Redemption: A Transaction Paid in Full

[FlyingDove]

Christ's resurrection is God the Father's PAID IN FULL receipt for the sin‑redemption transaction Jesus accomplished at Calvary.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words Redeem, Redemption

[ A-1,Verb,G1805, exagorazo ] “to purchase out of the marketplace” Used in Rev 5:9; 14:3–4 (AV “redeemed,” RV “purchased”). See also: PURCHASE.

[ A-2,Verb,G3084, lutroo ] "to release on receipt of ransom" (akin to lutron, "a ransom"), is used in the Middle Voice, signifying "to release by paying a ransom price, to redeem"

(b) in a spiritual sense, Titus 2:14, of the work of Christ in "redeeming" men "from all iniquity" (anomia, "lawlessness," the bondage of self-will which rejects the will of God); 1 Peter 1:18 (Passive Voice), "ye were redeemed," from a vain manner of life, i.e., from bondage to tradition. In both instances the Death of Christ is stated as the means of "redemption."

[ B-1,Noun,G3085, lutrosis ] (b) of "the redemptive work" of Christ, Hebrews 9:12, bringing deliverance through His death, from the guilt and power of sin.

[ B-2,Noun,G629, apolutrosis ]

(c) forgiveness and justification, "redemption" as the result of expiation, deliverance from the guilt of sins, Romans 3:24, "through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus;" Ephesians 1:7, defined as "the forgiveness of our trespasses," RV; so Colossians 1:14, "the forgiveness of our sins," indicating both the liberation from the guilt and doom of sin and the introduction into a life of liberty, "newness of life" (Romans 6:4); Hebrews 9:15, "for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant," RV, here "redemption of" is equivalent to "redemption from," the genitive case being used of the object from which the "redemption" is effected, not from the consequence of the transgressions, but from the transgressions themselves;

Redemption verses Vine's cites:

Rom 3:24 and are being justified [declared free of the guilt of sin, made acceptable to God, and granted eternal life] as a gift by His [precious, undeserved] [c]grace, through the redemption [the payment for our sin] which is [provided] in Christ Jesus,

Eph 1:7 In Him we have redemption [that is, our deliverance and salvation] through His blood, [which paid the penalty for our sin and resulted in] the forgiveness and complete pardon of our sin, in accordance with the riches of His grace

Col 1:14 in whom we have redemption [because of His sacrifice, resulting in] the forgiveness of our sins [and the cancellation of sins’ penalty].

1 Cor 1:30 But it is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God [revealing His plan of salvation], and righteousness [making us acceptable to God], and sanctification [making us holy and setting us apart for God], and redemption [providing our ransom from the penalty for sin],

Eph 1:14 The Holy Spirit is the [e]guarantee [the first installment, the pledge, a foretaste] of our inheritance until the redemption of God’s own [purchased] possession [His believers], to the praise of His glory.

Heb 9:15 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal [Holy] Spirit willingly offered Himself unblemished [that is, without moral or spiritual imperfection as a sacrifice] to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works and lifeless observances to serve the ever living God?

If you've accepted Jesus as Lord & Savior believe in His sin redemptive death & resurrection. Because of your faith in Who He is & what He did. You've been GRANTED eternal life, GIVEN His forever (Jn 14:16) indwelling Holy Spirit SEAL (Eph 1:13-14, 4:30, 2 Cor 1:22, 5:5) & nothing can snatch you from His (universe creator & supreme ruler) hand.

Believer scripture proclaims ALL your sins have been/(past tense) forgiven for His sake (Eph 4:32 & 1 Jn 2:12). A sinless Jesus willing (Matt 26:53) sacrifice satisfied sin required price DEATH (Rom 6:23) & freed you from its ultimate consequence, everlasting destruction, banished from the presence of the Lord & from the glory of His power (2 Thes 1:9)

The Old Covenant daily 24/7/365 sacrifices kept people in a perpetual ""consciousness of their sins"", nothing was ever finished & no sacrifice could ""cleanse the conscience"" (Heb 10:1–2).

The New Covenant declares that Christ's blood has ""cleansed our conscience once for all"" (Heb 9:14) & that His single offering has perfected us forever (Heb 10:14) & obtained eternal redemption for us. (Heb 9:12) If we sin we have an Advocate [who will intercede for us] with the Father (1 Jn 2:1-2) Christ & rose, sits at the Fathers right hand & makes intercession for us. Rom 8:34)

Jesus saved the believer to the uttermost & makes intercession for them. (Heb 7:25). The Father judges no one. He's entrusted all judgment to the Son. (Jn 5:22) You advocate is your Attorney & the Judge. Sins verdict, NOY GUILTY.

Hopefully any believer still reading this understands your salvation is eternally secure.

If you have received Jesus as Lord & Savior by believing in His sin‑redeeming death & resurrection - then: because of your faith in Who He is & what He did. You've been GRANTED eternal life, GIVEN His forever (Jn 14:16) indwelling Holy Spirit SEAL (Eph 1:13-14, 4:30, 2 Cor 1:22, 5:5) & nothing can snatch you from His (universe creator & supreme ruler) hand.

Scripture declares that all your sins have been forgiven - past tense - for His sake (Eph 4:32 & 1 Jn 2:12). A sinless Jesus willingly offered Himself (Matt 26:53). His death satisfied sin's required price - death (Rom 6:23). You are freed from sin’s ultimate consequence: everlasting destruction, away from the presence of the Lord (2 Thes 1:9).

Old Covenant vs. New Covenant

OC Daily, continual sacrifices, brought a perpetual consciousness of sins. Nothing was ever finished & no sacrifice could cleanse the conscience from guilt (Heb 10:1–2)

NC Christ's blood has cleansed our conscience once for all (Heb 9:14). His single offering has perfected us forever (Heb 10:14). He has obtained eternal redemption (Heb 9:12) & He now intercedes for us (Rom 8:34 & 1 Jn 2:1–2)

The Father judges no one - He has entrusted all judgment to the Son (Jn 5:22). Your Advocate is both your Attorney & your Judge. Verdict: NOT GUILTY.

Any Believer still reading, hear this clearly: Your salvation is eternally secure. Not because of your performance, but because of His payment, His blood, His resurrection, His intercession & His unbreakable promises.

This is not to say that flirting with sin or yielding to it is harmless. Sin absolutely carries consequences in a believer's life: broken relationships, sickness, loss of joy, protective hedges removed, divine discipline & even loss of heavenly reward (Heb 12:5–11; 1 Cor 3:14–15). None of those consequences include the loss of salvation.

Scripture is unambiguous: the only unforgivable sin is lifelong unbelief, dying without faith in Christ (Jn 8:24). Paul goes further & declares that where sin increases, grace super abounds (Rom 5:20). God's grace is greater than any failure a believer can commit.

Sin's penalty is death, but Christ has already borne that penalty once for all (Rom 6:23 & Heb 10:12–14). No sin can undo the finished work of Christ or the eternal life He gives by grace through faith (Eph 2:8).

The love and grace of our great God & Savior far surpass the power of sin. Amen.

 

[homwardbound]

Christ's resurrection is God the Father's PAID IN FULL receipt for the sin‑redemption transaction Jesus accomplished at Calvary.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words Redeem, Redemption

[ A-1,Verb,G1805, exagorazo ] “to purchase out of the marketplace” Used in Rev 5:9; 14:3–4 (AV “redeemed,” RV “purchased”). See also: PURCHASE.

[ A-2,Verb,G3084, lutroo ] "to release on receipt of ransom" (akin to lutron, "a ransom"), is used in the Middle Voice, signifying "to release by paying a ransom price, to redeem"

(b) in a spiritual sense, Titus 2:14, of the work of Christ in "redeeming" men "from all iniquity" (anomia, "lawlessness," the bondage of self-will which rejects the will of God); 1 Peter 1:18 (Passive Voice), "ye were redeemed," from a vain manner of life, i.e., from bondage to tradition. In both instances the Death of Christ is stated as the means of "redemption."

