Another look at John 10.
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Jesus went to the cross so sin would no longer be an issue between you and God. He has reconciled you to Himself. So not sinning is awesome. But it has nothing to do with keeping you saved. We don't keep commandments to maintain our relationship with God. We keep them because we love Him. And we love Him because He first loved us.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
Matthew 18:10 “Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven. 12 What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14 So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.
Luke 15:1-7
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
15 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 So he told them this parable: 4 “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
We can get lost from the secyrity of the sheepfold or wander from the Shepherd. He will not let us stay gone.
We are eternally his.
Just to clarify, if we submit to the Holy Spirit and not resist His work such that we end up not sinning, and let the Holy Spirit cause us to do the good works according to God's will and results in our obedience, then that's not our work, but the Lord's. And such a person can sustain obedience and not sin more continuously because it's done in His power.
So it's not so much about not sinning itself that keeps you saved, but that you have the Holy Spirit in your life and not resisting Him (not leaving Him) so that He is causing you not to sin that is keeping you saved.
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That's true and not true. Sin isn't an issue if we walk in the light, which requires acknowledging both to him and to ourselves our unrighteous nature and deeds so that we can be cleansed and remain in the light. If we walk after darkness we will perish
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Romans 8:13-14
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Romans 8:13-14
You didn’t use any scripture that says what you are saying. Is this just your opinion? Specifically, “ We don’t keep commandments to maintain our relationship to God.” And “…not sinning has nothing to do with keeping us saved.” Scripture that teaches this?
I find this in Ezekiel: “If you warn the wicked to turn from his way (sins), and he does not turn from his way (sins), He shall die in his iniquity. 33:9. God was speaking to his chosen people, the Jews. Verse 7. And this in Isaiah 59:2- “your sin has separated you from your God.” To the children of God.
I John 3:4 says that sin is lawlessness. And in Matthew 7, Jesus refused to let those believers, who had done many mighty works in His name—into heaven because he said they had practiced “LAWLESSNESS.” Now where is this scripture that says “sin has nothing to do with keeping us saved?”
I find this in Ezekiel: “If you warn the wicked to turn from his way (sins), and he does not turn from his way (sins), He shall die in his iniquity. 33:9. God was speaking to his chosen people, the Jews. Verse 7. And this in Isaiah 59:2- “your sin has separated you from your God.” To the children of God.
I John 3:4 says that sin is lawlessness. And in Matthew 7, Jesus refused to let those believers, who had done many mighty works in His name—into heaven because he said they had practiced “LAWLESSNESS.” Now where is this scripture that says “sin has nothing to do with keeping us saved?”
Hebrews 10:29.
Ephesians 2:8-9.
Romans 15:13.
2 Timothy 1:7.
Do you believe you earned salvation?
Do you believe you can keep it by yourself?
The closing verses of Romans 8 goes through a list of things that cannot separate a believer from God. It concludes that nothing can separate a believer from the love of God in Christ Jesus. So how is it that you say something can?
Ephesians 2:8-9.
Romans 15:13.
2 Timothy 1:7.
Do you believe you earned salvation?
Do you believe you can keep it by yourself?
The closing verses of Romans 8 goes through a list of things that cannot separate a believer from God. It concludes that nothing can separate a believer from the love of God in Christ Jesus. So how is it that you say something can?
No, I believe salvation is a gift from God that is accepted or rejected because God gives normal human adults moral free will that allows them to choose to believe--or not, and that saving faith is followed by good or loving works, although believers may have different gifts to exercise in the body of Christ. IOW, "What do you have that you did not receive" (1CR 4:7) includes every good grace/gift.
FYI:
2 Thessalonians, Chapter 2:
1Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
Matthew, Chapter 24:
9Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
10And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
2 Thessalonians, Chapter 2:
1Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
Matthew, Chapter 24:
9Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
10And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
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Jesus has been tasked with tending a number of very special sheep.
● John 10:29 . . My sheep . . my Father gave them to me
Jesus' Father expects His son to be conscientious about the sheep's safety.
● John 6:39 . .This is the will of the One who sent me: that I should not lose
anything of what He gave me.
Jesus never fails to give the One what He wants.
● John 4:34 . . My food is to do the will of the One who sent me.
● John 8:29 . . I always do what is pleasing to Him.
Now the thing is: were Jesus to lose even one of the sheep that his Father
entrusted to his care-- just one --then Jesus would not be able to say that
he "always" pleases the One who sent him. He could say that he pleases the
One most of the time, but certainly not always without fail.
People are actually casting a nay vote in regard to Jesus' competence when
they insist it's possible for him to lose some of the sheep that his Father
gave him. Were Christ an ordinary guy I would be inclined to agree with the
skeptics; but his miracles demonstrate that the good shepherd has all the
powers and abilities of the supreme being at his disposal to insure he
succeeds at keeping the sheep right where his Father wants them kept.
● John 10:9 . . I am the door; whoever enters through me shall be saved.
Were Christ an ordinary guy; then he wouldn't dare say "shall be saved" no,
he'd have to tone it down a bit and say shall be safer instead of shall be
saved. That would leave him some room for error. But when Christ says
shall be saved, he's claiming a 0.0% failure rate. That's how confident Christ
is that he will lose nothing of those that the One gave him.
