Jesus will not lose anyone

Episkopos said:

But even here there is a distinction. The righteous nations may bring their glory into the city. Not so the shamed ones.

Notice...

Rev 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
Rev 21:25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
Rev 21:26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

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They who are written in the Lamb's book of life? I see what you are getting at. You say that there are three groups. Those who are not written who will perish, those who are written and will be with God forever, those who are written and will be banished forever?

I had another look at your posts. I see you hang this on the judgment seat of Christ, that there will be those who suffer loss. You are taking this loss as a loss of fellowship with Jesus? The text does not even hint at this.

The judgment seat of Christ is for believers who have been born of the Spirit. One must understand what occured from the new birth. We receive a new spirit (that which is born of the Spirit is spirit). This is called the new man and is created according to God in righteousness and holiness (Eph.4:24). This is a treasure that is contained in a earthen vessel (2Cor.4:7). Thus we a torn between two natures. Our soul is the middle ground and must abide in Christ, so as to bear the fruit of the new man rather than the old man of the flesh.

Jesus Himself said that some would bear more fruit than others. This is where the rewards come in. The loss suffered is in relation to the potential that was not met. But this is not to conclude that there will be no reward left at ll for the fruit that remains.

But one thing that I think is important to grasp. The judgment seat of Christ takes place after the resurrection. Therefore at that time, the new man is in a new body and has shed the sinful influences of the flesh. The new man is righteous and holy. How is it that a righteous and holy being will be banished? His present state at that time will be sinless. And he will be disqualified?

There is more to eternal life than merely escaping wrath. It is about being re created. How we carry this new creation in this life is important, but will not be the determining factor in our eternal residence. The man who buried his talent is he who opposed the plan of bearing fruit. We are not talking of a person who didn't bear enough fruit, here.
Furthermore, if God had foreknowledge of those who He would predestine to be conformed to the image of His Son, do you really think He would dangle a carrot in front of those who were not predestined, only to have them live forever in banishment? This does not sound like the God I know.

This can make a mockery (unwittingly) of John 3:16. Jesus gave two alternatives. One will perish or one will have everlasting life. I think the one is meant to be good news. So then, you are saying He left out a third possibility, which is not good news at all, even though one will not perish?

Boy this God of ours is tricky guy. Jesus leaves out the fine print? He is hiding this truth so as to blind side those who aren't performing up to His standard? hmmmm. I think I'll pass on this one, thank you.

williemac said:

[some really good stuff...]

Click to expand...

And I'll add:

The saying [is] trustworthy: ​For if we died with [him], we will also live with [him]; if we endure, we will also reign with [him]; if we deny [him], he also will deny us; if we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, because he cannot deny himself. 2 Timothy 2:11-13

williemac said:

King J. We have simialr viewpoints on many things. I don't wish to minimize that by telling you that I diasagree that salvation is lost through sin, whether extreme or prolonged. It is lost by reversing that which caused it. Faith. God is not fickle. If we are to be judged according to the law, then we all fail. The extremity of sin by our standards is just that; our standard. God's standard is that one needs righteousness. Any sin whatsoever proves the lack thereof. Therefore righteousness is given to us by God. It is His righteousness in us that saves us. We have this treasure in earthen vessels (2Cor.4:7).

As I shared with Meshak, John 5:24 says that by faith in Him, we will not come into judgment. We cannot lose salvation through judgment. We can only fall away through unbelief. (Heb.10:39)
Blessings, Howie

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I too respect many of your posts Willie .

Do you believe in OSAS? If not, care to better explain your interpretation of the sin of unbelief?

Regarding the underlined. Once we accept Him, yes. But as Paul says we can make shipwreck of it. God forgives us 7 x 70 times a day for sincere repentance. How sincere is the repentance going to be from your wife after a year of adultery? compared to a year of swearing? How do we gauge rebellion against God if not by judging the extremity of a sin? Would you say that a consistent rapist can be a Christian? Can a Christian go from where he is to being a consistent rapist?

KingJ said:

I too respect many of your posts Willie .

Do you believe in OSAS? If not, care to better explain your interpretation of the sin of unbelief?

