When it was first taught it was correct. It was, once you accept Jesus then you do not want to allow anything to come between you and God so you do everything you can to remain sinless. When you do sin, you repent and move on.
Today it seems to be taught as, once you accept Jesus you can live your life however you want, do whatever you want, it does not matter, you are going to heaven no matter what.
Today's teaching is leading thousand of people to hell in a hand-basket at breakneck speeds.
I know what the Bible says and it in absolutely no way supports today's false way of teaching.Why are so many of my fellow Christians deceived by the false teaching of today's version of eternal security?
What you're talking about is probably the biggest difference between Calvinism (as it is taught today) and Arminianism with the Baptists mostly being Calvinists while the Wesleyans, Nazarenes, and Pentecostals are mostly Arminians.
The attractive doctrine of eternal security is watertight if you accept the first premise of Total Depravity. Calvin's famous flower goes like this:
T-Total Depravity: Man is totally depraved. His soul is black with sin. There is nothing good in him that would seek God or desire good.
U-Unconditional Election: If man is totally depraved, then there can't be anything about him which would cause God to prefer one man over another for salvation. God's election is without any conditions--random, at least from man's perspective.
L-Limited Atonement: This one really goes with the ';I'; coming next. If man is wholly evil, then it can't be anything good in man that makes him respond to God's offer of salvation. Therefore, God's offer must not be able to be resisted by man (or our evil nature would always reject God's good offer). If God's offer is irresistable and obviously not all are saved, then God's atonement must not be offered to everyone (or they would all receive it).
I-Irresistable Grace (explained above)
P-Perseverance of the Saints: If we are evil by nature, selected by God and unable to resist, then once we are saved we are obviously going to remain so (since getting saved had nothing to do with us we cannot by our will get ';unsaved'; either).
Few people today are 5-point Calvinists, that is accept the whole ';TULIP,'; 3-point Calvinists are more common but it is an illogical viewpoint. The whole reason for believing once-saved-always-saved hinges on the other points. Otherwise, all the once-saved-always-saved proof texts can simply (and more straightforwardly) be read to be referring to the eternal security of BELIEVERS rather than the eternal security of those who once believed but are now in sin.
If you currently believe (i.e. serve Jesus) at the time of your death, then you absolutely are secure in your salvation. No one can make you not be a Christian, so Christians can be confident of heaven. However, if a Christian later decides he doesn't believe in God or would prefer not to serve Him, God isn't going to drag him kicking and screaming into heaven.
Ironically, it is the Arminians and not the Calvinists who can be more sure of their eternal security. Take the case of a person who really believed that he believed, served God for years, and later turned his back on God even to the point of blasphemy. It happens. The Arminian will say, ';He used to be a Christian and now he's not. I resolve to continue to serve God, so I am sure of heaven.'; The Calvinist must say, ';He sure appeared to be saved and thought he was, but he must not have been.'; In that case how can the Calvinist be sure that HE doesn't just THINK he is saved? Or the Calvinist may respond, ';He sure looks like a sinner now, but he is a Christian because he is going to heaven.'; In which case how can the Calvinist be certain of the difference between Christians and unbelievers? Is the only difference that someone once said a ';sinner's prayer'; and really MEANT it? Wouldn't their lives afterwards be the only way of determining whether they really MEANT it?
Anyway, the teaching's prevalence can mostly be traced to its seductiveness. It allows a person to eat his cake and have it. He can go to heaven without having to stop sinning. In fact, it is often taught that it is impossible to stop sinning. Really? Which one is impossible to stop doing? Why does the Bible tell us not to sin? Is God so unreasonable as to demand what we cannot do?
Arminians, by the way, hold that man is bent toward sin but not totally depraved. Otherwise how could he be responsible for his actions and be justly sent to hell for what he absolutely could not avoid doing?
A great link on the eternal security doctrine is Jeff Paton's:Why are so many of my fellow Christians deceived by the false teaching of today's version of eternal security?
There are consequences for sin, God spells it out though out The Bible. Every true child of God possesses eternal life, being justified by faith, sanctified by God, sealed with the Holy Spirit, and is safe and secure for all eternity. He cannot lose his salvation. However, a Christian can, through sin, lose his fellowship, joy, power, testimony, and reward, and incur the Father's chastisement. Relationship is eternal, being established by the new birth; fellowship, however, is dependent upon obedience. (I Corinthians 3:11-17; Hebrews 12:5-11; I Corinthians 11:32-39)
What you state is false. I have been a Christian for many years, studied a lot, read a lot, heard countless sermons, and I have never , not even once, heard or read anyone say that you can do whatever you want and it does not matter. You sound like one of those that want to stand taller than other Christians because you have everything correct.
there are several places in The Word that , to me, are clear that if you do not repent, and turn away from God, and live like a heathen, ya ain't getting in. 3 times pertaining to unforgiveness alone. There will be no sin in heaven. Period. In Galatians it's very plain also. Listened to a speaker tonight that talked to 3 bishops, and a priest, they said it is by good works. Go figure.
