Should we hope for salvation if we're saved ?...... yes or no correct version.
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W
have in the present tense, being saved, God is faithful and will not turn back from His covenant, its all about man's patience, faith, continuance and he that endures to the end the SAME shall be saved. Jesus said IF ye continue in my word. Some have turned away from steadfast faithfulness to God and went back to the world like Demos did, who was a fellow labourer with Paul.....
W
The full weight of scripture must be brought to the table, not a few pet verses here and there taken out of context hoping to establish doctrine. There are at least 85 verses in the NT alone that imply one can fall away from the faith and loose his salvation, these must be weighed in the balance of things, if not the heart is still self seeking and contains unperged guile therein.
Sometimes it seems that many people have lost all understanding of what a covenant between two parties actually is. All of ones possessions are given to the other, as they become one..(marriage for example). In the case of the New Covenant/Testement ,God’s grace is offered up, and with man’s it’s his faith that is offered up, thus both become one through the covenant of reconciliation ,(Eph. 2-8-10) Man working together with God in a covenant relationship of love that CANNOT BE REALISED BY ANY OTER MEANS.... In COVENATAbrams’ name was changed to Abraham, and God became the God of Abraham. God offers His grace (empowerment of the Spirit), and man offers his faith (faithful obedience to God) neither of these can transact apart from love. Both parties are to be without guile and done in earnest. Thus we receive the earnest of God’s Spirit (the promise of continuance in good blessings) I don’t think any would argue that God is incapable of breaking His part of the covenant because He cannot lie and is true and faithfull. However, man can, and does break the covenant thus departing from such agreed conditions, hence forth a broken covenant is of none effect (bible 101)…The Penal Substitution Myth has kidnapped Covenant theology in the minds of men who seek to break covenant but still want the blessings and precious promises , just as Esau did. A profane one as Esau, who despised his birthright and sold it for earthly things, yet still wanted to receive the blessing of that birthright from Isaac.
The finished works on the cross is what constituted the new covenant. “it is finished”, “ie” the way of salvation through repentance and reconciliation had been established . All man has to do is get in on it, but not by his conditions, but rather by God’s conditions, who is the giver of the covenant. Some men are so foolish and yet wise in their own conceits, as to perceive they can break covenant with God and still have the preciouses promises and future blessings..It truly boggles one’s mind if pondered upon such folly..
Often times in the text covenant with God is compared to the marriage between a man and a women..
It’s laken to a foolish man having affairs with other women and expecting his wife to be tolerant and forgiving while he continues in his vile sins of the flesh. No! the adultery has to stop in repentance or it will never stop, if not the covenant will have been broken permanently and the women is no longer under any covenant obligation, nor should she be..
Sometimes it seems that many people have lost all understanding of what a covenant between two parties actually is. All of ones possessions are given to the other, as they become one..(marriage for example). In the case of the New Covenant/Testement ,God’s grace is offered up, and with man’s it’s his faith that is offered up, thus both become one through the covenant of reconciliation ,(Eph. 2-8-10) Man working together with God in a covenant relationship of love that CANNOT BE REALISED BY ANY OTER MEANS.... In COVENATAbrams’ name was changed to Abraham, and God became the God of Abraham. God offers His grace (empowerment of the Spirit), and man offers his faith (faithful obedience to God) neither of these can transact apart from love. Both parties are to be without guile and done in earnest. Thus we receive the earnest of God’s Spirit (the promise of continuance in good blessings) I don’t think any would argue that God is incapable of breaking His part of the covenant because He cannot lie and is true and faithfull. However, man can, and does break the covenant thus departing from such agreed conditions, hence forth a broken covenant is of none effect (bible 101)…The Penal Substitution Myth has kidnapped Covenant theology in the minds of men who seek to break covenant but still want the blessings and precious promises , just as Esau did. A profane one as Esau, who despised his birthright and sold it for earthly things, yet still wanted to receive the blessing of that birthright from Isaac.