Regarding the underlined. Once we accept Him, yes. But as Paul says we can make shipwreck of it. God forgives us 7 x 70 times a day for sincere repentance. How sincere is the repentance going to be from your wife after a year of adultery? compared to a year of swearing? How do we gauge rebellion against God if not by judging the extremity of a sin? Would you say that a consistent rapist can be a Christian? Can a Christian go from where he is to being a consistent rapist?

Click to expand...

Repentance from sin is not a requirement for salvation. The word repentance has been incorrectly defined by much of the church. The typical belief is that to repent is to turn from sin. This is not the definition. Since we know that through humility and faith we receive the new birth, then the repentance (change of mind) that takes place is from pride and unbelief.

The problem with the usual use of the term repent is that it is too easy to turn it into a work for salvation. To explain; to turn from sin, the way this is done is by keeping the law, since sin is transgression of law. Therefore faith for salvation becomes leavened with lawkeeping. This is how we find doctrines of faith coupled with lawkeeping, for salvation. = leaven. The mixing of two covenants.

Godly sorrow for one's sin is important. It causes one to turn to God for forgiveness. The conviction of sin brings us to the Savior. We turn to Him for life. But one cannot receive forgiveness and life without the faith that God is actually giving these things freely.

The shipwreck that we need to avoid is that of faith. Faith gives all the credit to God and none to our own resources.

There are those who fall into sin. This is where they are vulnerable. The false doctrines are at hand to suggest to this person that he has lost his salvation and needs to regain it. The shield of faith will deflect this attack. This and the helmet of salvation will protect one from thinking that it is his own effort that saves him. Thus, Heb.10:39..." we are not of those who fall back to perdition but of those who believe to the saving of the soul".

Osas? I have no conclusion one way or another. But I do believe in "saved once" Eternal life is not given any more than one time in any case. This is the point of Heb.6:1-6. If it is sin that can cause us to lose salvation, we have all lost it. Furthermore, it minimizes the work of the cross. Jesus either took away our sin (from God's record) or He did not. And, if this refers to our personal past sins only, then His sacrifice is no better than the blood of bulls and goats. Then He did not perfect us forever, as Heb.10:14 suggests.

Blessings, Howie

Just a heads-up that the Lord has written His word very cleverly.
Everything is just simply not what it seems to be.
This should be obvious by the existence of differing sets of Scripture passages.
For example, Calvinism vs. Armenianism.

Another example,
When Jesus says, "Whosoever believes will be saved", He can mean:
whosoever = the elect from before the foundation of the world
believe = intellectually, in the heart, trust, follow, and obey

Believe me, the Lord had many reasons for "somewhat hiding" some of His spiritual Truths.
Currently, I have a list of 7 of these.
Maybe you could just use your imagination to come up with some of these reasons.

IMO, the OP could easily mean ...
Jesus will not lose any one of His elect, who are described in Romans 8:28-30.
These are also described in such passages as John 17:3 and John 10:27-28.
IMO, this group does not include everyone who has been born again! ... Heresy?
Otherwise, all of the many dozens of warnings to the churches make no sense!

Maybe it's time for you to investigate (in Scripture) the possibility that ...
Being born-again does not automatically mean that you are an overcomer (Rev 2&3).

williemac said:

williemac, on 02 Apr 2013 - 15:31, said:
Repentance from sin is not a requirement for salvation. The word repentance has been incorrectly defined by much of the church. The typical belief is that to repent is to turn from sin. This is not the definition. Since we know that through humility and faith we receive the new birth, then the repentance (change of mind) that takes place is from pride and unbelief.

The problem with the usual use of the term repent is that it is too easy to turn it into a work for salvation. To explain; to turn from sin, the way this is done is by keeping the law, since sin is transgression of law. Therefore faith for salvation becomes leavened with lawkeeping. This is how we find doctrines of faith coupled with lawkeeping, for salvation. = leaven. The mixing of two covenants.

Godly sorrow for one's sin is important. It causes one to turn to God for forgiveness. The conviction of sin brings us to the Savior. We turn to Him for life. But one cannot receive forgiveness and life without the faith that God is actually giving these things freely.

