How can you have JOY in the assurance of your salvation if you believe that it can be lost before you die?
The Bible says that God makes us "new creatures" by taking the "stony heart" out of us and giving us a "heart of flesh" through His gift of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith. We cannot lose our "transplanted heart." One you are born ("again") you cannot become unborn.
So my question is, "How can you be joyous in your salvation on a day-to-day basis if you think you can lose it sometime in the future?"
2007-04-07 10:37:33 · 25 answers · asked by Kidd! 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Hebrews 6:4-6 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
4It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, becauseto their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.
This sobering passage states that If you "fall away", you can never be saved (come to repentance) again.
2007-04-07 10:39:12 · update #1
My point in quoting the Hebrews passage is to refute the idea that many (not all) Arminians believe that you can get saved, get lost, get saved, get lost, etc.etc. etc. Arminians love this passage because they think it means that regenerated people (Christians) can be lost.
2007-04-07 11:02:27 · update #2
True Christians WILL persevere to the end by doing God's will. Jesus is the Author and FINISHER of our faith.
2007-04-07 11:10:09 · update #3
I am Wesleyan Arminian... and that is not quite the correct idea.
I have joy in the Lord because I know He will never lose me out of His grip. I know each day I walk with Him will be a day my "stony heart" is renewed as a heart of flesh.
I know that I can choose to walk away, I know that I can remain unrepentant, and in sin, and at some point make a decision, that I do not want to follow Christ. Not that I am going to do that, and I am assured that it is not something which could "accidentally happen". That is what is described in the Hebrews passage. But what is key there is that it is impossible for me to turn back to God. In my understanding it paints the image of a person who willfully turns their back on God after having known Him.
It does not in any way sanction, the back and forth saved, unsaved, saved, unsaved behavior you describe. In fact I know of no-one who would treat it thus (who understands Scripture.)
Still as my pastor is fond of saying and I am fond of quoting.
When I arrive at my future destination, I imagine my Father is going to scoop me up and say "My beloved child, you sure had some of the stuff wrong, and so-and-so had a better understanding, but I love you, and I am so glad it didn't interfere with your love for Me. I love you anyways."
I suppose Kidd, that when that day comes I'll have to come looking for you and say guess what... we'll both be pleasantly suprised!
That makes me happy, and my joy in Him is strong.
2007-04-07 11:31:03 · answer #1 · answered by thankyou "iana" 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is the only time the New Testament uses the phrase 'fall away' setting it apart from merely falling or backsliding. If you recognize Jesus as Savior, taste and experience the Blessings and then reject it it is turning away from repentance and all that leads to repentance. In a sense you cannot 'lose' your salvation but you can deliberately and consciously reject and give back the gift of salvation. So be joyous in God's mercy and forgiveness and don't reject it.
2007-04-07 10:59:25 · answer #2 · answered by linnea13 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
For the Arminian, if you can opt in, then you can opt out just as easily, and they will find the verses to support that view. But if God is the author and finisher of salvation, then salvation is 100% assured, because it was foreknown and predestined from before the foundations of the world, and God's own enjoy salvation from eternity to eternity. Arminians rely on themselves. Calvinists rely on God.
2007-04-07 15:40:35 · answer #3 · answered by ccrider 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes but the key point is TRUE CHRISTIANS, those that follow Jesus Christ not particularly their denomination.
Many that claim to be Born Again, and even seem to have been, are playing games and not really serving God.
Let the Preacher teach on perversion and some leave. Were they offended, no they don't want to give up their perversion.
That's just an example but I'm sure you get my drift.
2007-04-08 03:54:46 · answer #4 · answered by drg5609 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The same way a person can be joyous about getting a new job...although they could lose it for insubordination, incompetence or malfeasence.
Jesus said "He endures unto the end shall be saved". We have assurance that God will do His part and save us, as long as we remain faithful- just as the boss will keep paying you as long as you do your job.
Of what good would salvation be if it were available to reprobates as well as the faithful? If that were the case, then there would be no need for individual salvation.
2007-04-07 10:51:21 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
It can't be lost. You may sin on a human level because the body is imperfect, but the spirit remains reborn. That's why Christians always feel the need to immediately pray for forgiveness after they sin. It's like a constant battle between your flesh and spirit. But as you get stronger, the flesh will win less and less, because your spirit will be expressed more in your life. Each time you resist temptation and sin, you grow stronger. Also, you will be joyous because the spirit of God within you is Joy. No matter what temptation or sin confronts you, God will help you resist it and feel better because of it.
2007-04-07 10:46:02 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
You cannot lose your salvation but you can leave it because God wont force eternal life on anyone. Nothing can separate you from God but you, and that is the warning of this passage.
When Jesus said to the disciples that it is harder for a rich man to enter the kingdom than a camel through the eye of a needle, they said, who can be saved? and he answered, "with man it is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Mark 10:27
2007-04-07 10:48:11 · answer #7 · answered by wassupmang 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
my grandmother suddenly smiled,her eyes got bright and she raised her hands up and cried out Jesus ! and passed on when she was at the nursing home.mother was with her and she told me this.Jesus came and brought her to heaven, it would appear.
when a person loves the lord and is saved then that's it, there saved,but all that call on the name of the lord will not be saved only those who do Gods will,will make it.
you have to know the holy spirit and be guided by it to make it, you can call on the lord all day long for all your life and still not make it,you have to actually DO Gods will to make it, Jesus said.
2007-04-07 10:59:06 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is impossible to lose salvation. f God has taken the stony heart and replaced it with a heart of flesh, He will never reverse the process. And, He will finish thae work H started in us. We, therefore have nothing to fear.
2007-04-07 12:45:51 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
God's blessed assurance of our Salvation is a source of Joy in my life.
Romans 8:16 - The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
1 Peter 1:8 - Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
2007-04-08 13:47:40 · answer #10 · answered by deacon 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