Why I now believe that salvation can be lost.

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posthuman

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Jul 31, 2013
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Those are good questions—hard—but good. I will try my best to give you book, chapter, and verse for my answers.

I checked my Bible app to be sure I got all God has to say about this so I will give you all the info I have on hand. My first thought was that only the saved got their names in the Book of life and that the unsaved have never had theirs there. Revelation 13:8 seems to suggest that to me—“all who dwell on the earth will worship him ( Satan) whose names HAVE NOT BEEN WRITTEN IN THE LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE.” BUT, then I read Psalms 69:28. It seems to be talking about very wicked people and David says, “Let them be blotted out of the book of the living.” So that makes me wonder if all people start out in the book of the living (as babies) and then If they are wicked, God blots them out. But that raises MORE questions. At what time in their life are they blotted out? When they die or before? And are there 2 books—1) book of the living ( on earth) where everyone who has ever been born has their name recorded and another 2) book called the Book of Life (eternal life) where only the saved are listed. Truthfully, I don’t know. Here are some other scriptures that talk about the “Book of Life.”
Philippians 4:3
Revelation 3:5
Revelation 17:8
Revelation 20:12-15
Revelation 21:7
Revelation 22:19
When I don’t know the answer to a question, I always fall back on Deuteronomy 29:29–“ The SECRET things belong to God, but the things revealed belong to us and our children.” 😂. I guess God hasn’t told us everything. But I believe He has told us all we NEED to know.

To question # 1, technically no. Babies are pure and sinless and have not been “saved” by God’s plan of salvation but if they die while still in this “safe” state, they will be saved and inherit eternal life just like an adult who was saved and has been faithful to God all his life. King David had an infant son who died when he was just 7 days old. 2 Samuel 12:23. David said, I shall go to him; but he shall not return to me.” But I know you are asking about adults and I would have to say, no. One does not have to be saved first to be ineligible for eternal life. Mark 16:16 Jesus said that to be saved, a person must believe and be baptized. Or they will be condemned. It follows that a person who never does this 1) has never been saved and 2) will be condemned. Also, you have atheist who go their whole life and never believe in God or His Son Jesus. Hebrews 11:6 says without faith it is impossible to please God and John 8:24 says unless a person believes in God they will die in their sins. These people were NEVER SAVED and missed heaven, so no, these people did not have to be saved first in order to miss eternal life.

And to the last question-can someone who has not repented and rejected Christ miss eternal life. YES! Luke 13:3,5 Jesus says if you don’t repent you will PERISH. Acts 17:30 God commands EVERYONE TO REPENT. And, again, John 8:24 specifically says if you don’t believe in Jesus you will die in your sins and that is the same as being lost and missing heaven. John 12:48 Jesus says “He who rejects me and does not receive my words has that which will judge him—the word that I speak will judge him in the last day (judgement). I’m sure I have not exhausted every scripture on thus ; I will have to do some more studying; but I hope this helps. Thank you for your encouragement.
are the Lamb's book of life and the book of life the same book?

i'm gonna say no.

in one is written everyone who has ever lived or will live. in the other is everyone who has life in the Lamb.
 

Beckworth

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May 15, 2019
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Hi, I just started reading this thread and started from this page and saw your blank post replying to MM, so I expanded and read MM's post, which was very good until I thought he has gone cuckoo and started contradicting himself lol
Just wanted to point out your response is in his quote and also signed off with MM. Not that its a big problem for others who are following thread, being I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed I had to do a double take and find MM's original post, to reassure myself all is normal.

Haha thought the world had gone tipsy turvy.

Anyway in your view does one have to be born again or saved first before they become ineligible for eternal life?
For example does everyone's name written in the book of life appear there before they are saved or after?
Or can someone who has never repented and their whole life is rejecting of Christ be disqualified of eternal life?

I am so sorry about the way that post turned out. I knew it was going to be confusing. I didn’t realize how it would be presented until I hit that “post reply” button. I am a “SENIOR” senior citizen 😊.and some of this technology is still difficult for my generation. I learned my lesson, though. I hope to not do that again. I’m glad you were able to figure it out.
 

Beckworth

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May 15, 2019
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John 6:12​
So when they were filled, He said to His disciples,
"Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost."

