Eternal Security...The Wide Gate.

[jcf]

Eternal Security
the wide gate
by John C. Ferreira

The bible is the greatest book ever written. Through it God tells of things that are and of things that are to come. It turns the hearts of people back to God through it's words of life. But is this life that it brings to us secure outside of God's truth?

As you read the contents of this post I believe you will be convinced of a truth that has been distorted and outright rejected by most believers today. What does God say about the narrow gate that leads to life?

Matthew 7:13-14 "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

Did you notice that both of these choices are ways in which we go. One is an easy way and one is a hard way. Right away we can understand that both of these choices are life styles based on how we think and the choices we make.

Galatians 6:7 Don't be fooled! You cannot mock God. A person harvests only the things which he plants.

Can a Christian turn away from God?
Hebrews 6:4-6 It's impossible to bring back unrepented people if they have once understood the Good News and tasted for themselves the good things of heaven and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and know how good the Word of God is, and felt the mighty powers of the world to come, and then have turned against God. You cannot bring them to repent again for they nailed the Son of God to the cross again by rejecting him, holding him up to mocking and to public shame.

Can a believer be counted as an unbeliever? Luke 12:46 When the master of that unfaithful servant comes on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware; He will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

Can we believe in vain? 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 NOW, I would remind you, brethren, in what terms I preached to you the gospel, which you received, in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.

Can a brother or sister in Christ turn away from the truth? James 5:19-20 My brothers, if one of you wanders away from the truth, someone else should help bring him back. That person who brings him back to God will have saved a wandering soul from death, bringing about the forgiveness of his many sins.

What happens to those who wilfully sin?
Hebrews 10:26-27 If we sin wilfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins, only a terrible waiting for judgment and for the great fire that burns up God's enemies .

Did the Apostle Paul believe he could have been disqualified through a lack of discipline? 1 Corinthians 9:27 But I (Paul) discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

Is it possible to have the Spirit but walk according to the flesh? Galatians 6:8 If a person lives to satisfy his natural selfish ways it will bring eternal death to him. But, if a person lives to please the Spirit, he will receive eternal life from the Spirit.

Can a carnally minded Christian have eternal life? Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

What does God say about those who have been given the truth that leads to life? 2 Peter 2:20-21 And when a person has escaped from the wicked ways of the world by learning about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and then gets tangled up with sin and becomes its slave again, he is worse off than he was before. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.

There is only one who teaches eternal security. Genesis 3:2-4 And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden; but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'" But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not die."

Study your bible and let it speak for itself...

 

[Bro. James]

Re: Eternal Security--

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."

John 4:14, "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall NEVER thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into EVERLASTING life."

John 6:35, "And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall NEVER hunger; and he that believeth on me shall NEVER thirst....vs. 37: All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in NO WISE cast out....vs. 39, "And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which ;he hath given me I should LOSE NOTHING, but should raise it up again at the last day."

IJohn 5:11-13, "And THIS IS THE RECORD, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that HATH the Son HATH life; and he that not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that yhe may KNOW that you HAVE eternal life, and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God."

"Let God be found true--and every man a liar."

Selah,

Bro. James

 

[Doubting Thomas]

[surfacing]

Well said, JCF. Predictably, the proponents of OSAS have not answered (so far) the verses you cited, but have rather fired off the usual out-of-context proof texts which allegedly support their position. But let the Word of God be found true, and the novel misinterpretations of man be lies.

[/submerging]

 

[prophecynut]

Originally posted by Bro. James:
Re: Eternal Security--

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.]"

This verse is one of my favorites. The NIV has "for God's wrath remains on him." Everyone is born into sin, every one stands condemned from the beginning. Those chosen by God to receive "everlasting life" will believe in His Son, all others continue in their fallen state without possibility of redemption.

 

[tamborine lady]

My favorite verse on th subject is: John 1-12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

He gave them power to become the sons of God!

To me that lets us know that we can become ----IF we follow Him. Not just say a prayer and then go on our merry way, doing whatever we wish.

Peace,

Tam

 

[pastorjeff]

Originally posted by Doubting Thomas:
[surfacing]

Well said, JCF. Predictably, the proponents of OSAS have not answered (so far) the verses you cited, but have rather fired off the usual out-of-context proof texts which allegedly support their position. But let the Word of God be found true, and the novel misinterpretations of man be lies.

[/submerging]

The problem with this statement is that asumes the exegesis of the OP is correct and the responses are taken out of context. What if I said the saim thing about the OP? Would you want me to back it up? Please show us how Bro. James has misrepresented the texts he has quoted.

As for Heb. 6, what translation is that from. The Wording does not carry the full meaning of the text.


6:6 tells us "if they fall away" It does not say it is possible, as a matter of fact, the best rendering within the context would be " If it were possible". The arguement is that none can lose their salvation because it would take another crucifiction for them to gain it back again. If this is true, then those who hold to loss of salvation would never be able to come back to Christ themselves if they could loose it.

God has given us the means of knowing that we have eternal life, not wondering if it is so.

 

[prophecynut]

Originally posted by tamborine lady:
[QB] John 1-12 But as
many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.[/b]

Another mistake of the many in the KJV.

"Gave he power" contradicts "nor of the will of man." A person cannot be given the power to decide and at the same time not his will to make the decision. NIV has: "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God."

 

[av1611jim]

Originally posted by prophecynut:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by tamborine lady:
[QB] John 1-12 But as
many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Another mistake of the many in the KJV.

