Many believers will not see that sin can destroy us spiritually. This is what most churches teach today (i.e. the wide gate path that everyone is on). I can only pray that they may see.
Some will bring up chastening as a defense that they can sin and still be saved. But the whole purpose of chastening is to correct the bad behavior (like a master who chastens his dog for pooping on his carpet).
But there is a problem. I have never seen any “
Eternal Security (OSAS) Proponent,” or “
Non-OSAS Sin and Still Be Saved Proponent” actually teach that we must overcome sin in this life. They all say that one cannot overcome grievous sin this side of Heaven. So then chastening serves no real purpose. A master corrects a dog for pooping on his carpets so as to get the dog to stop pooping on his carpets. That's the goal of him chastening his dog.
I believe God only uses chastening to stop a rebellious sinning believer or a believer who treats sin casually for ONLY those believers who know that sin can destroy them spiritually. The concept of chastening does not make any sense for the believer who holds to “Once Saved Always Saved” (OSAS) because what do they have to really fear? The loss of physical things? Believers are to look to that which is spiritual and not that which is carnal. They are to chase after Christ, and put their treasures in Heaven.
Paul says “For to me to live
is Christ, and to die
is gain.” (Philippians 1:21). Jesus says, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28) (Note: “Hell” will be cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death - Revelation 20:14).
So the Eternal Security Proponent who wants to sin will just continue to do so. Unbelievers go through the same challenges in life. So they have nothing to lose by the loss of health, wealth, etc.; They will ultimately make into Heaven one day. So they can have the best of both worlds. They can sin, and also have Heaven. They can serve two masters. But Jesus says we cannot serve two masters. The believer who is chastened and who knows that sin can destroy them spiritually is motivated to stop sinning because they know that if they do not get their act together by the chastening or warning signs, they will be destroyed spiritually or be condemned by God. The chastening is a form of warning to them not to go down the road of destruction. So then they have the true motivation to stop and not justify sin.
For if most believers knew that no sin can separate me from God, and only chastening was the only means of correction, they would have their best life now and live in sin also hope for Heaven. And this is exactly what we see today. Many are justifying sin as a result. Of course, their belief cannot be found in the Scriptures. Sure, they may be able to take a verse or two here and there out of context. But there is no Biblical basis or moral basis for their belief.
God would have to agree with a believer's sinful lifestyle on some level in order to save them. God would be complicit with their sin if He saved a believer who rebels and sins against Him. So their belief is not moral and or uplifts the goodness of God.
Many believers are confused on this topic today because they do not realize that Christ will send forth His angels to gather out of HIS Kingdom all things that offend (sin) and them who work iniquity (lawlessness) and they will be cast into the furnace of fire.
41 “The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13:41-42).
Eternal Security leads to lawlessness and justifying sin on some level.
As for those who bring up 1 Corinthians 11:30 in regards to how a believer can sin and still be saved.
29 “For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.”
(1 Corinthians 11:29-32).
Verse 29 - says that he (the believer) who drinks unworthily eats and drinks damnation to himself. The word “damnation” has never been used in reference to those who are saved. Jesus said to the Pharisees, “how can ye escape the damnation of hell?” (Matthew 23:33). In other words, the word damnation is tied to hell.
Verse 30 does not state the salvation status of a believer who is sick and who sleeps (dies).
Verse 31 says if we shall judge ourselves will not be judged.
Verse 32 is mentions that the believer who is judged is the one who is chastened so that they should not be condemned with the world. It does not say that our chastening is an automatic guarantee that we will always lead us to not being condemned with the world. It says, "that we SHOULD NOT... be condemned with the world."
In fact, if we were to skip back one chapter, we learn of the error of the Israelites who fell in the wilderness.
6 “Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: : and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”
(1 Corinthians 10:6-12).
The Israelites were examples to us so as for us to take heed so that we will not fall. In Acts 7, Stephen talks about those in the wilderness and how they resisted the Holy Ghost as did the current Jews who were about to stone him.
“Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers
did, so
do ye.” (Acts of the Apostles 7:51).
Hebrews 3 says,
8 “Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest. )’
12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;”
(Hebrews 3:8-14).
Verse 14 says we are made partakers of Christ.... IF....we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end.
Verse 13 says for us not to be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Verse 12 says that an evil heart of unbelief will cause one to depart from the living God.
The Israelites hardened their heart by their sin and it led to unbelief in God.
This is not a denial of his existence but a denial of His true ways or paths. They departed from the living God without even realizing it. For the Jews did not accept their Messiah. That does not mean they did not believe in God. A person can believe in Jesus, but if there is no proper belief in His word in what He says, they are not really continuing to trust or believing Him.
