Pressing on!

quietbloke said:

Why do we press on?

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So we don't fall back.

There is no other way, I think of Pilgrim's progress. We are all on the same journey.

We press on because Phillipians 3:14-16 tells us to "press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus".

There are some people in my church who believe that once we are saved, we are always saved, and that salvation requires no effort on our part. The view is that because we are predestined, nothing can pluck us out of the Lord's hands. As we are chosen, then we are eternally secure.

There are others in my church who take a different view. They will state that believers have the freewill to choose whether or not they will continue abide in Christ, that we have to choose to take up our cross daily and follow Him, that any tree that does not bear fruit will be cut down. Some Christians believe that some serious sins, particularly "mortal" sins, if not repented of, will result in the believer falling from a state of grace.

I do believe that once we become Christians, the Lord does not give up on us that easily. He is very faithful to us and when we fall into sin, He picks us up and encourages us to walk on with Him. Whether we are pre-destined to have faith, I do not really know for certain although my church officially and historically placed a major emphasis on this doctrine in its 39 Articles. All I do know for certain is that I have strayed from the path many times and have always felt the Lord bringing me back on track.

We are definitely NOT predestined to have faith. If that was true, Adam and Eve would not have sinned. I would expect them to have faith and obey God. Everyone has a choice if given the opportunity to learn all about our Trinitarian God. The Lord will not forsake us; Scripture says so. But we can walk away from the Lord. I have read about Christians converting to Islam and Native American religions. Of course God does not support this. He wants all of us to be Christians forever. But He does not force anyone to remain one. That would be taking away our free will, which is not love.

Hi ChristianForCats
You've made some great points here. I accept predestination to some extent, but agree that God has given us freewill. So I guess I'd go partly with Calvinism and partly with Arminianism, but I do have problems with the more extreme versions of both theologies.
As long as we remain close to Jesus and keep pressing on, I am sure we will do well

Anthony2019 said:

You've made some great points here. I accept predestination to some extent, but agree that God has given us freewill. So I guess I'd go partly with Calvinism and partly with Arminianism, but I do have problems with the more extreme versions of both theologies.

As long as we remain close to Jesus and keep pressing on, I am sure we will do well.

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I don't know about those denominations. Are you still Anglican?

ChristianForCats said:

I don't know about those denominations. Are you still Anglican?

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Hi ChristianforCats
Arminianism and Calvinism are not denominations, but theological traditions named after Jacobus Arminius and John Calvin. Arminianism suggests that grace that can be resisted, whereas Calvinism believes in irresistible grace and the perseverance of the saints.

Pilgrims on The Way...
Ever onward, until we reach the heavenly city