Hope of Glory said:
In John 7:39, "believe" is a present, active, participle. What happens when they stop believing?
In John 3:16, "believe" is also a present, active, participle. If "believe" is present tense, it's continuous action, and it can stop. What happens there when they stop believing?
"Should not perish" is subjunctive; the ones believing might or might not perish.
"Have" is also subjunctive.
The one believing in the present tense might not (but might) perish, and might (or might not) have aionian life.
If one stops believing, what happens?
How does this verse fit in with everlasting security?
Why will you not answer these questions?
OK, here is my take on this....
One believes in order to receive salvation.
The only thing a person could do to lose salvation would be to reverse the procedure by which they were saved... (And I am talking about eternal salvation here, although I feel they are the same, I am saying this to explain it to the MEs here)
And I don't think someone can reverse it.
Some has said that we can lose salvation by sinning... well, we didn't get it by being Good, so that wouldn't work.
The only thing we did, (and actually God gave it to us) is believe...
Our belief in Christ is what delivers eternal salvation to us.
So IF, and that is a big IF, a person could lose eternal salvation, they would have to quit believing....
And I don't think that is possible...
Head belief yeah, we can change our minds about anything,
but when you know something with your Heart, you cannot change it.
Try to convince a woman that went through labor, that she never had a child.... She Knows she did. She believes she did.
Apart from altzeimers, (which is not her fault) she will always believe she is a mom, you will never change her mind.
I liken that to the belief that delivers salvation... you will never convince me that Christ died for me... I know He did, I know him personally... so therefore I can never stop believing....
Theoretically, yes
Practically, no....
That might explain a little better my beliefs.
And since I believe that the Kingdom is included in the salvation, you can see why I believe that everyone that is saved, is promised the kingdom.
I will be back on later tonight, God willing.
Tim