For a person who is born again will act, and behave differently than the old man. They are changed. They are different. Because they have been changed and washed by the regeneration of the Holy Ghost.
Oh brother. Not all the time. Trust that. Not all the time.
I know people who have been born again and haven't acted any differently than before they was. They confess Christ as Lord with their tongues and they truly believe it in their heart. And they want to change for God, but they don't. Does that mean these people are any less deserving of Gods salvation because of Christ's work?
Look, lets not get off topic. If I'm wrong in anything I say, I appreciate your correction and guidance I really do. Lets face it, the only reason we're here is because of our faith. So it is Gods will that we are here today having this discussion.
But I must digress, you have taken something so very simple and over complicated it.
It is meant to be very simple. I am explicitly answering your original thread starting question of "
Can you be out of Fellowship with God and still be Saved?" with a yes, you can.
Since everyones walk with God is different. That's another reason why you should never judge anyone.
I asked you to explain the words in the verses. Why are you not doing that? What are you tryng to avoid?
I am not trying to avoid anything. Why do you need me to "
explain the words in the verses"? Use
dictionary.com if you need to do that!
As for my walk with the Lord: Well, I am not perfect, but I do stay humble before the Lord and confess my sins and strive to walk uprightly with the Lord by His power and not mine. For without Him, I am nothing. I do not abide in unrepentant sin and do not think all my sin is taken away by a belief alone. The Scriptures do not teach that.
Well thats great brother! Truly great. Although, it is regardless here as to what you are or aren't without Him. Although you are 100% right and I metaphorically high five you for that. But I don't think I have ever said here that sin is taken away by a belief alone.
You say the scriptures don't teach that, but if that is so; about sin not being taken away by a belief alone, then what about
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. then?
Isn't it enough to believe that, do as it says, then move on?
Once forgiven, always forgiven. The slate is wiped clean.
It is your single and simple child like faith that saves you, your faith in Christ and his forgiveness, not how times you repent of your sins.
Lets wrap this up with an example.
Lets say someone called Steve was a sinner, but got converted by a Christian friend and become a born again Christian. Steve is much happier with life now he knows the truth and has the joy that comes through faith in Christ. But try as hard as Steve might to please God, he still sometimes repeats old sins like swearing, being rude, being selfish, being proud, arrogant etc. Maybe even sometimes he does much worse things.
One day after Christian fellowship with worshiping and songs of praise, Steve goes home and flicks on the TV and sees some unwholesome stuff in a film or documentary, gets made and cusses outloud or strikes out in an act of thoughtless rage.
Steve has now sinned and is in danger of hellfire. Later on in that day, Jesus comes back in the clouds with the sound of trumpets pumping and the voice of God himself says Come up hither!
In the twinkling of an eye, all the dead are raised first and then all those that are still alive and are believers are called up to meet Jesus and our Father.
What about Steve? He had some sin that he never had a chance to confess. So does that mean he'll be left behind with all the atheists?
No of course not. His faith will save him. Not how fast he was able to confess his sin and get right with God again.
He was already right with God when he become born again.
You absolutely cannot loose your salvation if you are a true born again believer.
If you could, then Paul and the bible is a liar.
Now I'm sure you'll say something clever to this and tell me to go read some scripture somewhere. And I appreciate it I really do because it's all educational to me at the end of the day.
But that's my belief. My thoughts on the matter. My answer is, yes. And if you say no, you don't really know the bible or God as well as you think you do.
That might be a hard pill to swallow for some people.
But chin up! God loves us! He wants us to be happy!! H A P P Y!
He wants us to rightly divide His word in truth. But above all, He wants us to be happy and joyful.
People work better when they are happy.
God bless you and all!