There are those who fall into sin. This is where they are vulnerable. The false doctrines are at hand to suggest to this person that he has lost his salvation and needs to regain it. The shield of faith will deflect this attack. This and the helmet of salvation will protect one from thinking that it is his own effort that saves him. Thus, Heb.10:39..." we are not of those who fall back to perdition but of those who believe to the saving of the soul".

Osas? I have no conclusion one way or another. But I do believe in "saved once" Eternal life is not given any more than one time in any case. This is the point of Heb.6:1-6. If it is sin that can cause us to lose salvation, we have all lost it. Furthermore, it minimizes the work of the cross. Jesus either took away our sin (from God's record) or He did not. And, if this refers to our personal past sins only, then His sacrifice is no better than the blood of bulls and goats. Then He did not perfect us forever, as Heb.10:14 suggests.

Blessings, Howie

Click to expand...

I respect your view, I don't completely disagree, but don't completely agree either ^_^. Works base salvation is one side of the extreme with OSAS at the other end (even 'saved once', no offence). The truth is in the middle and is so simple. It is wrong to align our decision to accept Christ with works. Would you say getting on your knees to propose to your fiance is inline with the effort needed to constantly be on best behaviour? (works). With our new nature / new covenant with God's laws written on our heart we should see that as a marriage. I now mow the lawn because I love my wife, not because I want to get paid or am afraid she dumps me as I know she likes that in a man. It takes less / no effort to do something for someone you love. As I am her husband she won't divorce me either for not mowing the lawn. That is similar to the grace we are in when we are ''in-Christ''. BUT, should I start watching porn, in turn commit adultery and then an on-going affair....I do make shipwreck of the grace and better covenant I had with the her. She does not divorce me, I divorce her.

So in our walk with God we need to look for those warning signs and we need to identify the level of inner rebellion that parallels with adultery. For me, Paul is quite clear on them in 1 Cor 6:9-11.

I can and do respect you and all who believe is OSAS as it tells me you are close to God. Like a husband and wife on honeymoon or in love can never think of or imagine a life apart.

As for eternal life being a one-time case, I agree. That is why we only put on incorruption at the last trumpet 1 Cor 15:52-58. But, going back to our vomit and then returning to Jesus is very possible! Gal 6:1.

Quote

The shipwreck that we need to avoid is that of faith. Faith gives all the credit to God and none to our own resources

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Many don't grasp the definition or correct application of the word ''faith''. Exactly what faith are you referring to? Faith in God's existence? Faith that Jesus existed? Faith that Jesus is the Son of God? Faith that God is good?

We need faith in gravity when we first jump. But when we land, we know gravity exists. We now need a different kind of faith in God. Faith that He is good. Faith that He is who scripture says He is. We cannot doubt God exists Rom 1 :20. We cannot doubt Jesus exists if we are saved 1 Cor 12:3. Did Peter doubt Jesus after he had his revelation? Matt 16:17. Atheists are simply in denial .

John Zain said:

John Zain, on 02 Apr 2013 - 17:27, said:
Just a heads-up that the Lord has written His word very cleverly.
Everything is just simply not what it seems to be.
This should be obvious by the existence of differing sets of Scripture passages.
For example, Calvinism vs. Armenianism.

Another example,
When Jesus says, "Whosoever believes will be saved", He can mean:
whosoever = the elect from before the foundation of the world
believe = intellectually, in the heart, trust, follow, and obey

Believe me, the Lord had many reasons for "somewhat hiding" some of His spiritual Truths.
Currently, I have a list of 7 of these.
Maybe you could just use your imagination to come up with some of these reasons.

IMO, the OP could easily mean ...
Jesus will not lose any one of His elect, who are described in Romans 8:28-30.
These are also described in such passages as John 17:3 and John 10:27-28.
IMO, this group does not include everyone who has been born again! ... Heresy?
Otherwise, all of the many dozens of warnings to the churches make no sense!

