Last night on this fourth stop along our Romans Road. Tonight I want to look at the language that the Holy Spirit guided Paul to use in this passage...notice that it is not stated in past tense, but rather in active, present tense.
It's if you confess - not "if you have confessed" ---- it's if you believe - not "if you once believed." Does this make a difference to you? I realize that I'm opening up a debate that goes back and forth among denominations...the debate of "once saved, always saved."
As much as I would like to believe that a simple confession of faith once in your life is all that God requires of us for our salvation, I have to reconcile that desire with the truth of Scripture. I think my personal theology is, "once truly saved, always saved" because I cannot imagine experiencing the Holy Spirit living within you and then turning your back on the peace, joy and love that comes from His presence. Personally, I believe that I could never turn my back on Jesus...how can I when He lives within me? But I also know that the Bible contains strong warnings against turning away.
There are verses in Scripture that both sides of the debate use to uphold their arguments.
The most convincing to me on the side of our eternal security are 2 Corinthians 1:21-22, "Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come" and Ephesians 1:13-14, "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory."
Those are strong verses of security...and I grab on to them and believe them. I do believe that God has sealed me for my future of eternity with Him.
But now listen to Peter, 2 Peter 3:17-18, "Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
My final thought to give you tonight (I'm obviously not going to settle this debate tonight!) is to ask why do we spend so much time worrying about this matter? The fact is, as long as we have an active, vital faith and belief we are secured in our position with Christ. So let's just stay there! John wrote to believers in 1 John 5:13, "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life."
Let's "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" and we will have no concern about our eternal future. Not only will you not have to be concerned about eternity, but you will begin to live victoriously now --- Jesus told His followers, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
Don't shortchange the life you can have now by not grabbing on to the fullness of the life that Jesus is ready to give to you...the life that comes through a vitally active relationship with Him, not one that is relying on a confession of faith of years ago to "get you through the gates." I believe that kind of minimal faith is exactly the kind that Peter is referring to, vulnerable to attack and easily deceived by false teaching.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this issue...what I absolutely know to be true is that God..."is being patient with you. He does not want anyone to be lost, but he wants all people to change their hearts and live" 2 Peter 3:9.
God wants us in heaven with Him...I believe He will be as gracious and merciful as He can be with us. And as for me, I'm just going to keep confessing with my mouth that JESUS IS LORD and believing in my heart that God raised Him from the dead, and...what does God say? I WILL BE SAVED! Hallelujah and Amen!
It's if you confess - not "if you have confessed" ---- it's if you believe - not "if you once believed." Does this make a difference to you? I realize that I'm opening up a debate that goes back and forth among denominations...the debate of "once saved, always saved."
As much as I would like to believe that a simple confession of faith once in your life is all that God requires of us for our salvation, I have to reconcile that desire with the truth of Scripture. I think my personal theology is, "once truly saved, always saved" because I cannot imagine experiencing the Holy Spirit living within you and then turning your back on the peace, joy and love that comes from His presence. Personally, I believe that I could never turn my back on Jesus...how can I when He lives within me? But I also know that the Bible contains strong warnings against turning away.
There are verses in Scripture that both sides of the debate use to uphold their arguments.
The most convincing to me on the side of our eternal security are 2 Corinthians 1:21-22, "Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come" and Ephesians 1:13-14, "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory."
Those are strong verses of security...and I grab on to them and believe them. I do believe that God has sealed me for my future of eternity with Him.
But now listen to Peter, 2 Peter 3:17-18, "Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
My final thought to give you tonight (I'm obviously not going to settle this debate tonight!) is to ask why do we spend so much time worrying about this matter? The fact is, as long as we have an active, vital faith and belief we are secured in our position with Christ. So let's just stay there! John wrote to believers in 1 John 5:13, "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life."
Let's "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" and we will have no concern about our eternal future. Not only will you not have to be concerned about eternity, but you will begin to live victoriously now --- Jesus told His followers, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
Don't shortchange the life you can have now by not grabbing on to the fullness of the life that Jesus is ready to give to you...the life that comes through a vitally active relationship with Him, not one that is relying on a confession of faith of years ago to "get you through the gates." I believe that kind of minimal faith is exactly the kind that Peter is referring to, vulnerable to attack and easily deceived by false teaching.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this issue...what I absolutely know to be true is that God..."is being patient with you. He does not want anyone to be lost, but he wants all people to change their hearts and live" 2 Peter 3:9.
God wants us in heaven with Him...I believe He will be as gracious and merciful as He can be with us. And as for me, I'm just going to keep confessing with my mouth that JESUS IS LORD and believing in my heart that God raised Him from the dead, and...what does God say? I WILL BE SAVED! Hallelujah and Amen!
1 comment:
I feel as though my faith has grown and I have become to be more dedicated with my relationship with God. I never stopped believing; however I didn't always have a daily conversation with my Lord, Jesus Christ. I never stopped believing, I only lead a life without asking each day for God's guidance. There are many that stray from the laws of God, but that is what Jesus died for. He died for our sins. Some become angry with God when they suffer a loss of a loved one. But God is kind and patient, He walks with us each day during all of our trials and tribulations. I believe that once you confess your sins and ask God into your
heart, He remains there for the duration. Whatever one goes through because of
the pain that exists in this world God stands firm in keeping you in His Heart.
God wants us to live a pure life, growing in his love, and leading a life of knowledge and grace. God knows that evil exists in the world and that evil try's to tempt us to leave the side of God. So, once saved is truly being saved by God, however far we may stray. Yes, it is best to remain closely with God each day and confess our sins. Some are more vulnerable to evil and the path it try's to carry you down. But, when you realize you are leading a life that is not pleasing to Him, He waits quietly and patiently for us to return to leading a life full of glory that pleases God. Some fight with evil but God remains True and Strong. He will save a place for all who believe, no matter how far they may stray.
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