The Security Of The Believer

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Jan 19, 2024
78
22
8
43
Louisiana
David..who is an adulterer, had some inheritance in the kingdom.

The inheritance in this verse, by context is about rewards..not entrance, to heaven.

A believer who is caught in adultery will be rebuked and disciplined, and lose rewards. A believer who is faithful has greater inheritance.

Inheritance is different to entrance to heaven.

Or the other way to look at it is of someone whose entire life can be characterized by these sins..and so they never got converted.

But the context I don't think is of this kind of person.

Either way.. it isn't about loss of eternal life.
I think "inherit the kingdom of God" to be something that happens in the present life. A son goes to his father and asks for his inheritance before either one of them dies. We see that happening in the story of the prodigal son.
 
some here said to OBEY is Works.
they learned that from a Doctrine.
so, they are OBEYING the Doctrine.

we are ALWAYS OBEYING something.

and whatever it is that we OBEY, that, is OUR GOD!!
I fully agree with all "The Watchers" comments and wish to add the following.
The problem here with many exponents of unconditional eternal security appears to be a reliance on human “logic & wisdom” more so than what scripture teaches. Or taking Scripture out of context. Perhaps they are trying to salve their own conscience. This popular belief has inspired many to think that they can attend church on Sunday have their sins forgiven then go and commit the same sins again. It is the cause of much Apostasy in the “Christian” church. I fear they are in for a shock on the Day of Judgement. They make the same error that the Jews have made. They think Just because they are the seed of Abraham they are Eternally Secure. Yes they are chosen but it’s conditional on them having Faith and abiding in God’s Commands to them. For the Christian it is the same, we are to abide in Him in faith with His Law in our hearts.
Rom. 11:20-23 reads;
20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear.
21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either.
22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.
23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.


The above shows that some Jews were removed from God’s promises and Christians grafted in, but with the warning that they also can be removed if they fail to continue in the faith.

Ezek.33 11-1 3 reads;
Say to them: 'As I live,' says the Lord GOD, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?'
"Therefore you, O son of man, say to the children of your people: 'The righteousness of the righteous man shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression; as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall because of it in the day that he turns from his wickedness; nor shall the righteous be able to live because of his righteousness in the day that he sins.'
When I say to the righteous that
he shall surely live, but he trusts in his own righteousness and commits iniquity, none of his righteous works shall be remembered; but because of the iniquity that he has committed, he shall die.”


The above applies to the Christian as much as to the Jew.
Without genuine repentance (turning from and not returning to sin) there can be no forgiveness.
 
I see a list of fruit in Galatians 5. Can you show me a list of bad fruit from scripture?
Why do you read from vers. 22 without reading the previous three verse, they are the bad fruits, as follows ;

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,
20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
19,221
6,610
113
62
Yes, but they would be disciplined and rebuked. So it would be unlikely they would stay in those sins.

The other question is why Jesus, having died for their sin, and forgiven them..would not forgive those sins?

Plus.. most believers go through those sin issues. Not that they are rebelling..but fall into waywardness. Have they all lost eternal life?

It comes down to this: Is Christ's atonement for your sins enough? That is the real question
Death may be the chastisement for those in grievous sin. But I believe this happens less often. More often, such a person outwardly professed Christ, but did not inwardly possess Christ.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
19,221
6,610
113
62
The Scriptures tell us that Faith without Works is dead and that Works without Faith is dead.
Faith alone saves. But faith that saves is never alone. Ephesians 2:10 does follow Ephesians 2:8-9. We were created to show forth the glory of God. We can't do that unless our light so shines among men...Matthew 5:16.
But works attend the life of those who are saved and those who are religious. If works save, where do Pharisees come from? Works are a poor indicator of ssalvation. Anyone can appear outwardly clean. Fruit is what we judge because it is of the Spirit and cannot be done by human effort.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
19,221
6,610
113
62
Why do you read from vers. 22 without reading the previous three verse, they are the bad fruits, as follows ;

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,
20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Those are the practices of the natural man and progressively grow worse. Such is the nature of sin. The fruit of the Spirit is produced by the Spirit Himself and cannot be mimicked by men, regardless of their effort.
Those who are saved and fall into sin will eventually repent by the work of the selfsame Spirit...it is the goodness of God that leads men to repentance via a Godly sorrow. That is, a sorrow produced by God. This is not available to someone who is not saved. They will cover their sin just as Adam and Eve did and make excuses for it.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
19,221
6,610
113
62
Temporarily straying into sin is not a sin unto death, but persisting in sin is.
Agree. The reason the sin is temporary is because of the work of the Spirit to convict the believer of their sin. The reason persisting sin exists in the unbeliever is because no such work is being done in him.
 

wattie

Senior Member
Feb 24, 2009
3,236
1,130
113
New Zealand
I fully agree with all "The Watchers" comments and wish to add the following.
The problem here with many exponents of unconditional eternal security appears to be a reliance on human “logic & wisdom” more so than what scripture teaches. Or taking Scripture out of context. Perhaps they are trying to salve their own conscience. This popular belief has inspired many to think that they can attend church on Sunday have their sins forgiven then go and commit the same sins again. It is the cause of much Apostasy in the “Christian” church. I fear they are in for a shock on the Day of Judgement. They make the same error that the Jews have made. They think Just because they are the seed of Abraham they are Eternally Secure. Yes they are chosen but it’s conditional on them having Faith and abiding in God’s Commands to them. For the Christian it is the same, we are to abide in Him in faith with His Law in our hearts.
Rom. 11:20-23 reads;
20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear.
21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either.
22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.
23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.


