvation it is works and God won't give them the gift of eternal life. It's like getting a free ride on a jet plane and the person wants to help, so they decide to get out and push. There are a lot of make believe Christians out there. The Lord even gave a parable about them called the wheat and the tares. Matthew 13:24-30 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: 25But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 27So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 28He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 29But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 30Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. Keep giving out the Word, CDBJ |