Is there any (kind of) sin that can cost me my salvation, or separate me from God's Love...?

[Introverted1293]

I sure hope not. My biggest fear is that I committed a sin that can't be forgiven.

 

[aiki]

I sure hope not. My biggest fear is that I committed a sin that can't be forgiven.

The simplest, best remedy for such a fear is to obey the First and Great Commandment. (Matthew 22:36-38

 

[Introverted1293]

The simplest, best remedy for such a fear is to obey the First and Great Commandment. (Matthew 22:36-38

Yeah I am sure you are right.

 

[brocke]

The scriptures do not specifically say what the unforgiven sin is. Jesus in the Gospels mentions that all sin will be forgiven except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. (Matt 12:32, Luke 12:10, Mark 3:29) But there is not an explanation of what that consists of. I have always wondered since these statements appear in a broader context dealing with God sending Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin, that the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is when we choose to not forgive others after we have been forgiven of our sins by God.

 

[OzSpen]

Is there any (kind of) sin that can cost me my salvation, or separate me from God's Love...?

Comments...?

God Bless!

Yes, indeed. This is from the lips of Jesus:

28 Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin" (Mark 3:28-29 NIV).​

See: What is the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? - Got Questions

Oz

 

[Danthemailman]

So, does it mean physical death, or spiritual death...?

Good question. Certain people jump to the conclusion that John is talking about believers committing certain sins that lead them to spiritual death, but that does not seem to fit the context.

1 John 5:16 - If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death. 18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; [AMPC - deliberately and knowingly practice committing sin,] but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.

 

[PeaceJoyLove]

What if there are/were factors in one person's life, that is not in another that "causes" a person to resist or reject God, or not forgive, or remain unloving and bitter... Certainly your not saying that someone's unforgiveness can cost them there salvation...

Also, timing is important, and the time in a person's life where they change from being unforgiving and unloving, to being forgiving and loving, must be taken into account also...

See, I think we're focusing too much on sin as the primary issue, (which usually only leads to more sins, or new sins that are unknown to the individual as sin) anyway, Love covers a multitude of sins, and I think focusing on sin is wrong, but focus on Love, and being a Loving person in a Godly way, and sin, will take care of itself, while you are growing in Godly love, and in the meantime, love and pursuing Godly love will cover sin till you get there....

I believe focusing on sin and making sin the primary issue only leads to more sin, while focusing on Godly Love and hotly pursuing it, is the only "real way" to get rid of sin for good, when Godly love is matured in you...

God Bless!

God is love. He loves all, impartially. There is nothing that exists that did not come from Him. There is no place God is not...To love as HE loves us "while we were yet sinners"...all things work together for good (whether we can see it that way (yet) or not.

The truth being as much individually as it is collectively...whether it is perceived or not. There is one Father of us all...one God who fills all in all. His love is impartial. We will be the same, when we wake up to the truth we "be perfect and entire, wanting nothing" (James 1:4) Even Jesus asked His Father to forgive those who crucified Him for not knowing what they were doing... they were fulfilling God's purpose just as much...(all things work together for good...God had a plan He purposed in Himself from before the foundation of the world)...

Sin is a perception of lack. But the one who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that is not from faith is sin. (Romans 14:23) So the only sin is not believing you/we are who HE says we are...eating from one's own mind/tree instead of all the trees (we are referred to as trees in scripture). To believe we are less than what God has declared is to rob Him of His glory or as Jesus put it "All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers..." which goes back to the garden and the woman at the tree (a picture of our soul perceived as something outside of our very being) who perceived she lacked and desired (ate of it) something she thought would make her like God.

Duality within (double-mindedness) is the perception of two seeds...there being two tables we can eat from, one prepared by our Father before the foundation of the world (spirit), the other being the feast prepared by the woman (our own soul) that Adam ate. We see/perceive two seeds though there is has always only been ONE spirit/God/son...who fills all in all.

Perception is everything and our mind a garden which grows what is planted in it (you reap what you sow - spirit or flesh) and this in relation to thought and from where one gathers these thoughts ...God is not the author of confusion. HE has told us who we are...have always been...and those with ears to hear....KNOW...some have awakened to the truth of their BE-ing...some still sleep in the dust of the earth.

When judgement turns inward, we no longer judge that which is without/outside. Jesus said "I know where I came from and where I am going. But you do not know where I came from or where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one."

