The gift is eternal life
Agreed!
Romans 6:23
("in Christ Jesus")
The gift is eternal life
Vs. 9 says nothing about the barren fields can only be people who never really believed to begin with:Where does it say otherwise? Verse 9 settles the issue for me.
You don't seem to understand the difference between sinning in a rejection of Christ, and sinning in the struggles of growing up within your faith in Christ. If you die in unbelief you will be lost. If you die believing and trusting in Christ for forgiveness, you are saved and will not be lost despite your struggle with sin.
God is faithful to keep on forgiving us if we keep on believing in the forgiveness of God. If we are in unbelief we can only be saved if we come back to faith in Christ. Then he will forgive us and we will be saved.
God is faithful to keep on forgiving us if we keep on believing in the forgiveness of God. If we are in unbelief we can only be saved if we come back to faith in Christ. Then he will forgive us and we will be saved.
It is clear....the gift is eternal life! We are not justified by following Jesus as I explained already justification is God's work.
"The gift of God is eternal life" Romans 6:23. How can eternal life be anything else but eternal? It cannot be lost, forfeited, or sinned away, for "the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable" Romans 11:29. Eternal life once given is an everlasting gift.
Here is the golden chain and no mention of being dejustified because it does not exist legally.
"Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified." Romans 8:30
From a legal perspective it is non nonsensical to say justification can be lost which means exactly to declare innocent or guiltless; absolve; acquit. It is inherent in the meaning of the word.
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, Romans 5:1
Justification Is Permanent and Irrevocable!!!
There is no double jeopardy, no double indemnity.
Satan cannot appeal the verdict or raise an objection or sue for a mistrial. It is over and done with because Jesus was perfect and we are clothed in His righteousness.
Paul states one is justified and free forever, never to be condemned. We have peace with God eternally. (Rom.5:1)
Translation........
Thus speaketh the Lord God...... I am a revolving door of righteousness, the lather -rinse - repeat righteousness..... as long as you keep on believing in the lather - rinse - repeat righteousness cycle you will be saved.
Translation........
Thus speaketh the Lord God...... I am a revolving door of righteousness, the lather -rinse - repeat righteousness..... as long as you keep on believing in the lather - rinse - repeat righteousness cycle you will be saved.
Hey Chester! Hope you are well.Yes, indeed it is clear that the "gift of God is eternal life" (Rom. 6:23). The Bible says so! When we believe in Christ, we receive that gift! No argument with that - Amen, praise the Lord!
What is eternal life? John says (John 17:2) "and this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." That is real living! - to know Jesus Christ - that is eternal life!
To make "eternal life" primarily into "living forever" devalues the concept. Even unbelievers will "live forever" in hell fire -- but they do not have "eternal life". This relationship with Christ (life!) will never be taken from the one who hears and follows the Master. He will have it forever and will know and experience in deeper and deeper ways what really knowing Jesus is - in heaven and for all eternity.
All this and more are the wonderful truths for the believer who has been justified by the Lamb of God!
But where do you get that "justification is permanent and irrevocable"? Romans 11:29 does not say that! If you try to say it says that the "gifts" of God cannot be changed and the "gift" of eternal life (Rom. 6;23) therefore cannot be changed, then you will have to let others string together words from different verses to make their own points.
Romans 8:30: a beautiful verse with wonderful deep truths for the Christian! But it does not say that justification is eternal?! To make that verse say that "justification is eternal" you have to bring in your own preconceived theology and force it into the verse.
As I asked earlier: Where is the verse that clearly says that once a person has been justified (born again) that this justification is eternal and irrevocable?
Hey Chester! Hope you are well.
I've asked this question before and I think you replied that it was a good question but you couldn't answer right then.
So what is your understanding of being SEALED by the Holy Spirit? Who can break that seal?
I am probably overly simplistic -- but I take it to mean just what it says:
Ephesians 1:13,14:
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory
After we have heard and believe - then He gives us the Holy Spirit which is a seal (mark) that we belong to him. This is our down-payment (a small token of something greater coming) that will stay with us until Christ comes back to redeem us for his own!
A fantastic promise to believers in Christ!
Oh, I see you asked - "Who can break that seal?" I don't know - these verses do not say . . .
- but this I do know - when I believe in Christ I have that promise of the Holy Spirit - PTL!
Well I can tell you in fact ONLY the King can break the seal once it is placed on something, or some one. We see John crying convulsively in Revelation because NO ONE could break the seal. I understand it is a different seal, but the concept of just WHO can break it remains. Of course we know that ONLY the Lamb, Jesus Christ can break those seals.
So if you can get to the point that you can see ONLY God can break that seal HE puts on you, maybe you can get to that point to believe that HE isn't going to break the seal HE put on you. Meaning HE isn't going to remove His Spirit and take back the Eternal Salvation HE gave you.
So if you believe that only God can break that seal, then it follows that ONLY HE can remove the Holy Spirit in you. Now He also gave you the faith to believe in His Son, so He would have to take back that gift of faith as well.
