Again you say things with no proof. If you are working to attain eternal life, then you are not trusting the Lord Jesus for it. "Sirs, what must I do to be saved? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved." The faith that trusts the Lord Jesus, is the same faith that continues to trust Him.
I have been crucified with Christ,
and it is no longer I who live,
but Christ lives in me;
and the life which I live in the flesh,
I live in faith,
the faith which is in the Son of God who loved me,
and gave Himself for me;
I do not make void the grace of God,
for if righteousness come through the law,
then Christ died in vain.
Eternal life is the immediate possession of anyone who trusts Christ as Savior.
1 John 5:13
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life."
Present tense & a truth repeated in God's Word.
One must rest from one's works and trust the Savior. "All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags."
I rejoice to see you quoting scripture instead of just pontificating.
You quote: "I John 3:23-24
23 And this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as He has commanded us.
24 Whoever keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him; and by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us."
Great verse, but nothing to do with obtaining salvation at all. Yes, we are commanded to believe -- and when will you?
Abiding in Christ refers to fellowship, which we may or may not enjoy after being saved. There is nothing about losing salvation here.
Then you quote:
1 Corinthians 9:24
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.
There is nothing about losing salvation here. The prize is a crown, a victor's wreath, a reward, not salvation. There are about 5 crowns (rewards) specifically mentioned in the NT. Rewards are earned by works. Salvation is a free gift of grace.
Next you quote:
2 Timothy 2:10
Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also might obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
Nothing is said here about what the elect do to obtain salvation. Paul is bringing them the gospel so they might be saved. BTW, the elect are not necessarily saved; a man is elect before saved. So the gospel is brought to the elect, they hear it and believe, and become saved. There is nothing about "losing salvation" here.
Then we have 1 Peter 1:9
obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
There is nothing here about losing salvation. Indeed salvation is the outcome of faith. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved,
Lastly you quote Romans 2:6-7:
6 He will render to each one according to his works:
7 to those who by patience in good works seek for glory and honor and immortality, He will give eternal life;
There is nothing here about losing salvation or losing eternal life. This is the hypothetical offer of salvation for good works, which can never be fulfilled, because all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. We know it is hypothetical because so many times works is said not to lead to salvation.
Read the context. Prophet Paul is bringing all under condemnation, prior to getting the reader (hopefully) saved. Prophet Paul says that there is none good, no not one! And he specifically negates works in the context. "that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God:"
Wherefore thou art without excuse, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest dost practise the same things. And we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against them that practise such things. And reckonest thou this, O man, who judgest them that practise such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? but after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up for thyself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; who will render to every man according to his works: to them that by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and incorruption, eternal life: but unto them that are factious, and obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness, shall be wrath and indignation, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that worketh evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Greek; but glory and honor and peace to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek: for there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without the law: and as many as have sinned under the law shall be judged by the law . . .
What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we before laid to the charge both of Jews and Greeks, that they are all under sin;
] as it is written,
There is none righteous, no, not one;
11 There is none that understandeth,
There is none that seeketh after God;
12 They have all turned aside, they are together become unprofitable;
There is none that doeth good, no, not so much as one:
Their throat is an open sepulchre;
With their tongues they have used deceit:
The poison of asps is under their lips:
Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
Their feet are swift to shed blood;
Destruction and misery are in their ways;
And the way of peace have they not known:
There is no fear of God before their eyes.
19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it speaketh to them that are under the law;that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God: 20 because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight; for through the law cometh the knowledge of sin.
