“Eternal Salvation”

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Netchaplain

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There is only one strain of salvation--"Eternal salvation" (Heb 5:9), which is an "everlasting consolation" (2Th 2:16) and an "eternal glory" (2Ti 2:10). If it's not permanent it's not salvation, for the crux of salvation designs the intention of being in permanent and unbroken fellowship with God, which only Christianity provides. In Christianity, one who is reborn is identified by God working within, which keep us from ever again willing after the sin nature (old man) - Phl 2:13); and this is a permanent work, as nothing God does in Christ for the Christian is temporary (Rom 11:29).

The way of the Law for the believing Jews was works related, as forgiveness was granted for obedience maintained, but withdrawn in disobedience persisted. But God always caused the believers to return to Him. This works-type method gives rise to self-dependence in believers today, misunderstanding the difference between the two administrations. In the New Covenant the Spirit of God indwells the believer and uses the Life of Christ and the nature "created" in His image (Col 3:10) to "keep you from falling" (Jde 1:24). Thus one who is only nominally professing Christianity (Mat 15:8) will eventually apostatize (revealing faithlessness), as the "fruit" will always manifest the "tree" (Mat 12:33).

Lacking an administrative differentiation between the two Covenants is only one of a believer's difficulty. The other is the difficulty that results in misunderstanding certain Scriptures that seem to conflict with one another (but never really do), esp. those concerning the permanency of salvation, and the most important growth truths are going to be the most difficulty to learn. It is this appearance of contradiction, though all are actually in agreement, that teaches the Bible student to remain in persistent study and prayer for guidance in "the Word of Truth" (2Ti 2:15).

One of many examples is Gal 5:4: "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." I believe the point of this passage is like saying, "It would be as though you have fallen from grace, if you could be justified by the Law." As we know, Scripture repeatedly makes it clear that the Law's intention was not to justify but to reveal what justification is, for "a man is not justified by the works of the law" (Gal 2:16; Gal 3:11).

It might be said that one cannot fall from grace any more than one could be justified by the Law: “Whosoever of you are justified by the law” – ‘on the supposition that any of you are justified by the Law; or if, as you seem to suppose, any are justified by the Law. The apostle does not say that this had in fact ever occurred; but he merely makes a supposition. If such a thing should or could occur, it would follow that you had fallen from grace’” (Albert Barnes – 1798- 1870).

“Ye are fallen from grace”; ‘that is, either from that grace which they professed to have; for there might be some in these churches, as in others, who were only nominal Christians, and formal professors; who had declared they saw themselves lost and undone sinners, destitute of a righteousness, and professed to believe in Christ alone for righteousness and strength, but now trusted in themselves, and in the works of the law.’” – John Gill (1697-1771)
 
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Netchaplain

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Myself, I see Scripture intending the profession of one's belief (1Ti 6:12), which may be genuine or eventually discover not genuine, and this is where most of the confusion lies. We start with our profession and if it's genuine it will never stop, thus when one stops confessing faith, that is, leaves the outward practice of it and never returns, the profession was not genuine, thus the person was not reborn (apostatize).

Therefore it's my understanding that one who "departs" (1Ti 4:1) or "falls away" (2Th 2:3) it is one who is willingly ceasing from a hypocritical profession, e.g. leaving not salvation but a false profession of salvation, because only genuine professions continue without ceasing.

Good example might be Jhn 15:1, Jesus used the phrase "Every branch in Me":

Gill- "There are two sorts of branches in Christ the vine; the one sort are such who have only an historical faith in him, believe but for a time, and are removed; they are such who only profess to believe in him, as Simon Magus did; are in him by profession only; they submit to outward ordinances, become church members, and so are reckoned to be in Christ, being in a church state, as the churches of Judea and Thessalonica, and others, are said, in general, to he in Christ; though it is not to be thought that every individual person in these churches were truly and savingly in him. These branches are unfruitful ones; what fruit they seemed to have, withers away, and proves not to be genuine fruit; what fruit they bring forth is to themselves, and not to the glory of God, being none of the fruits of his Spirit and grace."
John 15 Bible Commentary - John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible
 
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marks

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Therefore it's my understanding that one who "departs" (1Ti 4:1) or "falls away" (2Th 2:3) it is one who is willingly ceasing from a hypocritical profession, e.g. leaving not salvation but a false profession of salvation, because only genuine professions continue without ceasing.

Pastor Chuck Smith, formerly of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, teached for many years about the permanence of our salvation. But in his later years, he departed from that teaching, and embraced the teaching that we might stop abiding in Christ, and in so doing be lost.

He gave as primary reason for his change of heart the story of Charles Templeton. This was a man who was friends with Billy Graham. Charles Templeton was a man who had 5 different careers over the course of his life, most Language based. Speaker, writer, like that.

He was invited to cover for someone who couldn't make it, and discovered an ability to share the Gospel with people. Soon he, like Billy Graham, was doing arena evangelism, with great effect. After a time, he and his friend Billy decided to attend seminary together. Partway through, Charles Templeton dropped out, and left that life. And after some years, he wrote a book titled "Farewell to God", dismissing Christianity entirely.

And Pastor Chuck looked at this man, and said, there is a man who was born again, Spirit filled, who walked away, and was lost. Sitting there listening to him teach this, well, I knew that didn't match the Bible, and I wanted to learn more about the man Charles Templeton.

It turned out his son had a website as a memorial for his father, included a number of writings from Charles.

As I read through these, looking for answers, Charles Templeton was very clear about what had gone on.

He loved speaking to crowds, and was very good at it. The opportunity to preach the Gospel came, and so that's what he did. When he went to seminary, he began to learn what the Bible said other than the basics of the Gospel. He learned about ex nihilo creation, the miracles, the virgin birth, all of these, and he didn't believe in the miraculous. So he left, and did something else.

He was pretty clear about it, he had never believed. Only, he was a talented speaker.

Pastor Chuck overthrew the pure doctrine received from the Word of God in favor of his opinions about how he perceived Charles Templeton.

We need to stick with the Word!

Much love!
 
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Netchaplain

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We need to stick with the Word!
Thanks and Amen! If we maintain a consistent exposure and study in It, we will continue to "grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2Pe 3:18). The more the exposure, the more the growth; esp. if you have a couple good Bible commentators that your sure uses nothing but the Word.
 

Desire Of All Nations

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Excluding the factual errors in your argument, you are teaching a far more serious and less understandable error that renders the whole argument as a lie: you're teaching lies about an inconsistent God(Mal. 3:6, Jas. 1:17). Nobody under the former covenant was ever forgiven of their sins against God via works:

"For if Abraham was justified(forgiven) by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” - Rom. 4:3

"But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies(forgives) the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness(forgiveness) apart from works:'Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
And whose sins are covered; Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin
(Psa. 32:1-2)'.”

Does
this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness(forgiveness of sins). - Rom. 4:9

"For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: 'Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure(Psa. 40:6-8).'" - Heb. 10:4-6

Receiving God's grace without doing anything to earn it is not just NT theology, even though many Romanists foolishly believe that to be the case. It has been that way for as long as human beings existed, as Paul taught in Rom. 4:3. If anyone ever received God's grace by doing something to deserve it, they'd be able to boast about it. But as the Bible teaches in passages like Rom. 3:23-24, nobody can do that because nobody deserves it. The moment somebody has to earn God's forgiveness with works, grace stops being a gift.
 

post

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If i can lose my salvation then the life Christ gave me was temporary, not eternal, and He is found a liar.

What kind of hope is eternal insecurity?
But we have an anchor for the soul, a Lord upon whom we can depend, who is mighty to save to the uttermost