The Security Of The Believer

See, you missed everything. 0 points

Your understanding of Matthew 7:21-23 is off. The reason those individuals were cast away wasn't disobedience. Read the passage...I never knew you. They were not saved. They were not partakers of eternal life.
John 17:3 says eternal life is knowing God and Christ. They didn't. Their faith was actually in their works...did we not...? They were counting on what they had done and not what Christ would do. No faith in Jesus.

How many points did I get?

You got the bullseye, dead center.

Hearing is conditional. If a believer starts to hear God’s words and then later down the road decides to stop hearing God’s words, they have decided to forfeit their eternal life who is our Savior. They may have started out saved, but they decided to throw salvation away. Again, eternal life is a person named Jesus Christ because 1 Timothy 6:16 basically says that Christ alone has immortality. Also, John 14:6 says He is the way, the truth, and the life. You cannot have salvation without Jesus (See 1 John 5:12). Eternal life is not a super power or a magical wish granted to you by a genie. But I also believe that some Christians have accepted a false Jesus or gospel thinking they can sin and still be saved on some level from day one. So this is why we will see Jesus say to certain believers, ‘I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:23). I am 100% convinced of this beyond all shadow of a doubt. The Scriptures are very clear on this matter. Do I want it to happen? No. But it will happen nonetheless. Jude 1:4 warns against those who turn God’s grace into lasciviousness (or a license to sin).

In Jude 1, these believers who turn God’s grace into a license to sin are very clever. They are so clever that they slip in among other genuine believers. It’s why the tares (weeds) look like the wheat. They are hard to spot. But Jesus says we will know them by their fruit. It’s not, we will know them by a belief.

I am not denying we need to be saved by God’s grace by any means. Surely Jesus teaches this in Luke 18:9-14, and other places. But Jesus points out part of their problem in that they do the lusts of their father the devil. Sin is the problem. It is why they cannot understand His speech.

Stop....hearing is not conditional. It is necessary for faith.

Sure they are hard to spot. But those who excuse sin and use "their salvation" as license to sin were never saved.

This is incorrect. Jesus said His sheep both hear His voice and follow Him. Following Him is the evidence that they do hear and understand.
Sin is not the problem for believers because it has been taken care of at the cross...no condemnation for those in Christ. If they are doing the lusts of their father, why do you believe they are in Christ?

Jude is exhorting believers to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints (vs. 3) because certain ungodly men have crept in unnoticed.

Jude further describes these ungodly men as ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit. (vs. 19) *Not descriptive of genuine believers. In CONTRAST with those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and PRESERVED in Jesus Christ. (vs. 1)

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). Faith is the Bible. Some people believe or hear or believe certain parts of the Bible, and they do not accept or hear other parts. This is pretty common in Christiandom. They love the good news in Corinthians 15:1-4, and Ephesians 2:8-9, but they reject verses like 2 Thessalonians 2:13, Romans 8:13, Galatians 6:8-9, and 1 Timothy 5:8. But yes. Hearing the Bible is conditional. A person can have a correct view in the Bible and then later reject that correct doctrine. So yes. Hearing the Bible or the faith is conditional.

Read Matthew 13:10-16 and see what biblical hearing is. It is not simply hearing the words audibly. Then you will understand what it means that Jesus' sheep hear and follow.

Back in my post #721, I have stated that to hear also has a meaning to obey. Why? Because like I said, there are obedience instructions in His Word like 2 Thessalonians 2:13, Romans 8:13, Galatians 6:8-9, and 1 Timothy 5:8.

2 Thessalonians 2:13 is saying God has chosen you to salvation through Sanctification of the Spirit and a belief of the truth.
Sanctification is Holy Living by the Spirit. It is a life long process according to 2 Corinthians 7:1. Belief of the truth also must continue until the end according to Hebrews 3:14, as well. Romans 8:13 says that we are to put to death the misdeeds of the body, we will live (live eternally). Galatians 6:8-9 is saying that we have to sow to the Spirit in "well doing“ (i.e., good works) to reap everlasting life. 1 Timothy 5:8 says we have to provide for our own or we are worse than an unbeliever. All these things require us to obey God or His Word (i.e., to follow Him).

The Bible is a set of instructions for us. If we are truly hearing God’s words in the Bible, we will obey those verses on being saved by God’s grace through faith without works. Then we will obey those verses on Sanctification and follow the LORD.

Some facts to know about the Parable of the Sower:

#1. In the Parable of the Weeds, we learn that He that sows the good seed is the Son of man (Jesus) (Matthew 13:37).

#2. The seed is the word of God, i.e. the gospel message from the Scriptures (Luke 8:11) (For we are born of incorruptible seed, which is the word of God that endures forever, see: 1 Peter 1:23-25; Also the words of Jesus are spiritual and they are life - John 6:63).

