Sanctification is an ongoing process

[Curtis]

our sanctification has nothing to do with us, but rather the Holy Spirit. If a person claims to be saved, but is still walking in sin, they are deceived and are a false convert. If a person is truly saved, they wont walk in sinful ways. Keep in mind, that roughly only 10% of actual so called christians are actually saved.

It has everything to do with our continuing choices and lifestyle - being sanctified means living in holiness, and becoming holy is an ongoing and daily process, as scriptures make clear..

2Co 7:1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

1Pe 1:14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,

1Pe 1:15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,

1Pe 1:16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”


Eph 4:17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.

Eph 4:18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.

Eph 4:19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.

Eph 4:20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!—

Eph 4:21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus,

Eph 4:22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,

Eph 4:23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,

Eph 4:24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.


Eph 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.

Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Eph 5:3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.

Eph 5:4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

Eph 5:5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Eph 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

Eph 5:7 Therefore do not become partakers with them.


Heb 12:14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

Heb 12:15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;

Heb 12:16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal.

Heb 12:17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.


2Pe 3:11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness,


2Pe 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that you look for such things, be diligent that you may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.


Note: without spot, and blameless…] The words are nearly identical with those which describe the character of Christ as “a lamb without blemish and without spot” in 1Pe 1:19,

Those who believe in Christ should be like Him in their lives, and be without spot. The words about being ‘without spot’ are used also by James (Jas 1:27).


James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.


2Pe 3:17 And so, dear friends, since you already know these things, continually be on your guard not to be carried away by the deception of lawless people. Otherwise, you may fall from your secure position.

2Pe 3:18 Instead, continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus, the Messiah. Glory belongs to him both now and on that eternal day! Amen.

It’s clear that our sanctification is ongoing, and our choices in how we live are part of that process.

 

[Heart2Soul]

When you live righteously and repent when you fail.

Amen...
And the scripture that says the believing wife sanctified the unbelieving husband...now this gets deep and requires searching....
But what I gathered from it is that when married we become as one....so the belief of one spouse sanctified the other for the sake of their children..
1 Corinthians 7 (KJV)
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
¹⁰ And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:
¹¹ But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
¹² But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
¹³ And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
¹⁴ For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

This is not sanctification by the Holy Spirit but rather a promise of hope for the children and future generations.

 

[Lifelong_sinner]

Maybve she is, maybe she isn't. If she does not gorw in grace and leave behind prostitution then yes she may have never truly got saved. but leaving sins is a learning and gorwing process. They may simply not know that what they are doing is even sin!

maybe she is?? NO. Thats now how this works. If a prostitute suddenly “gets saved” yet continues on as a prostitute, she aint saved!
Im not saying we’ll be sinless, but at the same time, 1john clearly points out that if you plan your sin, make a practice of a sin, have a habitual sin, you are not saved! This is why i know im not saved. I have a habitual addiction. And as long as i do have it, i will not be saved.

 

[Lifelong_sinner]

It has everything to do with our continuing choices and lifestyle - being sanctified means living in holiness, and becoming holy is an ongoing and daily process.
It’s clear that our sanctification is ongoing, and our choices in how we live are part of that process.

our sanctification is ongoing. Thats about all you’ve said that i can agree with. A person without the Holy Spirit cannot live righteously. If a person is genuinely saved, they cant help but to live in the light. People who have addictions, or who knowingly live in sin arent saved to begin with. If a person “got saved” yet claims to have left the faith later on, they didnt leave anything because they were never saved to begin with.

what i see on a lot of responses here is hyper grace. I believe that while everyone has a different experience when it comes to getting saved, for me personally, i think so far its been the most difficult thing i’ve ever tried. Tried being the keyword. After 2 years, im still not saved. And until i beat my addiction, i wont get saved. Its impossible to practice a sin and have been converted. This is why i have constant doubts that i’m of Gods elect.

 

[Curtis]

And you lie about the scriptures not sinning is not sanctification.