FAQ: Why can't the sheep change their minds about following Christ and
leave him to follow someone else?
REPLY: Animal husbandry isn't democratic, on the contrary: it's quite
despotic.
The thing is: a rancher's free will trumps his herd's free will; and the
rancher's brand burned into the animals' skins indelibly identify them with
their owner. So be advised: once someone makes the decision to unify with
Christ, they relinquish whatever sovereignty they had as a beast at large,
viz: they become Christ's property, and there's no going back because he
and his Father play for keeps. In other words: in order for the sheep to free
themselves from Christ, they would need to overpower not only him but his
Father also; which isn't likely.
● John 10:28-29 . . No one can take them out of my hand-- my Father, who
has given them to me, is greater than all; and no one can take them out of
the Father's hand. I and my Father stand together.
● 1Cor 6:19-20 . .You are not your own; you were bought at a price.
● Eph 1:13 . . In him you also-- who have heard the word of truth, the
gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him --were sealed with the
promised Holy Spirit.
_
Jesus has been tasked with tending a number of very special sheep.
● John 10:29 . . My sheep . . my Father gave them to me
Jesus' Father expects His son to be conscientious about the sheep's safety.
● John 6:39 . .This is the will of the One who sent me: that I should not lose
anything of what He gave me.
Jesus never fails to give the One what He wants.
● John 4:34 . . My food is to do the will of the One who sent me.
● John 8:29 . . I always do what is pleasing to Him.
Now the thing is: were Jesus to lose even one of the sheep that his Father
entrusted to his care-- just one --then Jesus would not be able to say that
he "always" pleases the One who sent him. He could say that he pleases the
One most of the time, but certainly not always without fail.
People are actually casting a nay vote in regard to Jesus' competence when
they insist it's possible for him to lose some of the sheep that his Father
gave him. Were Christ an ordinary guy I would be inclined to agree with the
skeptics; but his miracles demonstrate that the good shepherd has all the
powers and abilities of the supreme being at his disposal to insure he
succeeds at keeping the sheep right where his Father wants them kept.
● John 10:9 . . I am the door; whoever enters through me shall be saved.
Were Christ an ordinary guy; then he wouldn't dare say "shall be saved" no,
he'd have to tone it down a bit and say shall be safer instead of shall be
saved. That would leave him some room for error. But when Christ says
shall be saved, he's claiming a 0.0% failure rate. That's how confident Christ
is that he will lose nothing of those that the One gave him.
FAQ: Why can't the sheep change their minds about following Christ and
leave him to follow someone else?
REPLY: Animal husbandry isn't democratic, on the contrary: it's quite
despotic.
The thing is: a rancher's free will trumps his herd's free will; and the
rancher's brand burned into the animals' skins indelibly identify them with
their owner. So be advised: once someone makes the decision to unify with
Christ, they relinquish whatever sovereignty they had as a beast at large,
viz: they become Christ's property, and there's no going back because he
and his Father play for keeps. In other words: in order for the sheep to free
themselves from Christ, they would need to overpower not only him but his
Father also; which isn't likely.
● John 10:28-29 . . No one can take them out of my hand-- my Father, who
has given them to me, is greater than all; and no one can take them out of
the Father's hand. I and my Father stand together.
● 1Cor 6:19-20 . .You are not your own; you were bought at a price.
● Eph 1:13 . . In him you also-- who have heard the word of truth, the
gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him --were sealed with the
promised Holy Spirit.
_
Your verses speak of the wicked. Where in scripture do you see saved people called wicked? Not all of Israel is of Israel. There was mostly only a remnant of the children of Israel who were saved. Those wicked were separated from God by their sin. The righteous were not.
If you take a closer look at Matthew 7, you will find that though sin did characterize their behavior, they were never saved. We know this because Jesus said He never knew them. Since eternal life is knowing the Father and the Son...John 17:3, they were never saved.
Romans 6:14 says we are no longer under the law, but under grace. We no longer relate to God on the basis of the law, but according to His grace. You already take advantage of this when you ask forgiveness of God. Do you sacrifice an animal when you ask forgiveness? Why not? The law calls for it. Before you worship do you go through rituals to purify yourself? Why not? The law calls for it. Instead, you live in the grace of God. And correctly so.
You live under a yoke of bondage if you are yoked to sin. You dwell in peace, and love, and power if you are yoked to Christ.
If you take a closer look at Matthew 7, you will find that though sin did characterize their behavior, they were never saved. We know this because Jesus said He never knew them. Since eternal life is knowing the Father and the Son...John 17:3, they were never saved.
Romans 6:14 says we are no longer under the law, but under grace. We no longer relate to God on the basis of the law, but according to His grace. You already take advantage of this when you ask forgiveness of God. Do you sacrifice an animal when you ask forgiveness? Why not? The law calls for it. Before you worship do you go through rituals to purify yourself? Why not? The law calls for it. Instead, you live in the grace of God. And correctly so.
You live under a yoke of bondage if you are yoked to sin. You dwell in peace, and love, and power if you are yoked to Christ.