There are 2 verses that clarify the issue of "continued believe" being necessary for staying saved.
John 3:18 - Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
2 Thess 2:12 - and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
Both verses have the same phrase: "have not believed". Since there is no time frame noted, just as "have not believe in the past ____
years,".
So, the phrase is unlimited in scope. Therefore, the words mean the same as "have NEVER believed".
/QUOTE]
As I said before, if you come with prior doctrine, you can usually find verses that you can make match your doctrinal statement. You do a fine job of it above . . . Note your connecting words . . . Since . . . just as . . . so . . . therefore -- by now you are away from the text and to your doctrine.
That is fine; you are allowed to do that - and most people do that - and I am apt to do the same at times when I am teaching. Nothing wrong with that . . .
But for myself - personally - I make a huge difference between teaching and my personal understanding versus what I declare as Biblical doctrine.
When someone makes a doctrinal statement I expect to find a clear Scripture that states it.
So you now brought up a new topic from what we had before (from your first line that I quoted above): You are seeming to say that it is not necessary to continue to believe in order to stay saved. Do you have any verse that clearly states that?
John 3:18 - Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
2 Thess 2:12 - and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
Both verses have the same phrase: "have not believed". Since there is no time frame noted, just as "have not believe in the past ____
years,".
So, the phrase is unlimited in scope. Therefore, the words mean the same as "have NEVER believed".
/QUOTE]
As I said before, if you come with prior doctrine, you can usually find verses that you can make match your doctrinal statement. You do a fine job of it above . . . Note your connecting words . . . Since . . . just as . . . so . . . therefore -- by now you are away from the text and to your doctrine.
That is fine; you are allowed to do that - and most people do that - and I am apt to do the same at times when I am teaching. Nothing wrong with that . . .
But for myself - personally - I make a huge difference between teaching and my personal understanding versus what I declare as Biblical doctrine.
When someone makes a doctrinal statement I expect to find a clear Scripture that states it.
So you now brought up a new topic from what we had before (from your first line that I quoted above): You are seeming to say that it is not necessary to continue to believe in order to stay saved. Do you have any verse that clearly states that?