It's right there.

John 10:25-28​
Jesus answered them,
"I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me. But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

Notice that He does not say they are not His sheep because they do not believe.
He says they do not believe because they are not His sheep.

Now, none of the fragments will be lost, none of those given to Him are lost, no one can snatch them out of His hand, and none of them have become His sheep by any of their own doing but because they have been given to Him by the Father.

so you demand to know what happen when one sheep wanders off? does the Good Shepard abandon them?
i think you already know.

Matthew 18:12-14​
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? And 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. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
He goes after it. He lays down His life for it. does He fail to find it? Nope. Not one fragment is lost, no wolf can snatched it out of His hand, no one can flee from His presence.

Luke 15:4-5​
What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found [it,] he lays [it] on his shoulders, rejoicing.
John 6:39
This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.
[/QUOTE

Sorry, but I don’t see Jesus’s taking up the “fragments” as figurative language representing “ lost people.” This was a notable miracle that proves He is divine and is from God. You are isolating one verse and assigning it a meaning that is foreign to the situation and the context of the passage. Jesus is not trying to teach about “lost”people here.

Yes, the sheep who hear his voice are his faithful followers and will be saved. And no, the sheep who refuse to hear his voice are not saved—how does that prove that once a person is saved he can never be lost?? The sheep who are following Him aren’t sinning so that doesn’t prove it. And the sheep who are not following him are not his—not Christian’s. So what is it about this scripture that proves an erring child of God can not be lost? Let’s see if I have this right. You believe there are some sheep who will be lost because they do not believe and do not follow Him? Well, if they are not God’s sheep then they are not Christians and that doesn’t prove a child of God can be lost since they were not Christian’s to start with. On the other hand, if the sheep in John 10 ARE Christian’s but they don’t believe him and refuse to follow Him, they do not get eternal life because He only promises eternal life to
the sheep who hears His voice and follows Him. Isn’t that what He says? One way, does not prove a child of God can’t be lost but the other way DOES PROVE a child of God can be lost. So let me ask you—DO YOU BELIEVE THE SHEEP IN JOHN 10:25 WHO DON’T BELIEVE AND DON’T HEAR HIS VOICE ARE CHRISTIANS OR NON-CHRISTIANS?

It’s true no one can take them away from Jesus—but they can remove themselves because they have free choice. God does not FORCE us to love Him and obey Him. And once we are Christian’s He does not FORCE us to stay. He does not “hold” us and not let us leave. Consider these passages that PROVE we can leave of our own free will.
—-1 Tim. 1:9-we can REJECT the “faith” and we can REJECT Christ. John 12:48. He will not FORCE us or HOLD on to us so that we can’t leave. Jesus says their “faith” is “shipwrecked”.
—-1 Tim. 5:8-some DENIED the faith and were worse than unbelievers. Unbelievers will NOT BE SAVED- these people were worse than that! You think they were saved against their will??
——1 Tim 6:10- some had STRAYED from the faith. Roman’s 1:17 says THE JUST shall live by faith. These people are not “just.”
——2Tim. 2:18- their faith had been “overthrown.”
—- Peter 1:9- the people there loved and believed Jesus and Peter says your faith is the SALVATION of YOUR SOULS. But what about people who have “shipwrecked” their faith or denied their faith? Didn’t Christ say those who deny Him, He will deny them? Wouldn’t saving them contradict Jesus’s statement?
—-2 Tim. 4:7-I have kept the faith; therefore, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness.
According to your belief, you think a Christian can reject the faith and Christ, deny the faith, stray away from the faith, make “shipwreck” of your faith and still be in God’s kingdom because no one can take them away and they are going to be saved even if they don’t want to!!? That is the most bizarre thing I think I have ever heard!

Yes, we are taught in the Bible to go after the erring and try to restore them. We are to CARE about the erring Christian and this teaching of Jesus demonstrates His great love for us. But the point of the story is not to suggest we can’t leave the flock or be lost. Because that would contradict other scriptures in the Bible like Hebrews 6:4-6-“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come, IF THEY FALL AWAY, to renew them again to repentance since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God and put him to an open Shame.” Is God NOT telling you that a saved person can FALL AWAY and be lost? You don’t get more saved than being a PARTAKER OF THE HOLY GHOST. You can’t say this person was “ never saved in the first place”. Because the Holy Spirit does not make mistakes!

