Another look at John 10.

  • 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.

Beckworth

Active member
May 15, 2019
626
219
43
#41
Hebrews 10:29.
Ephesians 2:8-9.
Romans 15:13.
2 Timothy 1:7.
Do you believe you earned salvation?
Do you believe you can keep it by yourself?
The closing verses of Romans 8 goes through a list of things that cannot separate a believer from God. It concludes that nothing can separate a believer from the love of God in Christ Jesus. So how is it that you say something can?
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
19,316
6,643
113
62
#42
Those who believe that verses which say the one who endures to the end will be saved always assume the verses are prescriptive and not descriptive. But would such an understanding reconcile with scripture as a whole?
Prescriptive means a necessary part. It places the onus upon the individual to maintain a certain level of action in order to be fulfilled.
Descriptive means to be true of. The onus for the maintenance of action is not assigned; only that the condition is met.

Which one engenders works and which one engenders grace?
 

Beckworth

Active member
May 15, 2019
626
219
43
#43
Absolutely nothing can separate us from THE LOVE of God. He will always love us even if we are vile and are condemned to hell. Isn’t that what the verse is really saying? But God. says in Isaiah 59:2 that Our SINS separate us from God—not the LOVE of God but from His presence. And we all know that hell will be a separation from God. No one who is “separated from God will be allowed into heaven. Do you believe this? Then if sin separates us from God, as it did God’s chosen people, how can a child of God who lives in sin be saved?? The sacrifice of Christ won’t do it because Hebrews 10:26 says that if we sin willfully after we have RECEIVED the KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH, there is no more sacrifice for sins. The evidence of the possibility of a child of God losing his salvation is overwhelming in the scriptures.
 

2ndTimeIsTheCharm

Well-known member
Feb 17, 2023
1,933
1,121
113
#44
Keep abiding (working). You're almost there!

What is wrong with abiding in Christ?

Abiding in Christ just basically means letting God change you to conform to His Son in Christlikeness and not resisting that work. You're letting God change you so that you love God more, become more obedient to Him and sinning less. You will also be able to resist and overcome habitual sins.

It's no longer your work, but the Holy Spirit's work in you.

If you haven't changed much from when you claimed to be saved, then something's wrong. You're not submitting to Him which is what you're suppose to do if you claim Him as your Lord and not just your Savior.


🧇
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
19,316
6,643
113
62
#46
Absolutely nothing can separate us from THE LOVE of God. He will always love us even if we are vile and are condemned to hell. Isn’t that what the verse is really saying? But God. says in Isaiah 59:2 that Our SINS separate us from God—not the LOVE of God but from His presence. And we all know that hell will be a separation from God. No one who is “separated from God will be allowed into heaven. Do you believe this? Then if sin separates us from God, as it did God’s chosen people, how can a child of God who lives in sin be saved?? The sacrifice of Christ won’t do it because Hebrews 10:26 says that if we sin willfully after we have RECEIVED the KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH, there is no more sacrifice for sins. The evidence of the possibility of a child of God losing his salvation is overwhelming in the scriptures.
You missed the key part: IN CHRIST JESUS.
You are continuing to speak of 2 different groups. Those who make a practice of sin and who do not repent, they are in Christ Jesus? Those who fall away are in Christ? Casting someone into hell is a manifestation of God's love?
What does it mean to be in Christ? How is someone placed into Christ? What is true of those in Christ?
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
19,316
6,643
113
62
#47
If you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law, right? You are under the control of Christ who is living through you? So it is Christ, not you, who is moving in you? It is Christ who is obeying?
 

2ndTimeIsTheCharm

Well-known member
Feb 17, 2023
1,933
1,121
113
#48
Those who believe that verses which say the one who endures to the end will be saved always assume the verses are prescriptive and not descriptive. But would such an understanding reconcile with scripture as a whole?
Prescriptive means a necessary part. It places the onus upon the individual to maintain a certain level of action in order to be fulfilled.
Descriptive means to be true of. The onus for the maintenance of action is not assigned; only that the condition is met.

Which one engenders works and which one engenders grace?

Okay. Don't prepare then. Let's see how long you last. :)

Because Jesus already warned us that the time we have to "endure to the end," the great tribulation, will be a time of "great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again."

When Noah built the ark according to the Lord's instruction, do you consider that works? Would God have condemned him for obeying Him on that?

On the flip side, would Noah and his family have still survived if he DIDN'T obey and build the ark?

So who should I obey? You or Jesus? I'm gonna go with Jesus and endure to the end. Don't care if you call that works because He doesn't. The Lord won't condemn me for obeying Him.


