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I can tell you cut and pasted this from somewhere, I don't have the time to read it all. You seem to be talking out of both sides of your mouth, you say you are saved by grace through faith, but then you say that the faith has works. But let me mention this, some times people don't have any works, and they are still saved. It mentions carnal christians in romans. Eventually they will bear fruit, but they may not right away. I don't think assurance of salvation is technically there, logistically speaking. But they very well can be under grace. For example when you were first saved did you understand that you were not supposed to listen to secular music, or watch rated R movies? Or what about this, what about smoking. Someone who smokes are they saved? What if they are addicted to it? These are questions that you cannot answer, and this is why your view fails.I don't care what they believe. I care what the Bible says.
First, the Bible clearly teaches God's grace through faith + Works of faith = Salvation. I used to believe the lie of Belief Alone-ism until I studied God's Word to show myself approved on the matter. I am a Trinitarian Sola Scriptura non-denominational Christian. Belief Alone-ism is the ever growing popular belief. Yet, Jesus said narrow is the way (Matthew 7:14). Yet, most Trinitarian Sola Scriptura churches believe in Belief Alone-ism. Protestantism (that supports Sola Fide or Faith Alone) is the second largest Christian denomination (with 920 million adherents).
Second, many Eternal Security Proponents will say that works are a condition of being saved. But this is just a work around of saying that one needs works as a part of salvation. However, there are believers like George Sodini who are at least consistent in saying that works plays no part in a believer's salvation. George admits that Jesus saved him by his having a belief alone in Jesus despite his future declaration that he was going to kill a bunch of people, and besides his future declaration that he was going to take his own life (within his own suicide letter).
Check out this article here (to learn more):
George Sodini.
Young Christians have committed suicide because they believed they would be safe and secure in their salvation because of Once Saved Always Saved. Others have felt like they were enslaved to sin.
Ex OSAS Audio Testimonies:
Christian Testimonies | Former Eternal Security Proponents
Suicide & OSAS:
A tragic story of an OSAS believer.
A Pastor's Testimony on OSAS:
A testimony about OSAS by a Pastor's wife.
Hooked on Sin & OSAS:
Out Of Darkness NO Eternal Security Christian Testimony
More Suicide Victims and OSAS:
SUICIDE Commit Suicide Symptoms Suicidal Victims
It does not make it any better if a Christian says that they generally live a holy life, and yet they sin on occasion and they cannot help but to sin on occasion (and yet they are saved even when they sin on occasion). Justifying a lot of sin is no different than justifying a little bit of sin done every once in a while. Jesus said to those believers who thought they did wonderful works in his name to depart from Him because they worked iniquity or sin (See: Matthew 7:23). They were told to depart from Him because they did not know Him. 1 John 2:3 says that we can have an assurance in knowing the Lord if we find that we are keeping His commandments. 1 John 2:4 says that the person who says they know the Lord and does not keep His commandments is a liar and the truth is not in them.
Most do not understand that when they read Paul, they do realize that he was arguing against the heresy at that time (i.e. Circumcision Salvationism). This was the belief that taught that one had to first be circumcised in order to be initially and ultimately saved (Instead of placing faith in Jesus Christ as one's Savior and believing in His death and resurrection for salvation).
The heresy of Circumcision Salvationism was more accurately described in detail at the Jerusalem Counsel:
- Acts of the Apostles 15:1 says, “And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.”
- Acts of the Apostles 15:5 says, But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”
- Acts of the Apostles 15:24 says, “Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:”
Here are the verses by Paul that alludes to this heresy:
- Galatians 2:3 says, “But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:”
- Galatians 5:2 says, “Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.”
- Galatians 5:6 says, “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.”
- Galatians 6:15 (NLT) says, “It doesn't matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation.”
- 1 Corinthians 7:18-19 says, 18 For instance, a man who was circumcised before he became a believer should not try to reverse it. And the man who was uncircumcised when he became a believer should not be circumcised now. (NLT) 19 “Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God.” (NASB)
- Romans 2:28-29 says, “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”
- Romans 3:1 says, “What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?”
- Romans 4:9-12 says, ”9 “Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. 10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: 12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.”
- Acts of the Apostles 21:21 says, “And they are informed of you, that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.”
In other words, this is why Paul spoke in the way that he did. Paul was not arguing against the necessity of obedience to the commands of Jesus and His followers. Paul said if any man does not agree with the words of Jesus Christ, and the doctrine according to godliness, he is proud and he knows nothing (1 Timothy 6:3-4). Jesus agreed with the lawyer on the truth that we must love God and love our neighbor as a part of inheriting eternal life (Luke 10:25-28). In Matthew 19:17-19, Jesus said to the rich young ruler, "if you will enter into life, keep the commandments"; This was in context to the Moral Law (like: Do not murder, do not covet, do not steal, etc.). Jesus says if you love me, keep my commandments (John 14:15). Paul says if any man loves not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed (1 Corinthians 16:22). Paul said we can deny God by a lack of works (Titus 1:16). Paul says if we live one way (towards sin) we are going to die, but if we put away our sin (via the Spirit) we will live (i.e. have eternal life) (See Romans 8:13).
Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”
Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
John 6:28
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