Oh hey Ivan, did you give up on the last thread? I was really hoping to hear you explain again how those who are sealed with the Holy Spirit can’t lose their inheritance in response to my quote from Ephesians 4:30 to Ephesians 5:6.
“Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”
Ephesians 4:30-32 NASB1995
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.”
Ephesians 5:1-6 NASB1995
You never responded to this.
I will.
What some Christians fail to understand, particularly those among the LOST (loss of salvation teachers), is that the death penalty for sin is still active. Death has always been a penalty for sin, always will be while this current universe remains in existence. Christians who practice sin run the risk of physical death.
Secondly, it is obvious here ...
For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
That those described don't have an inheritance, meaning quite simply—they are not born-again believers.
1 Peter 1:3-5
King James Version
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Notice in v.3 we have been born again by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, not by works which we have done.
Notice in v.4 that our inheritance is incorruptible, undefiled, and will not fade away.
Notice, too, that born-again believers are kept by the power of God through faith, not works. The "salvation" ready to be revealed in the "last time" is in fact the final stage of our Salvation, the glorification of our bodies, and the point where we will in fact be free of sin's presence.
Now, the single issue I believe to be the reason why the LOST are so confused is that they don't actually understand salvation in Christ. They do not understand that the Ordo Salutis goes like this: God sends the Comforter to reveal the Mystery of the Gospel to those who are dead. Yes, I mean dead, even though they have physical life. The LIFE they need is only acquired through the Eternal Indwelling spoken of in John 14:15-23 (as well as throughout Chs.15-17).
John 14:15-17
King James Version
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and
he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
When the person dead in sins and lacking the LIFE of God believes the Gospel revealed to them (for we know the natural man cannot perceive or understand the spiritual things of God, the Gospel being at the top of the list), they are eternally indwelt by none other than God Himself (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost (John 14:15-23)).
What the LOST also overlook is that the disciples of Christ were not born-again believers, they were Jews living under the Law, and like all other Jews, still awaiting the salvation Prophecy bespoke in regards to Messiah.
But that couldn't happen while Christ remained on Earth:
John 16:7-9
King James Version
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
John 7:38-40
King James Version
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
40 Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.
Read carefully, the Holy Ghost was not yet given.
So we have the LOST creating doctrines out of passages like John 15, another prophetic teaching passage, and all the while ignoring the fact that—not a single disciple abided!
Amazing!
No, they didn't abide in Christ, but as Prophecy foretold, they scattered to the wind to save their own necks, Peter going so far as to deny he even knew Jesus Christ.
So just a little advice: before going into a public arena and teaching doctrine that denigrates Christian Doctrine, we would do well to actually study the Bible. I understand how the LOST (loss of salvation teachers) fall into the trap that robs them of their faith in Christ, but at the same time, it is a malady easily cured with diligent study. It's always what we don't know that should encourage humility.
God bless.