Maybe it's time for you to investigate (in Scripture) the possibility that ...
Being born-again does not automatically mean that you are an overcomer (Rev 2&3).

Click to expand...

Yes, sadly many Christian theologians fail maths. Specifically trigonometry. If we know two sides and the angle, we know the answer.

Example1: Calvinism would say '''God predestines (one side) = God has his chosen people specially made for heaven''. They fail to use the other side and the angle. Side 1 = God predestines, Side 2 = God is impartial, Angle = God is good (always the angle), Answer = Everyone ever created has the potential to be with Him.

Example 2: devil would say ''jump the angels will catch you (side 1) Jesus said don't tempt God (side2). Angle = God is good. Hence the answer is, if you fall without tempting God, He will send the angels to catch you. But since He is good, should you truthfully think you are not tempting him by jumping without a parachute, He just may still catch you.

Conclusion: Those that twist scripture or only quote a half truth have more in common with the devil then Jesus.

John Zain said:

IMO, the OP could easily mean ...
Jesus will not lose any one of His elect, who are described in Romans 8:28-30.
These are also described in such passages as John 17:3 and John 10:27-28.
IMO, this group does not include everyone who has been born again! ... Heresy?
Otherwise, all of the many dozens of warnings to the churches make no sense!

Maybe it's time for you to investigate (in Scripture) the possibility that ...
Being born-again does not automatically mean that you are an overcomer (Rev 2&3).

Click to expand...

These are good points. The analogy I like to use is of a stillborn fetus. It has been generated and has life in the womb, but is born into the world dead. Likewise, those who are generated into the spirit (born again) but do not overcome sin, have their spirits quenched and are born dead.

Fearful stuff...

ChristRoseFromTheDead said:

These are good points. The analogy I like to use is of a stillborn fetus. It has been generated and has life in the womb, but is born into the world dead. Likewise, those who are generated into the spirit (born again) but do not overcome sin, have their spirits quenched and are born dead.

Fearful stuff...

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So what is the motivation for overcoming sin? Why should we? To save ourselves? But I thought salvation was "not of ourselves, lest any man should boast"? Not of works. If I am to accept what your saying, then please show me how overcoming sin is not a work, and not "of yourself" . Should we sin that grace may abound? No. But why? To save ourselves?

We are to be overcomers, alright. Overcomers of what? How about overcoming the temptation to take on God's role, becoming the provider of our own life and righteousness? That was the original offense against God. Lucifer determined to forsake his God given role and exchange that for the role of being God. Do we not do that when we attempt to do only what God can do? Do we save ourseloves by our own resouces, or is God our savior? To answer KINGJ's question from #87 regarding faith.... Saving faith is that which accpets, trusts, and believes God at His word. Faith comes by hearing. What are we hearing? Is life a free gift or not? The bible says it is. God has made the offer, having fulfilled all the conditions on our behalf (2Cor.5:19) But who believes it? Who approaches the Throne of Grace boldly, or who grovels out of shame and guilt?

Jesus promised that those who put their trust in Him would not come under judgment, but will pass from death to life (John5:24). Who believes Him? How will we be cast out without having been judged? Why do so many feel that we/they are still under God's judgment?
"Born dead"? How is that possible? How is eternal life not life?

williemac said:

So what is the motivation for overcoming sin? Why should we? To save ourselves? But I thought salvation was "not of ourselves, lest any man should boast"? Not of works. If I am to accept what your saying, then please show me how overcoming sin is not a work, and not "of yourself" . Should we sin that grace may abound? No. But why? To save ourselves?

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The motivation is to not have one's spirit quenched. Faith without works is dead. Concerning saving ourselves:

Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. 1 Timothy 4:16

williemac said:

Jesus promised that those who put their trust in Him would not come under judgment, but will pass from death to life (John5:24). Who believes Him? How will we be cast out without having been judged? Why do so many feel that we/they are still under God's judgment?
"Born dead"? How is that possible? How is eternal life not life?

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Those who deny Christ through their works will be cast out at the judgment. These will be the ones who quenched the eternal life within them (if it ever truly was in them) through the works of the flesh.

John Zain is absolutely right; this is the only way to reconcile the many seemingly contradictory scriptures.

williemac said:

But I thought salvation was "not of ourselves, lest any man should boast"? Not of works.
If I am to accept what your saying, then please show me how overcoming sin is not a work, and not "of yourself" .
Should we sin that grace may abound? No. But why? To save ourselves?

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I feel for you and for your long-held beliefs due to the Church's teachings.

Consider beginning with the OT where God's chosen people had to do their part in salvation.
IMO, it is NOT works which are required ... but just co-operating with the Lord God Almighty.
This is evident throughout the OT ... God insisting on man's co-operating with Him.
IMO, the revelation begins here.

Then, we have the NT where the Lord gives us MANY DOZENS of Scriptures
about co-operating with Him and His commandments, etc.

John Zain said:

I feel for you and for your long-held beliefs due to the Church's teachings.

Consider beginning with the OT where God's chosen people had to do their part in salvation.
IMO, it is NOT works which are required ... but just co-operating with the Lord God Almighty.
This is evident throughout the OT ... God insisting on man's co-operating with Him.
IMO, the revelation begins here.

Then, we have the NT where the Lord gives us MANY DOZENS of Scriptures
about co-operating with Him and His commandments, etc.

Click to expand...

Please don't patronize me. I have studied the scriptures on my own for years and have my own understanding. I advise others to not be afraid to question what they are told and not to believe something just because they are told to believe it. It is better to know why one believes a doctrine. I don't argue that we are co-operating with God to bear fruit. But There are many passages that point blank insist that this cooperation is not for the purpose of saving ourselves in the process. If you are just jumping in and have no desire to look back at other posts of mine, I will kindly indulge you in discussion on this matter. But I would rather not be talked down at as though I am some novice who is blindly following another's teaching.

In the subject of righteousness, we find that it is not our own that counts for anything, but that which is imputed to us by faith (Phil.3:9) The same is said for justification, which comes through faith (Rom.5:1) The same is said of the Holy Spirit, who comes to us by the hearing of faith (Gal.3:3-5).
Any cooperation with God is done after having received these and not for the purpose of retaining them or earning them, but for the purpose of sharing them with others, and in the end, receiving rewards for the measure by which we lived up to our potential. As Paul asked the Galatians in that reference.."having begun in the spirit are we being made perfect by the flesh?"

In explaining the parable of the sower, Jesus said that those who hear the word and understand it, bear fruit: Some 100, some 60, some 30. He never said that those who are at 30 or less would be disqualified. The indication is that this is just the way it will be. Not everyone will live up to their full potential.

And in the parable of they who were hired at various times of the day, we find that when they first discovered that others were being given the same reward for far less work, they protested. The master replied in so many words that this was none of their business. He said to them.." Is your eye evil because I am good? " (Math.20:1-15)

I find a parallel in this with many who come here and are bothered by the suggestion that one will get saved even if he has some sin, or even if he is not working all that hard....But what does one imagine a person looks like who is bearing only 20 or 30 (%) fruit? There will surely be some parts of their lives that are not living up to the righteousness that has been given them. So to reflect what the master said...What business does anyone have crying "no fair" or suggesting that these will be disqualified? Is there a spirit of jealousy at hand? Is their eye evil because Jesus is good in saving even those who have issues, problems, disfunction, addictions, etc? These "tares" will grow with the wheat (good fruit) and be done away with at the resurrection, and the good fruit will be rewarded at the judgment seat of Christ. How much fruit is necessary? Any amount will suffice, which is more than digging a hole and burying it in the ground, the equivalent to opposing or rejecting God's purpose for a person.

williemac said:

We are to be overcomers, alright. Overcomers of what?
How about overcoming the temptation to take on God's role, becoming the provider of our own life and righteousness?

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Jesus says in Rev 2 & 3 that we must be overcomers,
and He tells the 7 churches what they must do to be such,
which doesn't read the same at all as your red.

Salvation is not a noun or a destination where you show up and your there. No salvation is a verb it is constantly being worked within and for us. Salvation is made up of atonement (Jesus' death on the cross for our sins and the shedding of His blood "blood has never and will never loose its power!"), justification (given by God's grace through our faith), new birth "born of the water and Spirit or being born again" (we died to our old man and nature and were resurrected in the Spirit) and sanctification (where the Holy Spirit cleanses us and delivers us from the power of sinning and changes our inner man and makes us holy). Jesus commands us to repent and obey His commands and walk by His statutes as well as have faith and love our neighbor. The same God that is loving and merciful is also holy and just and He demands His people to live holy. Its either holiness or hell there is not purgatory or in between. Salvation is a holy gift from the HOLY God through His Son Jesus the HOLY Christ thus the fruit of that salvation is holiness!
Hebrews 12:14 "Follow peace with all men and live holy; for without HOLINESS no man shall see the Lord"

UHCAlan,

You certainly have a powerful revelation about this (as I have also had in the past year or so)!
It's a terrible shame that it is not taught in very many churches.
But, we're in the Laodicean age, aren't we? ... Revelation 3:14-22.

UHCAIan said:

Salvation is not a noun or a destination where you show up and your there. No salvation is a verb it is constantly being worked within and for us. Salvation is made up of atonement (Jesus' death on the cross for our sins and the shedding of His blood "blood has never and will never loose its power!"), justification (given by God's grace through our faith), new birth "born of the water and Spirit or being born again" (we died to our old man and nature and were resurrected in the Spirit) and sanctification (where the Holy Spirit cleanses us and delivers us from the power of sinning and changes our inner man and makes us holy). Jesus commands us to repent and obey His commands and walk by His statutes as well as have faith and love our neighbor. The same God that is loving and merciful is also holy and just and He demands His people to live holy. Its either holiness or hell there is not purgatory or in between. Salvation is a holy gift from the HOLY God through His Son Jesus the HOLY Christ thus the fruit of that salvation is holiness!
Hebrews 12:14 "Follow peace with all men and live holy; for without HOLINESS no man shall see the Lord"

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Very well said!

Romans 5:18 confirms that Jesus will ultimately bring all to a place of
rest.

18 So then as through one transgression there
resulted condemnation to all men, even so
through one act of righteousness there resulted
justification of life to all men.

We all can accept that Adam brought down the whole creation, as Paul
exclaimed to the Romans. What is hard for us to comprehend is the last
part of that scripture, "resulted in justication of life to all men".

You may say, yes, He did bring justication to all men, but all men want
accept Him. I agree with you, but that will only stand for awhile, because
we had nothing to do with what the 1st Adam did, but many are still paying
that debt. In essense, we are paying for a debt that our father Adam incured
upon the human race. Is that justice? According to the Law its not.

The great truth is: Adam's sin has brought death to all mankind. Mortality
is the result of Adam's sin, not our own. Conversely, Jesus' righteousness
has brought life to all mankind, and this immortality is the result of Christ's
act, not our own. Paul put it another way in 1st Cor. 15:22-23,

22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will
be made alive.
23 But each in his own order : Christ the first fruits,
after that those who are Christ's at His coming,

In other words, Paul is telling us God will eventually bring all into the Kingdom,
but they will come in the order God has chosen. That is God's will, but do we
believe that God can perform His Will, or can man, devil, false prophet, cause
God's Will to be altered. Many believe that God just doesn't have the Power to
accomplish what He has promised to do, but I believe it will be done.

What a God! What a Plan!

Logabe

logabe said:

Romans 5:18 So then as through one transgression there
resulted condemnation to all men, even so
through one act of righteousness there resulted
justification of life to all men.

What a God! What a Plan!

Click to expand...

Isaiah 53:11 ... God’s righteous Servant shall justify many (not all) and bear their iniquities
Romans 5:15 ... The gift by the grace of Jesus Christ abounded to many (not all)
Romans 5:17 ... Those (many, not all) who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness
Romans 5:19 ... By one Man’s obedience many (not all) will be made righteous

What a God! What a Plan!

John 10:24-28

24 The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me.

26 “But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep.

27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;

28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.

Romans 10:8-11

8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching,

9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;

10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.”

