Brother InSpiritIntruth of course this can be a most sensitive subject for many! So what I write to you, many can and probably will disagree, and that is ok by me. All I would ask is that you consider what I say and why I say it. ( matt 13:19-23) Many believe that before verse 23 these people are not saved to start with,but the Word does not say such.
In fact the word speaks upon those who do believe for a time,and the reason one changes is because something they allow happens to them. Some bring up heb 6:4-6 making a statement for both sides,but have you considered what Heb 6:4-6 is really talking about? Answer!! Gal 5:4!! Once I became enlightened to grace,I did have a choice whether to follow truth,or go back to works.
And if i choose to go back to works, many would say i was never saved in the first place,but how do they know? That would be judging me!( rom 2:1-4) No one has that right,and the only reason some would judge is because there doctrine comes into question.I do believe in some security! verse 23 of matt 13 is just that security! When a brother or a sister gets to verse 23, they are secure!
Because fruit comes from belief! God's grace is instructing! To really know grace one must be instructed!!( Titus 2:11-12!) for from instruction hope remains!( rom 15:13) in BELIEVING!!! Our work! Not God's work!( john 6:28-29) God's faith given through his grace is all HIS WORK!! Not ours!
But believing in his faith must come from us!( rom 10:10) It is why Jesus speaks so much to others about believing!( mark 6:4-6,mark 9:23-24,mark 5:35-36!)Among many others! Salvation only comes through Jesus!! YES!! But your belief in his salvation only comes from you! Hence why Philippians 2:12-13) God is always at work,but we in him must believe he is! And working to believe in what he has already done,does indeed take time to bear fruit in! A seed planted does not grow to a tree overnight! Nor do we brother.( phil 1:6) SO!!
Consider this in among ones studies,as of course i tell no one what to believe or not,I only speak upon what one may wish to indeed consider is all. It is not enough to say we believe,it is enough to bear fruit from's ones belief in what Jesus has already done!One final point to consider brother.( james 2:19-26) Abraham was not called a friend of God because he said he believed,he was called a friend of God because of the work he did because he believed!!
Belief has action! And so do we if we really believe! For how can one ever follow unless one is walking behind Jesus to follow? Jesus does not look back,nor does he expect his children to either!( luke 9:62!) Jesus has no need to look back,he already knows if we are behind him,and we have no need to look back either,because Jesus is always in front of us leading the way to his Kingdom! Blessing bro! For looking back,means going back,and we know what happened to one person because of that!!( gen 19:26!!) No pillar of salt for us bro!!