You are aware that I have said over and over and over that the believer who decides they do not want to be a Christian anymore does not lose his salvation until God has exhausted all his efforts to bring that person back. If they don't come back in the time and space he has allotted he turns them over to their unbelief so that they can't come back. He is long suffering, not forever suffering. You, obviously, came back in whatever time God allotted for you to be able to do that.Heres a little story...at 20 i got married..to a christian man..had 2 babies n in the 3 yrs that we were married he had 4 afairs..he actually left the state with another woman..leaving me with 2 babies..i thought God..if this is what a christian marriage is supposed to be about..i want no part of it (my ex an i r saved..went to church..knew the bible etc) i "walked away" from the Lord for 4 yrs..didnt care..did my own thing..but aftet awhile there was an uneasiness and conviction in my spirit. (God was persuing me to come back)..and i did..i repented..fell to my knees and submitted my life to Him again...did i LOSE my salvation in those 4 yrs because i "didnt belive"? No..God was patient and is with a lot of people..it took me 4 yrs to come back..some it takes longer..others never or its too late when they die..im glad God didnt give up on me and "withdraw" His grace and salvation when i did my own thing....
You are aware that I have said over and over and over that the believer who decides they do not want to be a Christian anymore does not lose his salvation until God has exhausted all his efforts he has allowed for that person to come back. If they don't come back in the time and space he has allotted he turns them over to their unbelief so that they can't come back. He is long suffering, not forever suffering. You, obviously, came back in whatever time God allotted for you to be able to do that.
The Galatians illustrate for us how God gives the ex-believer time to come back. What we don't know is how long God leaves the door open for the ex-believer to come back. I suspect that depends on the level of growth the person was at when they left, and why they left. Now that you've been down this road, I'm guessing you probably are aware that God probably isn't going to be as long suffering with you if you leave in unbelief again.
This is just one of those things that doesn't matter what you think about it. It is what it is.LOL! It is to me - I don't want the old man alive anywhere! Not under a hill or anywhere else!![]()
I just explained to you how God gave the Galatians time to come back to faith in Christ. That is the Biblical precedent for understanding how God doesn't just turn you over instantly to your decision to not believe anymore when you do that. And I have explained from Galatians how it is that Paul warns them that they will not be heirs of the promises for leaving faith in Christ to become slaves of the old covenant. In that letter we see, both, the ultimate penalty for abandoning faith in Christ (loss of the inheritance), and the fact that God will make some effort to call the ex-believer back to himself before making it so they can't come back.Never heard of "Gods time limit" other than death
But he doesnt withdraw your salvation etc..who knows HOW long the prodigal son was away..God recieved him back with a party n open arms..didnt "disown" him but waited and watched for him every day..THANK YOU JESUS!I just explained to you how God gave the Galatians time to come back to faith in Christ. That is the Biblical precedent for understanding how God doesn't just turn you over instantly to your decision to not believe anymore when you do that.
I think he's going to the mall.@Chester..got plams for the weekend other than hangin out here?
We know from the whole counsel of scripture that God does not wait forever.But he doesnt withdraw your salvation etc..who knows HOW long the prodigal son was away..God recieved him back with a party n open arms..didnt "disown" him but waited and watched for him every day..THANK YOU JESUS!
I have made a very conscious choice to make sure people who have abandoned faith in Christ won't be discouraged from trying to come back. But at the same time making sure people who have not left faith in Christ understand that they should not leave because, ultimately, there is a very harsh eternal penalty for leaving and they don't come back.@Ralph- @justpassinthrough @preston39 ...you think people are just arguementative with you and continue to bicker to prove a point..but for some of us..including ME..its PERSONAL its our LIVES or something weve lived through that has brought us to our personal beliefs and convictions so when we share and you say its blatently WRONG..that can cut because of it being personal..our walk with God are all different and personal in different ways..we gotta remember that when in heatec debates![]()
I kinda liked the 'mall' group better. I need a new pair of shoes.Small..the lag when im on this site often makes me lose the 1st letter or words..or i might be typing in pig latin or code..lol
I kinda liked the 'mall' group better. I need a new pair of shoes.
And by the way, @Jewel5712 , you should be telling Calvinist 'P' 'once saved always saved' believers to talk to the hand whenever they start spouting off their doctrine that says if a person leaves they were never really saved to begin with. You know from personal experience that is a bunch of bull.
I kinda liked the 'mall' group better. I need a new pair of shoes.
Well the habits of the "old" sure do hang around long enough after we’re born again.Getting close - but the putting off the old man and putting on the new man happened when we were born again.
That's your flesh talking to you.Well the habits of the "old" sure do hang around long enough after we’re born again.
It says that since you left you were never really saved to begin with. That is the traditional model of 'once saved always saved'. It says real believers will never leave.I really dont know anything bout calvinism..
Here's what you said in your Post #1,385:Yes, that would be an error. And I didn't say that.
Ralph said:The very core of your being is different because the Holy Spirit is there with you now. Take the Holy Spirit away (because of unbelief) and it's the old you all over again.
See, here again you refer to the spirit received at the new birth and then claim it is "the Holy Spirit".Ralph said:Yes, your body received a spirit, again, the day you were justified, just as you received a spirit the moment you breathed your first on the day of your natural birth. But this time around you received the Holy Spirit. That Spirit birthed a different you, not an additional you.
Here again you refer to the spirit received at the new birth as "the Holy Spirit".Ralph said:Right, the Holy Spirit leaves ...