Ephesians 2:8-10

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.



Acts 26:19-20

19 “So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision,

20 but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance.

Mark 1:14-15

14 Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God,

15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”


The gospel and repentance go hand in hand. Those who are saved are repentant and will continue on to overcome because this gift is dependent on God being true to His word. We are His workmanship and the good works prepared by Him we will walk in because He is true and He is the One causing us to do as such. In our repentance we submit to the will of God. In our state of humility we become sensitive to the Spirit thereby God exults us unto good works. (Matthew 23:12, 1Peter 5:6, James 4:10, Luke 14:11, Proverbs 29:23) All glory to God for it is Him whom receives honor in our good works. (Matthew 5:16)

Salvation is as certain as Jesus Christ is Lord for it is His promise.

John 14:1

1 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.

2 “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.

3 “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

4 “And you know the way where I am going.”

5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?”

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.


2Timothy 1:7

7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.

8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,

9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,

Do not be fooled into thinking salvation is to your own purpose and or calling. Put your faith in Him for your salvation and have certainty!

2Timothy 1:12

12 For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.


With this said I will never tell anyone to be slack in their spiritual walk for the devil is a hungry lion, but in terms of salvation you must trust God that He is faithful and true. If we were dependent on ourselves, no one would be saved. If we needed to do good deeds to bear salvation to success, salvation would never be achieved for our sin is too great. Yes we are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling but we are not to work for our salvation. Yes we are to be holy and God is the only One able to empower us for holiness, this is not something we can achieve on our own. Salvation and sanctification are not the same things and all those who are saved will be sanctified. We must repent AND believe. This is one act of faith.

UHCAIan said:

Salvation is not a noun or a destination where you show up and your there. No salvation is a verb it is constantly being worked within and for us. Salvation is made up of atonement (Jesus' death on the cross for our sins and the shedding of His blood "blood has never and will never loose its power!"), justification (given by God's grace through our faith), new birth "born of the water and Spirit or being born again" (we died to our old man and nature and were resurrected in the Spirit) and sanctification (where the Holy Spirit cleanses us and delivers us from the power of sinning and changes our inner man and makes us holy). Jesus commands us to repent and obey His commands and walk by His statutes as well as have faith and love our neighbor. The same God that is loving and merciful is also holy and just and He demands His people to live holy. Its either holiness or hell there is not purgatory or in between. Salvation is a holy gift from the HOLY God through His Son Jesus the HOLY Christ thus the fruit of that salvation is holiness!
Hebrews 12:14 "Follow peace with all men and live holy; for without HOLINESS no man shall see the Lord"

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Water can be holy. Food can be holy. Garments can be holy. Words can be holy. There are many things that scripture calls holy. What they all have in common is that they are being used for God's purpose. Holiness is not in the category of moral behavior. Food has no behavior. Water has no behavior. Yet they can be holy. The common use of the word 'holy' to describe a person's behavior is an incorrect use of the word. A holy man is one who is living in God's purpose. The category of moral behavior is rather called righteousness. And the fact is, we are not to approach God with our own righteousness. We receive His righteousness by faith. We have a new man, already righteous and holy (Eph.4:24)

How well a person walks in righteousness can vary from day to day, hour to hour, month to month. No one can walk in perfect morality 24/7...365 days of the year. Thus we are in constant dependance upon His grace and mercy and are not to be placing our confidence in the flesh.

Because it is either righteousness or hell (all have sinned and fall short of His glory), we are all doomed were it not for the mercy of God. The sacrifice of Jesus keeps us in good standing with God. Under the old covenant the blood of bulls and goats did the same. If the blood of Jesus cannot at least accomplish what the old covenant sacrifices did, then why did the author of Hebrews insist that His sacrifice is superior? Do we now insult the Spirit of grace, calling His death no less common than the blood of bulls and goats? Do we throw His work back in His face by presenting our own work to Him for justification? Are we to think that for one second in this life we achieve the glory of God? No matter how well we serve Him, we will always fall short of His glory.

...knock yourself out, my friends. He who has the Son, has life.