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I respectfully disagree with everything you just said there.
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Fear and trembling is not the last word on the Christian life, though, and not a healthy place to be long term. At some point we have to move beyond that to simply being human beings doing human things and acting according to our own personal moral agency. We were never made to be particularly "religious".
Pay attention to Jesus' own words. Jesus twice stated in Luke 15:24,32 that the prodigal was dead but is ALIVE AGAIN. When Jesus repeats something, it is for emphasis and/or the main point of his teaching. The prodigal never physically died so "dead" can only refer to spiritual death. Thus when the prodigal squandered his inheritance on rebellious living, he died spiritually and was LOST. When he repented, returned to his father seeking forgiveness, he was made ALIVE AGAIN. When an unsaved person comes to Christ, he is made alive in Christ (first time). If that believer should then practice sin/habitually sin as the prodigal did, that believer becomes lost/spiritually dead. However, if like the prodigal, he/she repents and returns to the Father, he/she is found and made ALIVE AGAIN.The Prodigal was always the father's son and was never disowned, just presumed dead.
He took his inheritance and left, he didn't exactly lose it, he just foolishly spent it.
I would say probably not since God is the final judge or I might become an Apostate. What do you think?
Pay attention to Jesus' own words. Jesus twice stated in Luke 15:24,32 that the prodigal was dead but is ALIVE AGAIN. When Jesus repeats something, it is for emphasis and/or the main point of his teaching. The prodigal never physically died so "dead" can only refer to spiritual death. Thus when the prodigal squandered his inheritance on rebellious living, he died spiritually and was LOST. When he repented, returned to his father seeking forgiveness, he was made ALIVE AGAIN. When an unsaved person comes to Christ, he is made alive in Christ (first time). If that believer should then practice sin/habitually sin as the prodigal did, that believer becomes lost/spiritually dead. However, if like the prodigal, he/she repents and returns to the Father, he/she is found and made ALIVE AGAIN.
"with fear and trembling" would seem to denote the opposite of assurance would it not?
You are entitled to believe whatever you wish but as I plainly pointed out in the parable of the prodigal, Jesus' own words contradicts your belief.I have to disagree as a Lutheran, I do not accept the idea that sins can separate us from God, because Jesus has paid for the sins of the entire world.
I am a child of God. That was sealed in my baptism, that is where my faith rests, not in my own works. We do not cooperate with God in our justification.
"I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day" (1 Timothy 1:12).Is there something in the Bible about assurance of final salvation?
How do you know you are at least in the right path?The holy fathers of the Church say that we can have assurance of our salvation only by divine revelation from God. Otherwise, we cannot be the source of our assurance. Moreover, we cannot improperly interpret the Scriptures to give ourselves the impression that we are assured of our salvation. What I've seen many people do is say, "Look at this Scripture. It plainly says that you're saved!" No, brother, you're deceived. You interpret it very incorrectly. Who are you to pronounce a judgment on yourself or others? That is God's task, not yours. Otherwise, "hope that is seen is not hope" of salvation; such a faith is based on human rationalism, erroneous interpretation of the Scriptures, and self-assurance rather than God's assurance.
When over 2000 years of theologians say that there is no assurance of salvation apart from a personal divine revelation (not through the Scriptures), and when many say, "No one man can be right by himself on matters of dogma", then I must put my trust in the consensus of holy pious teachers of the faith, rather than renegades who were so puffed up in their minds that they created their own denominations.
I think you are getting a bit too much mileage from that parable. Before the son even repented the father ran out to greet him and have him robes and a party set.Not quite.
Indeed, we receive the Spirit whereby we become the children of God and co-heirs with Christ.
But notice the contingency attached to the inheritance: "if indeed we suffer with Him".
And remember the parable of the prodigal son and the good Father. This son was an heir of his Father's goods, but he squandered his portion and was essentially "lost" and "dead" to his Father. It was only upon his repentance and continual abiding with the Father that he was restored to his former status of "son" and received an inheritance again. So, take note, the son lost both his inheritance and sonship upon departing from the Father.
I think you are getting a bit too much mileage from that parable. Before the son even repented the father ran out to greet him and have him robes and a party set.
I would consider your overall response a shrug of Romans 8.
Yes I know EOs love to focus on suffering. A lot of us do because it frankly really happens. One does not need to go out and buy their personal mendicant kit and flagellation set. As suffering will find you.
Yet I compare such human efforts with a man like St Anthony who did not need to create his own suffering. Athanasius as well. He suffered for the Gospel.That's the Orthodox mentality. They put asceticism on a pedestal. There were even Orthodox holy men that lived on pillars up in the air and other vainglorious activities, seeking to storm heaven through sheer human will.
Yet I compare such human efforts with a man like St Anthony who did not need to create his own suffering. Athanasius as well. He suffered for the Gospel.
When one preaches Christ’s Gospel pure the fiery darts come from all directions.
I don't believe in faith alone.
Maybe this has come up already. Maybe not. Assurance of salvation is through faith, which works by love. By that true love demonstrated in deed, we know that we walk according to the truth, and will have assurance of salvation, even in our doubts, for God is greater than our conscience.I would say probably not since God is the final judge or I might become an Apostate. What do you think?
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