I want to let the Bible answer a question on the matter of "Once saved, always saved." This is a common doctrine today and one on which the Bible is clear. First, let me say that we are saved only by God's grace, by the blood of Jesus, by His sacrifice. It is not by our works or our perfection, because we don't have that. Romans 3 says that "all have sinned" and certainly that is all of us; thus we cannot earn salvation.
But the question is, once we have accepted our Lord and become a true follower, is it possible to fall away. Consider these passages that I will briefly summarize and feel free to go to the Bible to examine the context. Note that all of these passages come from the letters to the various churches, all written to Christians who have become followers.
1Corinthians 10:12 "let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall."
Hebrews 6:6 "if they fall away."
Hebrews 2:1 "Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away."
Galatians 5:4 "Your have become estranged from Christ....you have fallen from grace."
2Peter 2:20 "For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them....."
Colossians 1:21,22 "if indeed you continue in the faith...."
Try to read the context on these, especially the last one in Colossians. These verses all tell me that a Christian, a true follower, can fall. And don't we see it all the time, even in some of ourselves, speaking about me, for one.
I realize that this is a controversial subject. Yet, this is just a small portion of the 100's of verses that warn Christians against falling prey to false teachers, to the work of the devil.
Thanks for reading. See you next week, and may the Lord bless you this week!
Sunday, January 3, 2010
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Christianity is not dead, Christ is not dead, but rather is reigning at the right hand of God the Father, and God is not dead. Those who think differently have a surprise coming.
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