way of the master

Just came across this post and thought I would give my two cents. This is a hypothetical situation but could easily be true.
I have been born again, born of the Spirit of God. Seeked Him, walked with Him, and lived my life the best I could according to His word. Then situations and circumstances came into my life and I became bitter towards God, rebelled and slid away form Him. During this bitterness I decided I was going to lead everyone I could far from the truth. Including my own kids who were too young to know any better and I had there full trust. So I decieved them as they were young into believeng "there is no God". I did not shine the light and was in no way the salt of the earth. Anyone who came in contact with me would have no inclination that God exists. For I purposely steered those I could away from the truth. But I am eternally secure so I had no worries in that area. Once saved always saved.
Now here are a few question to consider. Was Lucifer eternally secure? Were Adam and Eve eternally secure after eating the forbidden fruit? I dont think so. So what makes us think we are? God's Word? Here are just a few verses I found

James 5:19-20
19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

Galatians 6:8
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Romans 8:13
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Galatians 5:19-21
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

John 15:6
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

2 Peter 2:20-21
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. 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.

Those are just a few, here are more to check out. Ezek 18:24-26, Luke 9:62, Heb 10: 26-32, Heb 12:14, Matt 7:21, 1 Cor. 10:21, James 4:4, Isa. 7:9, 1 John 14:21, Titus 1:16, 2 Tim 2:19, 1 John 5:4, Heb 10:39, Matt 7:13-14, Luke 6:46, Matt 5:48, John 14:15

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.



I asked Jesus "How much do you love me?" He answered "This much". Then He stretched out His arms and died for me.

If you have everything but Jesus, you have nothing. If you have nothing but Jesus, you have everything.

Have you given much thought to where you are going to spend eternity?

Found this verse to add to the ones in previous post.


Hebrews 6:4-6
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

"Imposssible", pretty strong word

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.



I asked Jesus "How much do you love me?" He answered "This much". Then He stretched out His arms and died for me.

If you have everything but Jesus, you have nothing. If you have nothing but Jesus, you have everything.

Have you given much thought to where you are going to spend eternity?

The scripture you quoted is in reference to born again Christians returning to the Temple (and the Law) in an attempt to avoid persecution for their faith in Christ.

Here's one that speaks of our security in Christ.


John 10:28-29 (Amplified Bible)

28) And I give them eternal life, and they shall never lose it or perish throughout the ages. [To all eternity they shall never by any means be destroyed.] And no one is able to snatch them out of My hand.

29) My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater and mightier than all [else]; and no one is able to snatch [them] out of the Father's hand.

Originally Posted by Mister_Al

The scripture you quoted is in reference to born again Christians returning to the Temple (and the Law) in an attempt to avoid persecution for their faith in Christ.

Here's one that speaks of our security in Christ.


John 10:28-29 (Amplified Bible)

28) And I give them eternal life, and they shall never lose it or perish throughout the ages. [To all eternity they shall never by any means be destroyed.] And no one is able to snatch them out of My hand.

29) My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater and mightier than all [else]; and no one is able to snatch [them] out of the Father's hand.

wrong... it was far worse during that time period to be any where near the temple.

__________________
Since the Torah is a finite book expressing the will of an infinite God, many lessons must be derivable from each passage from all the infinite angles.

During that period of time Christians were being killed for their faith. So, some were tempted to quit meeting with the Church and to return to the Temple (and the Law) to save their lives, as well as the lives of their families. The writer of the book of Hebrews not only warned them against departing from their faith (Hebrews Chapter 6), but also encouraged the Church to continue meeting together and helping each other to be strong in their faith in Jesus.


Hebrews 10:23-25 (Amplified Bible)

23) So let us seize and hold fast and retain without wavering the hope we cherish and confess and our acknowledgement of it, for He Who promised is reliable (sure) and faithful to His word.

24) And let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds and noble activities,

25) Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.

Blessings,

Alan

What exactly is WOTMs view on regeneration (born-again)? Does it come before repentance and faith, or after? I seem to recall Ray saying that once you repent and trust Christ, that God will give you a new heart. That is wrong and caused me a lot of grief, and I will try to explain why.

Ray Comfort asserts that salvation is possible for every single person, numerous times in his Evidence Bible. He is curiously silent on Romans 9.

If regeneration is an act of God which comes before repentance and faith, and not everyone who knows the gospel is saved, what gives? A regenerate person repents and trusts Christ; an unregenerate person does not. Regeneration is not up to a decision you make. Ray is in effect still trying to get 'decisions for Christ', which is what he is supposedly against.

If God has his elect, how can salvation be possible for every person unless God chooses to regenerate every person who hears the gospel? Regeneration is essential.

I must say I think WOTM is tainted with semi-pelagianism and so long as salvation is dependant on your repentance and faith, then that is salvation by works, unless you are willing to drop the idea that salvation is possible for every person and that regeneration follows repentance and faith.

Ray says very little about predestination and election. I wish he would. It seems that he says regeneration is a work of God on the one hand, but implies that we enter into salvation by a free will choice on the other.


All that aside, I financially support Living Waters and pray that God will bless Ray Comfort and his ministry, even though I think his gospel presentation is a bit off.

__________________
Either Jesus - the eternal son of God - pays for your sin on that cross... or you will pay in hell forever. Trust Christ and turn from sin.