[ B-1,Noun,G3085, lutrosis ] (b) of "the redemptive work" of Christ, Hebrews 9:12, bringing deliverance through His death, from the guilt and power of sin.

[ B-2,Noun,G629, apolutrosis ]

(c) forgiveness and justification, "redemption" as the result of expiation, deliverance from the guilt of sins, Romans 3:24, "through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus;" Ephesians 1:7, defined as "the forgiveness of our trespasses," RV; so Colossians 1:14, "the forgiveness of our sins," indicating both the liberation from the guilt and doom of sin and the introduction into a life of liberty, "newness of life" (Romans 6:4); Hebrews 9:15, "for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant," RV, here "redemption of" is equivalent to "redemption from," the genitive case being used of the object from which the "redemption" is effected, not from the consequence of the transgressions, but from the transgressions themselves;

Redemption verses Vine's cites:

Rom 3:24 and are being justified [declared free of the guilt of sin, made acceptable to God, and granted eternal life] as a gift by His [precious, undeserved] [c]grace, through the redemption [the payment for our sin] which is [provided] in Christ Jesus,

Eph 1:7 In Him we have redemption [that is, our deliverance and salvation] through His blood, [which paid the penalty for our sin and resulted in] the forgiveness and complete pardon of our sin, in accordance with the riches of His grace

Col 1:14 in whom we have redemption [because of His sacrifice, resulting in] the forgiveness of our sins [and the cancellation of sins’ penalty].

1 Cor 1:30 But it is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God [revealing His plan of salvation], and righteousness [making us acceptable to God], and sanctification [making us holy and setting us apart for God], and redemption [providing our ransom from the penalty for sin],

Eph 1:14 The Holy Spirit is the [e]guarantee [the first installment, the pledge, a foretaste] of our inheritance until the redemption of God’s own [purchased] possession [His believers], to the praise of His glory.

Heb 9:15 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal [Holy] Spirit willingly offered Himself unblemished [that is, without moral or spiritual imperfection as a sacrifice] to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works and lifeless observances to serve the ever living God?

If you've accepted Jesus as Lord & Savior believe in His sin redemptive death & resurrection. Because of your faith in Who He is & what He did. You've been GRANTED eternal life, GIVEN His forever (Jn 14:16) indwelling Holy Spirit SEAL (Eph 1:13-14, 4:30, 2 Cor 1:22, 5:5) & nothing can snatch you from His (universe creator & supreme ruler) hand.

Believer scripture proclaims ALL your sins have been/(past tense) forgiven for His sake (Eph 4:32 & 1 Jn 2:12). A sinless Jesus willing (Matt 26:53) sacrifice satisfied sin required price DEATH (Rom 6:23) & freed you from its ultimate consequence, everlasting destruction, banished from the presence of the Lord & from the glory of His power (2 Thes 1:9)

The Old Covenant daily 24/7/365 sacrifices kept people in a perpetual ""consciousness of their sins"", nothing was ever finished & no sacrifice could ""cleanse the conscience"" (Heb 10:1–2).

The New Covenant declares that Christ's blood has ""cleansed our conscience once for all"" (Heb 9:14) & that His single offering has perfected us forever (Heb 10:14) & obtained eternal redemption for us. (Heb 9:12) If we sin we have an Advocate [who will intercede for us] with the Father (1 Jn 2:1-2) Christ & rose, sits at the Fathers right hand & makes intercession for us. Rom 8:34)

Jesus saved the believer to the uttermost & makes intercession for them. (Heb 7:25). The Father judges no one. He's entrusted all judgment to the Son. (Jn 5:22) You advocate is your Attorney & the Judge. Sins verdict, NOY GUILTY.

Hopefully any believer still reading this understands your salvation is eternally secure.

If you have received Jesus as Lord & Savior by believing in His sin‑redeeming death & resurrection - then: because of your faith in Who He is & what He did. You've been GRANTED eternal life, GIVEN His forever (Jn 14:16) indwelling Holy Spirit SEAL (Eph 1:13-14, 4:30, 2 Cor 1:22, 5:5) & nothing can snatch you from His (universe creator & supreme ruler) hand.

Scripture declares that all your sins have been forgiven - past tense - for His sake (Eph 4:32 & 1 Jn 2:12). A sinless Jesus willingly offered Himself (Matt 26:53). His death satisfied sin's required price - death (Rom 6:23). You are freed from sin’s ultimate consequence: everlasting destruction, away from the presence of the Lord (2 Thes 1:9).

Old Covenant vs. New Covenant

OC Daily, continual sacrifices, brought a perpetual consciousness of sins. Nothing was ever finished & no sacrifice could cleanse the conscience from guilt (Heb 10:1–2)

NC Christ's blood has cleansed our conscience once for all (Heb 9:14). His single offering has perfected us forever (Heb 10:14). He has obtained eternal redemption (Heb 9:12) & He now intercedes for us (Rom 8:34 & 1 Jn 2:1–2)

The Father judges no one - He has entrusted all judgment to the Son (Jn 5:22). Your Advocate is both your Attorney & your Judge. Verdict: NOT GUILTY.

Any Believer still reading, hear this clearly: Your salvation is eternally secure. Not because of your performance, but because of His payment, His blood, His resurrection, His intercession & His unbreakable promises.

This is not to say that flirting with sin or yielding to it is harmless. Sin absolutely carries consequences in a believer's life: broken relationships, sickness, loss of joy, protective hedges removed, divine discipline & even loss of heavenly reward (Heb 12:5–11; 1 Cor 3:14–15). None of those consequences include the loss of salvation.

Scripture is unambiguous: the only unforgivable sin is lifelong unbelief, dying without faith in Christ (Jn 8:24). Paul goes further & declares that where sin increases, grace super abounds (Rom 5:20). God's grace is greater than any failure a believer can commit.

Sin's penalty is death, but Christ has already borne that penalty once for all (Rom 6:23 & Heb 10:12–14). No sin can undo the finished work of Christ or the eternal life He gives by grace through faith (Eph 2:8).

The love and grace of our great God & Savior far surpass the power of sin. Amen.

That is God given truth, thank you John 19:30 it is finished, being under Law to abide by this love and mercy of Son for us all.

Not easily seen since religion is performing its way in as if can be better than others. God his not a competitor and we, at least me are not in a competition.
God simply by Son loves us all y'all. Who else would go to a cross and sacrifice themselves to win people by choosing God over self, others and especially any evil done to anyone else?
Believe, see new, receive new life and stand Col 1:21-23 it is finished and done for us to be new in the risen Son in Father's Spirit and Truth of love and mercy for all, thank you
I see Luke 18:9-14 and said thank you to Father and Son I am forgiven by you, thank you, no more need to stress and strive over anything else. I can rest as I read Hebrews 4:9-13 thank you
I see response to Matthew 18:24-35, the response is: Since by Father and Son I am forgiven, reconciled as if never sinned
I see my response simply forgives all also. thank you Father

 

[p_rehbein]

Hopefully any believer still reading this understands your salvation is eternally secure.

And, then I must ask: What of the believer who commits sin after their salvation? What of the believer who does not obey the Commandments of Jesus?

 

[homwardbound]

And, then I must ask: What of the believer who commits sin after their salvation? What of the believer who does not obey the Commandments of Jesus?

That is two questions
1. And, then I must ask: What of the believer who commits sin after their salvation?

God continues. in God's love, mercy and truth for you, (Phil 3:11-15) We now are able to learn from our mistakes, since Jesus separated death from sin att the cross Ince for all. (John 19:30) where sin brought death. Which Father gives new life to those in sincere beleif to see, will over time in experiences see and love all the same as Son did going. to that cross first for all.