A doctrine that PLAINLY contradicts other scriptures in the Bible is a false doctrine because God does not contradict himself. And how can we believe the Bible if it is so contradicting and so confusing. God says He is NOT the author of confusion. 1 Cor. 14.

Mr. “Post human”, I am not trying to prove you are wrong—I am trying to show you this doctrine of “once saved/always saved is a false doctrine and will cause you to be lost. Jesus said “Buy the TRUTH and do not sell it.” I truly hope you will consider this discussion and all of the passages that have been given. So much is at stake. You will never regret doing the right thing and “buying the truth.”
 

Magenta

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Jul 3, 2015
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John 10:25-28Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me. But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
Notice that He does not say they are not His sheep because they do not believe.
He says they do not believe because they are not His sheep.

John 10:27-28
:)
 

Pilgrimshope

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Sep 2, 2020
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You seem to love copy and paste repetitiveness, and large lettering. None of that is impressive.

The grammar in your opening statement is almost impossible to understand, so I will leave that to you to restate.

Also, I never said anything about rejecting what Jesus preached. I clearly stated that it is ALL true, with the difference being that not everything stated by Jesus applies to us today. For example:

Luke 5:13-14
13 And he put forth [his] hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.
14 And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

Nobody today is required to go and offer up any offering of animals when they are healed, whether by miraculous means or through natural healing mechanisms in our bodies put there by the same Lord who healed the lepers.

John 7:19 Did not Moses give you the law, and [yet] none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?

See? Jesus spoke highly for the keeping of the Law of Moses, but we all know that is not TO us today, and here you are claiming that Jesus taught the same Gospel He had given to Paul for the Gentiles in the dispensation of grace yet to come, which was kept hidden in God from the beginnings of the world.

Dude, you simply are not grasping the enormity of your error, and that's your problem, not mine. Your resistance to digging deeper into the word of God, the Bible, that's on your shoulders. Not mine.

MM
I’m resisting digging into Gods word ? lol. This is the twilight zone

You seem to want to avoid the Bible at every turn so you can explain what you think about God and salvation.

Every scripture I’ve shown you from the Bible you have explained that the English language is week and I just don’t get it ….

😂 but I suppose I’ll continue “ resisting gods word “ and let you go on explaining there’s a different gospel than the Bible says because of course the English language is just too weak

I suppose we all need to just listen to your interpretations and get out of those flawed English bibles that you keep rejecting or we’ll never understand anything 😂
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
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John 6:12​
So when they were filled, He said to His disciples,
"Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost."

It's right there.

John 10:25-28​
Jesus answered them,
"I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me. But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

Notice that He does not say they are not His sheep because they do not believe.
He says they do not believe because they are not His sheep.

Now, none of the fragments will be lost, none of those given to Him are lost, no one can snatch them out of His hand, and none of them have become His sheep by any of their own doing but because they have been given to Him by the Father.

so you demand to know what happen when one sheep wanders off? does the Good Shepard abandon them?
i think you already know.

Matthew 18:12-14​
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? And 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. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
He goes after it. He lays down His life for it. does He fail to find it? Nope. Not one fragment is lost, no wolf can snatched it out of His hand, no one can flee from His presence.

Luke 15:4-5​
What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found [it,] he lays [it] on his shoulders, rejoicing.
John 6:39
This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.
It’s different before he was rejected and killed and raised up

And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”
‭‭John‬ ‭12:32‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;

but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭16:15-16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Hearing the rhe truth forces a choice and reveals who we really are
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
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No such thing as a sheep who doesn't hear His voice and follow Him.
No such thing as a sheep who isn't His.
No such thing as a goat making themselves a sheep.
No such thing as a sheep making themselves a goat.
No such thing as a sheep whom He loses.

All this comes directly from what He says.

we aren't saved by works but by grace through faith.
 

