Hi Michael, nice to see you. Some comments for consideration below.
I tend to say "Born again" instead of saved, that way it's less like a hall pass, and more like an actual change of person.
1) No, it would be the bad news if that were the case. Those who are born again remain born again, they do no go back to being unborn again.
Where does it say in the scriptures someone that someone that is born again cannot return to a life of sin? Born again is a metaphore to a new life in the Spirit living and working through us. If we grieve God's Spirit and it departs from us *EPHESIANS 4:30; 1 THESSAOLONIANS 5:19 then we are living in the flesh (old man and sin). We need to walk in the Spirit not to fulfill the lusts of the flesh *GALATIANS 5:16. Without JESUS we can do nothing *JOHN 15:5. The scriptures teach all through the OLD and NEW Testament that if we return to a life of sin we can indeed lose salvation
MATTHEW 7:21-23 [21], NOT EVERYONE THAT SAYS TO ME LORD. LORD SHALL ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN BUT HE THAT DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER IN HEAVEN. [22],Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works? [23], And THEN I WILL PROFESS TO THEM, I NEVER KNEW YOU DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO WORK INIQUITY (sin).
The scriptures here are the words of JESUS that say those who work sin will
not enter into God's Kingdom and the reason they did not enter into God's KINGDOM was because they made an occupation (practice) of working sin. These are the words of JESUS brother they are not mine.
We can link also link v23 on NOT KNOWING God to
1 JOHN 2:3-4. How do we know if we KNOW God?
1 JOHN 2:3-4 [3], And HEREBY WE KNOW THAT WE KNOW HIM, IF WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS.[4], He that says, I know him, and keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
Keeping God's Commandments is linked here to KNOWING God. Keeping Gods Commandments is the opposite of sin which is breaking them *
1 JOHN 3:4. God's saints are also described as KEEPING the commandments of God *
REVELATION 12:17;
REVELATION 14:12;
REVELATION 22:14.
This also links and agrees to
1 JOHN 3:6 [6], Whoever stays in him sins not: whoever sins has not seen him, neither known him.
Now notice in
MATTHEW 7:21-23 the reason those people were not allowed into the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN was because they were practicing SIN and by practicing SIN did not KNOW GOD. Here JOHN in
1 JOHN 2:3-4 and repeated in
1 JOHN 3:6 is saying the same thing those who practice SIN (break anyone of God's 10 commandments;
1 JOHN 3:4)
do not KNOW God. This is the difference between the Children of God and the Children of the Devil *
1 JOHN 3:3-10. Those who are BORN AGAIN to KNOW God do not practice sin *
1 JOHN 3:9.
According to JESUS if we CONTINUE in KNOWN UNREPENTANT SIN we do not KNOW God and will not enter into the KINGDOM of HEAVEN *
MATTHEW 7:21-23.
HEBREWS 6:4-8 [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,
Who are we talking about here; BELIEVERS of UNBELIEVERS? Were these BELIEVERS Born again christians
1. Having been enlightened v4;
2. Having tasted of the Heavenly gift v4;
3. Having been made partakers of the Holy Ghost v5;
4. Having tasted of the good Word of God v4;
5. Having tasted of the power of the world to come v5
[6],
If they shall fall away, to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Yep, BELIEVERS having fallen away from the HEAVENLY gift back into sin..
[7], For the earth which drinks in the rain that comes oft on it, and brings forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receives blessing from God:
[8], But that which bears thorns and briers is rejected, and is near to cursing; whose end is to be burned.
Yep thier end is to be burned does not sound like they will be going into God's Kingdom not having any REPENTANCE for sin (v6).
HEBREWS 10:26-27 [26], FOR IF WE SIN WILLFULLY AFTER THAT WE RECEIVE A KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH, THERE REMAINS NO MORE SACRIFICE FOR SINS, [27], But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
Yep seems like those who CONTINUE in KNOWN UNREPENTANT SIN are God's Adversaries who will receive the judgments of God. Do you think these people will enter into God's Kingdom?
1 JOHN 3:3-10 [3], And every man that has this hope in him
purifies himself, even as he is pure. [4], Whoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for
sin is the transgression of the law. [5], And you know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. [6],
Whoever abides in him sins not: whoever sins has not seen him, neither known him. [7], Little children,
let no man deceive you: he that does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. [8],
He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. [9],
Whoever is born of God does not commit sin; for his
seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. [10],
In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whoever does not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loves not his brother.
Note the key sections above and the difference between the children of God and the children of the devil. According to JESUS the Children of the Devil will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven *
MATTHEW 7:21-23. So what is the difference between the children of God and the children of the devil?
THE CHILDREN OF GOD IN 1 JOHN 3:3-10?
1. Purify themselves as JESUS is pure v3 - BLESSED are the PURE in HEART for they shall see God *
MATTHEW 5:8
2. SIN is breaking anyone of God's Commandments they do not practice breaking it v4
3. They ABIDE in CHRIST (the Word) and SIN NOT v6
4. They are not deceived and do RIGHTOUESNESS even as JESUS is RIGHTEOUS and by doing so are RIGHTESOUS (the fruit of faith and walking in the Spirit) v7 *
GALATIANS 5:16
5. They are BORN OF GOD and do not practice sin v9
6. They do not practice sin because God's WORD (the seed *
LUKE 8:11) remains in them v9
7. They do righteousness because God works in them because they have FAITH in his Word v10.
THE CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL IN 1 JOHN 3:3-10?
1. They do not purify themselves as JESUS is pure and will not see God v3 *
MATTHEW 5:8
2. They break God's Commandments and are DISOBEDIENT and do not FOLLOW God v4
3. They do not ABIDE in CHRIST (the Word) and practice sin and because they practice sin they do not KNOW God v6
4. They are deceived and
do not practice RIGHTOUESNESS as JESUS is RIGHTEOUS v7 therefore the children of the Devil are UNRIGHTEOUS.
5. They practice know unrepentant sin therefore are the children of the Devil v8-9
6. God's WORD does not remain in them (the seed) and they are not Born of God v9
...........
CONCULSION: SIN or breaking any one of God's Commandments is the difference between the children of God and the Children of the devil v10
...........
1 CORINTHIANS 6:9-10 [9], KNOW YOU NOT THAT THE
UNRIGHTEOUS SHALL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, [10], Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortionists, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Yep once again seem like those who CONTINUE in KNOWN UNREPENTANT SIN will not inherit the KINGDOM of HEAVEN.
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, jealousies, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, [21], Contentions, murders, drunkenness, revelings, 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.
EPHESIANS 5:1-6 [1], Be you therefore followers of God, as dear children; [2], And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us, and has given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling smell. [3], But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becomes saints; [4], Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. [5], For this you know, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, HAS ANY INHERITANCE IN THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST AND OF GOD. [6], LET KNOW MAN DECEIVE YOU WITH VAIN WORDS; FOR BECAUSE OF THESE THINGS COMES THE WRATH OF GOD ON THE CHILDREN OF DISOBEDIENCE .
COLOSSIANS 3:5-6 [5], Mortify therefore your members which are on the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
[6], FOR WHICH THINGS SAKE THE WRATH OF GOD COMES ON THE CHILDREN OF DISOBEDIENCE.
There is more scriptures happy to provide more brother just let me know. Now do you still believe that those who CONTINUE in KNOWN UNREPENTANT SIN will enter the KINGDOM of HEAVEN? Seems like a lot more scripture then a single one as you claim disagrees with you.
Now brother if you disagree with the scriptures posted it is between you and God. I do not judge you. As posted earlier these are Gods' WORD not mine.
If you disagree, maybe you can show us the scriptures that say all those who continue in known unrepentant sin will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven? If you cannot find such a scriptures then will you believe God's WORD that has been provided here?
From the context, I see the correct quote is "endure to the end" and the general context indicates it's more about love than faith. Since love is matured or made perfect in us so we can have boldness on the day of judgment ...
God's Word is written for God's people. Enduring to the end is in reference to our Christian walk and has two applications. The end meaning our time on earth here being over which is is death or the 2nd coming. We cannot love because we do not have love in us *JOHN 5:42 This is the reason we need to be born again through faith to have a new heart in order to LOVE and follow God's Word *HEBREWS 8:10-12; EZEKIEL 18:30-32; ROMANS 10:17; EZEKIEL 11:19-21; EZEKIEL 36:22-27.
Blessings