I post scripture clearly stating that our sanctification is to NOT commit sexual immorality, and you call that a lie.

I am continually amazed at cognitive dissonance in operation.

1Th 4:3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;

 

[Curtis]

our sanctification is ongoing. Thats about all you’ve said that i can agree with. A person without the Holy Spirit cannot live righteously. If a person is genuinely saved, they cant help but to live in the light.

Which claim completely ignores the many scriptures that tell the believer that it’s our obligation to live a holy life as a believer, that absolutely show it’s a choice we make daily, to obey that exhortation or not.

See post #21

 

[Lifelong_sinner]

Which claim completely ignores the many scriptures that tell the believer that it’s our obligation to live a holy life as a believer, that absolutely show it’s a choice we make daily, to obey that exhortation or not.

See post #21

if we are genuinely saved, you will grow in sanctification as a result of the Holy Spirit working in you. Show me a person who believes that the Holy Spirit can live in an unregenerate person, and i’ll show you a false convert. I think you’re missing the point though.
If a person is actually saved, their desire will be to live correctly. You CANNOT lose your salvation. The question is, did you ever have it to begin with.

 

[Two-Edged Sword]

I like you thought that "not doing something isn’t a work" i.e. Repentance is not a work, but rather putting off the "works of the flesh" (Gal 5:19). I'm going to have to think more on that idea.

A truly saved person WILL ongoingly repent from sin and grow in the grace of God (and it may feel like work) but that is part of the result of salvation and nothing which we can claim attributed to our salvation.

We are commanded work to do once we’re saved - 1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” But this is the work which shows our faith and a result of salvation, not contributing to it.

 

[Heart2Soul]

I guarantee that one of these sins listed below has been committed today by someone here.
10 SINS THAT OFTEN SLIP BY AS “OK” IN OUR DAILY LIFE:
1. Holding grudges
2. Justifying wrong attitudes
3. Putting your desires first (before God)
4. Feeling annoyed over the success of others
5. Getting hurt easily and reacting out of the hurt
6. Underpaying (taking advantage of others’ work)
7. Skimping on the work you are being paid to do
8. Criticizing and finding fault — secretly or outwardly
9. Focusing on the cares of the world — putting your full attention and trust in the “things” of the world, like money, power, possessions and image. When we allow that to define us, we lose focus of who we are in Christ. This doesn’t mean not caring about what happens in the world.
10. Gossiping or speaking unkindly of those not present

I did start a thread on this topic...but this is an example of how we continue to sin even after we are saved...

 

[Lifelong_sinner]

I guarantee that one of these sins listed below has been committed today by someone here.
10 SINS THAT OFTEN SLIP BY AS “OK” IN OUR DAILY LIFE:
1. Holding grudges
2. Justifying wrong attitudes
3. Putting your desires first (before God)
4. Feeling annoyed over the success of others
5. Getting hurt easily and reacting out of the hurt
6. Underpaying (taking advantage of others’ work)
7. Skimping on the work you are being paid to do
8. Criticizing and finding fault — secretly or outwardly
9. Focusing on the cares of the world — putting your full attention and trust in the “things” of the world, like money, power, possessions and image. When we allow that to define us, we lose focus of who we are in Christ. This doesn’t mean not caring about what happens in the world.
10. Gossiping or speaking unkindly of those not present

I did start a thread on this topic...but this is an example of how we continue to sin even after we are saved...

this is great. But the correct response to this is, am i going to change all of this and start the process of not doing it? But if your response is, well we all do that. Thats just human nature. Thats not good.

 

[Heart2Soul]

this is great. But the correct response to this is, am i going to change all of this and start the process of not doing it? But if your response is, well we all do that. Thats just human nature. Thats not good.

