I have shared on other threads how I suffered so much condemnation after I got saved. One of the things that I cringe at in many threads is that if we continue in sin after salvation then we are not truly saved. This is how I used to believe and my salvation was such a burden on me that I never lived in the Joy of it but rather lived in constant fear of losing it.
Here are some questions that I sought the Lord on after being set free of condemnation....
1. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son and that whosoever believes on Him shall not perish but have everlasting life....
2. Romans 10:6-11
6But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down
from above:)
7Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
8But what saith it? The word is nigh thee,
even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
3.
John 3:1-7. “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again”
4. The Bible is clear that all people are God’s creation (
Colossians 1:16), and that God loves the entire world (
John 3:16), but only those who are born again are children of God (
John 1:12;
11:52;
Romans 8:16;
1 John 3:1-10).
There are more scriptures but here are my questions:
1. Believe on Him and you will not perish but have everlasting life.....this scripture does not say anything about confessing with our mouth and believe in our heart that Jesus is the Son of God....simply believe....so does this contradict the Romans 6:9?
2. Confess with your mouth and believe with your heart.....So now this scripture you have to put action into your salvation.....why did it change?
3. Being born again.....if you are born how is it possible to become UNBORN?
4. Born again people become children of God......so that indicates He is no longer "God" but He is now "Father".....does a Father abandon His children when they sin or mess up?
Salvation is a gift to us and when we receive it into our lives it is suppose to set us free and to liberate us from the curse of sin and death.....why do people try to make it such a burden for others to bear? Jesus says to come to Him as we are....cast our burdens on Him....He will begin changing those things in our lives as our heart changes. Is it instantaneous? I haven't been able to grasp that we never STOP sinning....whether in thought, word or deed......I am constantly asking the Holy Spirit to reveal anything in my heart that is hindering my walk with Him....just last year I realized I had a spirit of religious pride.....Pride is a sin....I am still coming into the knowledge of unforgiveness towards someone from years past that I had forgotten about but the Holy Spirit revealed it to me....Unforgiveness is a sin....and there have been times when God told me to do this or not do that and I disobeyed....Disobedience is a sin.....(these are just a few) So what hope is there for anyone who is saved if they immediately have to have a perfect walk in righteousness without sin like Jesus did.
My conclusion is that we are born again of spirit but the flesh is still in its corruptive state and this is where we have to daily crucify the flesh for it wars against our spirit to fulfill it's lustful desires.....but it is a WAR not a picnic.....when I sin I am miserable and I cry out to my Father and ask for forgiveness and pray that He helps me in my weakness....and He is faithful to forgive me each and every time.
Does this make me an OSAS believer? Only to the point that the only way I am going to lose my salvation is to denounce Jesus as my Lord.
Our Father never intended for our Salvation to be a burden on us.....It is our hope, our peace and our joy to receive such a great gift.