I believe that the Bible teaches eternal security in that true christians will be preserved by God to do good and if they do wrong, to repent.
1 John 3:6, I believe, says that those who go on sinning have never seen or known God.
I couldn't agree with you more. It is frightening. Even some thing as simple as the story of Noah and the Ark is not being taught correctly. How many of each kind of animal did God tell Noah to put on the boat? If you say two, one male and one female, you would be wrong. There were so many strong points to be made in that story. God tried to tell us so much, and not just our children, and we missed it. Check and see for yourself.
So, then you are unsaved and going to hell. Since, all saved believers are still sinners.
Sorry to hear that.
As for me, I'll be in heaven no matter what, all thanks to Jesus (1 John 5:13). Jesus gave me ETERNAL LIFE.
i agree with you
you must be changed to have salvation
a person changed by the baptism of the holy spirit at salvation will never seek to live in sin.
Gotta keep 'em separated.
NOBODY says you accept Jesus and do whatever you want.
At least not the born-agains.
That is true Christains are still sinners yet God has mercy on them. Even the apostle Paul Struggled with sin.
Romans 7:15-25
God knows the heart
Yes that is true but grace is a free gift that can not be earned so no matter how GOOD a person lives there life it will not get you into heaven.
Uh, I'm sure they're saying the same about you dude.
It's amusing that your ';perfect'; god lacks the communication skills to inform his most loyal supporters exactly how they should behave, and exactly what they should believe.
Shouldn't a god be able to speak in a very clear way that could not cause such confusion amongst his followers ? Those answering your question here are about evenly divided on what your god wants.
Will believers never be able to face basic truths about the fraud that has been perpetrated by religious leaders for thousands of years.
Come on. Fess up, and be honest. Isn't honesty one of the virtues that Christians insist upon and boast about ? Don't pretend that you don't notice how much confusion exists amongst Christians, and how many inconsistencies are found in the Bible. It is the most disputed book ever written regarding it's veracity, and I'm sure you know that.---WHY ? ? ?
Aren't you long overdue in making peace with reality ?
I think it may be possible you misunderstand what the majority of us who believe in the eternal security of the believer. It is NOT that those who are saved can behave as they please and still be saved (although to a great extent this is true, BUT God will only let one go so far in that direction).
It IS that once one accepts the free gift of salvation offered (bought and paid for) by Jesus Christ that it is not in the power of ANYONE but Him to change it and He says He won't. [ My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. John 10:27-29]
It IS that once one accepts Jesus the behavior change is such as to be evident of that transformation and the path to sanctification begins. That is where repentance after sin comes in place.
(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
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.
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.
For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Romans 5:13-17
Hebrews 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~鈥?br>
To say anything else is to say we must continually EARN our salvation. If we had the power to earn our own salvation then Jesus died in vain. However we must work toward our sanctification.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~鈥?br>
**************************************鈥?br>
[Additional Details Ever heard, ';we are saved by the blood of the Lamb AND the word of out testimony.';
If not you really should read the Bible.]---MISQUOTE
Rev 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
The Word says ';they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony;';----THIS IS NOT SALVATION, IT IS SANCTIFICATION! (read verse 10 along with it. Scripture cannot be taken from Scripture to make it fit what we want. It MUST be kept as a whole and we believe what God SAID.)
Mat 18:23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
Mat 18:24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
Mat 18:25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
Mat 18:26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Mat 18:27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
Mat 18:28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took [him] by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
Mat 18:29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Mat 18:30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
Mat 18:31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
Mat 18:32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
Mat 18:33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
Mat 18:34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
Mat 18:35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
You must be talking about the ';fire insurance'; deal that the main streamers are all on about.
You see, it's the same reason people go into any bad religion. Christ said it Himself that people will turn away from the truth and go and listen to the things that tickle their ears and make them feel good.
This is what ';fire insurance'; deal is. You simply say some magic words like, ';I accept Jesus as my Lord and savior'; then go sin it up with satan because hey, You already said you gave your life to Christ so your forgiven right? It is sick and twisted, but that's what people want to listen to.
Being Christian is more then just saying some words. Stating that Christ is your LORD and Savior means that Christ your Lord and Master is to be obeyed when He gives you an order. Now you get the whole Faith without Works is meaningless and Works without Faith is useless kind of teaching that the main streamers have totally ignored or perverted the meaning there of.
Go read Christianity in Crises.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment