Originally posted by steaver:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Elo...
if you read carefully through the NT, those who fell away rejected Christ - this is why there is to be a great falling away. It is not unbelievers who fall away, but those who were once saved.
What causes you to equate "falling away" with "saved then lost"? Cannot falling away be the same as backsliding? Backsliding is allowed, isn't it, without forfeiting salvation?
[snip]
. . .Just some thoughts! But just how do you make the connection between "saved then lost" = "falling away"?
God Bless! </font>[/QUOTE]Mat 7:14 Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
1 Timothy 4
1 ¶ But the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, cleaving to deceiving spirits and teachings of demons,
2 in lying speakers in hypocrisy, being seared in their own conscience,
2 Tim 3:13 But evil men and pretenders will go forward to worse, leading astray and being led astray.
2 Tim 4:3 For a time will be when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own lusts, they will heap up to themselves teachers tickling the ear;
4 and they will turn away the ear from the truth and will be turned aside to myths.
Matt 24:11 And many false prophets will be raised and will cause many to err.
23 Then if anyone says to you, Behold, here is the Christ! Or, Here! Do not believe.
24 For false christs and false prophets will rise up. And they will give great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
1Ti 1:19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
Luk 8:13 They on the rock [are they], which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
Heb 6:4 For it is impossible for those once having been enlightened, and having tasted of the heavenly gift, and becoming sharers of the Holy Spirit,
5 and tasting the good Word of God, and the works of power of a coming age,
6 and having fallen away, it is impossible for them again to renew to repentance, crucifying again for themselves the Son of God, and putting Him to open shame.
Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book.
2 Thessalonians 2
1 ¶ And, brothers, we entreat you, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of our gathering together to Him,
2 for you not to be quickly shaken in the mind, nor to be disturbed, neither through a spirit, nor through speech, nor through letter, as through us, as if the Day of Christ has come.
3 ¶ Do not let anyone deceive you in any way, because that Day will not come unless first comes the falling away, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
2 Peter 3:17 Therefore, beloved, knowing beforehand, beware lest being led away with the error of the lawless, you fall from your own steadfastness.
18 But grow in grace and in knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
Matt 7:21 ¶ Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter into the kingdom of Heaven, but the ones who do the will of My Father in Heaven.
22 Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name do many works of power?
23 And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; "depart from Me, those working lawlessness!" Psa. 6:8
2 Cor 11:13 For such ones are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 Did not even Satan marvelously transform himself into an angel of light?
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works.
Act 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
1 Peter 1:10 Therefore, brothers, rather be diligent to make sure of your calling and election; for doing these things, you will not ever fall.
11 For so will be richly furnished to you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
John 15:5 I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one abiding in Me, and I in him, this one bears much fruit, because apart from Me you are not able to execute, nothing.
6 Unless one remains in Me, he is cast out as the branch and is dried up; and they gather and throw them into a fire, and they are burned.
Matthew 25
1 ¶ Then the kingdom of Heaven shall be compared to ten virgins who taking their lamps, went out to a meeting of the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five foolish.
3 Those being foolish, taking their lamps, did not take oil with them.
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 But the bridegroom delaying, all nodded and slept.
6 And at midnight, a cry occurred: Behold, the bridegroom comes! Go out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins were aroused and prepared their lamps.
8 And the foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, No, lest there not be enough for us and you. But rather, go to those who sell and buy for yourselves.
10 But they going away to buy, the bridegroom came. And those ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut.
11 And afterwards, the rest of the virgins also came, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But answering, he said, Truly I say to you, I do not know you.
13 Therefore, watch, for you do not know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man comes.
Luke 13:6 ¶ And He spoke this parable: A certain one had planted a fig tree in his vineyard. And he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any.
7 And he said to the vinedresser, Behold, three years I come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and found none. Cut it down, and why does it waste the ground?
8 And the vinedresser said to him, Sir, leave it also this year until I shall dig around it and throw manure;
9 and see if it indeed makes fruit. But if not, in the future you may cut it down.
1 Tim 5:15 For some already have turned aside behind Satan.
1 Cor 9:26 So I run accordingly, as not uncertainly; so I fight, as not beating air;
27 but I buffet my body and lead it captive, lest proclaiming to others I myself might be disapproved.
Heb 3:12 Watch, brothers, lest perhaps there shall be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief in withdrawing from the living God.
13 But exhort yourselves each day, as long as it is being called today, that not any of you be hardened by the deceit of sin.
14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if truly we hold the beginning of the assurance firm to the end;
15 as in the saying, "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as in the provocation." Psalm 95:7,8 MT
2 Peter 2:20 For if by a recognition of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, they have escaped the defilements of the world, and again being entangled they have been overcome by these, then their last things have become worse than the first.
21 For it was better for them not to have recognized the way of righteousness than having recognized it to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.
22 But the word of the true proverb has happened to them: "The dog turning to his own vomit;" also, the washed sow to wallowing in mud. Prov. 26:11