Beckworth

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May 15, 2019
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We can lose salvation? So God plays games? Or is He just dumb and/or pointless? God saves people then un-saves them? So when we are born again this is just some kind of cosmic probation? A works based salvation that moves the works to the back end? Nope. This is a false gospel and a lie from hell. You cannot be born again in truth and then lose it. That's just not true, it's as false as saying I'm saved and now can sin as much as I want to without fearing judgement. Anyone saying we can lose salvation is just as wrong as the false view of OSAS they condemn others for, both are garbage lies.

The idea that we can be born again and then turn our back on Jesus after being brought into the truth and KNOWING the true power of God, has to be thought up by someone who has never experienced the true power of God. Even worse would be a God that just toys with us knowing we are going to reject Him later. This is such a ridiculous way to see God and I do not believe a God like that would be worthy of worship. A confused and ignorant God that doesn't have the power to keep His flock.

I personally believe this idea of "losing" the free gift that we can't earn is just irrational and can only be pushed by those who either do not really know the power of God because they have not been born again yet, even if they think they have, or are fairly new and are still walking towards the truth but are receiving some bad teachings by people they trust a lot. You cannot obtain salvation for yourself, nor can it be taken from you. When we are born again it's our spirit being brought to life and reconnected to His. It can no more "un" happen as we can be "unborn". So no matter how much you want to give yourself credit for staying saved, or think that your actions are keeping you saved, they are not. You get NO credit and God gets it ALL. Being saved it NOT probation. Period.


Have you read Hebrews 6:4-6?
“For it is IMPOSSIBLE, for those who were once ENLIGHTENED, and have TASTED THE HEAVENLY GIFT, and have become PARTAKERS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT and have TASTED THE GOOD WORD OF GOD , and the powers of the age to come, if THEY FALL AWAY, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God and put Him to an open shame.”

1) these are Christian’s who the Holy Spirit, who is writing this, proves by saying these People have been enlightened ( by the word of God); they have tasted the heavenly gift of salvation and the good word of God—they know some things about the Bible; AND they have been Partakers of God’s Holy Spirit. Now, are you going to try to tell us these people were never saved? We have DIVINE TESTIMONY that they were as saved as any Christian ever has been.

BUT—2) they FELL AWAY. What?? I thought a saved person could not do that! They aren’t suppose to be able to do that, because God never lost anybody, and once God gets you you can’t EVER get away even if you deny him, reject Him, and I guess spit in His face! No way you are going to get away from Him even if you want to.

3) some people, who FALL AWAY, never repent. They NEVER come back, …….but it’s ok, because I know a doctrine that says they are going to be saved ANYWAy! In fact, according to THAT doctrine, people can crucify Jesus all over again and spit on Him, place a crown of thorns on Him and mock him, publicly
shame Him, all over again and they will still go to heaven and be rewarded just like the faithful Christians who have sacrificed for Him, loved Him, and dedicated their lives to Him. God makes no difference between the two—giving each of them the same reward—heaven. God is JUST isn’t He? That is God’s justice?

I hope you can see I am trying to demonstrate how evil this false doctrine is. It is a slap in Jesus’s face to say Christians can sin, live an ungodly life, reject Christ and still be saved. God does not teach any such thing!! God says a Saved person CAN fall away and when they do, they are putting Christ through the shame and suffering that he went through on the cross ALL OVER AGAIN! It’s NOT ok. God is JUST. He is FAIR. It would never be considered “fair” if God gave the same reward to people rebelling against Him as He does to the Ones who LOVE Him and live faithful lives. How is that FAIR? How is that RIGHT?

Please come out of this doctrine of Satan. He is the one luring you into a sense of “false security”. And how like the devil to tell you just what you want to hear—“you can sin and be saved anyway!” You can have your cake and eat it, too. Beware of a doctrine that doesn’t cost you anything!! That is not the doctrine of Christ.
2 John 8-9-“Whoever transgresses and does NOT abide in the doctrine of Christ does NOT have God. ……If someone comes to you and does not bring THIS DOCTRINE ( the doctrine of Christ), do not greet him, nor invite him into your house, for he who greets him SHARES IN HIS EVIL DEEDS.”
 

Bruce_Leiter

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Feb 17, 2023
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I believe the Bible is clear enough on this issue.

