Bible Discussion Thread

Verse 51- "Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death". This is such a powerful verse. there are so many people out there who are falsely claiming that once a person is saved they are always saved. They will say that disobedience to Christ will lead to chastisement or physical death, but, they are eternally secure. However, this could not be further from the truth and makes Christ out to be a liar. Very interesting that Christ says IF a man keeps his sayings they shall never see death, which is spiritual death. I just had a guy yesterday try telling me that all "true believers" will keep his sayings. However, my question is why did Christ not say that? And, why did Paul write in Romans 2:6-9 "Who will render to every man according to his deeds:To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:"? Paul knew there would be those in the church who would use their liberty in Christ as a license to sin, which is why he specifically warned BELIEVERS against walking away from Christ. He is 100% clear that salvation is conditional. He further highlights this in Gal. 5: 1-4 "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free (true believers), and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." Notice, we as (true) believers can be SEVERED from Christ and fallen from grace. If Christ is the only way to Heaven, how can think we are eternally secure if God's very word warns against it? The OSAS crowd can't prove the Bible teaches "true" believers will automatically endure to the end. We must follow the spirit and never walk away of an evil heart of unbelief!!

Erich,

Thanks for your explanation. As a believer we all should be serious about imitating Christ in our behaviors. That is our primary call.

The Holy Spirit does correct us and urge us to return to this when we stray from obedience to His commands and fall into sinful behavior that weakens our resolve to refuse sinful temptations. I am not a OSAS person, but I do trust God has the power to keep me.

In regards to those who do fall away as not being truly saved, I do no hold to that. I have three sons who believed the gospel and trusted Jesus up into their early teens and walked away from Him. Do I tell them that even though they believed they were not really saved? To me this makes God out to be a liar and a trickster to our children who grow up in belief in Jesus and walk away. Would telling them that encourage them to want to put their trust in such a God like that?

I continue to pray for my sons to return to the Lord like the prodigal. I believe that God desires the same for them and will draw them back to him in His timing.