2. What of the believer who does not obey the Commandments of Jesus?

That person has not asked God in belief to God for the new life offered everyone in the risen Son, Jesus for them to be new. Born again by Father for them in risen Son given them yet! Each person individually sees this personal relationship, Does not need self or anyone else to guide them into all truth. God becomes/is the teacher 1 John 2:27 As anyone can and many have rejected this truth for them. Still working for it, When by the does work pf Son, it is done. (John 19:30)

God loves us all, I can in truth only respond to God in thanksgiving and praise to God for this free gift, given and then automatically love all as Son has already done. John 13:34.
I have not been perfect at this new life either. I remain dependent on God, revealing me, seeing 2 Cor 12:7-10 to rejoicer in my need for God's lead through me thank you

 

[p_rehbein]

That is two questions

??? I stated "And then I must ask. " Didn't state a number.

 

[p_rehbein]

God continues. in God's love, mercy and truth for you, (Phil 3:11-15) We now are able to learn from our mistakes, since Jesus separated death from sin att the cross Ince for all. (John 19:30) where sin brought death. Which Father gives new life to those in sincere beleif to see, will over time in experiences see and love all the same as Son did going. to that cross first for all.

Does not really answer my question, Yes, God will always be there, however, believers MUST repent of their sins. Even after salvation. Jesus Himself taught us in the Prayer He gave us to pray. ...........and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespasses against us....

One can not simply live as they desire after salvation. Jesus said "If you LOVE me, you WILL obey me."

 

[homwardbound]

??? I stated "And then I must ask. " Didn't state a number.

Okay, did I say anything bad about it. I just stated what I saw and mean no offense, if any taken.
What about what I stated, anything not well in that for our growth in love and mercy from God to us all?

 

[homwardbound]

Does not really answer my question, Yes, God will always be there, however, believers MUST repent of their sins. Even after salvation. Jesus Himself taught us in the Prayer He gave us to pray. ...........and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespasses against us....

One can not simply live as they desire after salvation. Jesus said "If you LOVE me, you WILL obey me."

True repentance I believe is a change of mind set. A mindset of flesh to the mindset of Father and Son as Won for us to now do right in response to God in Thanksgiving and praise of this gift given free of charge.

You are speaking of having to be right and be perfect and do right and take charge and be a person better than others, a religion of self doing in the name of God. that might not be God at all
2 Corinthians 11:14
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

When God Son died on the cross willingly over 2.000 years ago and now presently lives, how many sins did he take upon himself, on that cross?
All, a few, or none. So, is it done or not for all or not? Does anyone have to do it too? or is it done once for us all to be new in Father's love?

Really have to do it? When no flesh before Son could or even after Son can 2 Cor 5:10 Romans 8:1-3. Why can't we the people see It is finished John 19:30? What is finished, is it being under Law to have to do it? Now by Son it is done once for all Hebrews 10:10 read the whole chapter please. and 1 John 2:1-27
Who speaks people preachers or God Father himself through you in love and mercy to all as did on Pentecost through the disciples first? And the disciples heard them speak back to them in their own tongues.

Love you friend in the risen Lord Jesus for us to be free with Father through his done work to rest in trust, being dead daily to self and having no more works to do being freely in love and mercy given us in response to God first
Oh so you do not want to sin again, GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! love that, thank you, yet you now then can see you can't and need God to lead, not you anymore or anyone else
Phil 3:1-20

We love because we are loved by God first through Son for us all, who took on death for us to be free to live free in love and mercy to all too. The same as Son has done on that cross first for us all, John 13:34

 

[GWH]

Christ's resurrection is God the Father's PAID IN FULL receipt for the sin‑redemption transaction Jesus accomplished at Calvary.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words Redeem, Redemption

[ A-1,Verb,G1805, exagorazo ] “to purchase out of the marketplace” Used in Rev 5:9; 14:3–4 (AV “redeemed,” RV “purchased”). See also: PURCHASE.

[ A-2,Verb,G3084, lutroo ] "to release on receipt of ransom" (akin to lutron, "a ransom"), is used in the Middle Voice, signifying "to release by paying a ransom price, to redeem"

(b) in a spiritual sense, Titus 2:14, of the work of Christ in "redeeming" men "from all iniquity" (anomia, "lawlessness," the bondage of self-will which rejects the will of God); 1 Peter 1:18 (Passive Voice), "ye were redeemed," from a vain manner of life, i.e., from bondage to tradition. In both instances the Death of Christ is stated as the means of "redemption."

[ B-1,Noun,G3085, lutrosis ] (b) of "the redemptive work" of Christ, Hebrews 9:12, bringing deliverance through His death, from the guilt and power of sin.

[ B-2,Noun,G629, apolutrosis ]

(c) forgiveness and justification, "redemption" as the result of expiation, deliverance from the guilt of sins, Romans 3:24, "through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus;" Ephesians 1:7, defined as "the forgiveness of our trespasses," RV; so Colossians 1:14, "the forgiveness of our sins," indicating both the liberation from the guilt and doom of sin and the introduction into a life of liberty, "newness of life" (Romans 6:4); Hebrews 9:15, "for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant," RV, here "redemption of" is equivalent to "redemption from," the genitive case being used of the object from which the "redemption" is effected, not from the consequence of the transgressions, but from the transgressions themselves;

Redemption verses Vine's cites:

Rom 3:24 and are being justified [declared free of the guilt of sin, made acceptable to God, and granted eternal life] as a gift by His [precious, undeserved] [c]grace, through the redemption [the payment for our sin] which is [provided] in Christ Jesus,

Eph 1:7 In Him we have redemption [that is, our deliverance and salvation] through His blood, [which paid the penalty for our sin and resulted in] the forgiveness and complete pardon of our sin, in accordance with the riches of His grace

Col 1:14 in whom we have redemption [because of His sacrifice, resulting in] the forgiveness of our sins [and the cancellation of sins’ penalty].

1 Cor 1:30 But it is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God [revealing His plan of salvation], and righteousness [making us acceptable to God], and sanctification [making us holy and setting us apart for God], and redemption [providing our ransom from the penalty for sin],

Eph 1:14 The Holy Spirit is the [e]guarantee [the first installment, the pledge, a foretaste] of our inheritance until the redemption of God’s own [purchased] possession [His believers], to the praise of His glory.

Heb 9:15 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal [Holy] Spirit willingly offered Himself unblemished [that is, without moral or spiritual imperfection as a sacrifice] to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works and lifeless observances to serve the ever living God?

If you've accepted Jesus as Lord & Savior believe in His sin redemptive death & resurrection. Because of your faith in Who He is & what He did. You've been GRANTED eternal life, GIVEN His forever (Jn 14:16) indwelling Holy Spirit SEAL (Eph 1:13-14, 4:30, 2 Cor 1:22, 5:5) & nothing can snatch you from His (universe creator & supreme ruler) hand.

Believer scripture proclaims ALL your sins have been/(past tense) forgiven for His sake (Eph 4:32 & 1 Jn 2:12). A sinless Jesus willing (Matt 26:53) sacrifice satisfied sin required price DEATH (Rom 6:23) & freed you from its ultimate consequence, everlasting destruction, banished from the presence of the Lord & from the glory of His power (2 Thes 1:9)

The Old Covenant daily 24/7/365 sacrifices kept people in a perpetual ""consciousness of their sins"", nothing was ever finished & no sacrifice could ""cleanse the conscience"" (Heb 10:1–2).

The New Covenant declares that Christ's blood has ""cleansed our conscience once for all"" (Heb 9:14) & that His single offering has perfected us forever (Heb 10:14) & obtained eternal redemption for us. (Heb 9:12) If we sin we have an Advocate [who will intercede for us] with the Father (1 Jn 2:1-2) Christ & rose, sits at the Fathers right hand & makes intercession for us. Rom 8:34)

Jesus saved the believer to the uttermost & makes intercession for them. (Heb 7:25). The Father judges no one. He's entrusted all judgment to the Son. (Jn 5:22) You advocate is your Attorney & the Judge. Sins verdict, NOY GUILTY.

Hopefully any believer still reading this understands your salvation is eternally secure.

If you have received Jesus as Lord & Savior by believing in His sin‑redeeming death & resurrection - then: because of your faith in Who He is & what He did. You've been GRANTED eternal life, GIVEN His forever (Jn 14:16) indwelling Holy Spirit SEAL (Eph 1:13-14, 4:30, 2 Cor 1:22, 5:5) & nothing can snatch you from His (universe creator & supreme ruler) hand.

Scripture declares that all your sins have been forgiven - past tense - for His sake (Eph 4:32 & 1 Jn 2:12). A sinless Jesus willingly offered Himself (Matt 26:53). His death satisfied sin's required price - death (Rom 6:23). You are freed from sin’s ultimate consequence: everlasting destruction, away from the presence of the Lord (2 Thes 1:9).

Old Covenant vs. New Covenant

OC Daily, continual sacrifices, brought a perpetual consciousness of sins. Nothing was ever finished & no sacrifice could cleanse the conscience from guilt (Heb 10:1–2)

NC Christ's blood has cleansed our conscience once for all (Heb 9:14). His single offering has perfected us forever (Heb 10:14). He has obtained eternal redemption (Heb 9:12) & He now intercedes for us (Rom 8:34 & 1 Jn 2:1–2)

The Father judges no one - He has entrusted all judgment to the Son (Jn 5:22). Your Advocate is both your Attorney & your Judge. Verdict: NOT GUILTY.

Any Believer still reading, hear this clearly: Your salvation is eternally secure. Not because of your performance, but because of His payment, His blood, His resurrection, His intercession & His unbreakable promises.

This is not to say that flirting with sin or yielding to it is harmless. Sin absolutely carries consequences in a believer's life: broken relationships, sickness, loss of joy, protective hedges removed, divine discipline & even loss of heavenly reward (Heb 12:5–11; 1 Cor 3:14–15). None of those consequences include the loss of salvation.

Scripture is unambiguous: the only unforgivable sin is lifelong unbelief, dying without faith in Christ (Jn 8:24). Paul goes further & declares that where sin increases, grace super abounds (Rom 5:20). God's grace is greater than any failure a believer can commit.

Sin's penalty is death, but Christ has already borne that penalty once for all (Rom 6:23 & Heb 10:12–14). No sin can undo the finished work of Christ or the eternal life He gives by grace through faith (Eph 2:8).

The love and grace of our great God & Savior far surpass the power of sin. Amen.

Hopefully, any Believer reading this post will read Scripture teaching that your salvation is eternally secure as long as you persevere in saving faith, which is no more a "performance" while continuing than it was at repentance/conversion/initial justification/the beginning of sanctification. Those Scriptures include: Rom. 11:22, 1Cor. 15:2, Col. 1:22-23, 2Thes. 1:4-5, 2Tim. 2:12, Heb. 3:6&14, 10:35-36, Jam. 1:12, 2Pet. 1:10-11, 2:20, 1John 2:24-25 and Rev. 2:10.

 

[FlyingDove]

Hopefully, any Believer reading this post will read Scripture teaching that your salvation is eternally secure as long as you persevere in saving faith, which is no more a "performance" while continuing than it was at repentance/conversion/initial justification/the beginning of sanctification. Those Scriptures include: Rom. 11:22, 1Cor. 15:2, Col. 1:22-23, 2Thes. 1:4-5, 2Tim. 2:12, Heb. 3:6&14, 10:35-36, Jam. 1:12, 2Pet. 1:10-11, 2:20, 1John 2:24-25 and Rev. 2:10.

A different salvation perspevtive

Anyone interested in civil debate I'm willing to engage.

Jesus calls the Father God (Jn 20:17, Matt 27:46 & Jn 17:3), the Father calls the Son God (Heb 1:8-9) & Paul calls the Son God (Rom 9:5) & Peter calls Holy Spirit God (Acts 5:3–4).

The Human Condition & God's Rescue

All have sinned (Rom 3:23) - sins wage is death (Rom 6:23) - The only rescue if grace of God found in His Son Jesus

Jesus draws all (Jn 12:32), but not all will accept Him

Repentance TOWARD God = change your mind from unbelief to belief) & faith TOWARD the Lord Jesus Christ = trusting His sin‑atoning death & resurrection (Acts 20:21).

When a person understands they have sinned against a sovereign God & that Jesus died, was buried & rose again (1 Cor 15:1-4) for their justification (Rom 4:25) & they call on Him for forgiveness, Jesus who knows every heart (Rev 2:23; Jn 2:24–25), baptizes them with His forever‑indwelling Holy Spirit (John 14:16). This is an eternal‑life sealing (Eph 1:13–14; Eph 4:30; 2 Cor 1:22; 2 Cor 5:5; 2 Tim 1:14).

The New Covenant Salvation Pattern

Rom 10:17, believe/call on the Lord (Acts 2:21 & Rom 10:13) & receive the Holy Spirit (Matt 3:11 & Lk 11:13), all the woman at the well, living in sin had to do was acknowledge Jesus as Messiah & ask. Only Jesus can baptizes with the Holy Spirit & no deceivers will become receivers (Job 5:12-13)

Gentile Inclusion & the One New Man

Acts 10 is the 1st Gentile inclusion into the Holy Spirit indwelt New Covenant - the inauguration of the Body of Christ, where He makes Jew & Gentile one new man (Eph 2:15).

Acts 10:2 Cornelius didn't have to repent from unbelief he already believe in God. But he had never heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. Vs.39 Jesus died. Vs.40 Jesus rose on the 3rd day. Vs.43 that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

Acts 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

Cornelius & all the gentiles with him Heard the gosplel of Jesus Christ. He died for your sins was buried & rose on the 3rd day & Jesus knowing their hearts baptized them with His eternal life sealing Holy Spirit. These gentiles didn't get circumsised, confess every sin, obey the OC 613 commandments, get water baptized to receive GODS OWNERSHIP SECURITY SEAL yet All thier sins were forgiven Past-Present-Future Christ/God now living inside them FOREVER & EVER! Amen

45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles
(NOTE: Peter the leader of the Jewish Holy Spirit outpouring at Pentecost & the believing Jews with him were ASTONISHED that God had SAVED these gentiles thru FAITH ALONE. Also see Eph 2:8)

Scripture Confirmation

Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
(NOTE: They heard > believed > received the Holy Spirit)

1 Cor 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
(NOTE: For by ONE Holy Spirit are we ALL baptized into one body > whether Jew or Gentile)

Col 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision "made without hands", in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
(NOTE: OC circumcision initiation was PHYSICIAL. The NT circumcision of Christ, "made without hands." is the inward, SPIRITUAL work of the Holy Spirit)

Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
(NOTE: A circumcision of the heart, in the spirit & NOT of the LAW)

σφραγίζω = “to seal”
This is the standard NT verb translated “seal” in passages like:
• Ephesians 1:13 — “you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise”
• Ephesians 4:30 — “you were sealed for the day of redemption”
• 2 Corinthians 1:22 — “God… sealed us and gave the Spirit in our hearts”
In every one of those verses, the Greek verb is σφραγίζω.

BDAG explicitly defines σφραγίζω as marking ownership, certifying security, and guaranteeing what is sealed. A seal that can be broken is not a seal. Paul’s Greek does not support a salvation that can be undone.