"If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us" 2 Timothy 2:12 KJV

What part of this Verse do you not understand? I myself am 100 %ly sure that salvation loss is possible.
Where in that verse does Paul say that we can lose our salvation? If we deny him, we can be like Peter and be restored through his forgiveness.
 

Cameron143

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Mar 1, 2022
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How many Christians do
Have you read Hebrews 6:4-6?
“For it is IMPOSSIBLE, for those who were once ENLIGHTENED, and have TASTED THE HEAVENLY GIFT, and have become PARTAKERS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT and have TASTED THE GOOD WORD OF GOD , and the powers of the age to come, if THEY FALL AWAY, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God and put Him to an open shame.”

1) these are Christian’s who the Holy Spirit, who is writing this, proves by saying these People have been enlightened ( by the word of God); they have tasted the heavenly gift of salvation and the good word of God—they know some things about the Bible; AND they have been Partakers of God’s Holy Spirit. Now, are you going to try to tell us these people were never saved? We have DIVINE TESTIMONY that they were as saved as any Christian ever has been.

BUT—2) they FELL AWAY. What?? I thought a saved person could not do that! They aren’t suppose to be able to do that, because God never lost anybody, and once God gets you you can’t EVER get away even if you deny him, reject Him, and I guess spit in His face! No way you are going to get away from Him even if you want to.

3) some people, who FALL AWAY, never repent. They NEVER come back, …….but it’s ok, because I know a doctrine that says they are going to be saved ANYWAy! In fact, according to THAT doctrine, people can crucify Jesus all over again and spit on Him, place a crown of thorns on Him and mock him, publicly
shame Him, all over again and they will still go to heaven and be rewarded just like the faithful Christians who have sacrificed for Him, loved Him, and dedicated their lives to Him. God makes no difference between the two—giving each of them the same reward—heaven. God is JUST isn’t He? That is God’s justice?

I hope you can see I am trying to demonstrate how evil this false doctrine is. It is a slap in Jesus’s face to say Christians can sin, live an ungodly life, reject Christ and still be saved. God does not teach any such thing!! God says a Saved person CAN fall away and when they do, they are putting Christ through the shame and suffering that he went through on the cross ALL OVER AGAIN! It’s NOT ok. God is JUST. He is FAIR. It would never be considered “fair” if God gave the same reward to people rebelling against Him as He does to the Ones who LOVE Him and live faithful lives. How is that FAIR? How is that RIGHT?

Please come out of this doctrine of Satan. He is the one luring you into a sense of “false security”. And how like the devil to tell you just what you want to hear—“you can sin and be saved anyway!” You can have your cake and eat it, too. Beware of a doctrine that doesn’t cost you anything!! That is not the doctrine of Christ.
2 John 8-9-“Whoever transgresses and does NOT abide in the doctrine of Christ does NOT have God. ……If someone comes to you and does not bring THIS DOCTRINE ( the doctrine of Christ), do not greet him, nor invite him into your house, for he who greets him SHARES IN HIS EVIL DEEDS.”
How many Christians do you know who sin, live ungodly lives, and reject Christ? What about that description suggests such a one is saved?
All of the description given in Hebrews that you posted are true, but only external for those who fall away. Many may have been taught, fed or healed by Jesus. They may have been present at Pentecost. But while they may have been present when the Spirit was active thereby becoming a partaker of the work of the Spirit, it never says that they were partakers of the divine nature. And while it does say they were enlightened, it doesn't say they were known of Christ or received eternal life. Both of these seem to be assumed on your part.
 

Beckworth

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Eisegetical practices in scriptural interpretations is so prolific.

In relation to the OP:

2 Timothy 2:11-13
11 [It is] a faithful saying: For if we be dead with [him], we shall also live with [him]:
12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with [him]: if we deny [him], he also will deny us:
13 If we believe not, [yet] he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

If we carry the OP to its logical conclusion, then we may as well expect to see Peter burning in the pits of Hell. The problem is that salvation is not the focus of this context of three verses, nor is it the focus of the broader context. Peter denied Christ three times in one night, and was greatly ashamed, but not to the point of fearing for loss of salvation so far as we are told in the text.

