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A Question Answered
Q.
I stumbled upon your site and have begun to read some of your
lessons and poetry. I am not in agreement with your teachings about
salvation but will try to keep an open mind as I dig deeper into
what you are teaching. I have trouble believing that someone can be
"saved" and yet revert to worldly ways and still be saved. Which
lessons would you advise me to cover first?
ANSWER:
The Apostle Paul gave a very clear definition of God’s plan of
Salvation in the Ephesian letter;
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
He emphasized this principle in the Roman letter;
Rom 4:1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as
pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
Rom 4:2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof
to glory; but not before God.
Rom 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it
was counted unto him for righteousness.
Rom 4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace,
but of debt.
Rom 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that
justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
In the eleventh chapter he emphasizes that it cannot be
a mixture but must either be of Grace or of works but that the two
cannot be mixed.
Rom 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works:
otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it
no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
He reasons that if works saves man, then God OWES him. This
would put God in debt to man.
Now to answer the part of your question that seems to most bother
many. How can a ‘saved’ individual revert to worldly ways and still
be saved?
1. Was he really saved? Many make false professions.
Mat 15:7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
Mat 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and
honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
2. If he was born again he will be punished for a life that
discredits his savior.
Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth
every son whom he receiveth.
Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons;
for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Heb 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are
partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
3. A false profession will manifest itself.
2 Pet 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the
world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is
worse with them than the beginning.
2 Pet 2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way
of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the
holy commandment delivered unto them.
2 Pet 2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true
proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that
was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
4.Those who are truly born again and still waste their lives
will suffer great loss but not that of the eternal soul.
1 Cor 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is
laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1 Cor 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver,
precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
1 Cor 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day
shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire
shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
1 Cor 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he
shall receive a reward.
1 Cor 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss:
but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
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