"Gave he power" contradicts "nor of the will of man." A person cannot be given the power to decide and at the same time not his will to make the decision. NIV has: "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." [/b]</font>[/QUOTE]_________________________________________________

Your mistake is in assuming power to become is the same as being born.
The "power to become" is our faith.
It is God who does the "born". Read it! "Which were born...of God".
Our power to become is our faith which God gave us; we then are given birth as "sons of God" by the will of God.
Pretty simple if you just read the text as is, rather than reading into[/] it what you want it to say.
Your other mistake is to assume that God cannot give the power to decide. The will of man is in reference to being born of God. No man can do that. It must be done by God. So we see, again, that you have erred in your exegesis. I suspect you use eisegesis instead.
"To as many as received Him, gave He power..." As you put your faith in Him, He gives power to become, being born of God. You cannot be born of your own will anymore than you can choose to be born in the flesh.
BTW; Where does this "translation" get off saying "husbands will" instead of "will of man"? That is just ludicrous!!!
In HIS service;
Jim

 

[gb93433]

In the larger picture of Hebrews, Hebrews 6:4-6 is a warning to those who are riding the fence following their whims when they are against adversity.

 

[BobRyan]

Hebrews 6 says "impossible to RENEW THEM AGAIN".

Hebrews 6 speask of their HAVING ESCAPED the snares of this world and sin.

This is not a case of "the lost becoming lostER".

Matt 18 (last half of the entire chapter) has Christ telling a rather detailed story of "forgiveness REVOKED".

Then His conclusion is compelling "SO shall My Father do to EACH of you if you do not forgive your brother from your heart".

Interesting that Christ claims The Father will do something that many Christians claim to be impossible.

In Christ,

Bob

 

[James_Newman]

You should be rightly dividing, brother. Don't you know who died on the cross? Is His blood not sufficient to purchase you from your sins?

Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Rom 5:15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
Rom 5:16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.

You could not do anything to merit this gift, what makes you think you could do something to keep it? You are confusing all the warnings that are given to saved Christians of losing the inheritance with losing eternal salvation at the great white throne.

Mat 18:23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

Christ is talking about the millennial kingdom, which one must be born again to enter, but which is a reward for obedience. If you do not have assurance of your salvation, you are not wearing your helmet.

 

[Ed Edwards]

marking ...

 

[Michael52]

Re: Eternal Security:

Jeremiah 32:40
I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me.

Acts 13:48
And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.

Romans 8:30
And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Romans 11:29
For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

2 Cor. 1:21-22
And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, [22] and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

2 Cor. 5:5
He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

Ephes. 1:14
who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Philip. 1:6
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 1:5
who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1 John 3:9
No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.

If we are "kept" by our own power and perfections, we are all doomed to hell (well, me anyway). Praise the Lord!

 

[Ed Edwards]

Amen Brother Machael52 -- Preach it!

John 3:16 (HCSB = Holman Christian Standard Bible):

For God loved the world in this way: He gave
His only Son, so that everyone who believes
in Him will not perish but have eternal life

Eternal Security = "have eternal life"

 

[wopik]

sun-day and the bringing in of the heathen festivals of the sun, such as, christmas, ishtar(easter) festival --- throwing open the doors so wide as to include these heathen sun festivals, just to make instant christians of the masses --- is the wide door that leads to spiritual destruction and corruption of God's holy religion.

http://www2.andrews.edu/~samuele/books/sabbath_to_sunday/8.html

 

[pastorjeff]

wopik, Do you have a calendar on your wall? Do you arrange your daily schedual according to that calander? Does your employer demand you to use the date of that calander on things for work?

This is not a question about arbitrary (To Us) names for days, no one is going to suffer eternal punishment because they worshipped God on Sunday, Wednesday, or judoday (made it up). God doesn't save us to observe certain days...

As for the hliday's issue, God will not judge me for the rememberance of His grace and salvation, even if I choose to celebrate His resurrection on the calander day Easter.

 

[av1611jim]

Originally posted by wopik:
sun-day and the bringing in of the heathen festivals of the sun, such as, christmas, ishtar(easter) festival --- throwing open the doors so wide as to include these heathen sun festivals, just to make instant christians of the masses --- is the wide door that leads to spiritual destruction and corruption of God's holy religion.

http://www2.andrews.edu/~samuele/books/sabbath_to_sunday/8.html

__________________________________________________

And this relates to our security in Christ exactly how?

In HIS service;
Jim

 

[av1611jim]

BTW;
After skimming that article I would say that it is a giant leap of speculation that early christians adopted sun-day worship to worship Christ.
In effect, by posting this highly speculative article, you are accusing Christians of the past 2000 years of worshipping the sun?
LOLROFL!
In HIS service;
Jim

 

[Gerhard Ebersoehn]

There is The Word of God FROM which a man shall live, His Name is: God with us.
But there is the Word of God a man shall live BY all his days if he calls himself a Christian and judged by the God of Mercy and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: It is Christ. Now Christ gave us - these 'Christians' - NK to despise and desecrate His Sabbath Day - which is exactly what we do through our Sunday-sanctification. We dishonour the Lord of our Christian allegiance, that is all, and think you He won't judge us for it? Unpleasant surprise may await us!

 

[Gerhard Ebersoehn]

Originally posted by av1611jim:
BTW;
After skimming that article I would say that it is a giant leap of speculation that early christians adopted sun-day worship to worship Christ.
In effect, by posting this highly speculative article, you are accusing Christians of the past 2000 years of worshipping the sun?
LOLROFL!
In HIS service;
Jim

In fact I would say we HAVE! And every time it is denied, we offer worship to the "no-gods" of this world, and wittingly or unwittingly, dishonour our Christian Faith.