#3. Only those individuals who are labeled as: "The seed by the way side" are those who when they have heard the word, Satan came immediately, and took away the word that was sown in their hearts. (Mark 4:15). This is not said of the other seeds who fell away.

#4. The alternative to the "seed by way side" to be saved is if they "believe" in order to be saved (Luke 8:12). For Luke 8:12 says, "lest they should believe and be saved."

#5. We see that the one of the other seeds (that fell away later) do believe. However, they only believe for a while. Meaning, they are only saved for a while. For Luke 8:13 says, "They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away."

#6. What was the cause of their falling away? Was it because they never believed in the first place? No. It was in time of temptation that they fall away (Again see Luke 8:13) (Also see Hebrews 3:12-14).

#7. The plants sprung up (Which means they had life).
Luke 8:6-7 says, "And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. In other words, it choked the life out of it. 1 Timothy 6:10 says, "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." We are told to continue in His goodness, otherwise we will be cut off (See Romans 11:21-22).

#8. They had "no root" within themselves (Matthew 13:21) is that they did not have root in ALL of God's Word. They only believed the milk of the Word (the gospel message of salvation in Jesus - The entrance to salvation) (1 Corinthians 3:2) (1 Peter 2:2), but they did not move on to the meat of the Word (Which is discern between good and evil - Hebrews 5:14). They did not have a root in doing righteousness (Which is also by Jesus Christ - Romans 13:14, John 15:5). Proverbs 12:3 says, "A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved." For he that does righteousness is righteous (1 John 3:7). This is the root, they did not have. It is the teachings of Jesus that tell us to live holy and righteous as a part of God's saving grace. Instead, they fell away due to specific sins like being offended by persecution and falling into desiring to be rich.

All good stuff except salvation isn't through sanctification...it's by faith. One either believes and is saved or doesn't and isn't. No in between.

I wasn't referring to the parable, but why Jesus spoke in parables and what it teaches about hearing. Did you bother to read the verses I listed?

Being born again is not a guarantee of entering the Kingdom of God. It is a guarantee of eternal life. Being born again only allows us to see the kingdom. Carrying the cross daily enables us to enter God's kingdom.

There will be believers in heaven who never experienced the blessings of God's kingdom. They live for themselves in this life and so have nothing of spiritual worth for the next. Jesus prepares a place for us. We do not know what that will be like. What we do know from the Word is that there is placement in God's kingdom. It depends on the degree to which we submit to the will of God in this life.

No one who is born again loves sin. The new spirit hates sin and the conscience condemns sin until it is confessed and cleansed. Christians can and do sin. Anyone who says otherwise is a liar. Sinless perfection is not available in this life. Christians should be delivered progressively as they grow in Christ.

Sin is much more than what most Christians understand. The true definition is "whatever is not of faith". There are people who have built mighty religious endeavours who will find that they did it by their own efforts and talents, apart from the leading of God. They are the "wood, hay or straw" (1 Corinthians 3:12). Those who build as led and empowered by the Spirit will find that their works survive the fire of God's judgement. God's "consuming fire" is common in the Christian's experience, if he is choosing to go God's way. God wants us to be totally dependent on Him for both the vision and the empowering to carry it out.

It helps to know that the majority of church goers are not born again. You should not expect them to live righteously. They have no ability in themselves. If we could live righteously, Jesus died for nothing.

Sure it is.

2 Thessalonians 2:13 says so.

Lets read it.

2 Thessalonians 2:13
“….God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth::“

Galatians 6:8-9, and Romans 8:13 says a similar thing but by different words.
An example of a holy action tied to salvation by the apostle Paul himself is 1 Timothy 5:8.
One cannot skate around 1 Timothy 5:8 and say it is in reference to false believers because it says this:

1 Timothy 5:8
"But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel."

So only a believer can be worse than an unbeliever (i.e., infidel). An unbeliever (fake believer) cannot be worse than an another unbeliever. That makes no sense. So this tells us that we must provide for our own and IF not, then we are like an unbeliever and we know unbelievers will not be saved.