HELPS Word-studies 4972 sphragízō (from 4973 /sphragís, "a seal") – properly, to seal (affix) with a signet ring or other instrument to stamp (a roller or seal), i.e. to attest ownership, authorizing (validating) what is sealed.
4972 /sphragízō ("to seal") signifies ownership and the full security carried by the backing (full authority) of the owner. "Sealing" in the ancient world served as a "legal signature" which guaranteed the promise (contents) of what was sealed.
[Sealing was sometimes done in antiquity by the use of religious tattoos – again signifying "belonging to."]

Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words - "to seal" [ B-1,Verb,G4972, sphragizo ]
(d) ownership and security, together with destination, Revelation 7:3-Revelation 7:5 (as with the noun in Revelation 7:2; See A); the same three indications are conveyed in Ephesians 1:13, in the metaphor of the "sealing" of believers by the gift of the Holy Spirit, upon believing (i.e., at the time of their regeneration, not after a lapse of time in their spiritual life, "having also believed," not as AV, "after that ye believed;" the aorist participle marks the definiteness and completeness of the act of faith); the idea of destination is stressed by the phrase "the Holy Spirit of promise" (See also Ephesians 1:14); so Ephesians 4:30, "ye were sealed unto the day of redemption;" so in 2 Corinthians 1:22, where the Middle Voice intimates the special interest of the Sealer in His act;
(e) authentication by the believer (by receiving the witness of the Son) of the fact that "God is true," John 3:33; authentication by God in sealing the Son as the Giver of eternal life

In short ""to seal"" marking ownership, certifying security & guarantee given by the God's FOREVER indwelling (Jn 14:16) Holy Spirit SEAL.

And a Spirit sealed believer cannot return to unbelief, because God Himself keeps, indwells & guarantees the final redemption of those He saves (Eph 1:13–14, 4:30, John 6:39, 10:28–29, 1 Pet 1:5).

If Jesus accepts the sinner, the Father seals the sinner & the Spirit indwells the sinner, the only way that sinner could be lost is if God the Father-Son-Holy Spirit fail & they never fail.

 

[biblestudent78]

With our neat little formulas fostered by a gaggle of proof texts we have determined the absolute minimum definition of Christianity that can allow us to fill the pews. The salvation formula is just believe. Just say you believe. Just convince yourself that at one time you did believe. Salvation is not in any way sacrificial. It is most importantly absent any repentance, other than nodding our head to a pulpit prayer and it is definitely not being "converted" in the biblical sense. We are converted to Luther's ideas of stop trying to be the human God made you to be. Stop trying. God cares nothing for your body, your life, you pastimes, you pocketbook, your pathology, your greed, your self-centeredness ect. God only wants a little piece of your mind. You know, the part that "believes" our sacred dogmas.

The Hebrew Bible is one long polemic about the eternal struggle of mankind to find harmony with the eternal God. It’s central theme is the requirements of God for faithful lives, listening first to God above all others. It leaves us with from 39 to 46 books detailing the pleasures of faithfulness and the punishments for unfaithfulness. The Hebrew Bible is a loaded gun at all who believe that obedience is optional, that love is just another feeling, that God cares not a whit about how you live your life. The really scary fact of the Hebrew Bible is that the righteous always suffer. The righteous are always swimming against the cultural tide in their times.

21st Century Christianity is a swirling mix of pastoral though police rooting out those dedicate to loving obedience and faithfulness to God by what we do (the evil works) instead of the more vastly more import question of what we claim to believe.

Is it possible we have reverted to talismans composed of proof texts and idols of our unique theologies? Are we absolved of any obligation of love because we have a magic word vastly more important, we call “faith.” Is Christian conversion invisible to all including ourselves? If it is, are we actually converted or our we just recruited.

Have we reverted to magic ideas “proven” by magic words? Do we see God’s will in the world to change our personal insecurities, selfish lifestyles and infidelities? Is the greatest gift of 21st century Christianity finally being free and guiltless while we continue in our most carnal and destructive self-interest? We have magic words to claim, magic theological formulas, magical and mystical reliance on a book we do not read. In our vacuous rush to justification in our own eyes, it is no longer possible to be unfaithful in love if we are pure in our unique dogmas of “faith.”

Is 21st century Christianity hiding in plain sight were nobody, but insiders can see it? Is our greatest security living in compliance with our preferred dogmas or with the call to shoulder our cross and offer our lives as a living sacrifice? Is conversion just a momentary change of mind or a completely change of life?

 

[GWH]

A different salvation perspevtive

Anyone interested in civil debate I'm willing to engage.

Jesus calls the Father God (Jn 20:17, Matt 27:46 & Jn 17:3), the Father calls the Son God (Heb 1:8-9) & Paul calls the Son God (Rom 9:5) & Peter calls Holy Spirit God (Acts 5:3–4).

The Human Condition & God's Rescue

All have sinned (Rom 3:23) - sins wage is death (Rom 6:23) - The only rescue if grace of God found in His Son Jesus

Jesus draws all (Jn 12:32), but not all will accept Him

Repentance TOWARD God = change your mind from unbelief to belief) & faith TOWARD the Lord Jesus Christ = trusting His sin‑atoning death & resurrection (Acts 20:21).

When a person understands they have sinned against a sovereign God & that Jesus died, was buried & rose again (1 Cor 15:1-4) for their justification (Rom 4:25) & they call on Him for forgiveness, Jesus who knows every heart (Rev 2:23; Jn 2:24–25), baptizes them with His forever‑indwelling Holy Spirit (John 14:16). This is an eternal‑life sealing (Eph 1:13–14; Eph 4:30; 2 Cor 1:22; 2 Cor 5:5; 2 Tim 1:14).

The New Covenant Salvation Pattern

Rom 10:17, believe/call on the Lord (Acts 2:21 & Rom 10:13) & receive the Holy Spirit (Matt 3:11 & Lk 11:13), all the woman at the well, living in sin had to do was acknowledge Jesus as Messiah & ask. Only Jesus can baptizes with the Holy Spirit & no deceivers will become receivers (Job 5:12-13)

Gentile Inclusion & the One New Man

Acts 10 is the 1st Gentile inclusion into the Holy Spirit indwelt New Covenant - the inauguration of the Body of Christ, where He makes Jew & Gentile one new man (Eph 2:15).

Acts 10:2 Cornelius didn't have to repent from unbelief he already believe in God. But he had never heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. Vs.39 Jesus died. Vs.40 Jesus rose on the 3rd day. Vs.43 that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

Acts 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

Cornelius & all the gentiles with him Heard the gosplel of Jesus Christ. He died for your sins was buried & rose on the 3rd day & Jesus knowing their hearts baptized them with His eternal life sealing Holy Spirit. These gentiles didn't get circumsised, confess every sin, obey the OC 613 commandments, get water baptized to receive GODS OWNERSHIP SECURITY SEAL yet All thier sins were forgiven Past-Present-Future Christ/God now living inside them FOREVER & EVER! Amen

45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles
(NOTE: Peter the leader of the Jewish Holy Spirit outpouring at Pentecost & the believing Jews with him were ASTONISHED that God had SAVED these gentiles thru FAITH ALONE. Also see Eph 2:8)

Scripture Confirmation

Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
(NOTE: They heard > believed > received the Holy Spirit)

1 Cor 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
(NOTE: For by ONE Holy Spirit are we ALL baptized into one body > whether Jew or Gentile)

Col 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision "made without hands", in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
(NOTE: OC circumcision initiation was PHYSICIAL. The NT circumcision of Christ, "made without hands." is the inward, SPIRITUAL work of the Holy Spirit)

Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
(NOTE: A circumcision of the heart, in the spirit & NOT of the LAW)

σφραγίζω = “to seal”
This is the standard NT verb translated “seal” in passages like:
• Ephesians 1:13 — “you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise”
• Ephesians 4:30 — “you were sealed for the day of redemption”
• 2 Corinthians 1:22 — “God… sealed us and gave the Spirit in our hearts”
In every one of those verses, the Greek verb is σφραγίζω.

BDAG explicitly defines σφραγίζω as marking ownership, certifying security, and guaranteeing what is sealed. A seal that can be broken is not a seal. Paul’s Greek does not support a salvation that can be undone.

HELPS Word-studies 4972 sphragízō (from 4973 /sphragís, "a seal") – properly, to seal (affix) with a signet ring or other instrument to stamp (a roller or seal), i.e. to attest ownership, authorizing (validating) what is sealed.
4972 /sphragízō ("to seal") signifies ownership and the full security carried by the backing (full authority) of the owner. "Sealing" in the ancient world served as a "legal signature" which guaranteed the promise (contents) of what was sealed.
[Sealing was sometimes done in antiquity by the use of religious tattoos – again signifying "belonging to."]

Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words - "to seal" [ B-1,Verb,G4972, sphragizo ]
(d) ownership and security, together with destination, Revelation 7:3-Revelation 7:5 (as with the noun in Revelation 7:2; See A); the same three indications are conveyed in Ephesians 1:13, in the metaphor of the "sealing" of believers by the gift of the Holy Spirit, upon believing (i.e., at the time of their regeneration, not after a lapse of time in their spiritual life, "having also believed," not as AV, "after that ye believed;" the aorist participle marks the definiteness and completeness of the act of faith); the idea of destination is stressed by the phrase "the Holy Spirit of promise" (See also Ephesians 1:14); so Ephesians 4:30, "ye were sealed unto the day of redemption;" so in 2 Corinthians 1:22, where the Middle Voice intimates the special interest of the Sealer in His act;
(e) authentication by the believer (by receiving the witness of the Son) of the fact that "God is true," John 3:33; authentication by God in sealing the Son as the Giver of eternal life

In short ""to seal"" marking ownership, certifying security & guarantee given by the God's FOREVER indwelling (Jn 14:16) Holy Spirit SEAL.

And a Spirit sealed believer cannot return to unbelief, because God Himself keeps, indwells & guarantees the final redemption of those He saves (Eph 1:13–14, 4:30, John 6:39, 10:28–29, 1 Pet 1:5).

If Jesus accepts the sinner, the Father seals the sinner & the Spirit indwells the sinner, the only way that sinner could be lost is if God the Father-Son-Holy Spirit fail & they never fail.

I am not interested in debate but rather in harmonizing Scripture, which apparently you find uninteresting,
but hopefully folks will not be led astray by ignoring the need for perseverance and will join the discussion.

If God were going to seal people/force them to persevere, then He would have forced everyone not to sin from the beginning.
Obviously, sealing does not mean that MFW is abrogated/nullified. No one is forced to go to heaven or to remain there.

 

[Inquisitor]

With our neat little formulas fostered by a gaggle of proof texts we have determined the absolute minimum definition of Christianity that can allow us to fill the pews. The salvation formula is just believe.

Salvation is a free gift given to those that believe in Jesus Christ.

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

No debate on that doctrine.

Anyone who calls on the name of Jesus is saved.

Romans 10:13
Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Still no debate.

That is the primary doctrine of Christianity.

Now for the very contentious secondary doctrine of Christianity.

Well, what happens if we sin?

Release the hounds.

 

[biblestudent78]

Harmonizing scriptures, so how is that working out? Which scriptures are you working to harmonize? the 66 books, the 73 books or the 81 books? Which do you chose and why?

Harmonizing sounds like a cottage industry. You look at a library of 790,000 words written by known and unknown writers over a 1,000 yr period written to not only different cultures, political entities each with different issues unique to their time and place. They used extensive resource books to craft their writings. They told the story mostly about political leaders, wars, plagues and suffering.

So, the harmonizing must assume that all this writing was one narrative that was irrelevant to the people of their time so it could now be relevant via a "harmonizing architecture" that has led to 45,000 different "harmonized results" in American Christianity alone.

Perhaps the bible was always intended to be a personal journey of discovery. Perhaps we tend to harmonize away the very things that convict us, expose our hypocrisies and provide an escape hatch to any kind of personal commitment that means sacrifice, obedience and life change. If what our "harmonizing" delivers is convenient formulas, creeds, dogmas and division then perhaps just trying to harmonize God to meet our convenience has not worked out so well. American Christianity is shedding church members way faster than we can recruit them. In my opinion, the reason is simple. They see nothing in our lives, behaviors, priorities and values that are any different than the heathen walking down the street, except they seem to be happier people.

If there is a valid roll for harmonizing it would be in harmonizing our life with the will and purposes of God.

 

[Lamar]

Harmonizing scriptures, so how is that working out? Which scriptures are you working to harmonize? the 66 books, the 73 books or the 81 books? Which do you chose and why?

Harmonizing sounds like a cottage industry. You look at a library of 790,000 words written by known and unknown writers over a 1,000 yr period written to not only different cultures, political entities each with different issues unique to their time and place. They used extensive resource books to craft their writings. They told the story mostly about political leaders, wars, plagues and suffering.

So, the harmonizing must assume that all this writing was one narrative that was irrelevant to the people of their time so it could now be relevant via a "harmonizing architecture" that has led to 45,000 different "harmonized results" in American Christianity alone.

Perhaps the bible was always intended to be a personal journey of discovery. Perhaps we tend to harmonize away the very things that convict us, expose our hypocrisies and provide an escape hatch to any kind of personal commitment that means sacrifice, obedience and life change. If what our "harmonizing" delivers is convenient formulas, creeds, dogmas and division then perhaps just trying to harmonize God to meet our convenience has not worked out so well. American Christianity is shedding church members way faster than we can recruit them. In my opinion, the reason is simple. They see nothing in our lives, behaviors, priorities and values that are any different than the heathen walking down the street, except they seem to be happier people.

If there is a valid roll for harmonizing it would be in harmonizing our life with the will and purposes of God.

For many here harmonizing scriptures is nothing more then forcing scriptures to fit their theology.

The use of Biblical generalities about salvation such as in John 3:16 to negate the more specific passages about salvation such as in Acts 2:38.

The "harmonizing" of the parable of the ungraceful servant to fit the OSAS mindset is an example to what degree people will go to defend their beliefs.

 

[GWH]

Harmonizing scriptures, so how is that working out? Which scriptures are you working to harmonize? the 66 books, the 73 books or the 81 books? Which do you chose and why?

Harmonizing sounds like a cottage industry. You look at a library of 790,000 words written by known and unknown writers over a 1,000 yr period written to not only different cultures, political entities each with different issues unique to their time and place. They used extensive resource books to craft their writings. They told the story mostly about political leaders, wars, plagues and suffering.

So, the harmonizing must assume that all this writing was one narrative that was irrelevant to the people of their time so it could now be relevant via a "harmonizing architecture" that has led to 45,000 different "harmonized results" in American Christianity alone.

Perhaps the bible was always intended to be a personal journey of discovery. Perhaps we tend to harmonize away the very things that convict us, expose our hypocrisies and provide an escape hatch to any kind of personal commitment that means sacrifice, obedience and life change. If what our "harmonizing" delivers is convenient formulas, creeds, dogmas and division then perhaps just trying to harmonize God to meet our convenience has not worked out so well. American Christianity is shedding church members way faster than we can recruit them. In my opinion, the reason is simple. They see nothing in our lives, behaviors, priorities and values that are any different than the heathen walking down the street, except they seem to be happier people.

If there is a valid roll for harmonizing it would be in harmonizing our life with the will and purposes of God.

Since you mention harmonizing Scripture, I assume your post is addressed mainly to me.
I use the 66 book Bible. I have read the rest and found them to be uninspired/unedifying.
It is miraculous that God worked for thousands of years through dozens of writers to give us the Bible.
The harmonizing believes all truths are part of one Truth that is eternally relevant to all people.
The Scriptures apply both individually and corporately and are intended to reveal the Way to heaven.
Harmony is the way to working out well. Unfortunately, the Truth sheds those who are not TSers.
As you indicated at the end, the goal of harmonizing is cooperation with the will of God.
Are you also a harmonizer and TSer who believes GW is to accept Jesus as Messiah?

 

[FlyingDove]

I am not interested in debate but rather in harmonizing Scripture, which apparently you find uninteresting,
but hopefully folks will not be led astray by ignoring the need for perseverance and will join the discussion.

If God were going to seal people/force them to persevere, then He would have forced everyone not to sin from the beginning.
Obviously, sealing does not mean that MFW is abrogated/nullified. No one is forced to go to heaven or to remain there.

I understand you're not seeking debate, but your position effectively places perseverance inside the act of salvation itself & that's where I firmly disagree.

Nothing I wrote suggested that God forces anyone to believe or forces anyone to do anything. In fact, I emphasized the opposite: repentance toward God (Acts 20:21), meaning a person must turn from unbelief, faith placed in the gospel of Jesus Christ & calling on Him for forgiveness. Jesus knows every heart (Jn 2:24–25 & Rev 2:23) & He responds to genuine faith. That's why Acts 10 is so important: Cornelius & his household heard the gospel of Jesus Christ' death & resurrection (Acts 10:39–43), believed it & while Peter was still speaking, Jesus baptized then with the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:44). Peter later explained that this was the same Spirit baptism Jesus promised (Acts 11:15–17), which matches Paul's teaching that all believers, Jew or Gentile, are baptized by ONE Spirit into one body (1 Cor 12:13). Paul describes the same pattern in Eph 1:13: they heard the word of truth, believed it & were sealed with the Holy Spirit. This Spiritual sealing is Jesus' new covenant initiation, a Spiritual circumcision performed without hands. (Col 2:11 & Rom 2:29). None of these passages present salvation as probationary or dependent on future performance, they present it as God saving & sealing those who He knows truly believe the gospel.

And additionally, Scripture elsewhere echoes this same picture: believers are kept by God's power (1 Pet 1:5) & Jesus says He gives His sheep eternal life & they will never perish & no one can snatch them from His hand or the Father's hand (Jn 10:28–29). Jesus also promises that He will lose none of those the Father has given Him but will raise them up at the last day (Jn 6:39). These verses don't replace the ones above, they simply reinforce the same truth. Perseverance is a the fruit of salvation, not the condition that keeps salvation intact. Anyone that thinks they can conquer sins grip without God's help is mistaken. It's the indwelling of the Holy Spirits that breaks the chains of sins dominion & enables the believer to obey, persevere, grow & produce good fruit. All within a secure relationship with God & when all these passages (which I Harmonized) are allowed to speak together, they consistently show that God saves, God seals, God keeps & God finishes what He starts.

 

[biblestudent78]

Since you mention harmonizing Scripture, I assume your post is addressed mainly to me.
I use the 66 book Bible. I have read the rest and found them to be uninspired/unedifying.
It is miraculous that God worked for thousands of years through dozens of writers to give us the Bible.
The harmonizing believes all truths are part of one Truth that is eternally relevant to all people.
The Scriptures apply both individually and corporately and are intended to reveal the Way to heaven.
Harmony is the way to working out well. Unfortunately, the Truth sheds those who are not TSers.
As you indicated at the end, the goal of harmonizing is cooperation with the will of God.
Are you also a harmonizer and TSer who believes GW is to accept Jesus as Messiah?

It is miraculous that God worked for thousands of years through dozens of writers to give us the Bible.

We have many versions of the Hebrew Bible and several versions of the New Testament. Each book or letter was written by men. They often used referral books as sources for what they wrote. As for the Hebrew Bible God is portrayed as just a powerful being with all the traits of every human who ever lived. He is mad, frustrated, vengeful, brutal, vindictive yet "just." The bible we have was composed by men. What books/letters/poetry/eroticis and legends also contain a clearly human thumbprint. The Hebrew Bible is the story of a people group written to validate their claim to the land on which they lived in exactly the same way that every civilization before them and around them did. All made the same claim. "We have a unique right to this land because God gave it to us. The Old Testament writers borrowed extensively from existing Sumerian and Akkadian legendary stories. There is no evidence that the Hebrew person on the street knew anything about or from the Torah until Israel had existed for 700+ years. So much of what we call the Old Testament was wasted on them. What became the bible was and is debated to this day. What is in and what is out. It was not until the American Biblical Society, intent on putting a bible in every hotel/motel room, did they drop the collection of books that have always been part of the bible often called the apocrypha. Those books now missing from Protestant bibles are central and critical to the billions of Roman and Eastern Catholic Christians. Even within a given language, the various readings are determined by translators. So are the translators also inspired by God? If so, why so many different translations?

So perhaps your statement should be it is miraculous that God worked for 450 years to give us the Protestant Bible.

The harmonizing believes all truths are part of one Truth that is eternally relevant to all people.
So why can't Christians agree as to what that truth is? If they can't, perhaps "harmonizing" is not working.

The Scriptures apply both individually and corporately and are intended to reveal the Way to heaven.
I'm not sure what corporate salvation looks like. If they are intended to reveal the Way to heaven, why is there mutually exclusive beliefs in what that means?

I don't what the shorthand Tsers means.

 

[GWH]

I understand you're not seeking debate, but your position effectively places perseverance inside the act of salvation itself & that's where I firmly disagree.

Nothing I wrote suggested that God forces anyone to believe or forces anyone to do anything. In fact, I emphasized the opposite: repentance toward God (Acts 20:21), meaning a person must turn from unbelief, faith placed in the gospel of Jesus Christ & calling on Him for forgiveness. Jesus knows every heart (Jn 2:24–25 & Rev 2:23) & He responds to genuine faith. That's why Acts 10 is so important: Cornelius & his household heard the gospel of Jesus Christ' death & resurrection (Acts 10:39–43), believed it & while Peter was still speaking, Jesus baptized then with the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:44). Peter later explained that this was the same Spirit baptism Jesus promised (Acts 11:15–17), which matches Paul's teaching that all believers, Jew or Gentile, are baptized by ONE Spirit into one body (1 Cor 12:13). Paul describes the same pattern in Eph 1:13: they heard the word of truth, believed it & were sealed with the Holy Spirit. This Spiritual sealing is Jesus' new covenant initiation, a Spiritual circumcision performed without hands. (Col 2:11 & Rom 2:29). None of these passages present salvation as probationary or dependent on future performance, they present it as God saving & sealing those who He knows truly believe the gospel.

And additionally, Scripture elsewhere echoes this same picture: believers are kept by God's power (1 Pet 1:5) & Jesus says He gives His sheep eternal life & they will never perish & no one can snatch them from His hand or the Father's hand (Jn 10:28–29). Jesus also promises that He will lose none of those the Father has given Him but will raise them up at the last day (Jn 6:39). These verses don't replace the ones above, they simply reinforce the same truth. Perseverance is a the fruit of salvation, not the condition that keeps salvation intact. Anyone that thinks they can conquer sins grip without God's help is mistaken. It's the indwelling of the Holy Spirits that breaks the chains of sins dominion & enables the believer to obey, persevere, grow & produce good fruit. All within a secure relationship with God & when all these passages (which I Harmonized) are allowed to speak together, they consistently show that God saves, God seals, God keeps & God finishes what He starts.

My understanding places perseverance outside the elaboration of GRFS but immediately implied as follows:

Although perfection is not achieved in this life, the necessity of learning the didache in order to strive for perfection indicates the need for perseverance or to keep on learning and growing spiritually until we die physically (Phil. 3:12-14). Thus, although learning any specific part of the didache is not GRFS, a person who does not “hunger and thirst for righteousness” (Matt. 5:6) or want to learn “every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4) fails the self-examination Paul commanded and Jesus implied.

