There is a lot of heat over the so called 'once saved, always saved' issue with believers on both sides of the spectrum baring claws at each other! Peter and Paul would both be surprised because they have made their stand very clear. Peter writes, 'make certain about His calling and choosing you...' and Paul says, 'Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith'. In other words, when in doubt, don't look at the root but at the fruit. The only clear evidence that you are in the faith is whether there is an ongoing activity of God taking place inside your heart or not. The epistles are clear on this. Paul constantly refers to the fact that his confidence in the saints is because of the evident growth in their lives. The question should never be whether I am saved or not. The query should always be whether I am being saved or not. How do I know whether I have been touched by God? It is because He is touching me today. We would like to have a more sure foundation but we are not allowed that liberty in the Scriptures. Yes, we have to pull ourselves out of our past experiences no matter how rich they are. Our security is that His presence is with us, all the time. If you cannot sense it, you better seek it. Nothing is more important than that.
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IS THE ADMONITION ABOUT FALLING FROM GRACE A FALSE WARNING?
John Calvin said it was impossible to fall from grace. Why would God warn men of something that could not happen?
Hebrews 3:12 Take care, brethren, that there not be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God.
Was God joking when He said men could fall away? When a road sign says, litterers will be fine $500 dollars, does that mean it is impossible to litter?
1 Corinthians 10:6-12 Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved.......
8. Nor let us act immorally , as some did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. (Was that an example of once saved always saved?)
9. Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. (Was that an example of eternal security?)
10. Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.....(Was that an example of perseverance of the saints?)
12. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.
Is God in the habit of issuing feckless, meaningless, erroneous, false, warnings?
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you but such is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be temped beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
God provides men an escape from a sinful lifestyle. Men have a choice. Men have free-will. God does not prevent men from sinning. GOD DOES NOT GUARANTEE ONCE IN GRACE ALWAYS IN GRACE!
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