The Two Sides of the Coin of Faith:

The 1st Side of the Coin of Faith:

Faith starts off as a belief or trust in Jesus Christ as one's Savior (John 3:16). We are first saved by God's grace through faith without the deeds of the law or works ALONE (Ephesians 2:8-9). We are saved initially and foundationally by God's grace and mercy like the receiving of a gift. We believe that Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He was risen three days later for our salvation (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). We call upon the name of the Lord seeking forgiveness with Him (Romans 10:13, Luke 18:9-14). We receive or invite Christ into our life (John 1:12, Revelation 3:20). If a believer stumbles into sin on rare occasion, they do not do a good work to redeem that sin; But they go to God's grace by confessing their sins to Jesus Christ in order to be forgiven of it (See: 1 John 1:9, 1 John 2:1, Hebrews 4:16). This is all a part of how we are saved by God's grace through faith. No man can save themselves by Works Alone without God's grace. Many people who believe in God, and yet they have not accepted Jesus as their Savior think that God will outweigh their good deeds over their bad deeds. Salvation does not work like that. For they do not realize that their bad deeds will condemn them. They need to have their past slate of sins wiped out. This is where God's grace through faith in Jesus comes in.

But faith does not end with being saved by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

The journey of faith continues with...

The 2nd Side of the Coin of Faith:

#1. Faith manifests itself with the “work of faith” mentioned by the apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 1:3, and 2 Thessalonians 1:11. Protestants seem to separate works from faith in a way that goes beyond how James describes them. Yet, the apostle Paul mentions that there is a “work of faith.” The Bible talks about the “work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58) (1 Corinthians 16:10), and I imagine if I asked a Protestant Christian if the “work” within the “work of the Lord” is separate from “the Lord,” they most likely would say they are not separated. But when it comes to the “work of faith,” they will say that works and faith are separate things (Which in my view is not being consistent or honest with oneself).

#2. The word “faithful” is also mentioned 54 times in the New Testament King James Bible. The dictionary defines faithful as:

Faithful:
(adjective):

1. true to one's word, promises, vows, etc.
2. steady in allegiance or affection; loyal; constant: faithful friends.
3. reliable, trusted, or believed.
4. strict or thorough in the performance of duty: a faithful worker.


Source:
Definition of faithful | Dictionary.com

This definition is supported by the context in many verses in the Bible. It does not take a detective to figure out that the word “faithful” derives from the word “faith.” They are related and connected to each other. A person is loyal (or faithful) to their master based on their faith in him in what he says. For example: 2 Thessalonians 3:3 says, “But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.” So the Lord is said to be faithful in this verse. How is the Lord faithful? Is it by a belief alone? No. The Lord is faithful to strengthening us (or in establishing us) to keep us from evil. The Lord does something when He is faithful. Revelation 2:10 says to a particular church, “be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Many Protestants have tried to come up with tricky ways to not apply this verse to their own life. I believe they do not accept what this verse plainly says because it contradicts their “Faith Alone” teaching that was handed down to them from Martin Luther (the founder of Protestantism).

#3. Romans 10:17. It says,

“So then faith cometh by hearing,
and hearing by the word of God.”
(Romans 10:17).


How do we get our faith? According to Romans 10:17, we get our faith by hearing the Word of God. I believe that the “Word of God” can refer to either Jesus, and or the Bible (depending on the context). Anyways, in this particular instance in Romans 10:17: I believe the “Word of God” refers to the words of Jesus (which are found in the Holy Bible). We must receive the words of Jesus because if we do not, His words will judge us on the last day (See: John 12:48). This would also include the words of His apostles, as well. For Jesus says, “He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.” (Matthew 10:40). So faith is basically everything in my New Testament because it gives us an account of the words of Jesus and His followers. We get our faith by believing and obeying what Jesus and His apostles said. Faith is everything in your New Testament, and faith is not just a belief alone in Jesus.

#4. Hebrews 11.
Hebrews 11 gives us an account of what faith does. “By faith Noah, ... prepared an ark to the saving of his house;...” (Hebrews 11:7). “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac:” (Hebrews 11:17). “By faith Moses, ... refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;” (Hebrews 11:24-25). So by faith, the great men of God obeyed God and or put forth holy actions (or the “work of faith”). So in Hebrews 11, the word “faith” is used to represent something a believer does. This faith also rejects sin in one's life, for Moses suffered with the affliction of God's people rather than enjoying the pleasures of sin for a season.

#5. Peter failed to continue to walk on the water (Which is a work of God).
What was the reason why Peter later failed to continue to walk on the water? Jesus said, “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” (Matthew 14:31). This again proves that the work of God that can operate in our life is tied to our faith. For in Ephesians 2:9 it refers to Man Directed Works ALONE Salvationism (without God's grace) because it is the kind of work that a man would boast in himself by doing it. But Ephesians 2:10 talks about an entirely different kind of work. It is the work of God done through the believer. These are the works that we are created unto Christ Jesus to do. They are the works of God done through us. For Jesus said we can do nothing without Him (John 15:5). For it is God who works in us to do of His good will and pleasure (Philippians 2:13). So any good we do, all praise, glory, thanks, and honor is given to our Lord Jesus Christ and or to the glorious Trinity (or Godhead).

(Continued in my next post):