And: "I can do nothing by Myself; I judge only as I hear. And My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me."

The spirit of The Law fulfilled is to love others as you love yourself, or do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Our own will measures and divides, perceiving lack. It is all part of the process taking place within/journey of our soul (back) from the beginning. When our eye becomes single, we 'see'/perceive where we came from...where we are going...where we have always been (as it relates to the question asked of Adam, "Where art thou?"

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, who is and was and is to come--the Almighty...The first (before God put him in a deep slumber, wounded his side to take out the woman who prepared the feast he ate) and the Last Adam ...in between the first and the last is really a confusion of face (Paul speaks about seeing dimly in the glass, at first, then face to face...know as fully as we have always been known) until the veil of flesh is rent...we being the temple not made with human hands...and we 'see'/perceive/KNOW, God's glory fills the temple.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

The scriptures do not specifically say what the unforgiven sin is. Jesus in the Gospels mentions that all sin will be forgiven except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. (Matt 12:32, Luke 12:10, Mark 3:29) But there is not an explanation of what that consists of. I have always wondered since these statements appear in a broader context dealing with God sending Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin, that the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is when we choose to not forgive others after we have been forgiven of our sins by God.

Uh, it clearly says to the reader what this sin is within Matthew 12:32. It says,

“And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.”

We are also even given an example of this sin with the Pharisees. It speaking bad words against the Holy Ghost. Most in the Eternal Security camp have a problem with this.

 

[Oldmantook]

Is there any (kind of) sin that can cost me my salvation, or separate me from God's Love...?

Comments...?

God Bless!

Yes, it's called living according to the flesh or engaging in habitual sin.

 

[Stormy]

Blasphemy against the holy spirit.

 

[chilehed]

Is there any (kind of) sin that can cost me my salvation, or separate me from God's Love...?

Of course there is. The Bible speaks of believers who make shipwreck of their salvation and are lost.

But the only sin that cannot be forgiven is the sin of final impenitence.

 

[GraceBro]

Is there any (kind of) sin that can cost me my salvation, or separate me from God's Love...?

Comments...?

God Bless!

No.

"All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation." 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

 

[brocke]

Uh, it clearly says to the reader what this sin is within Matthew 12:32. It says,

“And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.”

We are also even given an example of this sin with the Pharisees. It speaking bad words against the Holy Ghost. Most in the Eternal Security camp have a problem with this.

But it never says what specifically is speaking out against the Holy Ghost. Is it claiming when God does a miracle as the casting out of demons or healing is by the power of the Devil? Is it just saying something against what the Holy Ghost is doing? Since one cannot separate the Trinity does this include blasphemy against the Father and/or the Son?

If I say the music during worship is terrible and should never be used again. Is that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit since the Spirit is moving amongst the congregation and using the music to minister. (or do you prefer the use of term Holy Ghost?)

If you speak against a decision of your pastor, who we believe is being led by the Holy Ghost, then is that blasphemy against the Holy Ghost?

Do you get my point yet? The scripture does not specify what the act of blasphemy against he Holy Ghost entails.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

But it never says what specifically is speaking out against the Holy Ghost. Is it claiming when God does a miracle as the casting out of demons or healing is by the power of the Devil? Is it just saying something against what the Holy Ghost is doing? Since one cannot separate the Trinity does this include blasphemy against the Father and/or the Son?

If I say the music during worship is terrible and should never be used again. Is that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit since the Spirit is moving amongst the congregation and using the music to minister. (or do you prefer the use of term Holy Ghost?)

If you speak against a decision of your pastor, who we believe is being led by the Holy Ghost, then is that blasphemy against the Holy Ghost?

Do you get my point yet? The scripture does not specify what the act of blasphemy against he Holy Ghost entails.

Come on now. The Bible makes it clear. The only reason folks are trying to paint this as a grey area because they believe in Eternal Security.

Again, we see a scenario where the Pharisees curse or say bad words against the the Holy Spirit and it's power working through Jesus and then Jesus then later says WHOSOEVER speaks a word or blasphemes (curses) against the Holy Ghost it will not be forgiven them in this life or the world to come. The world to come is the Millennium. There will be no unbelievers in the Millennium because it is the 1,000 year reign of Christ.

