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I respect the argument.
I think there are those for whom that is true (4th type of soil believers).
I think there are those for whom it is not true (2nd and 3rd type of soil believers).
Simply put, any potential for being OSAS is attained over time and belongs to the mature in Christ.
It says the believer can fall so far as to even go back to unbelief and they are still saved.
No amount of willful sinning, blasphemy, or unbelief can cause the believer to lose their salvation.
It never occurred to me that the church could one day be consumed by this belief.
But it's happening right now.
Yes, and this is considered by all of us to not be a work of the works gospel. But some insist if you have to continue in that believing it does become a work of the works gospel for it would be you doing something to save yourself. It wasn't doing something to save myself when I started it. How can it suddenly now be me doing something to save myself? Their reasoning doesn't make sense.
Your continued believing removes the object of one's belief which is Jesus... because in your system there is no definitive/final result of that belief.
Therefore yes under your false system salvation can be lost.
Under the correct view of salvation the object of our belief is Jesus and it is because of whom we have trusted that we are secure.
I respect the argument.
I think there are those for whom that is true (4th type of soil believers).
I think there are those for whom it is not true (2nd and 3rd type of soil believers).
Simply put, any potential for being OSAS is attained over time and belongs to the mature in Christ.
It says the believer can fall so far as to even go back to unbelief and they are still saved.
No amount of willful sinning, blasphemy, or unbelief can cause the believer to lose their salvation.
It never occurred to me that the church could one day be consumed by this belief.
But it's happening right now.
It says the believer can fall so far as to even go back to unbelief and they are still saved.
No amount of willful sinning, blasphemy, or unbelief can cause the believer to lose their salvation.
It never occurred to me that the church could one day be consumed by this belief.
But it's happening right now.
I hear you. There are some who believe no matter how one lives, if they punched their ticket once, they're "going to heaven when they die." This even in the face of Scripture that shows those living in sin are to be warned about being deceived.
Some will even go as far as to defend them in their sin. This is the error of Zane Hodges and others. Yes, I agree this is wrong, and also believe it shows a lack of true conversion when there is no transformation and living in and practicing sin. Therefore I don't see it as a loss of salvation.
That's what YOU say it does.
Continued believing is the very same uninterrupted BELIEVING IN CHRIST that you started out in.
It's not a different believing. It's the same believing you had from the beginning.
Here’s why we say it’s merit. You teach that God elected those He knew would believe. You teach faith is a gift, but it can be rejected. Those who accept the gift, God knew they’d be willing to accept it, so He elected them accordingly. Tell me if/where I have misrepresented your view, as I truly wish to do not do that.
Now, God holds out the gift and fallen man reaches out a takes hold of it. Only then, are they made alive in Christ. That’s work. If you have to do anything to gain eternal life, then that constitutes a work. We teach(and the Bible avers) that faith is a gift given at the point of being made alive. They then exercise it and are saved. Faith is the EVIDENCE of conversion not the cause. Just like works are an evidence of salvation not the cause.
That's what YOU say it does.
Continued believing is the very same uninterrupted BELIEVING IN CHRIST that you started out in.
It's not a different believing. It's the same believing you had from the beginning.
So, God elected those He knew would be willing. Then that means He never elected those He knew wouldn’t be willing. So even in your schema, you have God leaving ppl in their fallen condition.
Yes, I understand, and I respect the argument.
But I have to be honest with myself that as a Spirit-filled, devout believer I've spent most of my Christian life in the 3rd type of soil.
And it has helped me to be more gracious and understanding to those who struggle in their own '7 x 70' relationship with God.
So, God elected those He knew would be willing. Then that means He never elected those He knew wouldn’t be willing. So even in your schema, you have God leaving ppl in their fallen condition.
Yes, I understand, and I respect the argument.
But I have to be honest with myself that as a Spirit-filled, devout believer I've spent most of my Christian life in the 3rd type of soil.
And it has helped me to be more gracious and understanding to those who struggle in their own '7 x 70' relationship with God.