A
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Right now, I am mostly concerned about refuting “once saved, always saved” (OSAS).
Born-again Christians (BACs) are responsible for doing certain things to maintain
their salvation. When one is born-again, he/she has not received a free ticket to heaven!
Scripture indicates that salvation is a life-long co-operation with God,
which is a process I call “sanctification unto holiness”.
The recent thread, “The BAC must endure in the faith to the end of life to be saved”
has about 15 verses that prove the thread title is true. And here’s another verse:
“… imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” (Heb 6:12)
So, connected with this, we may say: If you lose your faith, you lose everything!
You lose your justification … you lose your righteousness … You lose your salvation!
The new believer initially receives the imputed righteousness of Jesus
But, read these verses with a continuing belief-faith in mind:
“his (the one who believes) faith is accounted for righteousness” (Romans 4:5)
“For with the heart one believes unto righteousness” (Romans 10:10)
“the righteousness which is from God by faith” (Philippians 3:9)
“(Noah) became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.” (Heb 11:7)
What does “having faith” mean scripturally?
Intellectual faith? ... Faith mixed with works? ... What is "saving faith"?
The believer needs to discover his part in maintaining his righteous standing before God
“… whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.” (Acts 10:35)
“… we, having died to sins, might live for (the practicing of) righteousness” (1 Peter 2:24)
“… you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.” (1 John 2:29)
“… let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous” (1 John 3:7)
“But you, O man of God, flee these things (sins) and pursue righteousness” (1 Timothy 6:11)
“Pursue ... holiness, without which no one will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14)
“All Scripture… is profitable for … instruction in (practicing) righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16)
••• “In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest:
Whoever does NOT practice righteousness is NOT of God” (1 John 3:10)
Paul warned these BACs: they have the CHOICE to be slaves of sin or slaves of obedience!
“(slaves) of sin leading to (eternal) death, OR (slaves) of obedience leading to righteousness
… so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness” (Romans 6:16-19)
3 times in 8 verses: Paul warns them that the wages of sin is eternal death (Romans 6:15-23).
“… so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life ...” (Romans 5:21)
Here we see that one’s grace hinges on one’s righteousness!
God’s grace remains in those who practice righteousness!
“Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),
finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:8-10)
Notice that righteousness is one of the fruits of the Spirit of the “children of light”.
A major part of MAINTAINING righteousness
"But IF we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another,
and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
IF we confess (repent of) our sins, He is faithful and just
to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin.
And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."
(1 John 1:7—2:1)
Notice that BACs who “walk in the light” can be cleansed from all unrighteousness!
Notice that BACs who sin can call on their Advocate, Jesus Christ the righteous,
and confess and repent of their sin!
Right now, I am mostly concerned about refuting “once saved, always saved” (OSAS).
Born-again Christians (BACs) are responsible for doing certain things to maintain
their salvation. When one is born-again, he/she has not received a free ticket to heaven!
Scripture indicates that salvation is a life-long co-operation with God,
which is a process I call “sanctification unto holiness”.
The recent thread, “The BAC must endure in the faith to the end of life to be saved”
has about 15 verses that prove the thread title is true. And here’s another verse:
“… imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” (Heb 6:12)
So, connected with this, we may say: If you lose your faith, you lose everything!
You lose your justification … you lose your righteousness … You lose your salvation!
The new believer initially receives the imputed righteousness of Jesus
But, read these verses with a continuing belief-faith in mind:
“his (the one who believes) faith is accounted for righteousness” (Romans 4:5)
“For with the heart one believes unto righteousness” (Romans 10:10)
“the righteousness which is from God by faith” (Philippians 3:9)
“(Noah) became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.” (Heb 11:7)
What does “having faith” mean scripturally?
Intellectual faith? ... Faith mixed with works? ... What is "saving faith"?
The believer needs to discover his part in maintaining his righteous standing before God
“… whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.” (Acts 10:35)
“… we, having died to sins, might live for (the practicing of) righteousness” (1 Peter 2:24)
“… you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.” (1 John 2:29)
“… let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous” (1 John 3:7)
“But you, O man of God, flee these things (sins) and pursue righteousness” (1 Timothy 6:11)
“Pursue ... holiness, without which no one will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14)
“All Scripture… is profitable for … instruction in (practicing) righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16)
••• “In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest:
Whoever does NOT practice righteousness is NOT of God” (1 John 3:10)
Paul warned these BACs: they have the CHOICE to be slaves of sin or slaves of obedience!
“(slaves) of sin leading to (eternal) death, OR (slaves) of obedience leading to righteousness
… so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness” (Romans 6:16-19)
3 times in 8 verses: Paul warns them that the wages of sin is eternal death (Romans 6:15-23).
“… so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life ...” (Romans 5:21)
Here we see that one’s grace hinges on one’s righteousness!
God’s grace remains in those who practice righteousness!
“Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),
finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:8-10)
Notice that righteousness is one of the fruits of the Spirit of the “children of light”.
A major part of MAINTAINING righteousness
"But IF we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another,
and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
IF we confess (repent of) our sins, He is faithful and just
to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin.
And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."
(1 John 1:7—2:1)
Notice that BACs who “walk in the light” can be cleansed from all unrighteousness!
Notice that BACs who sin can call on their Advocate, Jesus Christ the righteous,
and confess and repent of their sin!