[pbiwolski]

Revangelist,

You ought to consider a study in rightly dividing the word. It is obvious that you are familiar with the scriptures, yet completely unable to discern when it is doctrinally aimed at you and I. Matthew and Jude and Hebrews and on and on you build your belief without first being grounded and settled in what our authority, the Apostle Paul, wrote to the body of Christ.

Just a few...

I Cor. 12:24 ...but God hath tempered the body together... v.27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

II Tim.2:13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. (that's where I am, "in Christ")

All of the NT is written TO and FOR the Christian. There is nothing in it that contradicts salvation by grace through faith alone, apart from any works of man. The problem is many cannot or will not study out each passage in context and seek to reconcile difficult passages. If you have 99 clear passages on eternal security, don't overturn them by one unclear passage that SEEMS to imply that you could possibly lose it - obviously that conclusion is wrong. God's Word does not contradict - it all fits together when rightly divided.

No I'm not interested in making people lost again. Why are you trying to take away our freedom of choice?

I don't choose to get up in the morning wondering if I'm saved. Why? Because I have faith.

Originally Posted by Revangelist

Why are you trying to take away our freedom of choice?

God doesn't give the saved the choice to be lost again. He DOES give the lost the choice to accept the truth or reject it, accept the Saviour or reject Him.

I really don't care about the "rightly dividing the word study" because it's not the Bible. I used to believe in "once saved always saved", but I couldn't support it Scripturally. There are a lot of things in the Bible that say otherwise. Most of you here just don't want to face it. I've given reference after reference and still you come back with the same old arguments.

Let me ask you something:

1. Why do you tell people after they receive Christ the is NO WAY they can lose it? God doesn't take it back, I believe that. You make it sound like after getting saved, we no longer have choices.

2. How do you explain the Scripture that says "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12)?

3. How does it feel waking up in the morning thinking you can do any old thing you want to, live any way you want to, think any thing you want to, be careless about your soul, because as far as you are concerned, you are saved anyway?

Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

Jerry, what proof do you offer that God doesn't give the saved the choice to be lost again?

[Jeff]

Originally Posted by Revangelist

No I'm not interested in making people lost again. Why are you trying to take away our freedom of choice?

Wow. It really is that you want more say in the matter over that of God. You really don't want to make a permament commitment.

You have a choice of accepting God's gracious and priceless gift of salvation, or you have a choice of dying in your sins and receiving your just reward. That's your freedom of choice. The choice seems clear to me. You want a third option? If you want to be saved there is only one way, there is no freedom of choice.

Originally Posted by Revangelist

1. Why do you tell people after they receive Christ the is NO WAY they can lose it? God doesn't take it back, I believe that. You make it sound like after getting saved, we no longer have choices.

You have the choice to obey or disobey - you are not given the choice anywhere in God's Word to be lost again. Perhaps you found it in the book of Second Opinions.

2. How do you explain the Scripture that says "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12)?

Work out - not work for. Our salvation SHOULD affect our everyday life, but even the best believer will have times of struggling or backsliding.

3. How does it feel waking up in the morning thinking you can do any old thing you want to, live any way you want to, think any thing you want to, be careless about your soul, because as far as you are concerned, you are saved anyway?

I guess you would have to find someone that believes that and ask them yourself. The Bible teaches that God saves AND keeps His own AND chastises them as needed. If He would let someone walk away from Him without severe chastisement (ie to get to the point of rejecting Him), then He didn't keep His Word.

[Jeff]

Originally Posted by Revangelist

2. How do you explain the Scripture that says "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12)?

3. How does it feel waking up in the morning thinking you can do any old thing you want to, live any way you want to, think any thing you want to, be careless about your soul, because as far as you are concerned, you are saved anyway?

Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

These two points go together. Going back to the analogy of you and your earthly father; weren't you ever afraid of not pleasing him, even though you knew he would not disown you? Did you just keep telling him that you were his no matter what so you could just do what you want and never have to please him, or if you didn't like the way he was treating you you could just unbecome his son? Were you never fearful of any kind of punishment? (Heb 12:5-11).

Do you realize the price that was paid for the salvation of each of us? Are you going to take that lightly? If you truly know the Lord won't you try to, and be very concerned about, pleasing Him? Do you think there is anyone who would not be fearful meeting the omnipotent, righteous God face to face, even knowing that we are saved by His grace?

Again, we can give you verse after verse that show without a doubt that our works have nothing to do with salvation, so you can't take this verse and turn it around and say that it does.