You missed the whole concept...what this is saying is we sin without considering it as sin....that it is OK to do these things without repentance because it isn't necessary.
I don't know about you but the Holy Spirit convicts me when I am in error in my thinking and it has caused me to commit sin...I know He is leading me to repent.
Sin whether in word, thought or deed is something that we daily have to search in our heart and mind as to whether we have committed any sin today.
Sometimes I get road rage when driving in Tulsa....is that a sin....YES! It is thinking angry thoughts towards another driver. It's a bad attitude towards those who have no ill intent towards me....so I have to repent.
You keep wanting to focus on do we repent and never do it again....no...it happens again unintentionally but nevertheless it happens....it causes anguish and deep regret that the action takes place before I can even think about it.
I have to stay focused on maintaining the right attitude the whole time I am driving or I get caught off guard and then it happens again.
Do you see where I am coming from?

 

[Curtis]

if we are genuinely saved, you will grow in sanctification as a result of the Holy Spirit working in you. Show me a person who believes that the Holy Spirit can live in an unregenerate person, and i’ll show you a false convert. I think you’re missing the point though.
If a person is actually saved, their desire will be to live correctly. You CANNOT lose your salvation. The question is, did you ever have it to begin with.

OSAS is completely bogus.

 

[Heart2Soul]

OSAS is completely bogus.

John Calvin started preaching this during his role as pastor in 1509-1564...
I am not a Calvinists and do not believe that a person can never lose their salvation. But I do believe the only way to lose it is to denounce your belief in God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Or possibly to die in a backslidden state without having repented.
Salvation is a gift...given to those who will receive it by faith. It is not customary to give back a gift...maybe give a gift in return but not the gift you received.
Salvation is the foundation we build upon...
Do you know that if you're not building on the foundation that Christ laid then you are not growing spiritually. What does scripture say about the material you use to build on the foundation He laid? It will be tested...

I know I am not where I would prefer to be in my walk....but at least I am going forward and not backwards.

 

[Ronald Nolette]

maybe she is?? NO. Thats now how this works. If a prostitute suddenly “gets saved” yet continues on as a prostitute, she aint saved!
Im not saying we’ll be sinless, but at the same time, 1john clearly points out that if you plan your sin, make a practice of a sin, have a habitual sin, you are not saved! This is why i know im not saved. I have a habitual addiction. And as long as i do have it, i will not be saved.

And if she has yet to learn that prositution is a sin you would not let her entger in because she doesn't even know she is sinning at the moment? I am not sayin gthat she can live in it for years or even months (though that could be possible). Everyone plans to sin. sin does not take us by surprise. We give our consent each and everytime we sin. Even for our besetting sins that God has not fully delivered us from yet. What I am saying is this:

1. I agree with you if that after a person has learned that a sinful lifestyle is sin and they have o desire to change- I would tend to agree with you that they may not have gotten saved. Only god knows if they are struggling or really didn't get saved.

2.. I also know that if a person is struggling in an area- God is not a nazi and will not continue to fogive them if they ask for it. And I mean they truly acknowledge they sinned.

3. with your answer, it appears you believe in instantaneous perfection in experience, or that God doesn't forgive all a new born believers sins.

4. God is fiercesome in his holiness, but He is also fiercesom in His mercy and greaqce and patience with His children. As it is written His mercies are renewed every morning, Great is thy faithfulness.

5. I am not promoting sin- just the opposite. I firmly believe in the steps of reconciliation/discipline found in Matt. 18. But I oppose all those who believe they can play god and decide who is and who isn't saved! That is Gods decision and knowledge alone. We judge onteh externals, but God judges form the heart!

 

[Lifelong_sinner]

And if she has yet to learn that prositution is a sin you would not let her entger in because she doesn't even know she is sinning at the moment? I am not sayin gthat she can live in it for years or even months (though that could be possible). Everyone plans to sin. sin does not take us by surprise. We give our consent each and everytime we sin. Even for our besetting sins that God has not fully delivered us from yet. What I am saying is this:

1. I agree with you if that after a person has learned that a sinful lifestyle is sin and they have o desire to change- I would tend to agree with you that they may not have gotten saved. Only god knows if they are struggling or really didn't get saved.