The very sentence immediately preceding that key phrase of denial speaks of reigning with Christ, and before that being dead with Christ, and after that phrase it speaks of one believing not, and yet Christ remaining faithful because He cannot deny Himself.

What does all that mean? Simply stated, a true faith in a life brings one to being sealed by Holy Spirit. I personally don't believe Holy Spirit has a weak grip on anyone who has faith in the Gospel, in that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, was buried three days, and then raise back up into life according to the scriptures, just as Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 15:1-8.

Now, granted, there are many who never had genuine faith in what Christ accomplished for all mankind to partake, and yet go along with the program, attending churchianity regularly, et al, and yet go back to their life of sinful pleasures like the proverbial dog returning to its vomit, never having truly had saving faith, and are used as instruments of proof for loss of salvation when they never had salvation in the first place. Dedication to religious vigor in practice doesn't prove anything by way of true, saving faith. I have yet to meet anyone who had the outflow of godly fruit from a genuine salvation in their life, who later lived like the devil.

So, it makes sense that the Lord would not countenance one who has denied Him to rule and reign with Him in the new Heavens and new earth.

Injecting salvation into the context is itself highly questionable in the arena of proper hermeneutics.

Bad fruit in a life saved by grace will suffer loss, with all the hay, wood and stubble of that life burning away in the fires of testing, and the individual left, proverbially smelling as if they had been bought at a fire sale, but saved nonetheless.

MM
It has always seemed a very convenient doctrine to me to say of the Christian’s who return to sin, “ They never had truly saving faith anyway.” WASN'T it YOU, who said to me,
“ I have grave doubts that anyone here is of the caliber of deity, for even Satan himself can’t see into the hearts of men.”?

And yet, you claim to be able to “ see into the hearts of men” and determine that they were never saved!! Amazing!! Have you ever heard of Aesops’s fables—the story of the fox and the grapes? When the fox was unable to get the grapes what did he say? “Well, they were probably SOUR anyway.” Sounds an awful lot like what you say when you find a passage like 2 Peter 2:22 that doesn’t fit your false doctrine—you try to explain it away by saying, well, they weren’t ever saved in the first place”. Sour grapes. Amazing how you can look into their hearts and know that!

Let’s examine 2 Peter 2:20-22. Verse 20 says these people who have TURNED AWAY from Christ had at one time ESCAPED THE POLLUTION OF THE WORLD, they had KNOWN THEIR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. Verse 21- THEY HAD KNOWN THE WAY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. This is Divinity’s assessment of their spiritual condition at one time. Does that sound like to you that they were never really saved?? You may claim to be able to make a judgement call about their salvation but This is God speaking and He KNOWS. You don’t! And God disagrees with your claim that they were never saved. He plainly tells us THEY WERE SAVED!!….. BUT, they were overcome by Satan (verse 19) and they were AGAIN ENTANGLED in the pollutions of the world. You see, it wasn’t that they had ALWAYS been entangled in sin, as it would have been if they had NEVER BEEN SAVED.. No! They had ESCAPED that for awhile but They WENT BACK to it AGAIN—a second time. This clearly shows that they at one time were saved— before they returned to sin. Now, God says their latter end is worse for them than at the beginning. At the beginning, they were not saved and they were LOST eternally. They were not going to heaven because they were unsaved people. But now, their end is even Worse. I dont know how things could be worse than not going to heaven but I’ll take His word for it. This clearly means they are not going to heaven, now that they have returned to the world. THey are not going to be saved. So says God. But look at verse 21– they had at one time KNOWN THE WAY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS!! GOD SAYS THEY TURNED AWAY FROM IT. And from the holy commandment delivered to them. Are you STILL contending that these people were never saved? YOU said, and I quote, “THEY NEVER HAD SALVATION IN THE FIRST PLACE.” Sir, that is not true and I think you know it. I’m sure the ones reading this post, after seeing ALL of what Peter said, know it. I hope they do. Once saved/ always saved is a doctrine of demons. 1 Timothy 4:1 BEWARE.
 