The finished works on the cross is what constituted the new covenant. “it is finished”, “ie” the way of salvation through repentance and reconciliation had been established . All man has to do is get in on it, but not by his conditions, but rather by God’s conditions, who is the giver of the covenant. Some men are so foolish and yet wise in their own conceits, as to perceive they can break covenant with God and still have the preciouses promises and future blessings..It truly boggles one’s mind if pondered upon such folly..
Often times in the text covenant with God is compared to the marriage between a man and a women..
It’s laken to a foolish man having affairs with other women and expecting his wife to be tolerant and forgiving while he continues in his vile sins of the flesh. No! the adultery has to stop in repentance or it will never stop, if not the covenant will have been broken permanently and the women is no longer under any covenant obligation, nor should she be..
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W
The terms Born again, and saved, are based on abiding in the faith. If one is committing the sins of the flesh that Paul said would disqualify one from inheriting the kingdom the branch is no longer abiding in the Vine and thus drops to the ground and are gathered and burned in the fire of indignation..The whole world is on fire right now. The fire is the word of God, it either consumes the wicked ('ie" sinners) or it purifies the righteous...A greater one than John came and He baptizes with the Holy Ghost and with fire..The fire is also persecution, in that it causes the wicked to persecute the righteous ("ie" Cain and Able) Cain killed his brother because his works were evil and his brothers were righteous. Those who love their sin and still call for salvation are those down through the centuries that have persecuted the true believers of the Christian faith..This is what the Puritan's did unto the Friends/Quakers who lived righteous....The Catholic to the Waldesians etc. etc..The formal Institutionalised Church has been the greatest persecutor of the common salvation once delivered to the true Christian saints..
E
Faith is the substance of things HOPE FOR. the evidence of things not seen.
YThe only wy to lose FAITH is to lose HOPE.
the only way to lose HOPE in eternal life, is to take your eyes of God and to place them on yourselves (meaning you have just trusted in a works oriented salvation based on prety much how good you are. Which is the base or default mindset of the human race, proven by the fact that all world religions with the exception of true Christianity (including Judaism, Islam, and many christian denominations).
Which means, You have gone with what is normal human thinking, which begs the question, Did you EVER have faiht in God at all? or was it just a perceived faith, which had no root at all.
I think scripture is clear. It was never a true saving faith, it was just a percieved faith which had no root.
1. A dog returns to his own vomit, A person who's default function is good people get to heaven, if we work hard enough we will make it, Then finds Christianity, yet returns to his default function of works,, Was a dog, and still is a dog.. He was never born again.
2. A Jew, Who was raised and trusted in law. Who hears the gospel message, and seems to have received it, Then returns to law. (having fallen away) also. was a dog, Was still a dog when he professed he was a christian, Yet could only act like a christian for so long, he will always return to his vomit (law)
A person who has hope in God, and true faith, is made a new creature, His faith was real. He realised and repented from being a dog, and having faith in himself. That part of his "default" reasoning was destroyed by the gospel. and he was made new.
He will not return like a dog to his vomit, Because he is no longer a dog.
For this reason, HE WILL NEVER LOSE FAITH. because he will NEVER LOSE HOPE.
YThe only wy to lose FAITH is to lose HOPE.
the only way to lose HOPE in eternal life, is to take your eyes of God and to place them on yourselves (meaning you have just trusted in a works oriented salvation based on prety much how good you are. Which is the base or default mindset of the human race, proven by the fact that all world religions with the exception of true Christianity (including Judaism, Islam, and many christian denominations).
Which means, You have gone with what is normal human thinking, which begs the question, Did you EVER have faiht in God at all? or was it just a perceived faith, which had no root at all.
I think scripture is clear. It was never a true saving faith, it was just a percieved faith which had no root.
1. A dog returns to his own vomit, A person who's default function is good people get to heaven, if we work hard enough we will make it, Then finds Christianity, yet returns to his default function of works,, Was a dog, and still is a dog.. He was never born again.
