Originally posted by Trotter:
You can only come to that conclusion of the prodigal by approaching it with the presupposition that it is about someone walking away from their salvation. I've already had a CoG guy try to argue that case with me. he even had a nice illustration in the back of his bible of the steps the prodigal took to leave it, and the steps he took to return.
We see and interpret this issue very, very differently. We have both set up strawmen to kick around (once saved always saved as a license to sin, how many sins disqualify one from keeping their salvation). And we have not found common ground.
You say that one can willingly give up their salvation by turning their back on God and walking away. I say that God does not let go of what is His, and that once adopted one cannot be disinherited. Both are mutually exclusive of each other.
I wish you well, JCF. Although we disagree on this, we are still part of the same family.
In Christ,
Trotter
Hi Trotter,
Salvation in not a matter of sinning or not sinning but rather a matter of the heart.
1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts; and then each one's praise will come from God.
Sin hurts YAHWEH, sin killed His Son, sin has destroyed the perfect creation of God.
Salvation and eternal life is to know the Father and His Son is such a personal way that our hearts not only long to with them but we love what they love and hate what they hate.
John 17:3 "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
No one can dance with sin and love God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength without someone getting hurt. God does understand that we are but dust and knows that we are prone to disobedience and wickedness. Our great enemy and God's is hardness of the heart, not the sins that we do out of weakness or ignorance but rather out of a hardened heart.
Hebrews 3:12-14 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
Salvation has a face that is known by God and by those who love God and it's found in the book of Matthew.
Matthew 5:1-12 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Is this what we find in our hearts?
Do our hearts break when we come to realize, like David did, that we have sinned against the One who loves us and gave us all His very, very best?
Psalms 51:15-17 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.