Once Saved ALWAYS SAVED ? Or a sin away from Hell?
Many TV and Radio evangelist have managed to put God's salvation into a 10 second sound bite. Many of them wrap John 3:16 around it just to make it look legally binding. Most importantly, you "should" be baptized sometime, but above all, be sure to send your "Love" gift to the station. (excuse me while I go blow chunks) Good ol' John 3:16. " “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life". The Media evangelist interpret this as: "If you believe in Jesus you are saved". Well what is it that sends man to hell? Sin ? Imperfection? Denying that Jesus is the Lord? According to John 3:16 it would be NOT believing in Jesus.
What exactly is your salvation a result of? First lets clear up the Argument of "Saved by Grace" or "Saved by works". The truth is, both apply. Let me explain. If I say unto you "You are welcomed in my house, but I ask that you remove your shoes before you come in". It shows grace and conditions. Removing your shoes does not entitle or "earn" your entrance into my house. It's only a condition. My saying: "You are welcomed in my house" shows grace. So both are true.
In the Bible there are two versus that give you an almost decisive idea on who will be walking on golden avenues. Matthew 7:21 - 23.
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’
This may come as a surprise to many TV and Radio congregations that filled their name out on the "I'm saved" card and repeated the prayer after Brother Laurie. But I've got good news for those of you who consider yourselves Bereans and have done everything the Bible instructed you to do for salvation but had a small "back slide". If you study these 3 verses, nowhere will you find the word belief or "did not believe". In this passage, Jesus is saying "He who does the will of my Father will enter the kingdom of heaven". (No mention of belief) and in verse 23, it implies that Jesus must know you. "And then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; Depart from me you who practice lawlessness". Contrary to John 3:16 which says whosoever believes in Jesus, this is the reverse. Jesus must have known you.
But WHAT IS JESUS SAYING BY: "He who does the will of my Father"? You need to do some Bible studying to get the low down on how to get and follow the will of the Father.
What does this have to do with permanent Salvation. If we are saved by Grace, we are also set free to reject God by Grace. I (Personally) believe that you CAN NOT LOSE YOUR SALVATION. That's not saying once saved always saved. (But Ace your contradicting yourself) No not at all. God created us with the gift/responsibility of "Free Will". Why? Because he didn't want the love of robots or humanoids. True love comes from the ability to reject someone. So God will never take that choice away from you. If want to worship Satan, so be it. If you want to worship earthly creations, so let it be done. But unless you come back like the prodigal son, your decision to reject God becomes final. God will bless you with His permanent absence. Yet (And I say this not the Lord) If you have a relationship with Jesus and you do miss the mark on your travels, take comfort that God is a loving God. You are right to ask: "But didn't the prodigal son come home seeking forgiveness"? Your answer is yes. But what if I die before I can ask forgiveness?
Sin is not a rejection of God. It is a symptom of Man's weakness. It separates man from God. You've heard the term: "To err is human, to forgive is divine". God is Divine. God forgives. He will not send one of his loved ones to hell for poor timing. (Yet I constantly pray for forgiveness of my sins)
In conclusion, Had I been able to write an Op-Ed at the time I would have said, "John what dost thou mean by believeth upon Him"? Hopefully John would have said: "Belief encompasses trust,repentance, confession and baptism of water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It means having a real spiritual relationship with Christ who knows you as one who does the will of his Father".
The Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand.
What exactly is your salvation a result of? First lets clear up the Argument of "Saved by Grace" or "Saved by works". The truth is, both apply. Let me explain. If I say unto you "You are welcomed in my house, but I ask that you remove your shoes before you come in". It shows grace and conditions. Removing your shoes does not entitle or "earn" your entrance into my house. It's only a condition. My saying: "You are welcomed in my house" shows grace. So both are true.
In the Bible there are two versus that give you an almost decisive idea on who will be walking on golden avenues. Matthew 7:21 - 23.
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’
This may come as a surprise to many TV and Radio congregations that filled their name out on the "I'm saved" card and repeated the prayer after Brother Laurie. But I've got good news for those of you who consider yourselves Bereans and have done everything the Bible instructed you to do for salvation but had a small "back slide". If you study these 3 verses, nowhere will you find the word belief or "did not believe". In this passage, Jesus is saying "He who does the will of my Father will enter the kingdom of heaven". (No mention of belief) and in verse 23, it implies that Jesus must know you. "And then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; Depart from me you who practice lawlessness". Contrary to John 3:16 which says whosoever believes in Jesus, this is the reverse. Jesus must have known you.
But WHAT IS JESUS SAYING BY: "He who does the will of my Father"? You need to do some Bible studying to get the low down on how to get and follow the will of the Father.
What does this have to do with permanent Salvation. If we are saved by Grace, we are also set free to reject God by Grace. I (Personally) believe that you CAN NOT LOSE YOUR SALVATION. That's not saying once saved always saved. (But Ace your contradicting yourself) No not at all. God created us with the gift/responsibility of "Free Will". Why? Because he didn't want the love of robots or humanoids. True love comes from the ability to reject someone. So God will never take that choice away from you. If want to worship Satan, so be it. If you want to worship earthly creations, so let it be done. But unless you come back like the prodigal son, your decision to reject God becomes final. God will bless you with His permanent absence. Yet (And I say this not the Lord) If you have a relationship with Jesus and you do miss the mark on your travels, take comfort that God is a loving God. You are right to ask: "But didn't the prodigal son come home seeking forgiveness"? Your answer is yes. But what if I die before I can ask forgiveness?
Sin is not a rejection of God. It is a symptom of Man's weakness. It separates man from God. You've heard the term: "To err is human, to forgive is divine". God is Divine. God forgives. He will not send one of his loved ones to hell for poor timing. (Yet I constantly pray for forgiveness of my sins)
In conclusion, Had I been able to write an Op-Ed at the time I would have said, "John what dost thou mean by believeth upon Him"? Hopefully John would have said: "Belief encompasses trust,repentance, confession and baptism of water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It means having a real spiritual relationship with Christ who knows you as one who does the will of his Father".
The Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand.
posted by Ace at
1:29 PM
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