But does "Christ died for our sins" mean that Christ died to take the punishment for our sins?
The punishment for sin is death (separation). Christ took our place on the cross, and died to pay for the sins of those that his Father gave to him. Those that he died for have been secured a place in heaven. However, those he died for will still commit sins as they live their lives here on earth, which will cause them death (a separation from God's fellowship, until they repent,) but not a separation from their security in heaven. There are many words in the scriptures that reference different meanings as to their content; such as, death= a separation, saved= a deliverance. We can suffer a separation (death) from eternal life, and we can suffer a separation (death) from our fellowship with God, until we repent, which brings about a deliverance (salvation)that we receive here on earth.
All scriptures must harmonize in order to understand the doctrine of Jesus Christ. Without rightly dividing words in the scriptures, according to there context, will result in a failure to harmonize the scriptures.
If you want to think that just part of the BIBlE IS Good for you & trash the rest , I do believe that it all is for our understanding & correction . And I think I put all I needed to for what we where talking about . If you want to believe that the BIBLE teaches , once in the grass always in the grass , Well I believe All who fallow will most likely be lost , Because if WE believe that , WE will not overcome sin , AND will be found of HIM in sin .
JAMES 5:19 ,Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him .
Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. this is talking about a brethren that has fallen back in sin , and he is warned , by his loving brethren .
GOD bless as HE sees fit .
If you want to keep the scriptures in the right context, so that they will harmonize with one another, you will have to understand that death is a separation, and there are many things that we can be separated from.
James 5:19, "shall save (deliver) a soul from death", does not have reference to delivering a soul from eternal death (separation), but delivering (saving) a soul from being separated (death) from his fellowship with God.
Yes! if you interpret your scriptures in the context that they are written in, you will find that once you have been eternally delivered, you will always be eternally delivered. Once you have been born again spiritually, you can not be unborn spiritually. You cannot go back into your mother's womb, and be unborn.
The English language is difficult for foreigners to understand, because it has one word that has several different meanings, according to the context it is written in, such as; An animal that we call a BEAR. We have trees that BEAR fruit. I cannot BEAR to leave you. Bear one another's burdens. etc. There are many words in the English translated bibles that mean different things, according to the context, such as; Life, Death, Saved, all, as many as, for, World, Perish, Sheep, Heaven, Kingdom, Ways, Paths, lost, etc.
This is one reason why the scriptures are written as a mystery. It confounds the wise, and makes us have to study, to show ourselves approved.