Why I now believe that salvation can be lost.

  • 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.

Nat2019

Active member
Jul 14, 2019
890
237
43
Sorry all your writing isnt straight forward. It's pretty confusing.


IS THIS AN EXPLANATION about the bible from OSAS doctrine- This is a private interpretation of the scriptures.c

(Bible Hub).

The Lord persuades the yielded believer to be confident in His preferred-will (Gal 5:10; 2 Tim 1:12).3982 (peíthō) involves "obedience, but it is properly the result of (God's) persuasion" (WS, 422)."
 
Jan 12, 2019
7,497
1,399
113
That is always the problem when people just reply to posts with a bible verse, but made no attempt to explain how it connects to the topic. They expect people to be mind readers. :)
 

TheDivineWatermark

Well-known member
Aug 3, 2018
10,887
2,113
113
IS THIS AN EXPLANATION about the bible from OSAS doctrine- This is a private interpretation of the scriptures.c

(Bible Hub).

The Lord persuades the yielded believer to be confident in His preferred-will (Gal 5:10; 2 Tim 1:12).3982 (peíthō) involves "obedience, but it is properly the result of (God's) persuasion" (WS, 422)."
I'm not sure, why, when you quoted my post here, that you left off the part about this word being in the "passive" in Acts 17:4... but it is, and means to be persuaded (of what is trustworthy). :)

If you disagree that this is what the "passive" form means (as shown in this verse), please explain why:

Acts 17:4 - "Some of the Jews were persuaded [G3982 - epeisthēsan / peithó (verb; passive)] and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few leading women."
[quoting from Bible Hub]
"HELPS Word-studies
3982 peíthō (the root of 4102 /pístis, "faith") – to persuade; (passive) be persuaded of what is trustworthy. […]"
____________

The portion you quoted above (at top) simply is applicable "to the believer" (one who is already saved). :)
 

Noose

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2016
5,096
932
113
I had already previously mentioned that love is the greater quality of the three because God is love and it outlasts them all. Long after faith and hope are no longer necessary throughout eternity, love will still be the governing principle that controls everything that God and his redeemed people/saints are and do. We will not need faith and hope throughout eternity in our glorified bodies in the presence of the Lord. Faith IN CHRIST alone saves (Romans 4:5-6; Ephesians 2:8,9; Philippians 3:9)

In James 2:26, the comparison of the human spirit and faith converges around their modes of operation. The spirit (Greek pneuma) may also be translated "breath." As a breathless body emits no indication of life, so fruitless faith exhibits no indication of life. The source of the life in faith is not works; rather, life in faith is the source of works (Ephesians 2:5-10). We are not saved by faith + love/works.

In James 2:17-20, "faith without works is dead" does not mean that faith is dead until it produces works and then it becomes a living faith (which is like saying that a tree is dead until it produces fruit and then it becomes a living tree) or that works are the source of life in faith or that we are saved by works. James is simply saying faith that is not accompanied by evidential works is dead. If someone says-claims they have faith but lack resulting evidential works, then he has an empty profession of faith/dead faith and not authentic faith. Simple!

1 John 2:3-4 seperates the genuine believers from the make believers/says I know Him but... You continue to confuse the root of salvation (FAITH) with the fruit of salvation (WORKS) and the end result is salvation by works.

After a superficial reading of the parable of the sheep and goats (Matthew 25:31-46) "on the surface" these verses seem to suggest that salvation is the result of good works, yet all scripture proves itself right and non-contradictory when compared with the totality of scripture. This passage has to be taken alongside the whole of scripture. Jesus was not advocating salvation by works. That would be contrary to (Romans 4:4-6; Ephesians 2:8,9; 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:5) etc... One's works are an effect of (and therefore indication of) one's salvation status, rather than being a cause of one's salvation. The good deeds mentioned in Matthew 25:35-36 are merely the fruit that will be manifest in the lives of the redeemed. Those who are placed at Christ's right hand are not there based on the merits of their good deeds, but because the righteousness of God has been imputed to them (Romans 4:2-6; Philippians 3:9).

When works are mentioned in connection with salvation, the works are always the result of, not the condition of, receiving salvation. The stress is on works as a manifestation of one's faith (or lack thereof), not simply on the faith from which these works follow. So it is understandable that in this context, Matthew would stress the works that are a manifestation of faith in Christ, by which one receives eternal life.

*Notice how love for other Christians is an indication of one's salvation status: 1 John 3:10 - In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. He who practices righteousness and loves his brother does so BECAUSE he is "of God" not to become of God. 1 John 3:14 - We know that we have (past tense) passed from death to life, because we love our brothers (present tense). Loving our brothers is the result of, not the condition of passing from death to life. Doing good deeds is the result of and not the cause of being righteous. You have the tail wagging the dog. The cart before the horse.
With all this, what you actually mean is that yes, good deeds must be performed for salvation and that people must practice righteousness?! I agree. But you seem to moving back and forth trying to converge two different things to mean faith alone- it wont work.

