I said this:
" We HAVE eternal life because Jesus GIVES believers eternal life.
John 5:24, 6:47, 10:28.
But let's not kid ourselves, ok? Jesus also said that those He gives eternal life shall never perish.
And we all know from your many posts that you teach that those who have been given eternal life CAN perish.
Either you don't understand the difference between "shall never" and "can", or you do but you just don't believe His words."
You have mixed up having eternal life because we are in Christ, with inheriting eternal life.
No, you are quite mixed up, though. You have clearly indicated that those who have been given eternal life CAN perish, which is just another way of saying that salvation can be lost. Yet Jesus taught the exact opposite of your view.
Once given eternal life, the recipient shall never perish.
Now in this life, with this mortal body that can die, we have eternal life, (even though we can still die) by knowing Him, being joined to Him and are one spirit with Christ.
But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
1 Corinthians 6:17
Only those who abide in Christ have eternal life[/QUOTE]
This is what you cannot prove from Scripture. In fact, "abiding in Christ" is for bearing fruit, not getting or maintaining salvation. Just read John 15:1-7. It's all very clear.
Can’t be refuted, it can only be denied. This is your whole theology, denying what the scriptures so plainly say.
You are guilty of projection. What you charge others, you are the one guilty of.
And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. Matthew 19:29
Inheriting eternal life is a reference to reward in eternity. But your theology has no place for rewards in heaven at all. In spite of the overwhelming evidence of reward for obedience throughout the Bible.
Inheriting eternal life comes at the resurrection of the dead in Christ after a person has followed the Lord, faithfully and not fallen away from Him; not deserted Him in a time of persecution, to save their life.
See? Even you agree with me. I've highlighted your own words that fully support what I claim about inheriting eternal life.
The last 4 words are ignored, since you can't find any evidence for them from Scripture.
Those believers who "have followed the Lord, faithfully, and not fallen away from Him, have not deserted Him in time of persecution" WILL absolutely receive eternal reward.
But eternal reward isn't related to "to save their life" in any way.
But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. Luke 8:13
- who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.
Temporary believing results in temporary salvation.
Except Jesus said nothing about your fantasy idea of "temporary salvation". There is no such thing in Scripture. I keep asking for such verses, and you keep failing to comply.
Those who are removed from Christ are removed from the eternal life that is only found in Christ.
"Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away;"
Sure. John 15:1-7 is about "bearing fruit", as I have just pointed out. Not getting or keeping salvation. Why you keep making that mistake is a wonder.
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
John 15:1-2
Bingo! Thanks for agreeing.
If we do not remain in Christ, we do not remain in the eternal life that is in Christ.
Quite a twisted view of Scripture.
In fact, those who "have believed" (note the tense; aorist=past), ARE sealed with the Holy Spirit, who is a deposit that GUARANTEES the inheritance of the believer as God's possession for the day of redemption.
Eph 1:13,14
13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation.
When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal,
the promised Holy Spirit,
14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
Eph 4:30 - And do not grieve
the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
2 Cor 1:22 -
set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
These verses directly support and say what I claim. Unlike your claims.
Here’s how we are instructed to remain in Christ.
No, you have the burden to prove that a believer who is sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who GUARANTEES the believer's inheritance for the day of redemption CAN BE UNSEALED.
So, before you try to present any more of your 'claims', where is the verse that teaches that sealed believers can become unsealed?
Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. 1 John 3:24
JLB
Nope. Doesn't say anything about any risk of being unsealed.
So, UNTIL you find any verse that specifically teaches that believers can become unsealed, you have no point.
What God seals CANNOT be unsealed.
Now, the ONLY WAY to refute my statement here is to find ANY verse that specifically says that the believer sealed with the Holy Spirit can be UNSEALED.
I know there aren't any such verses, but what verse do you think teaches such an idea?