This is the issue with OSAS that I have, you can't take the Bible at face value, you have to explain everything away.
What are you talking about?? John 5:24 and John 10:28 couldn't be any more clear abouty eternal security. What is it about those 2 verses that you won't accept?
When Esau was born he was the firstborn and hence he had the inheritance from birth. However, his actions later in selling the birthright caused him to forfeit that inheritance. I don't buy the idea that there are two separate inheritances.
I've already noted that the Bible speaks of 2 inheritances for the believer.
If you are a descendant of David and are supposed to rule and reign but are cut off from ruling and reigning that is very serious. It did happen so some, but Absalom and Adonijah were types of the antichrist.
This doesn't disprove eternal security.
This brings up the second issue I have with OSAS, when you dig down and finally get someone like yourself to actually discuss the verses you realize even if this is true (and it certainly may be) that there is nothing that Absalom, or Adonijah, or Esau can do to lose that inheritance from their birth, even if that is true, the fine print that they avoid at all costs is that what you are calling salvation could be horrible. It could be the "outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth".
All of God's discipline and wrath is horrible. And the problem is that pastors all over the world have failed to include that teaching. So Arminians, who believe that salvation can be lost, think OSAS means a believer can get away with anything. Which is patently untrue.
There will be terrible misery for any of God's children who disobey and rebel. Count on it. Nobody gets away with anything.
The reason for this is how heavily you must emphasize two verses while deemphasizing and downplaying 30 or 40 other verses.
Excuse me, but I emphasize those 2 verses because they are the BEST and CLEAREST verses that state eternal security, which is from the MOMENT one becomes a believer. I am just amazed at how many believers simply don't believe those words of Jesus. Instead, they grasp onto those "30-40 verses" that CANNOT refute what Jesus said, but they wrongly interpret them to support their notion that salvation can be lost.
If loss of salvation were true, there would be at least 1 verse that plainly says so. And there isn't such a verse.
otoh, combining John 5:24 with 10:28 gives us a plainly stated case for eternal security.
I do not subscribe to either camp, I don't believe the Bible teaches "once saved always saved" even if it does teach that once you are justified by the blood of Jesus that moment in time will never be taken away from you. I also don't believe the Bible teaches "elevator salvation".
I don't know what "elevator salvation" means, and never heard that phrase. However, if you do believe that justification, which ALSO occurs the MOMENT you believe, how can you also think that salvation can be lost or taken away? Those are 2 very contradictory ideas.
I subscribe to the Jesus is Lord camp. I believe the Bible is the revelation of the savior, and that is where our focus should be.
OK. I hope every theological camp also embraces that. Now, since you subscribe to the Jesus is Lord camp, it's time for you to BELIEVE ALL that He has taught. And He has CLEARLY and UNAMBIGUOUSLY taught that from the MOMENT of saving faith, the believer possesses eternal life and SHALL NEVER PERISH. It couldn't be any more clear than what Jesus said.
So, since Jesus IS your Lord, you'd better believe what He has said.
I believe that every true believer must take up their cross and follow Him.
Right. This is a command of obedience. We owe Him no less.
Either you will do it willingly or else you will be put into a situation where you have no other option but to either declare your faith in Him even though it means death or deny Him. I am disgusted with anyone who thinks "they are saved" and yet Jesus is not Lord and they tell you that straight up, they make me want to vomit.
Yes, they ARE disgusting people, for sure. But if they ever believed that Jesus died for their sins, and they trusted Him to save them, that means Jesus GAVE THEM eternal life, and they shall never perish, no matter how hard that may be for some believers to swallow.
However, these disgusting people WILL be miserable in their life. They won't get away with anything. Heb 12:11 says that God's discipline is painful. I don't doubt that at all. Even if I can't see their misery, I KNOW God is or will be punishing them, so I don't sweat it. It is in God's hands.
I am disgusted by those who pick and choose what Bible verses they will embrace, ignore or even discard. Jesus is the incarnated word of God, for Him to be Lord practically means the word of God is Lord.
AMEN!