2. A Jew, Who was raised and trusted in law. Who hears the gospel message, and seems to have received it, Then returns to law. (having fallen away) also. was a dog, Was still a dog when he professed he was a christian, Yet could only act like a christian for so long, he will always return to his vomit (law)
A person who has hope in God, and true faith, is made a new creature, His faith was real. He realised and repented from being a dog, and having faith in himself. That part of his "default" reasoning was destroyed by the gospel. and he was made new.
He will not return like a dog to his vomit, Because he is no longer a dog.
For this reason, HE WILL NEVER LOSE FAITH. because he will NEVER LOSE HOPE.
willybob hi 
This is true for most apart from losing your salvation... (seariously i dont think you can lose it untill the final harvest... (it has to be this way my friend cause what hope would there be for the sinners if it was anything else...
Now that said we can choose to follow all the way until the end,,, or as you well know we can choose divorce. now even then God may come and find you, this is called being saved until the end... providing i feel not makeing one of his little ones stumble... like a dirty evil pedofile who does exactly that to a child.
I know i have to let go of this but forgivness comes from God and is a fruit of his own to.. but put me in a field amongst the lot of them and if God wills it ill slaughter the lot of them.
cause they desesreve death in my book,,, but bang a message takes over its not my place to decides who lives and who dies but for alot of countries the death penalty still aplies.
we can either emergrate or stay under the laws of our land... me i would rather move some where free marriage is on offer from the church..
Now marriage is a blessing and not an oppertuninty to ask for more than ten percent... its an oppertunity to ask for donations tho... to give the couple a nice honey moon.. for now they have become one and took a holy vow befor God..
Now i repeat if one make theese two stumble...are they jusdt as bad as a frigging pedo.. no there aldults they can decipher from right and wrong... and they can defend themselves better,,, where as friggin aldult raping a child is either satan himself or the individual,,, i just dont know who to kill satan or my perprataor...
This is true for most apart from losing your salvation... (seariously i dont think you can lose it untill the final harvest... (it has to be this way my friend cause what hope would there be for the sinners if it was anything else...Now that said we can choose to follow all the way until the end,,, or as you well know we can choose divorce. now even then God may come and find you, this is called being saved until the end... providing i feel not makeing one of his little ones stumble... like a dirty evil pedofile who does exactly that to a child.
I know i have to let go of this but forgivness comes from God and is a fruit of his own to.. but put me in a field amongst the lot of them and if God wills it ill slaughter the lot of them.
cause they desesreve death in my book,,, but bang a message takes over its not my place to decides who lives and who dies but for alot of countries the death penalty still aplies.
we can either emergrate or stay under the laws of our land... me i would rather move some where free marriage is on offer from the church..
Now marriage is a blessing and not an oppertuninty to ask for more than ten percent... its an oppertunity to ask for donations tho... to give the couple a nice honey moon.. for now they have become one and took a holy vow befor God..
Now i repeat if one make theese two stumble...are they jusdt as bad as a frigging pedo.. no there aldults they can decipher from right and wrong... and they can defend themselves better,,, where as friggin aldult raping a child is either satan himself or the individual,,, i just dont know who to kill satan or my perprataor...
so in a nut shell jack the lad goes of into the world fck up on drugs lsd speed cocaine herorin... you name it..
Gets himself clean,,, goes nback to day one.. back on the crack again..
So finaly God breaks through and he is eternaly saved... this is my story God is my father..and i will stay with him. to the end.. i will ask for my daily bread..cause he is the way maker.. and the way,, and the light and the coold dude
Gets himself clean,,, goes nback to day one.. back on the crack again..
So finaly God breaks through and he is eternaly saved... this is my story God is my father..and i will stay with him. to the end.. i will ask for my daily bread..cause he is the way maker.. and the way,, and the light and the coold dude
And I bet there are an awful lot of people saying "Thank God for that"
All ive ever said is one can believe they will be saved untill the end if they follow Jesus daily... i never said you can lose it..... just you can give it away..(now not you personaly nut anyone...