Can you start to see the problems that arise by believing God would do those things? You become His Child, you do or don't do something to remain His Child, so He disowns you by removing His Spirit, and faith, and now you are no longer His Child?
If I'm understanding you correctly, you are saying that the Holy Spirit is there when you believe, but checks out if you have doubts? For a moment or more have unbelief? Sin? Does He break the seal to depart and then reseal after you believe again?I am fine if you want to believe and think that way - for me it is enough to know that when I believe I am promised the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 1 does not say who can or cannot break the seal nor does it say "once sealed always sealed". It is enough for me to know that when I believe in Him I have the down-payment of the Spirit. That is enough for me!I am 100% secure in my Redeemer! I need no more! He is faithful and will always be faithful!
If I'm understanding you correctly, you are saying that the Holy Spirit is there when you believe, but checks out if you have doubts? For a moment or more have unbelief? Sin? Does He break the seal to depart and then reseal after you believe again?
It sounds like you are saying HE will remove His Spirit and take back from you the gift of faith HE GAVE YOU.
How about forgetting all of that and concentrate on your LAST sentence:
"He is Faithful and will ALWAYS be Faithful" Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!
Welcome to the family that ALSO believes that He is ALWAYS Faithful and therefore, by YOUR OWN pronouncement, YOU ARE ETERNALLY SECURE!!!!! Woo-Hoo!
If I'm understanding you correctly, you are saying that the Holy Spirit is there when you believe, but checks out if you have doubts? For a moment or more have unbelief? Sin? Does He break the seal to depart and then reseal after you believe again?
It sounds like you are saying HE will remove His Spirit and take back from you the gift of faith HE GAVE YOU.
I struggle to understand what made me go back into the world and live as a heathen after I heard the Gospel and believed it and made a commitment to give my life to serving the Lord.
I lived a s a faithful Christian for a few years, then I turned my back on my faith and gave myself to serving the lusts of the flesh, then repenting and coming back to the Lord and then going back to serving sin over and over and over again.
This tug of war continued for many years and I got my sinful fill of everything this world has to offer, then after sinning to my hearts content I came back to the Lord and He forgave me for the seven times seventieth time. I feel unworthy to receive forgiveness because I only came back to the Lord after I had exhausted every lust I had and still felt empty in the end.
The only thing I can conclude is that God chose to save me for some reason I don't understand. I know others who done exactly the same thing and God left them in their sin and they will go to the grave in their sin and unbelief, unless God works a miracle in their lives.
This is why I believe in predestination and election, God allowed me to indulge in everything this world has to offer then He saved me. While others haven't sinned half as much and they remain lost, just as I would have if God didn't draw me back to Himself.
If a born again believer sins and then dies before he or she confesses his or her sin, is that person cast into the lake of fire?
It appears to me that is what you are saying.
"]
Ok... After a couple yrs... Here's the answer to your much sought after OSAS verse...
John 5:24 New International Version (NIV)
24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me HAS ETERNAL LIFE and will not be judged but HAS crossed over from death to life.
Please consult Mirriam Webster for the definition of ETERNAL!
Eternal is eternal no matter what dictinary, what lexicon, or what ever form you use,Instead of consulting Webster just go to John 17:3 . . . here John says what eternal life is . . .
I consider John more inspired than Webster! You keep making me laugh harder all the time!
I do provide Scripture.YOU SEEM TO NEVER RUN OUT OF INTERPRETATIONS AND ARGUMENTS. I WON'T GET UPSET AS LONG AS YOU PROVIDE SCRIPTURES PROPERLY TO BACK UP YOUR STANCE.
I presume that you believe "depart from the faith" means that born again believers depart from saving faith in Christ and lose their salvation. Just as in 1 Timothy 4:1, we read - Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is FALSELY CALLED KNOWLEDGE, 21 which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith.
What does this have to do with works salvation/lose salvation?6 Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “DO NOT GO BEYOND WHAT IS WRITTEN.” Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other. 7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
Jesus told us what was necessary for salvation in John 3:15,16,18; 5:24; 6:29,40,47; 11:25,26. In Matthew 28:19-20, we have here a command of Christ to go and make disciples of all nations, and baptize them. However, it does not say here that baptism is absolutely necessary for salvation. The same command also includes the clause "teaching them to observe all things" that Christ has commanded them. If we are to assume that baptism is essential to salvation, then by consistent interpretation of the context, we should say that absolute obedience to all of Christ's commands is also necessary for salvation, yet the Bible is clear that we are not saved by works, but for good works (Ephesians 2:8-10).19Go ye therefore, and TEACH ALL NATIONS, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER I HAVE COMMANDED YOU: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
OUR LORD JESUS BEFORE GOING BACK TO THE FATHER INSTRUCTED HIS DISCIPLES TO TEACH OBEDIENCE UNTO ALL NATIONS.
IF ANYONE WOULD TEACH THAT OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S WORD, TEACHINGS, LAWS AND COMMANDS, IS NOT NECESSARY OR PART OF SALVATION, DOES HE NOT TEACH CONTRARY TO THE LORD’S TEACHINGS?
