What Can Separate Us From The Love Of God?

HTacianas said:

A strict reading of the new testament has it that once a person falls away from the faith he cannot return.

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When you say a strict reading of the New Testament I take it you mean Hebrews 6:4-8 in particular?

If a Christian who has sinned grievously and wants to return is there any hope for him? Bear in mind that King David sinned grievously and was restored and also the Man in 1 Corinthians 5:1-5 who's flesh was destroyed so that his spirit may be saved - I'm assuming because he will repent after being subject to hardships brought on by his sin.

Let's say a Christian who has been born of the spirit and ends up back in a life of sin, will such a person lose the Holy Spirit or will they be subject to discipline so they put to death their carnal ways and live in the spirit as God intended?

Paulus59 said:

When you say a strict reading of the New Testament I take it you mean Hebrews 6:4-8 in particular?

If a Christian who has sinned grievously and wants to return is there any hope for him? Bear in mind that King David sinned grievously and was restored and also the Man in 1 Corinthians 5:1-5 who's flesh was destroyed so that his spirit may be saved - I'm assuming because he will repent after being subject to hardships brought on by his sin.

Let's say a Christian who has been born of the spirit and ends up back in a life of sin, will such a person lose the Holy Spirit or will they be subject to discipline so they put to death their carnal ways and live in the spirit as God intended?

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In both the case of David as well as the "discrepant Corinthian" it seems that their sin was revealed to them afterwards. They had both "lost their minds" so to speak and did something without thinking it through. Paul said to the Corinthians, as if to say "wake up!":

1Co 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.

Paul then forgave him both as a person and in his position as an apostle.

David lamented for a time over his sins and begged forgiveness. That was the only thing he could do. There is no atonement for mortal sin under the law of Moses. In the case of the Corinthian, to "hand over to Satan" was to turn him over to the authorities to be flogged for sexual immorality as a form of penance.

FineLinen said:

NOTHING!

1. Not death.
   
   
2. Not life.
   
   
3. Not angels.
   
   
4. Not powers.
   
   
5. Not the present/ not the future.
   
   
6. No power.

ouden= NOTHING

Romans 8:38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers

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For those who walk by the Spirit.

Universalism comes when constraints are not mentioned, because too many love the positive without the cross.

The cross for some is just a gate, a means to an end and not sacrifice and cost, a song of praise and worship in all we do. Amen.

FineLinen said:

NOTHING!

1. Not death.
   
   
2. Not life.
   
   
3. Not angels.
   
   
4. Not powers.
   
   
5. Not the present/ not the future.
   
   
6. No power.

ouden= NOTHING

Romans 8:38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers

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You realize Paul is talking about those who are in Christ, the saved ones?

FineLinen said:

NOTHING!

1. Not death.
   
   
2. Not life.
   
   
3. Not angels.
   
   
4. Not powers.
   
   
5. Not the present/ not the future.
   
   
6. No power.

ouden= NOTHING

Romans 8:38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers

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many have pointed this out already: the "us" is the crux of the matter.
Let's see who that is: Romans 8:36 As it is written: "For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
so those who are in danger to be slaughtered, they are included.

FineLinen said:

Our Father has one purpose for every one of us, to bring us to the end of ourselves,

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yes, but he respects a "no". That's free will.

BTW I hate universalism. It's at the expense of the former victims. Why should a loving God force the victims, Christ in particular, to be together with their former perpetrators for all eternities.
Now that you are advocating universal access to heaven: You can stay together with all violent killers for all eternities, if you want... but let the Christians depart to a safe heaven in which neither rape nor theft nor slander talk and many more crimes could be found.
Thomas

FineLinen said:

What does nothing mean in English?

Nothing=

Not anything/ naught.

No part/ share/ trace.

Something that is non-existent.

As an adverb=

No respect or degree/ not at all.

As an adjective=

Amounting to nothing.

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Is there anything that can separate us from God?

FineLinen said:

The glorious love of the Glorious God extends to the entire lost and broken vessels of brokedness, us & them!

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yes he invites them all. When they say "yes, Jesus Christ is Lord" - then ok. The rest...

FineLinen said:

My friend Our God has a wonderful way of making every last one of us say yes to Him. It is called at-one-ment and flows from His thelo draw.

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his ways are wonderful indeed. When he displayed his wonderful ways to the Israelites, for example...
they all said yes to him, indeed.
And then, later, they worshipped other gods.

NO to universalism please. Despite the eye candy.

FineLinen said:

Charles: You are not paying attention.

NOTHING!

1. Not death.
   
   
2. Not life.
   
   
3. Not angels.
   
   
4. Not powers.
   
   
5. Not the present/ not the future.
   
   
6. No power.

ouden= NOTHING

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Isaiah 59:2
"But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear."

God's love does not stop judgement. He will only hear repentance from the sinner.

FineLinen said:

Charles: You are not paying attention.

NOTHING!

1. Not death.
   
   
2. Not life.
   
   
3. Not angels.
   
   
4. Not powers.
   
   
5. Not the present/ not the future.
   
   
6. No power.

ouden= NOTHING

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This is all good, except when you start to define what is free will, what is God, what is His offer and what is evil. To have God and free will, you must have evil and rejection.

If everything is just God pulling the strings and all will come freely to Him, then evil and rebellion do not actually exist. If you have free will, then rejection must be allowed, or else destruction and hurt can only be allowed where there is no responsibility or consequences, so we are just toy soldiers playing a game.

Jesus's promise is to His people who choose to follow His offer of love.
The lake of fire, the place of gnashing of teeth and weeping is no mild alternative, of temporary encouragement to accept the terms of life. It is simply a statement of reality, these broken vessels are broken beyond repair.

One can believe no one is broken beyond repair, until you meet people in all the varieties they exist. You then discover what can be, and what must be rejected. It is like having a violent angry person who will kill anyone they lay their hands on and saying it is irresponsible to restrain them and stop them killing others. God is declaring to us, accept His solution or accept your end.

FineLinen said:

The Scriptures from beginning to end reveal One who is our Father. His wrath, fire & judgement are all flowing from His essence (Love) to bring about His perfect consummation IN/en Himself.

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No where in scripture will you find this! One can only change the Word of God to find this conclusion.

FineLinen said:

Dear Light: please direct me to all Scripture speaking of the "free will" of fallen man.

Search = free will

No references found.

Please modify your search query & try again.

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I like your idea. The bible defines reality. Not in scripture not part of reality.
God describes who we are and what people have discovered about Him.

We do not need to be told we have free will, because that never changes.
"Hey man, you have free will" "Thanks, I never knew that, I will now go out and use it"

Do you see how this sounds?
God comes to us and says, you are a sinner and I will judge you.

Foolish man says get lost, wise men humble themselves and repents.
I have met "christians" who live a life of sin, knowingly and laugh at Gods commands and condemnation claiming they are forgiven, while changing nothing. How bigger a fool do you need to get?

I have used words of Jesus to them and they say I am lying, evil, deceived, doomed to hell and speaking the words of satan.

Jesus was simple, such as these will never enter the kingdom their hearts are seared beyond redemption.
I used to be cautious going this far, but after years of discussion, and knowing their hardness of heart, where everything is made to mean something else, even when they meet Jesus, they will just fall apart, literally. They will claim Jesus promised to save them, and He will say, I never knew you.

I am quoting scripture but also I am stating a reality of Jesus makes us like Him through our walk. That is the point. No walk, no salvation, no result.

The gate is small, the path narrow and straight and few find it.
I have no clue what you actually believe or why, but I share my experience in Christ and His word.
And unfortunately I can share no other and be a follower of Jesus.