Today, Scripture points are shared on apostasy (falling away), backsliding, and whether Christian believers can lose their salvation. Ngwa Emileo, who participates with me in THE BIBLE STUDY GROUP (a Public Group on Facebook presently having 19,590 members), invited discussion by sharing a presentation that included the following at about 1:53pm on August 31, 2015:
Can Someone Lost His/her Salvation?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work. (2nd Thessalonians 2: 7-17, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Repentance, Sin and Willpower (09/08/2015); Relationship With Our Creator? (03/16/2015); Sinless Until Advent? (11/05/2014); Holy Wars? (11/06/2014); Looking Ahead (01/04/2014); The Backslider (09/13/2012); What He Died For (09/14/2012)
Ngwa Emileo, as those who believe that GOD has provided atonement and propitiation for sin through Jesus Christ, the Son of the Highest, we are now in an intimate and personal relationship with divinity through promises and sacred utterance (e.g., confession, counsels and guidance, divine law, praise, prayer, proclamation, and prophecy). The word of GOD is operating through, upon and within the makeup and spirit content of the believer gradually establishing permanent changes in their character and nature. We may say, there has been an adoption through the Spirit, and we now are become sons and daughters of GOD. Similarly, where we are born again through baptism, by operations of the Holy Spirit, believers acquire sacred knowledge, grow, learn, live lives of repentance, become mature, are made ripe for harvesting from the earth, and finally are fully perfected transformed at the Rapture. Our confidence that this salvation is certain, eternal, and reliable stems from faith and other inseparable aspects from the makeup of divinity. Included are forbearance, holiness, humility, joy, love, wisdom, and wrath against sin. The integrity, righteousness and truthfulness of GOD make it that our salvation is secure; however, human infirmity, inconsistency, irregularity and unbelief caution us against presumption. Many will lose their place through apostasy (we say, falling away; losing interest) and backsliding. Consider the following assurances shared within the Holy Bible:
(1.) 2nd Peter 1: 2-4, King James Version (KJV): 2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
(2.) Luke 8: 11-15, KJV: 11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. 13 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. 14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. 15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
(3.) John 12: 24-26, KJV: 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
(4.) 1st Timothy 4: 1-5, KJV: 1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: 5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
(5.) Hebrews 6: 4-8, KJV: 4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. 7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: 8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
(6.) Galatians 6: 8-10, KJV: 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
There are many other points that should be carefully considered, correctly understood, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (7.) Romans 8: 5-9, KJV: 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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