I would have to say that the contexts will show that Paul was not talking of his salvation. Even the figure he used to make his point speaks of competing for a prize. And that is not even close to what he preached about salvation and eternal life.
Tong
R2830
What is the point of Paul that he was making in giving them the figure of one who runs to compete in a race in v.24-25? It’s not to be saved, for sure. He said he runs thus. And he does so obviously to get the reward, the prize. Is that referring to salvation as the prize? No.
To both of these I say, ***wishful thinking***
So, you acknowledge there are so called Christians and there are true Christians. That’s good. Now perhaps you can address my question, which you haven’t done so:
”Will a true Christian reject Jesus Christ, Him whom he said he had sincerely and truly received, accepted, and believed in his heart? If one does reject Jesus after accepting him, what does that make him out to be? A liar? A hypocrite? A false believer? What?”
Tong
R2834
The point I would make about this is that there are those who believe that they are true Christians, and eternally secure, who do not have a living and saving faith in Jesus Christ.
So, the question is, how can we address their situation so that they will not place their trust in eternal security and so that they can be saved for that their false hope is taken away (so that they can replace it with a true and living hope?)
See we who don't have to pretend we are perfect like the deceived <fify> do,
Personally, I know that I don't have to be perfect to be accepted in the Beloved. My sins are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. However, as one who has lived a Romans 7:14-25 lifestyle as a Christian, I have become discontented with living such a lifestyle (Romans 7:24) and therefore the doctrine of entire sanctification strikes me as being "good news" because when I do sin, I become afflicted in my conscience.
But because I walk in the light as He is in the light, the blood of Jesus cleanses me of all sin as I confess my sins. When the Holy Spirit pinpoints sin to my awareness, I do not deny that it is sin (1 John 1:8). But I also know that the moment I confess it, I am cleansed from that unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
YOU see God as an angry tyrant sitting in heaven ready to fry you with a thunderbolt if you screw up just once
That is exactly what He is...the only thing that prevents Him from frying anyone is the fact that His wrath has been appeased through the propitiation of Christ.
No believer is a slave to sin, but we still commit sin.
Is that what the Bible teaches?
Jhn 8:34, Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
I believe that it is saying that sin has an addictive element to it, so that if you sin even once, the element of addiction kicks in.
If one appears to be walking in faith and departs from the faith, the bible makes it explicitly clear that they did not lose their salvation, but it says they never had salvation to begin with!
We can have salvation from sin (Matthew 1:21, Titus 2:14) and the kingdom of hell for a season and yet not be saved eternally from the fate of hell.
In Luke 8:12-13, it should be clear, in verse 12, that the one who believes is saved (as well as in Ephesians 2:8-9). And, in verse 13, it is clear that there are those who "
believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away."
Also, there are those who "
stand by faith" (Romans 11:20); who, if they do not continue in the goodness of the Lord, will be "
cut off" (Romans 11:20-22).
I fully agree. but I have yet to meet or hear of that person , and that includes the three here who pretend they have ceased from sinning.
And, do you think that I am one of those three? I am not. I merely contend for the idea that a person is able to cease from sinning in the power of the Holy Ghost. I don't think that I have arrived to that state; which does not preclude that I have not arrived to that state.
If they are a kleptomaniac- they know they are stealing.
Kleptomania (klep-toe-MAY-nee-uh) is the recurrent inability to resist urges to steal items that you generally don't really need and that usually have little value. Kleptomania is a rare but serious mental health disorder that can cause much emotional pain to you and your loved ones if not treated
they know what they are doing, they just have lost control to stop themselves from doing it (more often than not that is demonic oppression)
I do believe that the thefts committed by kleptomaniacs are often done unconsciously and there may be times when they steal and do not even realize that they have done so. In those instances, I would count their sin as non-willful.
To make any kind of judgment without first gathering facts is presumptiousness and that is sin. You judged without first asking why. You sinned.
Since I do not claim that I do not ever sin, that is really a moot point.
Because whether or not I specifically sin is irrelevant to the discussion of whether the Bible teaches or does not teach that we can be set free from committing sin in our lives.
No doubt, if I didn't sin, it would be a very real proof that my position on the matter is valid.
But the fact that I do sin has no bearing on the teaching of the Bible. The Bible is set apart from people. If people who preach its doctrines have not yet been affected by those doctrines so that they are examples of what those doctrines teach in their own lives, that is not a proof that the Bible doesn't teach those doctrines.
Well I am a candidate as well. But I also know that I am already perfected forver by decree of God!
Only if you have already been sanctified (Hebrews 10:14 (kjv)). And I would compare Hebrews 10:10,14 to 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (kjv) and venture to say that it is saying, Only if you are sanctified wholly.
True saving faith faith requires nothing on our part!
It requires believing.