Post by biblethumper on Apr 23, 2006 18:27:33 GMT -5
Eternal Security for the Believer:
By Dan Lirette
Today we deal with an issue whcih is HIGHLY debated amongst Christians of various denominational backgrounds....
This is the issue of Perseverance of the Saints versus the doctrine which teaches that once you become Born Again you can become UN-Born Again.
In this letter, we're going to attempt to bring the ICM spin on the topic.
Forget Calvin and Arminian and Macarthur and Corner!
Let's start and FINISH at the Word of God.
Ok, here goes....
1- Can a TRUE Christian become a NON Christian through sin/falling away/denying the faith?
Answer:
Most reading this article have ALREADY given an answer in their minds, because they ALREADY believe that they know what the Bible teaches on this subject; if this is you, be it far from me to encourage you to read further....you have already come to your own conclusion.
For those who do NOT know what Scripture teaches on this answer, let's start by saying this:
a) When you become a Christian you become a Child of God...correct?
Yes.
John 1:12-13
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Ok, right here we see that once you receive Jesus Christ you become, immediately, a Child of God.
If you have a child can you then STOP being the child's parent?
Of course not!
You may stop DOING what a parent should do for their child (food, clothing, etc etc) but you're tied by BLOOD, and you CANNOT "stop" being that child's parent.
1Peter 1:18-19
orasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot
You see it?
The BLOOD of Jesus Christ has REDDEMED YOU.
Easton's Bible Dictionary states Redemption as this:
Redemption: the purchase back of something that had been lost, by the payment of a ransom. The Greek word so rendered is _apolutrosis_, a word occurring nine times in Scripture, and always with the idea of a ransom or price paid, i.e., redemption by a lutron (see Matt. 20:28; Mark 10:45). There are instances in the LXX. Version of the Old Testament of the use of _lutron_ in man's relation to man (Lev. 19:20; 25:51; Ex. 21:30; Num. 35:31, 32; Isa. 45:13; Prov. 6:35), and in the same sense of man's relation to God (Num. 3:49; 18:15).There are many passages in the New Testament which represent Christ's sufferings under the idea of a ransom or price, and the result thereby secured is a purchase or redemption (comp. Acts 20:28; 1 Cor. 6:19, 20; Gal. 3:13; 4:4, 5; Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14; 1 Tim. 2:5, 6; Titus 2:14; Heb. 9:12; 1 Pet. 1:18, 19; Rev. 5:9). The idea running through all these texts, however various their reference, is that of payment made for our redemption. The debt against us is not viewed as simply cancelled, but is fully paid. Christ's blood or life, which he surrendered for them, is the "ransom" by which the deliverance of his people from the servitude of sin and from its penal consequences is secured. It is the plain doctrine of Scripture that "Christ saves us neither by the mere exercise of power, nor by his doctrine, nor by his example, nor by the moral influence which he exerted, nor by any subjective influence on his people, whether natural or mystical, but as a satisfaction to divine justice, as an expiation for sin, and as a ransom from the curse and authority of the law, thus reconciling us to God by making it consistent with his perfection to exercise mercy toward sinners" (Hodge's Systematic Theology).
When one becomes a genuine Child of God through Faith alone in Jesus Christ, his or her sins are FULLY paid, thus requiring NOTHING MORE to secure Salvation....
We are saved by the BLOOD of Jesus, REDEEMED FULLY by that Blood and our sins are PIAD IN FULL by that Blood.
Once you become a Child of God....well, God is your FATHER, and how can GOD, who is Holy and Perfect and LOVING, cease being your FATHER?
Some would argue that is a Christian goes back into sin and falls away from serving the Lord that that person is again LOST and NOT a Chrisian anymore.
Such an argument is faulty, as the following will show:
John 10:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
You see, when you become a Child of God, NO ONE can pluck you from the Mighty Hand of Almighty God!
Not only THAT, but Jesus SPECIFICALLY states that you will NEVER perish.... either never means NEVER or it doesn't!
Another Scriptural text states the same:
Romans 8:
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
a) God FOREKNEW YOU:
This means BEFORE you were born God KNEW YOU PERSONALLY!
b) God PREDESTINATED YOU to be conformed to the image of CHRIST!
What does this word "predesinate" mean?
From: www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary (Miriam-Webster)
Main Entry: 1pre·des·ti·nate
Pronunciation: prE-'des-t&-n&t, -"nAt
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin praedestinatus, past participle of praedestinare
: destined, fated, or determined beforehand
Beloved, God determined BEFOREHAND that you would be saved!
You have been PREdestined by God if truly you have been BORN OF GOD!
c) God CALLED YOU!
If God has CALLED YOU then you’re literally hooked up” to the GREATEST POWER SOURCE KNOWN IN TIME AND IN ETERNITY!
1 Corinthians 1:23-24: We preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
CHRIST is your power and your wisdom if truly you have been CALLED OF GOD!
And what does Christ DO IN YOU if truly you have been CALLED?
d) The TRULY Called of God are JUSTIFIED!