Magenta

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How many Christians do
How many Christians do you know who sin, live ungodly lives, and reject Christ? What about that description suggests such a one is saved?
All of the description given in Hebrews that you posted are true, but only external for those who fall away. Many may have been taught, fed or healed by Jesus. They may have been present at Pentecost. But while they may have been present when the Spirit was active thereby becoming a partaker of the work of the Spirit, it never says that they were partakers of the divine nature. And while it does say they were enlightened, it doesn't say they were known of Christ or received eternal life. Both of these seem to be assumed on your part.
It must have been many years ago when I saw an episode of Oprah Winfrey where she was basically claiming herself to be a Christian and yet was vociferously denying the fact that Jesus is the only way to God/the Father... so yes, it does seem that there are those who are Christian in name only and do not subscribe to the doctrines that define our faith.
 

Beckworth

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May 15, 2019
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How many Christians do
How many Christians do you know who sin, live ungodly lives, and reject Christ? What about that description suggests such a one is saved?
All of the description given in Hebrews that you posted are true, but only external for those who fall away. Many may have been taught, fed or healed by Jesus. They may have been present at Pentecost. But while they may have been present when the Spirit was active thereby becoming a partaker of the work of the Spirit, it never says that they were partakers of the divine nature. And while it does say they were enlightened, it doesn't say they were known of Christ or received eternal life. Both of these seem to be assumed on your part.
It was The Holy Spirit who said they had been partakers of Him. Not me. Can an unsaved person have the Holy Spirit?? Is that what you believe? You are saying an UNSAVED person, who is living in sin, has never repented of his sins, has never confessed Christ, who we don’t know if they even believe in Christ, who is serving SATAN, can be a PARTAKER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?? I am amazed!! It’s almost like we are not even reading the same Bible. And by the way, you have perverted the word of God by “adding”the word “work” in verse 4. They were not partakers of His “work”, they were PARTAKERS OF HIM!. That means they had the Holy Spirit in them! I would like you to show me from the scriptures, 1 unsaved person who had the Holy Spirit living in him.
further, you think that even though God says they have been enlightened by the gospel, and have TASTED THE HEAVENLY GIFT of salvation, they were still unsaved? Just because God doesn’t say it to YOUR satisfaction, the way, YOU think He should have said it, you are not going to believe it? I am sorry for you.

There are many, many Christian’s. Who have left the faith, both in the Bible and today. But that doesn’t prove anything! That is a very WEAK argument! What matters is that God, in His word, over and over again, tells us, in words plain enough that anyone who wants to know the truth can understand, that a child of God can so live as to be lost.
 

Cameron143

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It was The Holy Spirit who said they had been partakers of Him. Not me. Can an unsaved person have the Holy Spirit?? Is that what you believe? You are saying an UNSAVED person, who is living in sin, has never repented of his sins, has never confessed Christ, who we don’t know if they even believe in Christ, who is serving SATAN, can be a PARTAKER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?? I am amazed!! It’s almost like we are not even reading the same Bible. And by the way, you have perverted the word of God by “adding”the word “work” in verse 4. They were not partakers of His “work”, they were PARTAKERS OF HIM!. That means they had the Holy Spirit in them! I would like you to show me from the scriptures, 1 unsaved person who had the Holy Spirit living in him.
further, you think that even though God says they have been enlightened by the gospel, and have TASTED THE HEAVENLY GIFT of salvation, they were still unsaved? Just because God doesn’t say it to YOUR satisfaction, the way, YOU think He should have said it, you are not going to believe it? I am sorry for you.

There are many, many Christian’s. Who have left the faith, both in the Bible and today. But that doesn’t prove anything! That is a very WEAK argument! What matters is that God, in His word, over and over again, tells us, in words plain enough that anyone who wants to know the truth can understand, that a child of God can so live as to be lost.
I'm saying partaking of the Holy Spirit doesn't mean indwelling of the Spirit. Indwelling of the Spirit makes one a partaker of the divine nature. That is different than partaking in an event that the Spirit is manifested. For example, anyone who was there the day of Pentecost would have partaken in what the Spirit did that day. They may have been among those who thought the disciples were drunk. They would have heard the disciples speaking in their language. They would have heard a Spirit led sermon. Yet, only 3,000 were saved. So if you weren't one of those 3,000, you partook in the operation of the Spirit, but were not indwelt by Him. You did not become a partaker of the divine nature. They never belonged to Christ.

