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mlepfitjw

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There are scriptures that express that believers can fall away from the faith, even to the point of denying it. Though they can come back.

  • Hebrews 6:4-6
  • 4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

  • 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

  • 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Like which was stated before this was a very helpful article with many scriptures given in respect to everything that was being said by @Christsfreeservant.

It is said that Once saved always saved is not a true phrase if people are able to fall away from the faith.

The bible expresses that we are to provide works, on behalf of our belief.

  • James 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
What are the works? How do you define works as a believing Christian?

In my best estimation it would be to love. Love is the works.
 
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Christsfreeservant

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Before we look into other Scriptures not mentioned here in the OP, for those of you who disagree with this writing and its content, what do you believe Hebrews 3 is saying to the church? For it is written to the church. And, what about these "If" verses I referenced here? What do they teach?

If, Then What?

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (John 8:31-32)

“If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!” (Romans 11:17-24)

“By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain” (I Co 15:2)

“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant” (Col 1:21-23).

“Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with him,
we will also live with him;

if we endure,
we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
he will also disown us;

if we are faithless,
he will remain faithful,
for he cannot disown himself” (II Tim 2:10-13).

“… And we are his house, IF we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast… We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. As has just been said:
“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts
as you did in the rebellion” (Hebrews 3:6, 14-15).

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (II Peter 1:5-11).

“See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us—even eternal life” (I John 2:24-25).

Jn. 8:31-32; Rom. 11:17-24; I Co. 15:2; Col. 1:21-23; II Tim 2:10-13; Heb. 3:6, 14-15; 2 Pet. 1:5-11; I Jn. 2:24-25
 
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Christsfreeservant

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There are scriptures that express that believers can fall away from the faith, even to the point of denying it. Though they can come back.

  • Hebrews 6:4-6
  • 4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

  • 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

  • 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Like which was stated before this was a very helpful article with many scriptures given in respect to everything that was being said by @Christsfreeservant.

It is said that Once saved always saved is not a true phrase if people are able to fall away from the faith.

The bible expresses that we are to provide works, on behalf of our belief.

  • James 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
What are the works? How do you define works as a believing Christian?

In my best estimation it would be to love. Love is the works.

Yes, and how is love manifested? It is not just a feeling. It is what we do. It literally means to prefer (choose) what God prefers (chooses). The Bible teaches that to love God is to obey God and if we don't obey God we don't love him and we don't know him. It also teaches that to love others is to do what is for their good, as God defines good, and it is not to intentionally do them harm. So, if we commit adultery by lusting after others or by viewing porn or by other self-gratification (not within a marriage relationship), and if we steal, cheat, lie, gossip, etc., as a matter of practice, we are not acting in love toward one another.
 
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2nd_Birth

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No! That is not what the Scriptures teach. We can know, but that knowledge is based on the criteria of Scripture that we must walk according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh, and that we must not make sin our practice, and we must walk in obedience to the Lord, for if we are not obeying God we don't know God, etc. I gave a list of the Scriptures on here that describe what salvation is and what it isn't. It isn't OSAS. It is a walk of faith and a walk of obedience to the Lord. If we live according to the flesh, we will die in our sin.
Amen.
 
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2nd_Birth

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Yes, and how is love manifested? It is not just a feeling. It is what we do. It literally means to prefer (choose) what God prefers (chooses). The Bible teaches that to love God is to obey God and if we don't obey God we don't love him and we don't know him. It also teaches that to love others is to do what is for their good, as God defines good, and it is not to intentionally do them harm. So, if we commit adultery by lusting after others or by viewing porn or by other self-gratification (not within a marriage relationship), and if we steal, cheat, lie, gossip, etc., as a matter of practice, we are not acting in love toward one another.
Amen.
It reminds me of the LGBTQI slogan of "love is love" which means absolutely nothing. Real love has a standard, we prove our love by our actions. In this case obeying the commandments. Not being merely readers of the word but also doers. Applying them to our lives and it all hinges on love.
 
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Christsfreeservant

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Amen.
It reminds me of the LGBTQI slogan of "love is love" which means absolutely nothing. Real love has a standard, we prove our love by our actions. In this case obeying the commandments. Not being merely readers of the word but also doers. Applying them to our lives and it all hinges on love.
Thank you, 2nd Birth. Glory to God!
 
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