Indeed. As WERE some of you, but the warning was for them to not return back to that state.
The state of what?
Unbelief. When we turn from our first love, Jesus Christ, go back to the beggarly state of striving to make the outward man good and holy and obedient, we are like the son who was found eating with pigs. You may call him the "prodigal" son, but that is actually not in the Bible. It literally says the son who was lost. In other words, the son who forgot who he was and
whose he was. In truth, he never stopped being his father’s son. Jesus referred to him as the son throughout the entire parable. He just was in a state of unbelief. The son's will, his falling into worldly behavior, even his forgetting how great a love his father had for him, did not change the father's will for him. The father's great love brought the son back.
Are any of us like the other son who was confused and greatly upset that his father celebrated his brother's return? Do we also believe that our
obedience earns us the celebration, and not our "sinful" brother?
OSAS is a lie, however Satan always uses a little truth in his lie. Yes, if you get saved then you are saved and nothing can detour that fact, except you. God will not override your will, if he did he would not be righteous. He will try to stop you and warn you, but will not force you.
God
will tryto stop you? Do you actually believe God
tries… and sometimes cannot not succeed? Do you realize how contrary that statement is to
JESUS IS LORD OF ALL? Are you under the impression that you & God are in a constant struggle?
No, the Word tells us our
flesh wars with the spirit of Christ
in us. Our own understanding is what needs to submit to the mind of Christ which is already in us.
Your will (your decision) is to believe Jesus or not to believe him. Your will is not sovereign or mighty nor can your will cast down strongholds. Your will (your decision) cannot overcome God.
2 Corinthians 10:4-7
For though we walk in the flesh, we
do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but
mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.
God casts down our imaginations through Christ.
God brings every thought into captivity to obey Jesus Christ.
If you trust you are Christ's, your obedience is fulfilled.
Only believe.
You could never exalt your will against God's might. God cannot change. His plan is perfect and he is bringing down all your own imaginations of him and bringing your mind into captivity and fulfilling his promises in you. God is the same yesterday, today and forever. You can rest in him and stop all your striving. That is the good news!
Peter didn't walk on the water because he willed to do. Jesus called him out to walk on the water and Peter just believed him. As soon as Peter looked at the wind & waves and realized
it was impossible in the flesh, he began to sink. Peter changed his mind. He focused on himself, on his own will rather than Christ’s will. Even then, Jesus did not let Peter sink. He asked him, “Why did you doubt?” It's by believing Jesus and having faith in him that we live, not by our sheer will.
That is the fundamental plan of salvation ~ faith in Christ alone. Not in your will.
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.
Hmm, well that is one interpretation I suppose.........so, just to be clear, are you saying that those you call "in the faith" DO NOT have free will? Are you a disciple of Calvin?
“Free will” is not a Biblical term. That’s somebody’s false imaginations. It’s dogma. Your will is not saved. Your spirit is saved. If you are God’s, you have the mind of Christ. We either believe Christ in our hearts, or we believe in our own understanding, the flesh. We are spiritual beings and the kingdom of God dwells within us. God is ruling us. Anything else that tells you you’re in control of God’s will is denying who Christ is and what he has done. And even so, even if you doubt him like Peter did, he can’t deny himself. He still remains faithful.
And here’s the rub: your carnal mind, your flesh, your intellect, will never believe the truth. Because it’s impossible for the flesh to receive anything from God. You must believe Jesus is Lord of your life by faith in him. Jesus
IS Lord.