Quoting one of the verses you posted to support faith alone:

Eph 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

The good works in Christ are counted as faith. Doing means doing, not sitting there and trusting or believing in Christ.
 

Lafftur

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2017
6,895
3,634
113
There is no way I will "know" because I was not alive on Earth when that happened. I did not have a chance to witness those events with my own eyes.

But I put my faith in the Word of God that says it did happen, and I believe, as Galatians 3 stated, I trusted in the Word, just as Abraham did, and I receive the same "reckoning for righteousness".
God rejects the wisdom of man.

Abraham wasn't "trusting" he was "knowing." Abraham "knew" God was faithful to His promises because Abraham had received Faith from God. He had received the "evidence" from the Heavenly Realm that what God had said and promised was undeniably true.

We are to live by Faith. Our knowledge that we live by comes from our Father in the Heavenly Realm, it gets imparted into our hearts and our heart tells our brain/mind to store it as TRUTH. Then, we live accordingly. We live by faith.

The flesh lives by the brain/mind and runs around in the "circle" of human reasoning - lost and confused.
 
Jan 12, 2019
7,497
1,399
113
God rejects the wisdom of man.

Abraham wasn't "trusting" he was "knowing." Abraham "knew" God was faithful to His promises because Abraham had received Faith from God. He had received the "evidence" from the Heavenly Realm that what God had said and promised was undeniably true.

We are to live by Faith. Our knowledge that we live by comes from our Father in the Heavenly Realm, it gets imparted into our hearts and our heart tells our brain/mind to store it as TRUTH. Then, we live accordingly. We live by faith.

The flesh lives by the brain/mind and runs around in the "circle" of human reasoning - lost and confused.
You seem to have this idea that God has this strict standard on how Man is to approach him in faith. I think you are making faith so technical here.

For me, I like the parable of the prodigal Son. Have you realized that he actually decided to go back to his Father for the "wrong motive"?

If you read the parable properly, his motivation to return was not because he loved his Father and missed him, but he just want to eat like the hired servants do.

Yet, we know what happened, the Father did not allow him to finish his explanation and just hugged him and love him. The point I learn from that is that God accepts the lost who is willing to take the first baby step to return to him, even if the motivation is only like 1% pure. :)
 

TheDivineWatermark

Well-known member
Aug 3, 2018
10,887
2,113
113

Lafftur

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2017
6,895
3,634
113
Will an acc

If you believe a true believer cant lose salvation, you believe they cant go back to their previous sinful lifestyle. People that continue living their previous lifestyle are labeled "wicked" and shall be expelled from the church and Gods kingdom.

So if you say a person, cant lose salvation you are saying they cannot God back to their sinful lifestyle.

OSAS believers say we are-
"automatically made perfect by the spirit within us".

If this is true why are "OSAS believers disobeying the bible" as I have seen in churches. Why isn't the holy spirit changing them?.
Oh Nat, nothing you're saying is right. You're trying to understand something spiritual - the new birth, new creation with your carnal natural mind.

If you seek God diligently with all your heart, you will find Him. Do that first.
 

Lafftur

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2017
6,895
3,634
113
You seem to have this idea that God has this strict standard on how Man is to approach him in faith. I think you are making faith so technical here.

For me, I like the parable of the prodigal Son. Have you realized that he actually decided to go back to his Father for the "wrong motive"?

If you read the parable properly, his motivation to return was not because he loved his Father and missed him, but he just want to eat like the hired servants do.

Yet, we know what happened, the Father did not allow him to finish his explanation and just hugged him and love him. The point I learn from that is that God accepts the lost who is willing to take the first baby step to return to him, even if the motivation is only like 1% pure. :)
No, Guojing. The prodigal son had the "RIGHT motive" - humility. He was no longer prideful and he "knew" his Father would welcome him back.
 

Margo74

Active member
Jul 11, 2019
147
63
28
So if someone is accursed, they are only removed from the congregation.

1 Corinthians 5:9-13New International Version (NIV)
9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associatewith sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister[a] but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.
12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the (wicked person) from among you.”[b]

*It says here if a person continues sinning, they are labeled "wicked", and should be expelled.

Proverbs 15:29
The Lord is far from (the wicked), but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

Psalm 11:6
Let him rain coals on (the wicked); fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.

Isaiah 5:20
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

John 3:36
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; (whoever does not obey) the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Romans 2:5
But (because of your hard and impenitent heart) you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.

Hebrews 10:26-31
For

(if we go on sinning deliberately)

after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” ...

Galatians 5:19-21
Now the

(works of the flesh)

are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that

(those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God).

Luke 12:5
But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!