Think of it this way:
Justfied: Just-As-If-I’d never sinned!
If you’re a Child of the Most High God then Jesus Christ’s death on the Cross PAID FOR YOUR ETERNAL LIFE!
HIS Deah becomes YOUR Life!
The Called are JUSTIFIED!
Romans 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
JUSTIFICATION….Of LIFE!
You are JUSTIFIED and have LIFE…not death!
What happens to those who are Justified?
Can the Justified LOSE their Justification?
Can they LOSE what God has FREELY given them?
Romans 8:30 again:
“…and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
e) If you’re JUSTIFIED then God will GLORIFY you!
To be glorified is to have an immortal and incorruptible Heavenly body! In short, to be GLORIFIED is to be in HEAVEN!
Here’s what Matthew henry’s Commentary states on this particular point of interest:
Whom he justified, them he also glorified. The power of corruption being broken in effectual calling, and the guilt of sin removed in justification, nothing can come between that soul and glory. This encourages our faith and hope; for, as for God, his way, his work, is perfect. The apostle speaks as one amazed, and swallowed up in admiration, wondering at the height and depth, and length and breadth, of the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge. The more we know of other things, the less we wonder; but the further we are led into gospel mysteries, the more we are affected by them. While God is for us, and we keep in his love, we may with holy boldness defy all the powers of darkness.
You see, friend, if you’re a Child of God and are TRULY BORN AGAIN then you have only GOD to fear…not man’s false ideas and smokescreens of “you better be good or God won’t love you anymore” ….
You CANNOT stop being a Christian once you have been Redeemed by Jesus Christ!
I mean, think about it! The ENTIRE CHRISTIAN LIFE is wrapped up in Romans 8:28-30!
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
READ THAT AGAIN!
From BEFORE BIRTH to AFTER DEATH our lives are literally SET for us by our Loving Heavenly Father!
How clearer can our father be in how much Eternal Security means to Him and how much He desires to give that assurance to US, His Beloved?!
Child of God, DO NOT FEAR! God is with you!
Man will give you a thousand verses scattered here and there on “how a Christian can fall from BEING a Christian” and yet God’s WORD says:
Romans 8:35-39
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
NOTE: I believe the above FULLY....however, let me finish by saying that I believe there is ONE exception, and that is what we call the blasphemy of the Holy Ghost, which I believe can be committed by a Christian...which is NOT "backsliding" ...I believe one who makes a deliberate and conscious decision to turn from Christ and His Blood cannot return to Salvation....
Boy, that's a whole other topic! We'll chat about that later lol
By Dan Lirette
Today we deal with an issue whcih is HIGHLY debated amongst Christians of various denominational backgrounds....
This is the issue of Perseverance of the Saints versus the doctrine which teaches that once you become Born Again you can become UN-Born Again.
In this letter, we're going to attempt to bring the ICM spin on the topic.
Forget Calvin and Arminian and Macarthur and Corner!
Let's start and FINISH at the Word of God.
Ok, here goes....
1- Can a TRUE Christian become a NON Christian through sin/falling away/denying the faith?
Answer:
Most reading this article have ALREADY given an answer in their minds, because they ALREADY believe that they know what the Bible teaches on this subject; if this is you, be it far from me to encourage you to read further....you have already come to your own conclusion.
For those who do NOT know what Scripture teaches on this answer, let's start by saying this:
a) When you become a Christian you become a Child of God...correct?
Yes.
John 1:12-13
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Ok, right here we see that once you receive Jesus Christ you become, immediately, a Child of God.
If you have a child can you then STOP being the child's parent?
Of course not!
You may stop DOING what a parent should do for their child (food, clothing, etc etc) but you're tied by BLOOD, and you CANNOT "stop" being that child's parent.
1Peter 1:18-19
orasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot
You see it?
The BLOOD of Jesus Christ has REDDEMED YOU.
Easton's Bible Dictionary states Redemption as this:
Redemption: the purchase back of something that had been lost, by the payment of a ransom. The Greek word so rendered is _apolutrosis_, a word occurring nine times in Scripture, and always with the idea of a ransom or price paid, i.e., redemption by a lutron (see Matt. 20:28; Mark 10:45). There are instances in the LXX. Version of the Old Testament of the use of _lutron_ in man's relation to man (Lev. 19:20; 25:51; Ex. 21:30; Num. 35:31, 32; Isa. 45:13; Prov. 6:35), and in the same sense of man's relation to God (Num. 3:49; 18:15).There are many passages in the New Testament which represent Christ's sufferings under the idea of a ransom or price, and the result thereby secured is a purchase or redemption (comp. Acts 20:28; 1 Cor. 6:19, 20; Gal. 3:13; 4:4, 5; Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14; 1 Tim. 2:5, 6; Titus 2:14; Heb. 9:12; 1 Pet. 1:18, 19; Rev. 5:9). The idea running through all these texts, however various their reference, is that of payment made for our redemption. The debt against us is not viewed as simply cancelled, but is fully paid. Christ's blood or life, which he surrendered for them, is the "ransom" by which the deliverance of his people from the servitude of sin and from its penal consequences is secured. It is the plain doctrine of Scripture that "Christ saves us neither by the mere exercise of power, nor by his doctrine, nor by his example, nor by the moral influence which he exerted, nor by any subjective influence on his people, whether natural or mystical, but as a satisfaction to divine justice, as an expiation for sin, and as a ransom from the curse and authority of the law, thus reconciling us to God by making it consistent with his perfection to exercise mercy toward sinners" (Hodge's Systematic Theology).
