Ron
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question about Cor. 15:1-3 and more... - 2008/04/09 05:14
Hello Grace Project!! My name is Ron Wallace and live in Ohio USA, my wife and I have been following the Grace Walk movement for a while now and for the first time feel truely closer to God, sermons and studies we have listened to from this site and many other wonderful people and sites have helped my wife and I in countless ways and we are truely grateful to the Lord for you all. I have recently come across an individuals web site who seemed to be grace centered but I was unsure from a couple of statements, so I sent him the following question to be sure.......
Hello Dennis,
I have read several of your letters and had a look at your website and read many of the items you have. I must say I do like and find myself in nearly complete agreeance with what you have to say, however, after reading I must ask you if you take the typical AG stance on the ability of the believer to lose their salvation. I have attended Assembly of God churches most of my life and have found that sentiment to be dominant.
Ron Wallace
Today I recieved this response and it really made us wonder, my wife and I were hoping that someone may have some sort of insight on these verses and the article that he wrote and sent along with his reply. I have listed both below. Thanks.
Hi Ron,
I am what you might call, Christ posative. I am not really typical Assembly of God.
I do beleive in Eternal Security, however, there is no such thing as Unconditional Eternal Security.
1 Cor. 15:1-3 lays to rest the idea that we can get saved and then just forget about what Christ did for us and live our lives any way the flesh may lead.
Actually, to be more precisely to point of which you are asking; no, I do not believe we have to worry about losing our salvation. However, it is possible to lay it down, through unbelief.
The following is a small Commentary which will soon be added to the itsallinchrist website. I think it may be helpful.
EVIL HEART
Take heed Brethren, lest there be in any of you an EVIL HEART OF UNBELIEF, in departing from the Living God (Hebrews 3:12).
I have wondered many times; why would any body depart from God and His Christ. Sadly, I will tell you that I was once one of those who had departed from God. Even so, this being the case it is still sometimes difficult to imagine someone departing from God and what he has promised us: and why would someone do this? There is nothing else worth our time, our life, and our living.
Looking back on my own experience, I do not believe that most people actually start out with the idea in mind, "I am going to now depart from the Lord." The works of the evil one are more subtle than that. Indeed most Christians start out after salvation, doing their best and trying to serve God. They know they have been saved and now they want nothing more than to do what Jesus would have them to do.
So why then does this departing from the Living God seem to happen so often? Why do people who are truly saved and desire to serve the Lord, stop trying to serve the Lord and go back to serving their own flesh? Is this a big mystery which we can in no wise understand? Is the Devil so powerful that these people simply have no choice in the matter?
UNBELIEF
Part of the answer is found in Hebrews 3:12. It is UNBELIEF. Actually this scripture says, "an EVIL heart of unbelief." Why is a heart of unbelief so evil? Simply because it is this unbelieving heart which causes people to depart from the Living God.
In verse 8 he talks about the Israelites forfathers hardening their hearts, AS IN THE PROVOCATION. This pertains to when the Israelites would not take the Promised Land. They simply would not cross over and drive out the inhabitants as the Angel of the Lord went before them. Why? Because they did not believe God would actually drive out the inhabitants of the land. They refused to believe the right thing and decided to believe the wrong thing.
That which brings Redemption from sin, Justification, and the Righteousness of Christ, "Is Belief." Belief that what Jesus Christ did on the Cross was done for the express purpose of providing us said Redemption from sin, Justification, and His Righteousness (I say HIS Righteousness because that is actually the only Righteousness there is). When we Believe in our heart that Christ has shed his Blood and gave his Life and was then risen from the dead, then we are given Redemption from sin, Justification, and the Righteousness of Christ. It is a gift which comes through our Faith in what Jesus Christ has accomplished for us.
WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?
The problem I believe is in our getting sidetracked. Just what do I mean by this?
As I said, I believe most every Christian starts out with a desire to serve the Lord, a desire to understand His word, and a desire to Praise and have Communion with God.
However, as we paddle our boat through the waters of life trying to navigate the rocks in the waters of life and various waterfalls which may come up, we may become so attentive to what we see in the water that we forget that Jesus Christ is, "The very Boat we are riding in." We must always keep our attention on the Boat, for it is only by riding in this Boat that we have any hope of being rescued from the rocks and the rapids of the water. In other words, as severe as the elements outside the Boat may be; however bad or harsh the current; or no matter how rocky the river may be; the Boat (which is Christ) is the only thing which stands between you and utter disaster. The most important relationship you have is between you and the Boat, i. e. Jesus Christ. When we take our eyes off Jesus Christ, we WILL be overtaken by the cares of this life.
REMEDY
Thank Jesus Christ every day (several times a day would be even better) for giving his life for you on that Cruel Cross. For even though you have been saved, you still need a savior. Just as if you were drowning in that river, and had been rescued, being pulled into the boat; you would now cling to the boat for you know the boat is the only thing which stands between life and death. Even so, cling to Jesus Christ for He is who stands between eternal life and eternal death.
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Mandy
