The problem of the statement of “never saved to begin with”

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Dec 20, 2023
484
214
43
Texas
Sanctification is an ongoing process. No one will reach perfection in this life. However, this process does indeed strengthen us to overcome sin when it sneaks up on us – just as it is explained below:

The Canons of Dort
FIFTH HEAD OF DOCTRINE
Of the Perseverance of the Saints​
Article 4
Although the weakness of the flesh cannot prevail against the power of God, who confirms and preserves true believers in a state of grace, yet converts are not always so influenced and actuated by the Spirit of God, as not in some particular instances sinfully to deviate from the guidance of divine grace, so as to be seduced by, and comply with the lusts of the flesh; they must, therefore, be constant in watching and prayer that they be not led into temptation. When these are neglected, they are not only liable to be drawn into great and heinous sins by Satan, the world and the flesh, but sometimes by the righteous permission of God actually fall into these evils. This the lamentable fall of David, Peter, and other saints described in Holy Scripture demonstrates.
As you can see, God allows Satan to tempt us – so that we bow our head in shame.
 
Dec 18, 2021
6,441
2,055
113
No, the servant could not pay the debt before it was forgiven and the servant could not pay the debt after the forgiveness was taken away.
So the servant could never earn it. thus he could never lose it.

I do not believe I can save myself nor do I remember making such a statement. I am nothing like the Pharisees.
This does not make sense. why would you claim if you could lose something you did not earn?

I have now answered 4 of your questions. Will you please answer one of mine?

Post# 784
Is that what happened of the forgiven servant in Matthew 18:21-35?
Was the servant being chastened?
[/quote]

Matt 18: 34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.

Again, Could he pay his debt?
 
Dec 18, 2021
6,441
2,055
113
Since you fear working any deeper in John6 and Phil2 and attempt to cover with dumb accusations your fear and inability to understand what I've said about those verses, I'll give you the same answers from a different angle:
So you prety much going to ignore my question again, and try to speak about 2 verses which I said I would not discuss until you answered my question first?

What school did you go to? because there is something very wrong with your understanding.

Assuming you're not a Christian, then you need to work to hear and learn God's Good News that Jesus is the Christ and know what "Christ" means, so you can believe what God teaches and be in submission to Him and to His Son Jesus Christ whom He sent and be given the gift of salvation and eternal life. Prior to this I'd likely also want to discuss Rom1 and see where you are with acceptance or rejection of the knowledge of God which He gave you about Himself.

Assuming you are a Christian created for good works, then you have to be working with God in the Salvation Process as He commands His Children to do.

Then we discuss such things as believed vs. never believed, and security and wages and rewards vs. apostasy. And so on...
Once again, WHAT WORKS DO I NEED TO DO.

its not a hard question. Just name each work we are require to do to be saved.

I mean seriously. if I wanted people to think I at least understood my own argument, I would answer the question without hesitation.
 
If our salvation is not entirely Gods will then Gods plan of salvation for the world could have failed.
I guess God would have to hang his head and kick rocks if Judas decided he was not going to betray Christ. Christ said that it would have been better if Judas would have never been born than betray the Son of Man. Did Judas have a choice? No, he was the chosen one to fulfill the will of God.
That being said, then God would be a respecter of persons if any person through man’s entire existence had the ability to choose a choice that would go against, or alter the will of God. It would be unfair to Judas. And God is not a respecter of persons.

Everyone’s name that is written in the book of life is going to Gods party. That book is sealed until gods plans for redemption is complete. There will be no fresh ink or erase marks. Why? Because it’s the divine will of God.

Before Adam. Before Christ, before creation, before gods plan of salvation for the world, first and foremost is the Glory of God. Why does he wash away sins? For HIS namesake. God is not going to entrust his glory in the hands of a finite, sinful, self centered being. What he divinely declares will be done, and he has declared me sinless in Christ, and has given me eternal life, and what does that manifest? GLORY, GLORY, GLORY to the most awesome dad ever!!! I don’t think there’s much glory being an indian giver.

GOD HAS MADE ALL THINGS FOR HIMSELF, YEA, EVEN THE WICKED FOR THE DAY OF EVIL (Prov 16:4)

I can’t figure out any other rational way to look at it.
 

studier

Well-known member
Apr 18, 2024
2,123
469
83
Saved from what... that is the context.

So then you do not believe "spiritual salvation" is a one time event?

