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Q&A Table of contents: Can
Christians lose their salvation? Can Christians lose their salvation? The following is a summary from the Systematic Theology by Wayne
Grudem: Chapter 40. P.788-806. It pretty long and there's no way I
can strink it. - Stella There are many passages explain that those who are truly born again, who are genuinely Christians, will continue in the Christian life until death and will then go to be with Christ in heaven. Jesus says in John 6:38-40: "I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the
will of him who sent me; and this is the will of him who sent me,
that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise
it up at the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone
who sees the Son and Other verses also support for those who follow Jesus and to who has given eternal life, will not lose their salvation or be separated from Christ. Read John 10:27-29, Roman 8:1, Eph 1:13-14 and Phil 1:6. However, if people stop trusting in Christ and obeying him, they
have no genuine assurance of salvation. They should turn to Christ
in repentence and ask him for forgiveness of their sins. In the book
of Hebrews (read Heb 2:3; 3:8, 12, 14-15; 4:1, 7, 11; 10:26, 29, 35-36,
38-39; 12:3, 15-17), the author warns that people have participated
in the fellowship of the church
Question for folks: 2. If the Holy Spirit is genuinely at work in our lives, he will be producing the kind of character traits by the Holy Spirit (i.e. love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control), so, are these things a general characteristics of your life? Do you sense these attitudes in your heart? Do others (esp. those who are closest to you) see these traits exhibited in your life? Have you been growing in them over a period of years? 3. If you have doubts about whether you are truly born again, what is it in your life that is giving reason for those doubts? Do you think that Jesus now knows about your doubts and understands them? What do you think he would like you to do now to gain greater assurance of salvation? (Read 2 Peter 1:5-11; Matt 11:28-30; John 6:37)
I think Paul is very clear about sexual sin as sinning against the body, however, I do not think that there is greater sin per se. 1 Cor 6:18-20 speaks of sin against the body is sin against the temple of God, because the Holy Spirit is in us. This speaks of taking care not to unite our bodies with immorality. So there is a different way of looking at sin, but not really a “gradation”.
What
about the unpardonable sin? This verse: Mark 2:29 "But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be
forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin, has brought on debates of
the unforgivable sin. I think we need to take into context how and
when Jesus spoke these words. He was being attacked and they were
saying that He was using the power of the devil to cast out devils.
To us it sounds funny, and Jesus speaks and says that every sin will
be forgiven except the blasphemy which means to detract, or slander
the Holy Spirit will not be pardoned." Is there a gradation of sin, the answer is the when it comes to sin in life there is none. Rom 3:23 speaks of sin, and all have sinned and fallen short. Rom 6:23 speaks of all sin punishable by death. However the sin that Jesus speaks of in Matt 12:31, Lk 12:10, and Mark 2:29 speaks of giving power of the Holy Spirit to God ascribing power of God to the enemy, not even believing. We know that in order for us to have salvation we must believe in God, and that Christ could save us, but blasphemy of the Holy Spirit dictates that we do not believe that. Therefore, the person will not be saved, therefore not forgiven.
Christ paid our debt, but we are called to "carry our cross". How do we reconcile this? The two are not necessarily opposing thoughts. Read Matthew 10:16-42
(v.38 being the taking up the cross verse. Jesus is talking about
how this world is against us and how we need to be willing to sacrifice
everything (even our own families) for the cause of Christ. See Matthew Henry's commentary: http://bible.crosswalk.com/Commentaries/MatthewHenryComplete/mhc-com.cgi?book=mt&chapter=010
Could
God have created the perfect lamb (sacrifice) to take the place of
Jesus? (A substitute substitute) Christ IS the perfect lamb (See verses below). Could God have? Yes, but God in his Sovereignty (of God, His absolute
right to do all things according to his own good pleasure) chose to
have Jesus be the lamb. But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being
fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. He was oppressed and He was afflicted , Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth. (Isaiah 53:5-7)
What does it mean to have "treasures in heaven"? Are we all equal in heaven? Different Classes? For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it, for no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive
a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself
will be saved, yet so as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3:9-15) Implies
rewards based on our works.
Can the O.T. method of sacrifices take away our "sin" in this day and age? Abraham said, "God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering , my son." So the two of them walked on together (Gen 22:8) The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29) ...and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. (1 John 2:2) In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10) Christ himself is the Lamb and the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. Question to ask: Why would you want a lamb if you can have Jesus?
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