Paul went very far in asserting this
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Yes, there is nothing in the future that can result in loss of salvation.
The problem here is at what point is our belief immune from falling away. I agree with you that at a certain point we are secure.
I don't think we agree. From John 3:15,16, 5:24, 6:40,47 we read that those who believe possess eternal life. And from Jn 10:28 Jesus said that recipients of eternal life shall never perish.
He didn't include any exceptions.
But the problem is who determines that point.
Jesus was clear. At the POINT of saving faith, the believer possesses eternal life and shall never perish.
Slam dunk.
When God says that he goes to the dividing of the joints from the marrow or the spirit from the soul, it means that God can divide the indivisible.[/QUOTE]
Right. But that isn't about losing salvation.
Thus God cannot make a mistake from outward appearances or anything else. He goes right down to where it matters.
Correct again. And those who have believed in the Savior shall never perish. So said Jesus.
Today people think that when we raise our hands in church and pray a prayer for salvation or even when we get dipped under the water, we are saved.
The only question is whether the person trusted in Jesus Christ alone for their salvation.
God is the one who searches the heart and make that determination, and maybe that is why Jesus in Revelation and also the Olivet discourse says that he who endures to the end will be saved.
In the verse that says "endures to the end will be saved", the context is the 7 year Tribulation. So it isn't even about eternal soul salvation.
The truth is "True Faith" endures.
That is not true. What verse says this? I study like the Bereans. Show me the verse, please.
In fact, Jesus taught that believers can "fall away" from their faith. Luke 8:13
Fake Faith does not endure.
The Bible never ever says anything about "fake faith".
It does mention false brethren, who were devious and lied to get into the congregations of believers to spy them out.
James who was concerned that we would trivialize faith, says true faith will have appropriate works associated with it.
No, his point was clear in 2:18. In order to demonstrate your faith, you HAVE TO have works.
How do we know which one we have? (True ? or Fake ?)
It is clear from what a person has believed about Jesus Christ.
Jesus noted otherwise.
I have been very close to gung ho Christians for many many years and would swear for them, only to see in the last year to 2 years, some of them have fallen so far away, it scares me to think that it could also happen to me. (Although I think otherwise)
Based on what Jesus said about the second soil, the cause of falling away from the faith is because of testing/temptations that the person couldn't deal with appropriately.
Yes there is a point that we are sealed or preserved but only God and possibly that individual knows.
Actually, we all not only CAN know, but SHOULD know. Paul made that very clear.
Eph 1:13,14
13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,
14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
Notice the tense in v.13; "when you believed". Past tense. Point in time. At that POINT, the believer is "marked in Christ with a seal, the Holy Spirit.
v.14 is eternal security; The indwelling Spirit is a deposit GUARANTEEING the inheritance of the believer until the redemption of God's possession. A guarantee.
I think it was Peter who said the devil believes and trembles.
No, it was James. 2:19 And we need to note WHAT the demons believe. They believe that God is One, which is monotheism, which was particular to Jews, and foreign to Gentiles.
Also, Jesus said there were some Pharisees who believed but because they did not want to be thrown out of the synagogue, they did not follow after him.[/QUOTE]
And Jesus said recipients of eternal life (believers) shall never perish.
Thus it appears that Salvation is not a point in time but rather a journey from beginning to end.
Rather, salvation is eternally secure from the POINT or MOMENT of saving faith in the Savior.