mutzrein said:
I believe this passage tells us that those who by faith receive the gospel and believe in Christ are sealed by the holy Spirit until the day of redemption. And this means that having been given the gift of life we have become the children of God.
But Ephesians also contains warning for these. It warns against: lying, sinning in anger, giving place to the devil, stealing, idleness, corrupt communication, grieving the holy Spirit, bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, malice, evil speaking, unforgiveness, fornication, uncleanness, covetousness, filthiness, jesting and makes this very sobering statement, “For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.â€Â
Now what do you suggest is the reason for such a warning, if those who are born again, are guaranteed salvation?
It is difficult to understand the position that a believer is in unless one understands what Paul is speaking of in Romans, and what John is speaking of in his writings.
Read the Scripture very carefully. Notice that flesh and blood do not inherit the Kingdom of God, nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Notice that have borne the image of the earthy (the natural body), and we shall bear the image of the heavenly. We, believers, shall all be changed from the fleshly, corrupt, earthy body, to a spiritual, incorrupt, heavenly body.
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:42-57
Those that have committed acts as you reveal in their fleshly, corrupt, earthy body awaiting their redemption will be resurrected incorrupt after being changed. That NEW CREATURE that resides within the corrupt, fleshly, earthy, natural man will one day be freed from ALL corruption, sin, death, etc.
Notice that John says that those that are born of God cannot sin.
9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 1 John 3:8
1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:1-2
Does this align with Scripture that says that those born of God are not to sin, but if they do, they they have an advocate in Jesus Christ, righteous; and it is Him that is the propitiation (appeasement) for our sins? Sure it does. All Scripture is truth and can be used for reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness so that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works (2 Timothy 3:16-17). When one understands what Paul is teaching in Romans 7 and Romans 8 about the sinful flesh and the righteous spirit, one can begin to understand the security that born of God believers have in their new permanent eternal life that has been coined as OSAS. It is easy to be a against a label that is not understood, but it is difficult to be against the Word of God.
Paul tells the Corinthians that any work that those born of God do of the fleshly, earthy, natural man (Old Man) will burn up as wood, hay, and stubble but that they will be saved through the fire; but any work that is done by the spiritual man (New Man) will remain through the fire as gold, silver, and precious stones.
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 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. 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 1 Corinthians 3:11-14
It took me four years in my young Christian walk to understand the teaching that a born of God, born again believer could not lose his/her salvation, but that being chastised in this life by God Almighty and the loss of rewards is the ramifications and consequences to sin. One who sins will be recompensed greatly, yet be saved as promised.
: