"Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5.
"They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us." 1 John 2:19
Hello Angela, fellow baptist.
There are two trains of thought here. From the beginning of time God knows who are His and who he has called. The second is we have a choice, to walk or to fall. Or is this choice not choice at all, because once love has set to work on you, you can do no other. I do not know the answer. We could suggest there is actually nothing to defend because everything is predetermined.
On the human side all I see is the challenge, the challenge between failure of the heart to be righteous, walking after God as we should and our the glorious victory in Christ. Does not this tension challenge you, make you wonder, why?
Evangelical preaching, the 4 spiritual laws are all very compact. I have led people to the Lord through this very model. If later they fall away, you would say, "Oh, they were never born again." I cannot say such a thing, because I am not God.
I have had close friends who appeared to follow the Lord and now disown him.
I have people here who claim great spiritual authority yet deny love needs to rule in their hearts. I have met pastors who close the door on people, and shut out the good, because of fear that their gospel is not strong enough. I have friends who have gone 100% into the prosperity gospel and its hypocracy and would claim they have real spiritual inspiration. I cannot judge them, I do not know where they stand.
So guidance from the Holy Spirit is quiet and people can easily run over its reality into corruption and sin.
Now where am I you ask. I love the Lord, he is my saviour through the cross, I owe all to Him. The love He planted in me burns me night and day and I desire to see His Kingdom grow. That is my security. Am I born again? Yes the Lord has given me new life, remade and reformed all that I am. Now on this love our hope is secure, upon His presence we rise victorious. The funny thing is if OSAS is true, ie those who are predestined as always predestined you do not have to believe it to be true, because you will always be there. But this doctrine is as you say because of doubt. Does Jesus really love you, is it a reality?
But that is at the heart of new birth. Is love real or just a cynical joke? Just look at Jesus and what He did and there is your answer, everyday of every week, for all eternity. It is why he had to die, because it is the best statement of however crap it gets He is there. Not just a bit, but to the last drop of His blood.
Can you shut Jesus out? The answer is yes, it is possible. Or else where is free will. But in many of these battles, they are just that a tussel in a relationship.
So I am not interested in OSAS, or the security this idea brings, I am interested in do you know how much Jesus loves you? How much does love reign in your soul? Because Jesus always wants us to learn more, because love always does, it is that fantastic, life giving, our glorious Lord.