Quite strange two new vote of answer four in one day... hmmm i wonder who has more than one profile here... ?
W
The sealing of the Holy Spirit of Promise, part 1
.”Ephesians 1:12 "who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”
The gift of eternal life is in Christ and all those who abide in Christ have the gift abiding in them. If they don't follow/obey Christ they don't have eternal life in them. This is the "earnest" of our inheritance “until" redemption of the purchased soul. (the sealing of the Holy Spirit of promise). The inheritance rests upon our keeping Covenant with God.
We are to serve God in whom holds the gift till our race is finish. Christ hasn't given the gift over to us yet, He holds onto that gift of eternal life until we finish the race. We are being tested here of our faithfulness to God.
Holiness and godly virtues are not transferable, but rather sets us apart unto God by recompense for our righteousness works of godliness from a heart of sincerity in this present world. Its biblically defined in scripture as "IF" you do this then God "will" do that, "ie" the conditions of Covenant. Covenant must consist of two parties, and each party must be holy. There are many scriptures that tell us to endure to the end, run the race, finish the course etc. Matthew 24:13; Hebrews 12:1; 2 Timothy 4:7; 1 Timothy 6:12; Galatians 5:7; Ephesians 4:1; Philippians 3:14; 1 Thessalonians 1:3
The Gift of eternal life is given as a reward to all those who finish the race and endure to the end. Rev22:12 And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.
The Holy Spirit and the Eternal Gift of Life is two different things. One is God's Spirit guiding us from our inner man along this life's journey to do that which is righteous, and the other is yet to be given to us. The Holy Spirit guides us to do the will of God He doesn't make us holy, but rather we are made holy by what we do in His name. Holiness is not transferable, but rather sets us apart unto God by recompense for our righteousness works of godliness from a heart of sincerity.
The gift of eternal life is in Christ and all those who abide in Christ have the gift abiding in them. If they don't follow/obey Christ they don't have eternal life in them. This is the "earnest" of our inheritance "until" redemption of the purchased soul (the sealing of the Holy Spirit of promise). We are to serve God in whom holds the gift till our race is finish.Christ hasn't given the gift over to us yet, He holds onto that gift of eternal life until we finish the race. We are being tested here of our faithfulness to God.
Having the seal of God is the Lord knowing those who depart from iniquity. This is how one becomes sealed by the Spirit and saved.
A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person. Psalms 101:4
The Holy Spirit of promise is Gods faithful promise of eternal salvation to us if we abide in Him.
Holy Spirit…the earnest> The Holy Spirit is an earnest. By the grace of God man makes a first settlement of what is owed through repentance, the debt is made void at the time of repentance and reconciliation takes place, for the wages of sin is death. Then he must abide in the faith until the end. Luke-16- "And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat take thy bill, and write fourscore"> the earnest of our inheritance> A clearing of past sins when one comes to the thrown of grace in the baptism of repentance, but we must "continue" in HIS word, enduring to the end, whereby we have hope of things not yet seen, and yearn to hear HIM say "well done my good and faithful servant". The Holy Spirit is given to believers as an installment of what we are going to have in great fullness in the future as we patiently await the full manifestation of the Sons of God at HIS 2nd coming (Romans 8). His presence and power in our lives is HIS faithful pledge of our inheritance to come (Rom. 8:23; 2 Cor. 1:22; 5:5). The sealing is Gods PROMISE that HE is true and faithful, and will keep HIS promised covenant, for it is impossible for God to lie. God was true and faithful to Old Testament Israel, but it was the children of Israel who broke the covenant promise, not God.
Here we observe that Paul speaks of those who first trusted Christ, and this they chose to do after they heard the word of truth. "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word". Trusting in our Saviour and His full pardon for our sins is a volitionary act, it is a voluntary freewill choice by each individual to receive the engrafted word that can save our souls, or reject it.