You need to stop pitting scripture against scripture. You need to properly harmonize scripture with scripture before reaching your conclusion on doctrine.WHEN THE LORD SAID THAT “IF YOU WANT TO ENTER LIFE, OBEY THE COMMANDMENTS”, AND SOMEONE ELSE WOULD SAY THAT OBEDIENCE TO GOD WILL NOT SAVE ANYONE BECAUSE “FAITH ALONE SAVES”. IS IT NOT A CLEAR REJECTION, NULLIFICATION, DISRESPECT, DISOBEDIENCE, UNBELIEF AND MOCKERY OF GOD’S WORD?
I already explained this to you in post #1,543. - https://christianchat.com/bible-discussion-forum/osas-house-built-on-sand.178412/page-7815Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 16They profess that they know God; BUT IN WORKS THEY DENY HIM, being ABOMINABLE, and DISOBEDIENT and unto every good work REPROBATE. 4For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, TURNING THE GRACE OF OUR GOD INTO (A LICENSE FOR) LASCIVIOUSNESS, and DENYING the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Pharisees were good at making the word of God of none effect through their tradition. You are all over the place....Teaching for doctrines the commandments of men….Full well ye reject the commandment of God... making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.(mark 7:6-13)
...because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.(isaiah 5:20-24)
The one who is continuously (Greek present tense) sowing to his own corrupt, sinful nature which is opposed to God and unrenewed by the Holy Spirit shall of the flesh reap corruption. Our life here is sowing of one kind or another. But he who sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap everlasting life. In opposition to corruption, eternal life is produced by the Holy Spirit in those who put their faith (belief, trust, reliance) in Jesus Christ for salvation....Be not deceived; GÒD IS NOT MOCKED: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.(galatians 6:7-10)
Again, this is descriptive of children of disobedience, not children of God. I already explained that in post #1,543 as well.32who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are WORTHY OF DEATH, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things COMETH THE WRATH OF .GOD ÙPON THE CHILDREN OF DISOBEDIENCE
The wages of sin is death (all have sinned and come short of the glory of God) BUT the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 3:23; 6:23).MAN GOT SEPARATED FROM GOD BECAUSE OF THE SIN OF DISOBEDIENCE WHEN MAN WAS DECEIVED BY THE SERPENT WHO SAID THAT “...Ye shall not surely die.”(genesis 3:4)
Genuine faith does not remain void of evidential works. We do posses eternal life the moment we believe because Christ saves us through faith based on the merits of His finished work of redemption "alone" and not based on the merits of our works (Romans 3:22-28). *It is through faith "in Christ alone" (and not by the merits of our works) that we are justified on account of Christ (Romans 3:24; 5:1; 5:9); yet the faith that justifies is never alone (solitary, unfruitful, barren) if it is genuine (James 2:14-24). *Perfect Harmony*DÈCEIVERS OF THIS AGE SAYS THE SAME THING;
“YE SHALL NOT SURELY DIE (PERIßH / BE CONDEMNED). ONCE YOU'RE SAVED, YOU ARE ALWAYS ßAVED. JUST HAVE FAITH VOID OF WORKS (OF RIGHTEOUSNESS / ÒBEDIENCE) AND YOU WILL POSSESS ETERNAL LIFE THE MOMENT YOU BELIEVE.
It sure is and unbelievers will be judged according to their works and will be found wanting and will be cast in the lake of fire. For some unbelievers, it will be worse! Matthew 23:14 - "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive greater condemnation. For believers, they will be judged to determine rewards and loss of rewards, not salvation or loss of salvation (1 Corinthians 3:11-15).IS IT NOT APPOINTED FOR MEN TO DIE ONCE AND FACE JUDGMENT AFTER? (hebrews 9:27-28)
In James 2:20, "faith without works is dead" does not mean that faith is dead until it produces works and then it becomes a living faith or that works are the source of life in faith. James is simply saying faith that is not accompanied by evidential works is dead. If someone says-claims he has faith but lacks resulting evidential works, then he has an empty profession of faith/dead faith and not authentic faith. Simple!“FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD”
In spite of all appearances, there was a remnant in this church which have not defiled their garments. Revelation 3:5 is another verse that impacts this issue. "He who overcomes I will never blot out his name from the book of life." The "overcomer" mentioned in this letter to Sardis is the Believer/Christian. Compare this with 1 John 5:4: "Everyone who is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith."JESUS HAS NOT FOUND YOUR WORKS COMPLETE IN THE SIGHT OF GOD. REMEMBER THEREFORE WHÀT YOU HEARD AND RECEIVED. OBEY IT, AND REPENT.(revelations 3:1-6)
He that rejected Me and receiveth not My words is descriptive of unbelievers. More works salvation/lose salvation confusion on your part. You sound over confident about your works and quick to judge others who understand that salvation is by grace through faith, not works.47And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. 48HE THAT REJECTETH ME, and RECEIVETH NOT MY WORDS, hath one that judgeth him: THE WORD THAT I HAVE SPOKEN, THE SAME SHALL. JUDGE HIM IN THE LAST DAY. 49For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 50And I KNOW THAT HIS COMMANDMENT IS LIFE EVERLASTING: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.