GodsGrace
CF Ambassador
How about having a serious discussion?
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Desire to be a vessel of honor unto the Lord Jesus Christ?
Join For His Glory for a discussion on how
https://christianforums.net/threads/a-vessel-of-honor.110278/
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Taking the time to pray? Christ is the answer in times of need
https://christianforums.net/threads/psalm-70-1-save-me-o-god-lord-help-me-now.108509/
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Depending upon the Holy Spirit for all you do?
Read through the following study by Tenchi for more on this topic
https://christianforums.net/threads/without-the-holy-spirit-we-can-do-nothing.109419/
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How are famous preachers sometimes effected by sin?
Join Sola Scriptura for a discussion on the subject
https://christianforums.net/threads/anointed-preaching-teaching.109331/#post-1912042
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Some of the best NT verses threatening loss of salvation
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It is said that when we believe we are saved. Then in the Scripture you posted above, it says that some "receive the word with joy...believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away." In the context of this it seems to indicate that first, when they believed they were saved and second, one that has fallen away no longer believes and therefore is no longer saved. I have a difficult time understanding this any other way.
The reason I asked you this question is to prove my point.
You have never fallen away and you never will fall away.
Why?
Because you are OSAS.
GodsGrace
CF Ambassador
Doesn't matter if he ever did or not.
Jesus said it's possible.
Do you believe what Jesus said?
I DO believe that some persons that THINK they are born again are not.
I really dislike saying this because I've always believed it's up to God to make such a great decision...
However, from what I've been reading lately...some persons very clearly are not born of God and yet think they are.
When I was young, I believed. Then in my early 20's I stopped believing. I even went so far as to write an essay for a college course using the Bible as my source of reference when my topic was the inaccuracy of the Scriptures. Although the professor was not particularly keen on my choice of topics, he did inform me that it was well written and gave me a pretty high mark in the context of what our exercise was. I ridiculed believers for what I believed to be their foolishness and absurdity. I most definitely fell away. It wasn't until I was in my 50's that I came to my senses. I believe I am an example of a prodigal son.
ezra
Member
a true believer will come back to the lord ..just like the prodigal son
Did you became lost again? The shepherd does not leave his flock in the wilderness.
After the shepherd finds his sheep, he doesn't just leave them to perish in the wilderness.
No. The parable says, "
Matthew 18:14
So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
He goes before them, and he leads them out of the wilderness and into the kingdom.
John 10:4
When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
Jesus is our salvation. Can a man fall away from Jesus? Yes.
But believe does not mean saved. They are two different words. You can't just substitute one word for the other and make a sensible argument.
The parable says this man believes for a while. It doesn't say he is saved for a while.
Many believe for a while. The Jews who had believed in him now wanted to stone him.
31 Jesus then said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham, and have never been in bondage to any one. How is it that you say, ‘You will be made free’?”
34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, every one who commits sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not continue in the house for ever; the son continues for ever. 36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are descendants of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me, because my word finds no place in you. 38 I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.” John 8:31-38
They believed for a while. In this case they were not of God. They were of their father, the devil.
Given the example, can we say those who only believe for a while are saved? No.
But we might say those who only believe for a while are not of God, and so they were never saved.
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Why not remains for a while or abides for a while? Why must you believe he was saved for a while?
I'll tell you God doesn't save for a while.
I think it would be more accurate to say if a man is not rooted in love, he remains in Christ only for a while or he abides in Christ only for a while, and then he is broken off and burned.
GodsGrace
CF Ambassador
Not all do.
I know a couple that have never come back.
Jesus goes to find the lost lamb or sheep.
He has to WANT to go back. Jesus will not force anyone to be saved...it is our free will that allows us to be saved or lost.
GodsGrace
CF Ambassador
If the word BELIEVE has lost meaning...then how can we know we're saved??
What does this mean?
John 3:16 Jesus said:
16“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."
John 3:18 Jesus said:
“He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
There are other verses that say we are to believe in Jesus.
What does this mean to you?
GodsGrace
CF Ambassador
I must believe that some were saved for a while because that is what the bible teaches.
Luke 8:13 is Jesus Himself saying that someone believed for a while. If one believes, one is saved. This is what believe means. Jesus said:
13“Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away. "
Acts 16:30-31
30and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
A person who only believes for a while is not saved.
To be saved, a man must believe in the Lord and he must continue to believe in the Lord.
Paul said, "if you hold it fast - unless you believed in vain' meaning unless your believing was for nothing. 1 Cor. 15:1-2
Is it possible that believing can be for nothing? Yes. It's for nothing if the man falls away, as the parable says he is destined to do. His believing was in vain. It didn't do him any good.
A person can't be saved for a while because he only believes for a while, and he can't lose his salvation because he was never saved in the first place.
God's salvation is an everlasting salvation. He doesn't save for a while.
Isaiah 45:17
But Israel is saved by the Lord with everlasting salvation; you shall not be put to shame or confounded to all eternity.
To be saved, a man must believe in the Lord and he must continue to believe in the Lord.
Paul said, "if you hold it fast - unless you believed in vain' meaning unless your believing was for nothing. 1 Cor. 15:1-2
Is it possible that believing can be for nothing? Yes. It's for nothing if the man falls away, as the parable says he is destined to do. His believing was in vain. It didn't do him any good.
A person can't be saved for a while because he only believes for a while, and he can't lose his salvation because he was never saved in the first place.
God's salvation is an everlasting salvation. He doesn't save for a while.
Isaiah 45:17
But Israel is saved by the Lord with everlasting salvation; you shall not be put to shame or confounded to all eternity.