Perseverance produces didachaic fruit/faithfulness (Gal. 5:22) following (Eph. 2:8-10) and building on kerygmatic faith (1Cor. 3:10-15). In Eph. 2:10, “walk” can be translated as “walking with God”, which is an apt (KJV) way of indicating working grace that enables saved sinners (those who exercised seeking grace to choose saving grace) to cooperate with the HS by reflecting divine love variously (Rom. 5:5-8 & 12:6-8, Gal. 5:22-23, & 1Cor. 12:4-11). Learning the manifold teachings or doctrines describing God’s moral will (Eph. 5:8-10) takes a lifetime. Thus, the need for perseverance, loyalty or remaining faithful, which is as easy or simple as an act of will. Remain faithful until the end.

Paul taught the importance of continuing to learn God’s Word (LGW) in 2Tim. 3:14-17, saying “Continue in what you have learned and have been convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Several truths are taught in this pericope:

1. “Continue” indicates that perseverance is needed.
2. “Convinced” speaks of confident faith rather than of absolute certainty.
3. “Learning GW from infancy” refers to God’s “plan A” for parenting.
4. “Able” speaks of having volition or faith to seek–or not (Matt. 7:7, Rom. 3:11).
5. “Make wise for salvation” is the overarching purpose of GW.
6. “Through faith in Christ Jesus” states how salvation is attained.
7. “All Scripture is God-breathed and useful…” refers to the reason God inspired the OT and NT canons.
8. “Teaching” implies LGW as the main method of becoming mature or fully equipped, which means having humility = teachability.
9. “Rebuking/correcting” implies willingness to change previous beliefs.
10. “Training in righteousness” speaks of practicing godly/loving works following/continuing saving faith (Eph. 2:8-10).
11. “Servant of God” (the meaning of “Muslim”) is the one who obeys GW.
12. “Equipped” refers to having spiritual armor by which to defeat the devil’s unrighteous schemes (Eph. 6:10-18).

Your saying that believers cannot commit apostasy does indeed imply being forced to remain saved.
Believers are kept by God's power (1 Pet. 1:5) the same way they plugged into God's power: faith.
We can examine other Scriptures you cited also if you would like in order to harmonize them with those cited below.

The issue of apostasy has been debated ever since Augustine of Hippo developed his doctrine of predestination about A.D. 400. Romans 8:38-39 seems to say that it is impossible for a Christian to fail to persevere. Paul writes: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life… nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” We also read in John 10:27-29 that Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice… no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.” (Also, see Rom. 8:38-39, Rom. 14:4&10, 1Cor. 1:8, 10:12 & 15:5, 2Cor. 1:20-24, Eph. 1:11-14, 1John 2:19, Psa. 135:6 & Pro. 21:1.)

However, there are numerous verses in the NT which indicate that it is possible for a believer intentionally or willfully to separate him/herself from Christ (cf. Gal. 5:1 & Rev. 12:9). The classic passage that teaches the possibility of apostasy is Hebrews 6:4-6: “It is impossible for those who have… shared in the Holy Spirit… if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again.” Another verse in this vein is Galatians 5:4: “You who are trying to be justified by law… have fallen away from grace.” (The reader should also see Rom. 11:22, 1Cor. 15:2, Col. 1:22-23, 2Thes. 1:4-5, 2Tim. 2:12, Heb. 3:6&14, 10:35-36, Jam. 1:12, 2Pet. 1:10-11, 2:20, 1John 2:24-25 and Rev. 2:10.)

 

[GWH]

It is miraculous that God worked for thousands of years through dozens of writers to give us the Bible.

We have many versions of the Hebrew Bible and several versions of the New Testament. Each book or letter was written by men. They often used referral books as sources for what they wrote. As for the Hebrew Bible God is portrayed as just a powerful being with all the traits of every human who ever lived. He is mad, frustrated, vengeful, brutal, vindictive yet "just." The bible we have was composed by men. What books/letters/poetry/eroticis and legends also contain a clearly human thumbprint. The Hebrew Bible is the story of a people group written to validate their claim to the land on which they lived in exactly the same way that every civilization before them and around them did. All made the same claim. "We have a unique right to this land because God gave it to us. The Old Testament writers borrowed extensively from existing Sumerian and Akkadian legendary stories. There is no evidence that the Hebrew person on the street knew anything about or from the Torah until Israel had existed for 700+ years. So much of what we call the Old Testament was wasted on them. What became the bible was and is debated to this day. What is in and what is out. It was not until the American Biblical Society, intent on putting a bible in every hotel/motel room, did they drop the collection of books that have always been part of the bible often called the apocrypha. Those books now missing from Protestant bibles are central and critical to the billions of Roman and Eastern Catholic Christians. Even within a given language, the various readings are determined by translators. So are the translators also inspired by God? If so, why so many different translations?

So perhaps your statement should be it is miraculous that God worked for 450 years to give us the Protestant Bible.

The harmonizing believes all truths are part of one Truth that is eternally relevant to all people.
So why can't Christians agree as to what that truth is? If they can't, perhaps "harmonizing" is not working.

The Scriptures apply both individually and corporately and are intended to reveal the Way to heaven.
I'm not sure what corporate salvation looks like. If they are intended to reveal the Way to heaven, why is there mutually exclusive beliefs in what that means?

I don't what the shorthand Tsers means.

My belief is that any open-minded truthseeker who compares the NT teachings of Jesus and Paul with the founding scriptures of other religions will reach the same conclusion as I have: The NT is the most credible canon or collection of writings purporting to be a communique from God. The NT hope for heaven is based on evidence in support of Jesus’ claim to be Messiah/Christ, which includes: the prophecy or foreshadowing of His life (in various OT scriptures, including IS 53 and PS 22, and by the sacrificial system), the purpose of His death (as explained in the NT, such as Heb. 7:18-10:18), and the probability or credibility of His resurrection (in history as recorded by the last chapters of the Gospels and Rom. 1:3-4).

Christianity qualified OT theism, which emphasized God’s love for some people (descendants of Abraham), with a UMI to love everyone by reflecting His love, beginning with God and continuing with one-self and one’s neighbors (whether Jew or Gentile) and even including one’s enemies (per Matt. 22:37-39 & 5:44). The best reason to hope in God is Christ. Paul calls those who have saving faith/cooperate with God’s will the spiritual or righteous children of Abraham (Rom. 3:28-30 & 4:9-16).

I also think that God tweaked the river of history occasionally to keep if flowing in the direction/produce the revelation He intends but allows the fish to swim as they wish. God allows eddies in the river of salvation. The revelation we have in the Bible is sufficient for learning how to be saved. A Christian who disagrees may be:

a. a normally loving person observed during a rare moment when he/she acted uncharacteristically (Phil. 3:12-16),

b. an immature Believer, who is making progress–you should have known him/her a year ago! (1Cor. 3:1-3, Eph. 4:11-15)

c. a truthseeker who has not yet learned the correct interpretation of God’s Word (1Cor. 6:9-11, Eph. 5:8-9),

d. a back-slider or prodigal Christian, who has yet to learn by painful experience the value of learning to cooperate with God’s will.

e. a pseudo-Christian (Matt. 7:21, 1John 2:19), who may affirm morality while rejecting its divine rationale.

f. an apostate (Heb. 6:4-6, 10:23-39), who once believed but became blasphemous or foolish and ship-wrecked their faith (1Tim. 1:19-20), becoming completely corrupt and callous (Matt. 13:14-15, Heb. 6:4-6).

Corporate salvation is merely the set of all individual salvation: those in the church or body of Christ.
TSer means truthseeker. So now that you understand that abbreviation, I ask:
Are you also a harmonizer/TSer who believes the NT part of GW is to accept Jesus as Messiah?