2.. I also know that if a person is struggling in an area- God is not a nazi and will not continue to fogive them if they ask for it. And I mean they truly acknowledge they sinned.

3. with your answer, it appears you believe in instantaneous perfection in experience, or that God doesn't forgive all a new born believers sins.

4. God is fiercesome in his holiness, but He is also fiercesom in His mercy and greaqce and patience with His children. As it is written His mercies are renewed every morning, Great is thy faithfulness.

5. I am not promoting sin- just the opposite. I firmly believe in the steps of reconciliation/discipline found in Matt. 18. But I oppose all those who believe they can play god and decide who is and who isn't saved! That is Gods decision and knowledge alone. We judge onteh externals, but God judges form the heart!

Im not saying i believe we can ever be perfect, but if you plan a sin, 1 john is very specific that planning on sinning is what the unsaved do. Theres a difference between falling in sin, and practicing sin. Heres a great example, me
Im an addict. Pure and simple, and i know its sinful. And yet while i wish i could be free of it, i do just the opposite. Every day i wake up, i know that my weakness/love of this sin, i will continue to have an addiction. I know as a result of this, i cannot get saved till i beat this. And in this case, I have to do it. I have prayed about this almost daily for over 2 years now, and God has not helped me beat this. Why?? I assume because while i may hate this addiction, i hate the fight to beat it even more. I used to have more fight in me, but now, i just give in.

i do believe once we repent of us being sinners, He does indeed forgive ALL, past, present, and future sins we do. But the repentance part is where the difficulty arises.

 

[Ronald Nolette]

Im not saying i believe we can ever be perfect, but if you plan a sin, 1 john is very specific that planning on sinning is what the unsaved do. Theres a difference between falling in sin, and practicing sin. Heres a great example, me
Im an addict. Pure and simple, and i know its sinful. And yet while i wish i could be free of it, i do just the opposite. Every day i wake up, i know that my weakness/love of this sin, i will continue to have an addiction. I know as a result of this, i cannot get saved till i beat this. And in this case, I have to do it. I have prayed about this almost daily for over 2 years now, and God has not helped me beat this. Why?? I assume because while i may hate this addiction, i hate the fight to beat it even more. I used to have more fight in me, but now, i just give in.

i do believe once we repent of us being sinners, He does indeed forgive ALL, past, present, and future sins we do. But the repentance part is where the difficulty arises.

My dear friend, someone has deceived you terribly! You can be saved right now in the midst of this addiction! You will never beat this in your flesh! god does not accept teh deeds of our human nature. Being saved means becoming a brand new creture in Jesus filled with teh Spirit and then given power to learn how to overcome all habits of sin.

but you must also know, even though you are physically addicted to a substance, you still plan with your volition to keep the addictiongoing. God knows this and is not angry. He knows our weakness. Just reach out to jesus, accpet His death and resurrection as the full aqnd only satisfactory payment for all your isn (even future ones) and not only will you be forgiven, but you will have you rname foriever writtenin His book of life, and God dwelling in you leasding you away from you rold life into the glorious life he geated you for!

 

[farouk]

OSAS is completely bogus.

Romans 8 is a mighty tonic for the true believer; reading Romans 8, I can't believe the 'saved today, lost tomorrow' idea.

 

[Curtis]

Romans 8 is a mighty tonic for the true believer; reading Romans 8, I can't believe the 'saved today, lost tomorrow' idea.

Paul states in Romans chapter 7, that after we have been saved there is a continuing conflict between our flesh and our Spirit - between temptation to walk in the flesh and live in sin - and our desire to walk after the Holy Spirit that now dwells in us: and he goes on to warn us in Romans 8, that choosing to live in sins (works of the flesh), will keep us out of heaven:


Romans 8starts off with a conditional statement:


Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, WHO WALK NOT AFTER THE FLESH, BUT AFTER THE SPIRIT.


Half of verse one is frequently quoted, absent the qualifier - that it’s those who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit who are in Christ Jesus and have no condemnation.