The above shows that some Jews were removed from God’s promises and Christians grafted in, but with the warning that they also can be removed if they fail to continue in the faith.

Ezek.33 11-1 3 reads;
Say to them: 'As I live,' says the Lord GOD, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?'
"Therefore you, O son of man, say to the children of your people: 'The righteousness of the righteous man shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression; as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall because of it in the day that he turns from his wickedness; nor shall the righteous be able to live because of his righteousness in the day that he sins.'
When I say to the righteous that
he shall surely live, but he trusts in his own righteousness and commits iniquity, none of his righteous works shall be remembered; but because of the iniquity that he has committed, he shall die.”


The above applies to the Christian as much as to the Jew.
Without genuine repentance (turning from and not returning to sin) there can be no forgiveness.
All the Christians I know who believe in OSAS are continuously faithful. This is a false accusation. Other posters such as Mailmandan have said the same thing in response to the supposed 'teaching a license to sin'

Osas frees people from sin, because it has no power over them! This is about Jesus's full atonement for sin. His justification. Thinking you can just do whatever you want after being saved since you are always saved .. is thinking carnally and not thinking about the freedom giver, Jesus Christ, our God and Saviour.

A church losing the presence of the Holy Spirit is not individuals in that church losing eternal life.

A believer being disciplined and rebuked for their sin is not them losing eternal life.

The bible describing a person whose entire life is characterized by a kind of sin would usually mean of someone never converted.

Jesus dieing for your sins and forgiving them..and then sin can undo your salvation?

That's not what the bible says.
 

wattie

Senior Member
Feb 24, 2009
3,236
1,130
113
New Zealand
Death may be the chastisement for those in grievous sin. But I believe this happens less often. More often, such a person outwardly professed Christ, but did not inwardly possess Christ.
Yah true it does happen less often.. I was more thinking of christians thinking about adultery being common. Like getting caught in lustful thoughts. But anyway, there is of course those who entire life is characterised by certain sins.. and then the bible is clear they did not inwardly possess Christ.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,776
113
On the other hand, if one were to forsake righteousness to practice wickedness, then God will forget the good they've done. I don't think the work of Jesus changed this policy.
Clearly you do not understand what happens when a person gets saved andwhat was accomplished through the finished work of Christ.
 

Romans34

... let God be true ...
Oct 28, 2023
309
124
43
Hewbrews 6:4-8

For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.
These verses do not teach one can lose his salvation, but that he cannot "start over". Jesus is not going to come again and die again so he can have life again. If you mess up, you have to "deal with it". But the word "impossible" does mean "impossible". IF you are going to say this verse teaches one can lose his salvation, then he can never, never, EVER get it back. Again, "impossible" means "impossible".
 

wattie

Senior Member
Feb 24, 2009
3,236
1,130
113
New Zealand
These verses do not teach one can lose his salvation, but that he cannot "start over". Jesus is not going to come again and die again so he can have life again. If you mess up, you have to "deal with it". But the word "impossible" does mean "impossible". IF you are going to say this verse teaches one can lose his salvation, then he can never, never, EVER get it back. Again, "impossible" means "impossible".
Yes, it's also interesting looking at the lead up to Hebrews 6, with Hebrews 5. It is clear the people in view in Hebrews 6 ARE believers. Contrary to what many will say of 'never saved'.

They cannot comprehend that a believer can 'fall away'
 

Romans34

... let God be true ...
Oct 28, 2023
309
124
43
Yes, it's also interesting looking at the lead up to Hebrews 6, with Hebrews 5. It is clear the people in view in Hebrews 6 ARE believers. Contrary to what many will say of 'never saved'.

They cannot comprehend that a believer can 'fall away'
This is true. And believers that "fall away" are still believers (children). They don't seem to understand that what the believer is falling away from is NOT eternal security.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,843
13,558
113
if God cannot save the lost, no one can be saved.

if He does not save us to the uttermost, salvation is meaningless.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,843
13,558
113
A son goes to his father and asks for his inheritance before either one of them dies. We see that happening in the story of the prodigal son.
to ask this is to express the wish that the father dies.

it is inexpressibly evil.

every jew who heard this parable immediately knew that son should be put to death

but we are 21st century westerners who think wishing your parents were dead is "normal"

smh
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
25,475
13,419
113
58
if God cannot save the lost, no one can be saved.

if He does not save us to the uttermost, salvation is meaningless.
Salvation is not probation.
Eternal life is not temporary life.
Jesus is the door. He is not a revolving door.
 
Dec 29, 2023
1,327
236
63
This is true. And believers that "fall away" are still believers (children). They don't seem to understand that what the believer is falling away from is NOT eternal security.
So the Lord is all good with people living in sin then, glad that's all cleared up now.