I explained what the 2 phrases mean in the Greek.
In order for that to be true, then the Bible would teach that you yourself hold your salvation in your own hands. But John 10:28,29 both say that the believer is in God's hands, and NO ONE can snatch them out. So your understanding of "hold firmly" is flawed, as I already showed. It means to possess. But it doesn't mean to literally hold onto it.
Then quote any verse that plainly says that. So far, you haven't.
You have no verse that plainly says what you believe.
otoh, I DO have verses that plainly say that those given eternal life, which is WHEN they become believers, shall never perish.
That's so clear, how can you ignore it?
I recommend that you simply believe the clear words of John 5:24 and 10:28 regarding eternal security.
The believer is eternally secure from the moment he/she becomes a believer. If you don't believe that, you just don't believe what Jesus said.
And you have no excuse.
In order for that to be true, then the Bible would teach that you yourself hold your salvation in your own hands. But John 10:28,29 both say that the believer is in God's hands, and NO ONE can snatch them out. So your understanding of "hold firmly" is flawed, as I already showed. It means to possess. But it doesn't mean to literally hold onto it.
Then quote any verse that plainly says that. So far, you haven't.
You have no verse that plainly says what you believe.
otoh, I DO have verses that plainly say that those given eternal life, which is WHEN they become believers, shall never perish.
That's so clear, how can you ignore it?
I recommend that you simply believe the clear words of John 5:24 and 10:28 regarding eternal security.
The believer is eternally secure from the moment he/she becomes a believer. If you don't believe that, you just don't believe what Jesus said.
And you have no excuse.
God's promise of salvation is conditional upon "holding firmly" to the gospel in belief. If one does not hold firmly to believing in the gospel then they have believed in vain. Believing in vain means to have believed "without a cause, purpose; purposelessly, in vain, for nothing." This is talking about true, sincere, genuine belief with the end result being for nothing. That's different than what you're saying.
You seem to be saying that one doesn't have to continue to believe. Paul disagrees in 1 Corinthians 15:1,2.
I do believe the clear words of John 5:24 and John 10:28, but I actually understand them.
In John 5:24, the believing required is an active belief. This verse is only valid as long as the belief remains active or is firmly held onto. If belief becomes inactive then it isn't believing. No one inactively believes anything.
John 10:28 is about eternal life being in God's hands. Once again, I completely agree. No one can wrest control of something out of the hands of God. Jesus gives eternal life to His sheep through their continued belief. This is just a single verse and more context is required.
I would recommend you study when someone gets eternal life. Do you get eternal life right now or do you get eternal life later? Luke 18:30 should get you started on the when eternal life is received.
What happens if a sheep wanders astray?
Consider the below passage and let it sink in for a moment. The very sheep that cannot be "snatched" out of God's hands can wander astray. God will pursue this sheep, of course, but there is a condition once again. If the sheep is found and brought back there is rejoicing. Otherwise, the end of that sheep is that they perish, i.e., not have eternal life.
Matthew 18:10-14
10“Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. 11For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.
12“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? 13And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. 14Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.