This would most definitely make a mess of scripture, agree.

Read again. What is a Christian being saved from?

The block Christians have had created in them from theological traditions is astounding. But this is what I saw decades ago and experimented with in teaching and on the street (so to speak).

Although many had been taught the tense-based language of Scripture re Salvation - were saved - are being saved - will be saved - and said they understood it, they were stuck on 'were saved' and wanted to argue clear language like Phil2:12. Same on this thread. Actually, the same on all repetitive threads I've seen on this topic. Also, many have never been taught how salvation is spoken of in many ways on the Text and adamantly call the tense reality heretical.

I'm willing to discuss Eternal Security with all sides using Scripture and not constructs. It would be nice to find resolution, whatever is the Truth. I for one think it'll take everyone letting go a bit and realizing others have a piece of it we don't.

Let me ask you a hypothetical question: What if I said I see assurance and never believed and apostasy in the Text? Do you think you'd be able to take me through the Text and clearly and accurately explain any error apart from carrying presupposition into the Text - a.k.a. eisegesis?
 
Jan 27, 2025
554
149
43
Since you fear working any deeper in John6 and Phil2 and attempt to cover with dumb accusations your fear and inability to understand what I've said about those verses, I'll give you the same answers from a different angle:

Assuming you're not a Christian, then you need to work to hear and learn God's Good News that Jesus is the Christ and know what "Christ" means, so you can believe what God teaches and be in submission to Him and to His Son Jesus Christ whom He sent and be given the gift of salvation and eternal life. Prior to this I'd likely also want to discuss Rom1 and see where you are with acceptance or rejection of the knowledge of God which He gave you about Himself.

Assuming you are a Christian created for good works, then you have to be working with God in the Salvation Process as He commands His Children to do.

Then we discuss such things as believed vs. never believed, and security and wages and rewards vs. apostasy. And so on...
It’s a mess having to unravel a mess…they will take you on a never ending trail that leads to nothing…all to believe error and lies…
 
Jan 27, 2025
554
149
43
So if salvation is entirely of God’s and we don’t have a choice in the matter…then is it also entirely of God’s that He chooses hell for whoever He wants to go there and they have no choice in that as well?
 

studier

Well-known member
Apr 18, 2024
2,123
469
83
so a work is not obedience? Obedience is not a work?
Obedience is obedience and is directly correlated to faith in Rom10 and Heb3 at minimum. In Luke 17 Jesus taught that obedience is duty and expected as part of even miniscule faith. The resultant question should be what is rewarded, obedience or the work actually done in Faith-Obedience?

If you have the ability, then we can work this through the Text. We can actually look at it mostly in English until we get to Rom1 & 16 to discuss Paul's mission to the nations.
 

studier

Well-known member
Apr 18, 2024
2,123
469
83
The passage isn't talking about getting saved. It is talking about how we should live as those who have been saved. This is the plain meaning of the passage. Work out your salvation suggests that salvation has already been acquired and needs to adjusted to what God is doing.
You're the one putting "getting" into the discussion. Not me.

The language doesn't say "adjusted" it says "accomplished".
 

studier

Well-known member
Apr 18, 2024
2,123
469
83
There is a correlation of faith and works: faith begets works...Ephesians 2:8-10.
You mean a negative correlation, in 2:8-9 and then a positive correlation in 2:8 & 10, correct?

Isn't part of this discussion for some in this thread whether that positive correlation is realized and what if it's not?
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
21,184
7,252
113
63
You mean a negative correlation, in 2:8-9 and then a positive correlation in 2:8 & 10, correct?

Isn't part of this discussion for some in this thread whether that positive correlation is realized and what if it's not?
No. The correlation is in 1 direction. People get saved, they do the works prepared for them.
 

studier

Well-known member
Apr 18, 2024
2,123
469
83
No. The correlation is in 1 direction. People get saved, they do the works prepared for them.
Did you read 2:8-9 first that says that faith is in opposition to works? Isn't that what much of this thread topic is repetitively about? If you want to stick with the Text re: the correlation of faith and works, then you should probably stick with that Text and say faith and good works...
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
21,184
7,252
113
63
Did you read 2:8-9 first that says that faith is in opposition to works? Isn't that what much of this thread topic is repetitively about? If you want to stick with the Text re: the correlation of faith and works, then you should probably stick with that Text and say faith and good works...
Have a nice day. Grace and peace.