Question on Ephesians 5:5-6 (NIV) and once saved always saved?

Question

Fellow Christians, we all know people who have asked Christ into their heart, but yet continue to sin. For that reason, take a look at Ephesians 5:5-6 and answer this question. The verse says that a person has no inheritance with Christ and God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient.

So, how can a "saved" person who falls into that sin still go to heaven?

5For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.[a] 6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient.

Footnotes:

1. Ephesians 5:5 Or kingdom of the Christ and God
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%205:5-6;&version=31;

Answer 1

There will be many who will claim such persons were never actually saved at all, although this claim is false. It is possible to fall from grace- see Galatians 5:4. 2 Peter 2:20-22 also describe the situation for one who has 'been enlightened' but still return to the world. A person, by choosing to follow a different path than the one of light, will forfiet their salvation.

However, it is possible for them to repent- see passages like James 5:19-20 and Jude 20-23. We must approach them with their sin and help them be convicted of their need to repent. We can willfully sin and yet still be repentant of it later on- and God will forgive us. Didn't Peter ask Jesus how many times we were to forgive our brother? Jesus replied 70 times 7 (not an actual number, but a concept of not keeping record).

If, when approached with their sin, they are sorry for that and repent (not just say they're sorry, but a decision to turn from that sin and live differently), then they are forgiven and are again walking in the light. As long as we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of His son cleanses us from all unrighteousness! (1 John 1:7ff).

Answer 2

Once saves always saved is not what God teaches.
Jesus died for our sins and to give us hope of eternal life with him in Heaven.We first have to Hear the Word of God ,Then Believe That Jesus is the Son of God,Confess that we Believe. Acts 9:(36-38) Matt. 10:(32-33)Then We have to Repent Of Our Sins Matt.3 (1-11),Luke 13:3,& 15:(1-10)be Baptised Matt.28:19,Mark 1:(1-15),Mark2 talks about the forgivness of sins.Mark 2:17,Mark 16:16,Acts8:12,:16 &:22 also read the book of Acts.
This verse say ,Pray that ye enter not into temptation. Luke22:40 so if we can fall then once saved always saved is not true .
You Asked ,How can a "saved" person who falls into sin go to heaven ? Well , Jesus died on the cross for the forgiveness of all mens sins . If we live in sin we will not go to heaven ,But if we repent of or sins with a true heart .GOD will forgive us, But we have to do our best to do Gods will and obey his commandments ,But if we sin knowingly and keep living in sin we will not go to heaven.
read Rom.3-6 Galatians 6:(1-7)

Answer 3

You're looking into theology here. Elsewhere, we have it mentioned in James that "Faith without works, is dead." But we also know that God is forgiving. Though, mortal sins may require confession, even to a priest (Catholic). In any case, the guilt accepted and the forgiveness desired. Your question, though, regards "once saved, always saved." This is a time based human judgement. Well, the Father, does, in fact know who is going to Heaven and who is not. In this way, certain persons are "predestined," though, all men will still sin.

You see, we don't actually understand God's judgement, even if we want to tell someone that they will "assuredly" enter Heaven, we can't, because we don't know.

Answer 4

I still haven't decided for myself about 'once saved always saved', but you can easily reconcile these verses with that idea. Even without believing in once/always, I doubt God would damn a person for a single sin if they have already dedicated themselves to Christ, it is a sin they generally try to avoid, would (based on past habits) repent for, but they got hit by a bus before they prayed about it. Verse 5 is talking about people who sin as a habit--therefore you call them greedy, immoral, or impure, it is not about people saved and trying to stay on a righteous path committing an individual sin.

Answer 5

Salvation is a free gift, but it has requirements:

John 3: 21"But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God."

Jesus said practices the truth.

John 3: 36"He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

believing and obeying go hand in hand.

1 Cor 13: 2If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

Faith without love is nothing.

Acts 2: 38Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Repentance, baptism are also requirements of frogiveness.

Salvation is free, but still has requirements

Answer 6

John 3:15 states that whoever believes in Jesus Christ will "have eternal life." If you believe in Christ today and have eternal life, but lose it tomorrow, then it was never "eternal" at all. Hence if you lose your salvation, the promises of eternal life in the Bible would be in error. For the most conclusive argument, I think Scripture says it best itself, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39). Remember the same God who saved you is the same God who will keep you. Once we are saved we are always saved. Our salvation is most definitely eternally secure!

Answer 7

Salvation is a process. We walk with revelation that the Holy Spirit gives us. We can turn our backs and walk away.

For in just a little while,
the Coming One will come and not delay.
And a righteous person will live by faith.
But I will have no pleasure in anyone who turns away.
But we are not like those who turn their backs on God and seal their fate. We have faith that assures our salvation.
Hebrews 10:37-39

Answer 8

I think Paul sent a letter to a group of people to correct this thinking. The people thought they could sin with impunity, now that they were saved. This is not the case.
A wild grape can be grafted onto the vine, but it can also be chopped back off.

Answer 9

It is not by works of righteousness that we have done but according to his mercy he saved us. John 3:36-"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him"
You believe and that secures your eternal life.
Once you become a Christian you use 1John1:9 to say in fellowship."If we name our sins he is just and righteous to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Peace out.

Answer 10

You are right. Many Christians, especially those new to the faith, continue to sin. They have not grown enough in their walk to realize that sin is still sin, and that it is still separating them from God. They believe Jesus forgave all their sins, but do not understand that this is not a license to sin. They are carnal, living their lives according to their fleshly desires.

This passage is a call to them to be imitators of God, to live a life of love and the giving up of ourselves for God and others. To actively align our will, to live according His will for our lives. Surely, He will forgive our sins that we occasionaly commit, just as any parent continues to love and forgive their child for transgressions. We must ask to be forgiven, and truly be sorry..to repent of the things we have done wrong. We must change our ways of doing things, with a love for God and others.

As for the once saved, always saved statement, it has been a stumbling stone for many in their walk with Christ. We are saved by grace (Eph 2:9), and that we are not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus (Gal 2:16),but He also says that we must abide in Him (John 15:6) and that our works and ourselves will be tested, as by fire, but we still will be saved (1 Cor 3:15). Live by the grace of God, knowing that He is a God of justice as well as love.

God 's will is that we should do everything in love. If sin, and it's consequences hurts our relationship with God or others, then we should be living our lives in a way that we do not sin. If we try to live this life on our own strength, we will fail..and continue to sin. If we abide in Christ, and live by His Spirit, we will find the strength to go beyond our fleshly limitations. Faith without works is dead. We work out our salvation, by abiding in Him, and loving Him and others.

Read 1 Cor 3 and the rest of this chapter in Ephesians. We are one in Christ. In Christ we are one in God. By His Spirit, we live the abundant life that He has given us, by the covenant He made with us by His death, so that we may live. Hope that you have found this of some help. God bless.