Those who believe, trusting in Christ, "abiding in the vine" keeping covenant, a faith proven by works, are then said to be sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise. The whole context here is that these who are sealed have placed their faithfulness to God in the LORD. The text says nothing of those who would depart from the Lord, which is a possibility according to the word (Heb. 3:12-14 1 1 Cor. 10-12, I Timothy 4-1, Cor. 15-3, Hebrews 10:26-31, Hebrews 6, 4,5,6 ).
"What is the seal?" The sealing of the Father is the HOLY NATURE OF GOD given to us in regeneration (2 Peter. 1:4).It is that new heart and new nature (Ezek. 36:26), that is given to the born again believers, now having a hedge of protection surrounding them. We are given this sealing for the purpose: that we may be made like unto Him in HOLINESS (Ephsians. 1:4; 2 Cor. 3:18; I Thess. 4:3,7; Hebrews. 12:14). Every child of God has this seal of holiness and shows it by worshipping the Lamb and following Him all the days of his life, by walking in righteousness set apart unto holiness walking within His hedge of protection. In 2 Timothy. 2:19: "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure; HAVING THIS SEAL, (the seal of holiness) The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, LET EVERY ONE THAT NAMETH THE NAME OF CHRIST DEPART FROM INIQUITY."
The scripture repeatedly warns over and over again of those who might depart from covenant faith, by not continuing to follow and obey Him to the end of their earthly lives; these will perish. Those who depart from Christ after knowing Him will have a worse time in hell than if they had never believed and been saved at all (2 Pet. 2:20-22 Luke 11-26). In the book of Ephesians, the sealing is clearly connected to one’s continuing in the word and trusting the LORD. Take notice that the word trusted appears before the word sealed, thus trusting/obeying from the heart in Jesus Christ fully precedes and is a conditon required before the sealing of the Holy Spirit of promise. The bible teaches us that a believer can stop believing, that sin can separate him from God, and that he can fall from grace (Isaiah 59:2; Luke 8:13; Galatians 5:4; 19-21; Hebrews 12:14-15, Hebrews 6, 4,5,6, Hebrews 10:26-31, Matthew 12-45, Matthew 13-41, Matthew 23-13, Rev. 21:8, 21 along with a multiple other places in scripture. I think there are over 80 verses that imply this in the NT alone.
According to Ephesians, the presence of the Holy Spirit is the earnest, a down payment or deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the final redemption of those believers who keep His commandments. The Holy Ghost will abide in them forever John 14-15,26 . This sealing and promise does not mean that the one who is blessed to be chosen and redeemed will continue to walk in the Gods grace and be saved in the end. Each believer has a continuing and ongoing choice to serve God, and is only of his/her own choice and no one else’s. God does not force the free will of men
(Gen. 6:3; Deut. 30:19; Isa. 1:19-20; Gal. 6:7-9; Rev. 2-3).
Let’s examine a passage found in the book of Hebrews. The Holy Spirit would never contradict Himself in His Word found in the whole council of God. To see that departing from Christ after trusting in Him is possible, let’s look at Hebrews 3:6, 12-15.
But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, IF we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end…Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you (brethren) an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, IF we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. Hebrews 3:6, 12-15
Being sealed does not exempt the person who has first trusted in Christ from continuing forward in obedient faith. He must hold his confidence in Christ stedfast unto the end, while not “departing from the living God.” The partaking of the vile sins of the flesh separate us from HIM. Therefore the one who endures to the end must remain in the grace of God, not an evil heart of unbelief, and becoming a castaway. A castaway is a biblical word for one who is cast away from God after being with Him, these are those who have left their first love in Christ.
The book of Jude speaks even of those angels who left their first habitation, they fell away in rebellion. Paul the writer of Eph. did not believe that he was unconditionally sealed into a salvation with no possibility of falling away from the faith. (1 Cor. 9:27; Heb. 3:6, 12-15).
“Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us.” 2 Corinthians 1:10
Willie
.”Ephesians 1:12 "who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”
The gift of eternal life is in Christ and all those who abide in Christ have the gift abiding in them. If they don't follow/obey Christ they don't have eternal life in them. This is the "earnest" of our inheritance “until" redemption of the purchased soul. (the sealing of the Holy Spirit of promise). The inheritance rests upon our keeping Covenant with God.
We are to serve God in whom holds the gift till our race is finish. Christ hasn't given the gift over to us yet, He holds onto that gift of eternal life until we finish the race. We are being tested here of our faithfulness to God.
Holiness and godly virtues are not transferable, but rather sets us apart unto God by recompense for our righteousness works of godliness from a heart of sincerity in this present world. Its biblically defined in scripture as "IF" you do this then God "will" do that, "ie" the conditions of Covenant. Covenant must consist of two parties, and each party must be holy. There are many scriptures that tell us to endure to the end, run the race, finish the course etc. Matthew 24:13; Hebrews 12:1; 2 Timothy 4:7; 1 Timothy 6:12; Galatians 5:7; Ephesians 4:1; Philippians 3:14; 1 Thessalonians 1:3
The Gift of eternal life is given as a reward to all those who finish the race and endure to the end. Rev22:12 And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.
The Holy Spirit and the Eternal Gift of Life is two different things. One is God's Spirit guiding us from our inner man along this life's journey to do that which is righteous, and the other is yet to be given to us. The Holy Spirit guides us to do the will of God He doesn't make us holy, but rather we are made holy by what we do in His name. Holiness is not transferable, but rather sets us apart unto God by recompense for our righteousness works of godliness from a heart of sincerity.
The gift of eternal life is in Christ and all those who abide in Christ have the gift abiding in them. If they don't follow/obey Christ they don't have eternal life in them. This is the "earnest" of our inheritance "until" redemption of the purchased soul (the sealing of the Holy Spirit of promise). We are to serve God in whom holds the gift till our race is finish.Christ hasn't given the gift over to us yet, He holds onto that gift of eternal life until we finish the race. We are being tested here of our faithfulness to God.
Having the seal of God is the Lord knowing those who depart from iniquity. This is how one becomes sealed by the Spirit and saved.
A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person. Psalms 101:4
The Holy Spirit of promise is Gods faithful promise of eternal salvation to us if we abide in Him.
Holy Spirit…the earnest> The Holy Spirit is an earnest. By the grace of God man makes a first settlement of what is owed through repentance, the debt is made void at the time of repentance and reconciliation takes place, for the wages of sin is death. Then he must abide in the faith until the end. Luke-16- "And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat take thy bill, and write fourscore"> the earnest of our inheritance> A clearing of past sins when one comes to the thrown of grace in the baptism of repentance, but we must "continue" in HIS word, enduring to the end, whereby we have hope of things not yet seen, and yearn to hear HIM say "well done my good and faithful servant". The Holy Spirit is given to believers as an installment of what we are going to have in great fullness in the future as we patiently await the full manifestation of the Sons of God at HIS 2nd coming (Romans 8). His presence and power in our lives is HIS faithful pledge of our inheritance to come (Rom. 8:23; 2 Cor. 1:22; 5:5). The sealing is Gods PROMISE that HE is true and faithful, and will keep HIS promised covenant, for it is impossible for God to lie. God was true and faithful to Old Testament Israel, but it was the children of Israel who broke the covenant promise, not God.
Here we observe that Paul speaks of those who first trusted Christ, and this they chose to do after they heard the word of truth. "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word". Trusting in our Saviour and His full pardon for our sins is a volitionary act, it is a voluntary freewill choice by each individual to receive the engrafted word that can save our souls, or reject it.
