Hi GGS7,
Regarding not being able to lose your salvation, what do you think about the following scripture:
"My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins."
Also, why would we have so many warnings throughout scripture about the consequences of living according to the sinful nature? Our salvation is dependent on continuing from faith to faith. If a believer stops having faith and goes goes back to living according to the sinful nature, see the scripture above.
"Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. "
I admit I don't have all the answers, that is why I joined Christian Chat...to learn from other believers and to hear others opinions.
Some interesting verses to add to your reply are
Colossians 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel
Hebrews 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.(Free will/choice?)
Hebrews 3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end
Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering
All I know is GOD wants none to perish (Timothy/Peter) and is extremely forgiving and merciful , thats from personal experience and from the Bible.
For instance in Revelation 9:20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
Rev 9:21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.
I honestly think that salvation has a lot to do with whether we repent of our sin, then we can call Jesus Lord.
1John 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
But like I said I'm still learning.
I'm actually waiting for these verses to come to pass...
Hebrews 8:11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
Hebrews 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.