Post by Les Brewer on Feb 13, 2012 14:30:18 GMT
John Wolf
Hello and God bless you my friends and family.Remain faithful and strong in Him and the power of His might,and we shall reap if we faint not. Continuing from Sunday the twelfth of Febuary. The Security of the Believer. The most quoted verses of Scripture used to support the view that a christian can not backslid...e and possibly lose out with God is found in Romans 8:31-39.Another often quoted verse of Scripture is Hebrews 13:5. The first reference,Rom.8:31-39,is speaking of the love of God,and not the experience of salvation,although the two subjects are related there is a difference.I will explain it this way:God certainly and absolutely does love all of His creation.He always has and He always will love it,for this is an inseperable characteristic of God.He is Love!However,if we believe that God is only LOVE,and nothing else,then we begin the slide downward into the theology of Universalism,which basically believes that in the end,everyone and everything shall be saved,including Satan and all the demon spirits.Anyone with a rudimentary understanding of the Scriptures knows the error in thinking this way. According to Isaiah 59:2,which says,"your iniquities have seperated you from your God..." Sin is what seperates us from the Lord.This verse,coupled with I John 1:5-2:2,is the formula for keeping the slate clean with God.Yes,we do have an Advocate with the Father,who will plead our case before Him,but only under the conditions outlined in the previous verses.Confession of sin when committed and repentence (a turning away from sin)is necessary in order for us to remain free from the penalty of it.No amount of sin in the life of the believer or the unbeliever for that matter,can ever seperate us from God's love,but, this is no gaurantee that we will allow His love for us to transform our lives.The word "If" appears 1,522 times in the KJV of the Scriptures.And every single time it is linked to a condition,including the promise of salvation. The responsibilty of salvation of the believer rests upon both the person and on the Lord.As long as we continue to abide in the Vine,the Lord Jesus Christ,promises us Divine nurishment for our lives.He promises that we will bring forth much and more fruit,but only upon the condition of abiding in Him.God keeps His promises to those who will believe in what He has said.That's His part of the equation.Our part of the equation is to continue believing in the finished work of Christ at Calvary.However,our part of the equation is obedience to His word,as light is received.Works do not and can not save us,but genuine faith will produce in us the fruit that Jesus spoke of in John chapter 15.A changed life will always be the result of genuine faith in Christ.It is always our choice to continue in grace by faith in Him and what He did for us on the cross.It is true that He will never leave us or forsake us,but,nothing is ever said that we couldn't,if we choose,to leave Him. God's power to keep us is only as strong as our desire to continue walking with Him.Remember the story of Adam and Eve.They were created in full fellowship and grace,until they rebelled against God and fell from grace,thereby making it necessary for God to begin the process of redemption through the coming redeemer,Jesus Christ. In closing,God's love is definately unconditional but His promise of salvation is not.God can not force anyone to remain in sin and damnation who wants to be saved,nor can God force anyone against their will to remain in Him who wants to leave.A person who has genuinely known Christ can walk away from Him.It will not be easy for that person to turn out the light of the Truth of Christ,but it can be done.Dear child of God,forsake sin and it's temporary pleasures,for the results of a life of sin is damnation and torment.Turn to Christ today in faith and obedience,and receive His promise of new life.He is waiting,and I will be praying for you....I love you all in Christ....................JW
Hello and God bless you my friends and family.Remain faithful and strong in Him and the power of His might,and we shall reap if we faint not. Continuing from Sunday the twelfth of Febuary. The Security of the Believer. The most quoted verses of Scripture used to support the view that a christian can not backslid...e and possibly lose out with God is found in Romans 8:31-39.Another often quoted verse of Scripture is Hebrews 13:5. The first reference,Rom.8:31-39,is speaking of the love of God,and not the experience of salvation,although the two subjects are related there is a difference.I will explain it this way:God certainly and absolutely does love all of His creation.He always has and He always will love it,for this is an inseperable characteristic of God.He is Love!However,if we believe that God is only LOVE,and nothing else,then we begin the slide downward into the theology of Universalism,which basically believes that in the end,everyone and everything shall be saved,including Satan and all the demon spirits.Anyone with a rudimentary understanding of the Scriptures knows the error in thinking this way. According to Isaiah 59:2,which says,"your iniquities have seperated you from your God..." Sin is what seperates us from the Lord.This verse,coupled with I John 1:5-2:2,is the formula for keeping the slate clean with God.Yes,we do have an Advocate with the Father,who will plead our case before Him,but only under the conditions outlined in the previous verses.Confession of sin when committed and repentence (a turning away from sin)is necessary in order for us to remain free from the penalty of it.No amount of sin in the life of the believer or the unbeliever for that matter,can ever seperate us from God's love,but, this is no gaurantee that we will allow His love for us to transform our lives.The word "If" appears 1,522 times in the KJV of the Scriptures.And every single time it is linked to a condition,including the promise of salvation. The responsibilty of salvation of the believer rests upon both the person and on the Lord.As long as we continue to abide in the Vine,the Lord Jesus Christ,promises us Divine nurishment for our lives.He promises that we will bring forth much and more fruit,but only upon the condition of abiding in Him.God keeps His promises to those who will believe in what He has said.That's His part of the equation.Our part of the equation is to continue believing in the finished work of Christ at Calvary.However,our part of the equation is obedience to His word,as light is received.Works do not and can not save us,but genuine faith will produce in us the fruit that Jesus spoke of in John chapter 15.A changed life will always be the result of genuine faith in Christ.It is always our choice to continue in grace by faith in Him and what He did for us on the cross.It is true that He will never leave us or forsake us,but,nothing is ever said that we couldn't,if we choose,to leave Him. God's power to keep us is only as strong as our desire to continue walking with Him.Remember the story of Adam and Eve.They were created in full fellowship and grace,until they rebelled against God and fell from grace,thereby making it necessary for God to begin the process of redemption through the coming redeemer,Jesus Christ. In closing,God's love is definately unconditional but His promise of salvation is not.God can not force anyone to remain in sin and damnation who wants to be saved,nor can God force anyone against their will to remain in Him who wants to leave.A person who has genuinely known Christ can walk away from Him.It will not be easy for that person to turn out the light of the Truth of Christ,but it can be done.Dear child of God,forsake sin and it's temporary pleasures,for the results of a life of sin is damnation and torment.Turn to Christ today in faith and obedience,and receive His promise of new life.He is waiting,and I will be praying for you....I love you all in Christ....................JW