Romans 8 then goes on to explain the consequences of death by letting our flesh win the conflict between our Spirit and flesh:


Rom 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.


Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is DEATH, but to be spiritually minded is LIFE and peace.


Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is ENMITY against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.


Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.


Romans 8:6, above, is talking about spiritual death - not physical death - as proven by the prodigal son, who died spiritually while he was out in the world sinning:


In the prodigal son story, the father represents God, thus the son represents believers who are Gods sons.


He’s already a son when the story starts.


He leaves the father to live in sin


When he returns to the father in repentance, the father says: this is my son WHO WAS DEAD, but is now alive AGAIN, he WAS LOST, but now IS FOUND.


Luk 15:32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother *was dead*, and is *alive again*; and *was lost*, and *is found*.


He obviously wasn’t dead physically and resurrected.


How then was he dead?


He was dead in his sins.


Eph 2:1 And you hath he quickened,who WERE DEAD in *trespasses and sins*


Thus the son was alive, left his Father to live a sinful life, became DEAD in his sins, then returned in repentance, and became alive AGAIN.


Therefore Romans 8:6 contains a warning to the brethren not to live carnally, after the flesh, or they will die spiritually, as the prodigal Son did.


And Verse 8:7 of Romans warns us that believers having a carnal mind is ENMITY against God, meaning you actually become Gods ENEMY.


So does James:


Jas 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is ENMITY with God? whosoever therefore will be a FRIEND OF THE WORLD is the ENEMY of God.


The verse above says sexual sins and being worldly, makes you Gods ENEMY, and the verse that follows proves the Jas 4:4 warning above, is to believers, not the unsaved:


The next verse is irrefutably proves that warnings against living a lifestyle of sexual sins is to the BRETHREN:


1Th 4:3 For this is the will of God, YOUR SANCTIFICATION: that you abstain from sexual immorality;

1Th 4:4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,

1Th 4:5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God;

1Th 4:6 that no one transgress and wrong his BROTHER in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly WARNED you.

1Th 4:7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.

1Th 4:8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.


Our sanctification is to abstain from sexual immorality, verse 3, above.


We are expected and required as believers, to live the most sinless life we can, and to repent when we know we’ve sinned.


In Galatians 5, Paul lists the works of the flesh, which defines what is meant in Romans 8 about walking after the flesh, instead of after the spirit:


Gal 5:16 ThisI say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.


Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.


Gal 5:18 But IF ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.


Gal 5:19 Now the WORKS OF THE FLESH are manifest, which are these;Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,


Gal 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,


Gal 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell YOU again, as I have also told youin time past, that they which DO such things shall NOT inherit the kingdom of God.


Paul does not teach OSAS, but instead warns many times in many scriptures, that if we as believers choose to walk after the flesh, we will die (spiritually) - but if we choose to walk after the spirit, we will have everlasting life:


And Paul warns us against being deceived about living in sin as a believer, when he wrote:


Gal 6:7 Be Not DECEIVED ; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man SOWETH, that shall he also REAP.


Gal 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; BUT he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting


You reap everlasting life only if you continue to sow to the spirit (walk after the Spirit, Romans 8:1), but will reap spiritual death if you sow to your flesh - per the prodigal son example given earlier, who was dead in his sins until he returned in repentance.


When we do occasionally sin, we must confess it, for God to forgive it. 1 John 1:9, as discussed earlier.


The lies of hyper grace are twofold: you don’t ever need to repent after salvation when you sin; and you can’t lose salvation.

 

[Addy]

I am so sorry.... I am on the WRONG thread... My apologies... I don't know how I was on ONE thread and bounced on here.

 

[Curtis]

John Calvin started preaching this during his role as pastor in 1509-1564...
I am not a Calvinists and do not believe that a person can never lose their salvation. But I do believe the only way to lose it is to denounce your belief in God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Or possibly to die in a backslidden state without having repented.
Salvation is a gift...given to those who will receive it by faith. It is not customary to give back a gift...maybe give a gift in return but not the gift you received.
Salvation is the foundation we build upon...
Do you know that if you're not building on the foundation that Christ laid then you are not growing spiritually. What does scripture say about the material you use to build on the foundation He laid? It will be tested...

