I guess this is the rub re: eternal security - 1John3:3 is axiomatic but then we have several verses that clarify what self-purification means to make certain believers know continued faith-obedience - in this sense of self-purification - means no sin/lawlessness, doing righteousness, abiding in Christ, love for one another, manifesting characteristics of being God's children, etc. And then the seemingly everlasting question between systems of theology - what if this clarification of self-cleansing is not taking place?
It all comes down to our soteriology. I find in Scripture that we are reconciled to God in Christ, and not in anything we've done or not done. For me, this is definitive. What I do not gain by good works I do not lose by bad works.
The thinking that I can lose my salvation frames salvation in an ongoing transactional nature, we keep going back to the store to make our next layaway payment of good works, so we don't lose our salvation.
I understand my salvation to be of a covenantal nature, and that covenent based in what Jesus did. Entering into that covenant is our salvation, and the ongoing part is our sanctification, discipling, training in holiness and righteousness.
God has made us holy, in that He has set us apart for Himself. To live holy means to live according to His intent for us. When we are first reborn, we have to be trained by God to walk in the Way. And while Scripture speaks of our maturity, it also speaks of this training continuing throughout our lives.
How do we say that because we are still being trained, and as a result of our continuing lack of maturity, continue to make bad choices, continue to have baseless fears, or whatever it is that leads us to sin, yielding to our flesh, where is the cut off? How many sins before you are lost again?
I see our relationship with our Father as just that, He is Father, we His children, and He will chasten us as needed, but He doesn't disown us. Too much in Scripture assures me that He does not disown us, return us to flesh life, without His Spirit.
Yes, touching on security, there are many passages that make plain statements that would be rendered untrue if the regenerate were to again become unregenerate, I am compelled to accept them for what they plainly say.
I spent several years, some time ago, gathering up every list of Scriptures that people put on line to show that salvation could be lost. I wanted to examine everyone's arguments that I was wrong, I value truth. It's meaningless if it's not real. Not only did I learn that not one of these hundreds of verses I examined actually did say one's salvation could be lost, but I found that many of them actually affirmed the opposite, that nothing will ever separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Hebrews 12 contains one of the most wonderful promises in the Bible, in my view. He has promised not only to chasten me as needed, but He has also promised that His chastening will be effect, resulting in the peaceable works of righteousness.
Who is it who would slip through His safety net? I mean, I'm not saying, just charge into sin, knowing He'll spank you before you go too far. My friend put it this way, "I learned the fear of the Lord when I realized how much He can mess with me life!" Chastening can be exceedingly grievous. He tears, and He binds up. That's how it works. The point is, it DOES work. None are lost.
Much love!
