Subject: If not saved and suicide done Lost??? |
Bible Note: Eternal life, and more specifically salvation - the action of being saved from sin and from the results of sin, is spoken of in Scripture as a past tense (finished, completed) act, a present tense (ongoing, being done now) act, and as a future tense (will be done, yet to be done)act. And all three views of salvation are true and correct. There have already been some verses listed that speak of salvation as a completed past tense event in a believer's life. I would like to add one more. 1Jn 5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. (ESV) I love this verse! John is writing to people who are *already* believers... so that they will *know*... that they *have* (already possess!)... *eternal*... *life.* There are also some verses that speak of salvation as as ongoing present tense event in a believer's life. I think this is to emphasize that believers that are still in this world are in a *process.* We are being changed. 1Cor. 1:18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who *are being saved* it is the power of God. 1Cor. 15:1-2 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you *are being saved,* if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 2Cor 2:15-16 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who *are being saved* and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? Then there are the passages that talk about salvation as a future, yet to be completed event. There are some passages that talk about the fact that only those who endure to the end *will be* saved (Mt. 10:22; 24:13; Mk. 13:13). (I think it is worth noting here that it is the endurance of their *faith* to the end of their life, not the endurance of their righteous acts, that is spoken of here. In regards to the discussion here, the one who commits suicide is undoubtedly committing a sin, but it is not some kind of proof of a lack of basic (saving) faith in Jesus any more than the commission of any other sin would be!) There are also a couple of important passages that speak of believing (trusting) or calling upon the Lord Jesus (with faith or trust), and you *will be* saved (Acts 16:31; and Rom. 10:9-13). Paul, when standing before the elders of the Jerusalem Church at the Jerusalem Council, even spoke of his own salvation along with that of both Jews and Gentiles as a future tense event. Acts 15:10 But we believe that we *will be* saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will. I am curious about something. What do you see as the "preparation/qualifying/eligibility for eternal life"? How would one prepare oneself, or qualify for, or become eligible for receiving the incredible gift of eternal life? |