When the book of Hebrews was written, there were many still living who would have experienced Jesus in life. No doubt they were taught, fed, and healed by Him. Jesus Himself said that the present generation would experience the demise of Jerusalem. Since Jesus operated in the power of the Spirit, as did the disciples, the manifestation of power by the Spirit was well-known and experienced by them. This doesn't mean they were saved.

Many in our time associate themselves with the church for a variety of reasons who are not truly saved. They know the pastor, the people, the liturgy, and the hymnal. Still many do not know God. It's interesting that in Luke 16 where Jesus tells the story of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man was familiar with father Abraham, but not Father God. Unfortunately, there are many today in the same estate.
 

Beckworth

Active member
May 15, 2019
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It was The Holy Spirit who said they had been partakers of Him. Not me. Can an unsaved person have the Holy Spirit?? Is that what you believe? You are saying an UNSAVED person, who is living in sin, has never repented of his sins, has never confessed Christ, who we don’t know if they even believe in Christ, who is serving SATAN, can be a PARTAKER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?? I am amazed!! It’s almost like we are not even reading the same Bible. And by the way, you have perverted the word of God by “adding”the word “work” in verse 4. They were not partakers of His “work”, they were PARTAKERS OF HIM!. That means they had the Holy Spirit in them! I would like you to show me from the scriptures, 1 unsaved person who had the Holy Spirit living in him.
further, you think that even though God says they have been enlightened by the gospel, and have TASTED THE HEAVENLY GIFT of salvation, they were still unsaved? Just because God doesn’t say it to YOUR satisfaction, the way, YOU think He should have said it, you are not going to believe it? I am sorry for you.
 

Cameron143

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Then perhaps you will share with us the process by which one becomes unborn from above. In Romans 8, the Apostle goes to great length to show that nothing can separate a Christian from the love of God in Christ Jesus. How do you propose to separate a Christian from Christ?
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
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I'm saying partaking of the Holy Spirit doesn't mean indwelling of the Spirit. Indwelling of the Spirit makes one a partaker of the divine nature. That is different than partaking in an event that the Spirit is manifested. For example, anyone who was there the day of Pentecost would have partaken in what the Spirit did that day. They may have been among those who thought the disciples were drunk. They would have heard the disciples speaking in their language. They would have heard a Spirit led sermon. Yet, only 3,000 were saved. So if you weren't one of those 3,000, you partook in the operation of the Spirit, but were not indwelt by Him. You did not become a partaker of the divine nature. They never belonged to Christ.

When the book of Hebrews was written, there were many still living who would have experienced Jesus in life. No doubt they were taught, fed, and healed by Him. Jesus Himself said that the present generation would experience the demise of Jerusalem. Since Jesus operated in the power of the Spirit, as did the disciples, the manifestation of power by the Spirit was well-known and experienced by them. This doesn't mean they were saved.

Many in our time associate themselves with the church for a variety of reasons who are not truly saved. They know the pastor, the people, the liturgy, and the hymnal. Still many do not know God. It's interesting that in Luke 16 where Jesus tells the story of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man was familiar with father Abraham, but not Father God. Unfortunately, there are many today in the same estate.
1 John 2:19
 

Edify

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NASB
Heb 6:
4For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6and then have [e]fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, [f]since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.
[e] 6 Or committed apostasy; i.e., renounced the faith
Looks pretty plain to me.
 

Cameron143

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NASB
Heb 6:
4For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6and then have [e]fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, [f]since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.
[e] 6 Or committed apostasy; i.e., renounced the faith
Looks pretty plain to me.
Until you consider the ramifications of it. It would render other scriptures false if it means that Christians can fall away.
 

GRACE_ambassador

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op: salvation can be lost?
According to men, but not According To The Lord Jesus Christ, Who:

1) Never Knew: "them, who are Not His Own!" (Matthew 7:21-23 AV)

Rightly Divided (2 Timothy 2:15 AV) From “Things That Differ” (online)

2) Has Always Known: "them who Are His Own!"
(2 Timothy 2:19 cp Ephesians 1:4-6 AV)​

Of course men still yet, "pursue, persist and prefer" this:
"Jesus has always known them who He has never known", eh?​

Amen.