Ephesians 5:6
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the

(sons of disobedience).
thanks for all these passages .. I have some of them, but not all .. they may be removed from the congregation for being accursed but unless they repent, they will be removed from eternal salvation as well
 
Jan 12, 2019
7,497
1,399
113
No, Guojing. The prodigal son had the "RIGHT motive" - humility. He was no longer prideful and he "knew" his Father would welcome him back.
Always interesting how different churches teach the same parable differently

16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

Avoid reading into the Bible here, and just ask yourself, "What was his main motivation for returning to the Father"

Was there any indication in the Scripture that "He was no longer prideful and he "knew" his Father would welcome him back."?
 

Lafftur

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2017
6,895
3,634
113
Obviously the God you follow has no "power" to stop you sinning. This is a powerless Gospel (OSAS). And the holy spirit is always mentioned in OSAS for doing all the work in a believer, yet many dont believe it actually does have power, to make you acceptable to God (many of you dont even believe the spirit can stop you sinning). This is why I turned away from this powerless Gospel.
Oh Nat, human reasoning in blindness. The Holy Spirit gives sight and understanding to God's Word. The Bible without the Holy Spirit is blindness - can't understand anything.

Seek God with all your heart. We're not to lean on our own understanding, we're to acknowledge Him in all our ways and He will direct our path.
 
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
20,402
113
lol .. "with no stings attached" .. I know you meant "strings" but "stings" works, too, in that if one believes they are saved simply by believing and do not realise they must love Jesus or be accursed and must obey His two great commandments and must repent when one fails to do so, there will be "stings" aplenty ..

1 Corinthians 16:,22 - 22 If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed.
Love is a process of growth and maturity AFTER ONE HAS BEEN SAVED ETERNALLY FROM ABOVE by grace through faith....
 

Lafftur

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2017
6,895
3,634
113
Always interesting how different churches teach the same parable differently

16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

Avoid reading into the Bible here, and just ask yourself, "What was his main motivation for returning to the Father"

Was there any indication in the Scripture that "He was no longer prideful and he "knew" his Father would welcome him back."?

A church did not teach me this parable. The Holy Spirit did.

Verse 19 - "am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants."

That sounds like humility to me. Pride would have come home and demanded more money.
 

Margo74

Active member
Jul 11, 2019
147
63
28
Always interesting how different churches teach the same parable differently

16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

Avoid reading into the Bible here, and just ask yourself, "What was his main motivation for returning to the Father"

Was there any indication in the Scripture that "He was no longer prideful and he "knew" his Father would welcome him back."?
the prodigal son was repentant and was willing to be one of the hired help and not the son but his father did welcome him back with much love and joy .. not all prodigals return, including prodigal sons/daughters of God
 
Jan 12, 2019
7,497
1,399
113
A church did not teach me this parable. The Holy Spirit did.

Verse 19 - "am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants."

That sounds like humility to me. Pride would have come home and demanded more money.
What is the context of the point about hired servants in the verses before that?

Do I have to spell out for you what the scripture wrote?
 
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
20,402
113
A church did not teach me this parable. The Holy Spirit did.

Verse 19 - "am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants."

That sounds like humility to me. Pride would have come home and demanded more money.
Funny how many skew that parable to teach a losable salvation even though numerous facts are evident, such as...

a. He was a son throughout the whole process and was never NOT A SON

b. He was only presumed as dead even though he was very much ALIVE throughout the whole process

c. He was received as a Son and not cast off due to his rebellion

This absolutely teaches eternal security...YOU MIGHT SAY HOW and I will explain

HEBREWS STATES CLEARLY that IF SALVATION CAN BE LOST NO ONE GETS IT BACK....and if the PRODIGAL WAS LOST AND DISOWNED as a SON HE WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN RECEIVED back as a SON......
 
Jan 12, 2019
7,497
1,399
113
A church did not teach me this parable. The Holy Spirit did.

Verse 19 - "am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants."

That sounds like humility to me. Pride would have come home and demanded more money.
Whenever I hear the words “sounds like”, that is a sign that someone is reading into the bible.

Is it that hard to read the bible literally?
 
Jan 12, 2019
7,497
1,399
113
Funny how many skew that parable to teach a losable salvation even though numerous facts are evident, such as...

a. He was a son throughout the whole process and was never NOT A SON

b. He was only presumed as dead even though he was very much ALIVE throughout the whole process

c. He was received as a Son and not cast off due to his rebellion

This absolutely teaches eternal security...YOU MIGHT SAY HOW and I will explain

HEBREWS STATES CLEARLY that IF SALVATION CAN BE LOST NO ONE GETS IT BACK....and if the PRODIGAL WAS LOST AND DISOWNED as a SON HE WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN RECEIVED back as a SON......
It’s funny how you keep thinking I believe salvation is losable in the church age when we were discussing this parable in another topic