🧇
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
19,316
6,643
113
62
#49
Okay. Don't prepare then. Let's see how long you last. :)

Because Jesus already warned us that the time we have to "endure to the end," the great tribulation, will be a time of "great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again."

When Noah built the ark according to the Lord's instruction, do you consider that works? Would God have condemned him for obeying Him on that?

On the flip side, would Noah and his family have still survived if he DIDN'T obey and build the ark?

So who should I obey? You or Jesus? I'm gonna go with Jesus and endure to the end. Don't care if you call that works because He doesn't. The Lord won't condemn me for obeying Him.


🧇
No need to get upset because people disagree with your understanding.

While the story of Noah touches on a variety of teachings, it is foremost a picture of salvation. Noah found grace in the sight of the Lord. Then God spoke and Noah exercised faith as is evidenced through the building of the ark. His faith came from hearing the word of God. No different from anyone else throughout history.
Those saved by grace have always also been saved unto good works. So it's not surprising that Noah was given an assignment. God's people have always been workers together with God.

It's interesting that in OT stories, one always finds God entering into relationship with an individual or group, and as a result of the relationship shares with them His plans and their part in it. So, of course, obey God. Do whatever He has given you to do.

God has never commanded me to endure to the end. He has said that enduring to the end is characteristic of those He saves. He has told me that He will never leave me or forsake me. He didn't put any stipulations under which this would not be so. Not even if I am not always faithful.
 

GWH

Groovy
Oct 19, 2024
1,094
295
83
#50
That does not say we can lose our Salvation.

Don't keep this up. We can't and that's it.
Yes, we do not accidentally misplace our salvation, but we may intentionally not endure to the end.
 

2ndTimeIsTheCharm

Well-known member
Feb 17, 2023
1,933
1,121
113
#51
No need to get upset because people disagree with your understanding.

While the story of Noah touches on a variety of teachings, it is foremost a picture of salvation. Noah found grace in the sight of the Lord. Then God spoke and Noah exercised faith as is evidenced through the building of the ark. His faith came from hearing the word of God. No different from anyone else throughout history.
Those saved by grace have always also been saved unto good works. So it's not surprising that Noah was given an assignment. God's people have always been workers together with God.

It's interesting that in OT stories, one always finds God entering into relationship with an individual or group, and as a result of the relationship shares with them His plans and their part in it. So, of course, obey God. Do whatever He has given you to do.

God has never commanded me to endure to the end. He has said that enduring to the end is characteristic of those He saves. He has told me that He will never leave me or forsake me. He didn't put any stipulations under which this would not be so. Not even if I am not always faithful.

Okay, if you say you're going to endure to the end as characteristic of those He saves, I'm fine with that. (y)

If I can get people to remember and do just that when the time comes, I don't care if you call it characteristic of salvation or if someone else calls it conscious obedience. As long as you don't fall away. :)


🧇
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
19,316
6,643
113
62
#52
Okay, if you say you're going to endure to the end as characteristic of those He saves, I'm fine with that. (y)

If I can get people to remember and do just that when the time comes, I don't care if you call it characteristic of salvation or if someone else calls it conscious obedience. As long as you don't fall away. :)


🧇
Falling away is not a concern for me. The One who saved me will keep me.
 
Nov 1, 2024
768
202
43
#53
If you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law, right? You are under the control of Christ who is living through you? So it is Christ, not you, who is moving in you? It is Christ who is obeying?
He doesn't live through me as if I'm a sock puppet or something, he lives in me through his spirit which teaches me how to walk and conduct myself in ways that are pleasing to him. I control myself, which is a fruit of the spirit

And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. Isaiah 30:21
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
19,316
6,643
113
62
#54
He doesn't live through me as if I'm a sock puppet or something, he lives in me through his spirit which teaches me how to walk and conduct myself in ways that are pleasing to him. I control myself, which is a fruit of the spirit

And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. Isaiah 30:21
A fruit of the what? Spirit? Who produced that?
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
19,316
6,643
113
62
#56
But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, leniency, graciousness, goodness, belief, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
Right. You are relying on the Spirit of Christ in you.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
19,316
6,643
113
62
#58
That's not what self-control means. It means I control my actions and behavior according to the word of God and the witness of the spirit
Who produces the fruit of the Spirit? You or the Spirit?
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
60,322
29,573
113
#60
If you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law, right? You are under the control of Christ who is living through you? So it is Christ, not you, who is moving in you? It is Christ who is obeying?
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me. :)

For it is God who works in me both to will and to do His good pleasure.