When one becomes a genuine Child of God through Faith alone in Jesus Christ, his or her sins are FULLY paid, thus requiring NOTHING MORE to secure Salvation....
We are saved by the BLOOD of Jesus, REDEEMED FULLY by that Blood and our sins are PIAD IN FULL by that Blood.
Once you become a Child of God....well, God is your FATHER, and how can GOD, who is Holy and Perfect and LOVING, cease being your FATHER?
Some would argue that is a Christian goes back into sin and falls away from serving the Lord that that person is again LOST and NOT a Chrisian anymore.
Such an argument is faulty, as the following will show:
John 10:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
You see, when you become a Child of God, NO ONE can pluck you from the Mighty Hand of Almighty God!
Not only THAT, but Jesus SPECIFICALLY states that you will NEVER perish.... either never means NEVER or it doesn't!
Another Scriptural text states the same:
Romans 8:
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
a) God FOREKNEW YOU:
This means BEFORE you were born God KNEW YOU PERSONALLY!
b) God PREDESTINATED YOU to be conformed to the image of CHRIST!
What does this word "predesinate" mean?
From: www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary (Miriam-Webster)
Main Entry: 1pre·des·ti·nate
Pronunciation: prE-'des-t&-n&t, -"nAt
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin praedestinatus, past participle of praedestinare
: destined, fated, or determined beforehand
Beloved, God determined BEFOREHAND that you would be saved!
You have been PREdestined by God if truly you have been BORN OF GOD!
c) God CALLED YOU!
If God has CALLED YOU then you’re literally hooked up” to the GREATEST POWER SOURCE KNOWN IN TIME AND IN ETERNITY!
1 Corinthians 1:23-24: We preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
CHRIST is your power and your wisdom if truly you have been CALLED OF GOD!
And what does Christ DO IN YOU if truly you have been CALLED?
d) The TRULY Called of God are JUSTIFIED!
Think of it this way:
Justfied: Just-As-If-I’d never sinned!
If you’re a Child of the Most High God then Jesus Christ’s death on the Cross PAID FOR YOUR ETERNAL LIFE!
HIS Deah becomes YOUR Life!
The Called are JUSTIFIED!
Romans 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
JUSTIFICATION….Of LIFE!
You are JUSTIFIED and have LIFE…not death!
What happens to those who are Justified?
Can the Justified LOSE their Justification?
Can they LOSE what God has FREELY given them?
Romans 8:30 again:
“…and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
e) If you’re JUSTIFIED then God will GLORIFY you!
To be glorified is to have an immortal and incorruptible Heavenly body! In short, to be GLORIFIED is to be in HEAVEN!
Here’s what Matthew henry’s Commentary states on this particular point of interest:
Whom he justified, them he also glorified. The power of corruption being broken in effectual calling, and the guilt of sin removed in justification, nothing can come between that soul and glory. This encourages our faith and hope; for, as for God, his way, his work, is perfect. The apostle speaks as one amazed, and swallowed up in admiration, wondering at the height and depth, and length and breadth, of the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge. The more we know of other things, the less we wonder; but the further we are led into gospel mysteries, the more we are affected by them. While God is for us, and we keep in his love, we may with holy boldness defy all the powers of darkness.
You see, friend, if you’re a Child of God and are TRULY BORN AGAIN then you have only GOD to fear…not man’s false ideas and smokescreens of “you better be good or God won’t love you anymore” ….
You CANNOT stop being a Christian once you have been Redeemed by Jesus Christ!
I mean, think about it! The ENTIRE CHRISTIAN LIFE is wrapped up in Romans 8:28-30!
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
READ THAT AGAIN!
From BEFORE BIRTH to AFTER DEATH our lives are literally SET for us by our Loving Heavenly Father!
How clearer can our father be in how much Eternal Security means to Him and how much He desires to give that assurance to US, His Beloved?!
Child of God, DO NOT FEAR! God is with you!
Man will give you a thousand verses scattered here and there on “how a Christian can fall from BEING a Christian” and yet God’s WORD says:
Romans 8:35-39
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
NOTE: I believe the above FULLY....however, let me finish by saying that I believe there is ONE exception, and that is what we call the blasphemy of the Holy Ghost, which I believe can be committed by a Christian...which is NOT "backsliding" ...I believe one who makes a deliberate and conscious decision to turn from Christ and His Blood cannot return to Salvation....
Boy, that's a whole other topic! We'll chat about that later lol