Those who believe, trusting in Christ, "abiding in the vine" keeping covenant, a faith proven by works, are then said to be sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise. The whole context here is that these who are sealed have placed their faithfulness to God in the LORD. The text says nothing of those who would depart from the Lord, which is a possibility according to the word (Heb. 3:12-14 1 1 Cor. 10-12, I Timothy 4-1, Cor. 15-3, Hebrews 10:26-31, Hebrews 6, 4,5,6 ).
"What is the seal?" The sealing of the Father is the HOLY NATURE OF GOD given to us in regeneration (2 Peter. 1:4).It is that new heart and new nature (Ezek. 36:26), that is given to the born again believers, now having a hedge of protection surrounding them. We are given this sealing for the purpose: that we may be made like unto Him in HOLINESS (Ephsians. 1:4; 2 Cor. 3:18; I Thess. 4:3,7; Hebrews. 12:14). Every child of God has this seal of holiness and shows it by worshipping the Lamb and following Him all the days of his life, by walking in righteousness set apart unto holiness walking within His hedge of protection. In 2 Timothy. 2:19: "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure; HAVING THIS SEAL, (the seal of holiness) The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, LET EVERY ONE THAT NAMETH THE NAME OF CHRIST DEPART FROM INIQUITY."
The scripture repeatedly warns over and over again of those who might depart from covenant faith, by not continuing to follow and obey Him to the end of their earthly lives; these will perish. Those who depart from Christ after knowing Him will have a worse time in hell than if they had never believed and been saved at all (2 Pet. 2:20-22 Luke 11-26). In the book of Ephesians, the sealing is clearly connected to one’s continuing in the word and trusting the LORD. Take notice that the word trusted appears before the word sealed, thus trusting/obeying from the heart in Jesus Christ fully precedes and is a conditon required before the sealing of the Holy Spirit of promise. The bible teaches us that a believer can stop believing, that sin can separate him from God, and that he can fall from grace (Isaiah 59:2; Luke 8:13; Galatians 5:4; 19-21; Hebrews 12:14-15, Hebrews 6, 4,5,6, Hebrews 10:26-31, Matthew 12-45, Matthew 13-41, Matthew 23-13, Rev. 21:8, 21 along with a multiple other places in scripture. I think there are over 80 verses that imply this in the NT alone.
According to Ephesians, the presence of the Holy Spirit is the earnest, a down payment or deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the final redemption of those believers who keep His commandments. The Holy Ghost will abide in them forever John 14-15,26 . This sealing and promise does not mean that the one who is blessed to be chosen and redeemed will continue to walk in the Gods grace and be saved in the end. Each believer has a continuing and ongoing choice to serve God, and is only of his/her own choice and no one else’s. God does not force the free will of men
(Gen. 6:3; Deut. 30:19; Isa. 1:19-20; Gal. 6:7-9; Rev. 2-3).
Let’s examine a passage found in the book of Hebrews. The Holy Spirit would never contradict Himself in His Word found in the whole council of God. To see that departing from Christ after trusting in Him is possible, let’s look at Hebrews 3:6, 12-15.
But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, IF we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end…Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you (brethren) an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, IF we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. Hebrews 3:6, 12-15
Being sealed does not exempt the person who has first trusted in Christ from continuing forward in obedient faith. He must hold his confidence in Christ stedfast unto the end, while not “departing from the living God.” The partaking of the vile sins of the flesh separate us from HIM. Therefore the one who endures to the end must remain in the grace of God, not an evil heart of unbelief, and becoming a castaway. A castaway is a biblical word for one who is cast away from God after being with Him, these are those who have left their first love in Christ.
The book of Jude speaks even of those angels who left their first habitation, they fell away in rebellion. Paul the writer of Eph. did not believe that he was unconditionally sealed into a salvation with no possibility of falling away from the faith. (1 Cor. 9:27; Heb. 3:6, 12-15).
“Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us.” 2 Corinthians 1:10
Willie