I know I am not where I would prefer to be in my walk....but at least I am going forward and not backwards.

Paul warned the brethren in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 that living in the sin of drunkenness or adultery, etc, will keep them out of heaven.


In that passage, Paul warns some of the believers that they are defrauding their brethren, (which is stealing, being a thief) then warns them that stealing, and other sins, will keep them from heaven:


1Co 6:8 Nay, ye do wrong, and DEFRAUD and that yourBRETHREN.


1Co 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? BE NOT DECEIVED: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,


1Co 6:10 Nor THIEVES (such as those who DEFRAUD their brethren, verse 8) nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.


Notice that in verse 11 Paul says that some of brethren used to do those things but stopped after salvation, but some of the brethren were still sinning by stealing from the others (by defrauding them), hence Paul’s warning.


Another warning by Paul, to the saints of God, about living a sinful lifestyle as a child of God:


Eph 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;


Eph 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh SAINTS.


Eph 5:4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.


Eph 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath ANY inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.


Eph 5:6 Let no man DECEIVE you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the WRATH of God upon the children of disobedience.


Eph 5:7 Be not YE therefore partakers WITH them.

This falls right in line with the warning from Hebrews 3:12-15to the brethren about guarding against acquiring an evil heart of unbelief, due to deception that comes from sin, and then departing from the living God.


Living sinfully eventually hardens the heart into unbelief, and when faith is fallen away from, a believer departs from the living God.

And Paul warns the church at Corinth to make sure they aren’t reprobates.


2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?


He warns that some of the church that think they’re in the faith can actually have become reprobates.


The word reprobates is ADOKIMOS in the Greek, which becomes important in the verse where Paul himself says he has to subjugate his flesh daily, lest after preaching salvation to others, he end up a castaway.


1Co 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring itinto subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a CASTAWAY.


The word castaway is also ADOKIMOS in the Greek - reprobate - castaway and rejected by God.


G96 (Strong)

ἀδόκιμος

adokimos

ad-ok'-ee-mos

From G1 (as a negative particle) and G1384; unapproved, that is, rejected; by implication worthless(literally or morally): - castaway, rejected, reprobate.

Total KJV occurrences: 8


Paul said he could end up a reprobate if he didn’t subjugate his flesh with its sinful desires, daily.


Albert Barnes exegetes the verse:


“The simple idea of Paul is, that he was afraid that he should be disapproved, rejected, cast off; that it would appear, after all, that he had no religion, and would then be cast away as unfit to enter into heaven”.


John Wesley also exegetes 1 Corinthians 9:27:


This single text may give us a just notion of the scriptural doctrine of election and reprobation; and clearly shows us, that particular persons are not in holy writ represented as elected absolutely and unconditionally to eternal life, or predestinated absolutely and unconditionally to eternal death; but that believers in general are elected to enjoy the Christian privileges on earth; which if they abuse, those very elect persons will become reprobate. St. Paul was certainly an elect person, if ever there was one; and yet he declares it was possible he himself might become a reprobate. Nay, he actually would have become such, if he had not thus kept his body under, even though he had been so long an elect person, a Christian, and an apostle.


Paul never taught unconditional eternal security - in fact he taught the opposite.


Paul said he could end up a reprobate if he didn’t subjugate his flesh with its sinful desires, daily.


And he also wrote many conditional statements about continuing in the faith to remain in Christ, one of which follows:


Col 1:21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in yourmind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled


Col 1:22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:


Col 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled,and benot moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, andwhich was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;


Albert Barnes commentary exegetes the above passage:


If ye continue in the faith - In the belief of the gospel, and in holy living. If this were done, they would be presented unblameable be fore God;if not, they would not be.The meaning is, that it will be impossible to be saved unless we continue to lead lives becoming the gospel.

Maranatha