Anyways, please compare Matthew 12:24 with Matthew 12:32. It is obvious that the blasphemy of the Holy Ghost is swearing bad words against the Holy Ghost. Many folks here just do not want to see that fact because they read the Bible with preconceived beliefs.

 

[sdowney717]

But it never says what specifically is speaking out against the Holy Ghost. Is it claiming when God does a miracle as the casting out of demons or healing is by the power of the Devil? Is it just saying something against what the Holy Ghost is doing? Since one cannot separate the Trinity does this include blasphemy against the Father and/or the Son?

If I say the music during worship is terrible and should never be used again. Is that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit since the Spirit is moving amongst the congregation and using the music to minister. (or do you prefer the use of term Holy Ghost?)

If you speak against a decision of your pastor, who we believe is being led by the Holy Ghost, then is that blasphemy against the Holy Ghost?

Do you get my point yet? The scripture does not specify what the act of blasphemy against he Holy Ghost entails.

They accused Christ of casting out demons by the power of Satan. That was the unforgivable sin attributing the Holy Spirit's power to the work of Satan that they committed.
So keep it in context, regarding Christ and Satan and the Holy Spirit. A pastor is not infallible God like Christ.

Matthew 12
24 Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.”

25 But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. 28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. 30 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.

The Unpardonable Sin
31 “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

 

[Exinanition]

Is there any (kind of) sin that can cost me my salvation, or separate me from God's Love...?

Comments...?

God Bless!

To get back to the original question upon which this thread is based, the simple answer is, "No."

Salvation is accomplished when one realizes his sinfulness and his need for forgiveness, confesses that sinfulness, and believes on the Lord Jesus Christ and earnestly, wholeheartedly commits himself to God the Father in Jesus Christ the Son trusting in him alone to save him and reconcile him to God the Father. Salvation cannot be salvation if it can be lost. No one would ever be saved if it were possible for that "salvation" to be undone. God never said, "Believe in Jesus Christ and you will be saved as long as you do everything right." Salvation does not rest in the recipient's ability to preserve it. If it did, again, no one would ever be saved because no one is able to preserve his own salvation.

You see, it is not our own righteousness which allows us to be saved. It is only the righteousness of Jesus Christ which allows salvation to take place. 2 Corinthians says,

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ ...For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. -2 Corinthians 5:17 and 18a, 21

God has redeemed us through His Son and "reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ" so "that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." It is the righteousness of Jesus Christ imputed unto us who have been saved and the power of God Himself which secures for all eternity the salvation of the sincere believer.

Consider this passage from the book of John:

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one." -John 10:27-30

Did you catch what Jesus said in that very first phrase there? He said, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." Those who follow Jesus are committed to striving for righteousness in their daily walk every day of their lives.

Next, Jesus said, "I give them eternal life: and they shall never perish..."

Lastly, Jesus said, "My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." God the Father gave the elect to Jesus. God the Father is greater than all and He is not willing to give you up. By the way, that little phrase "no man" includes you. No one other than you can take you away from God and YOU cannot take you away from God.

The one who has truly believed on the Lord Jesus Christ will always be striving to serve him and to please him. Yes, he will fail from time to time, however, he will quickly fall to his knees and confess his sin and plead with God to forgive him for Jesus Christ's sake. This believer who has sinned will plead the blood of Jesus and HIS righteousness and he will be forgiven.

There is so much more to say on this subject but I will rest for now. I pray you, too, may rest knowing you, if you are a true believer in Jesus Christ, can never lose your salvation. God bless you and...

 

[Phil 1:21]

John 10:28-30

28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

 

[Exinanition]

The scriptures do not specifically say what the unforgiven sin is. Jesus in the Gospels mentions that all sin will be forgiven except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. (Matt 12:32, Luke 12:10, Mark 3:29) But there is not an explanation of what that consists of. I have always wondered since these statements appear in a broader context dealing with God sending Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin, that the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is when we choose to not forgive others after we have been forgiven of our sins by God.

Hello, and blessings to all.
I would like, if I may, to try to help clear up some of the confusion surrounding the "Unpardonable Sin. I have read many opinions about what exactly this sin might be and I believe it is important enough to attempt to clarify it because many Christians seem to be fearful of having committed this sin. Perhaps, I can set your mind at ease if you are one of these who has ever been concerned about this.

I have quoted below this account from the book of Mark, chapter three:

"And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils. And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan? And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end. No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house. Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit." Mark 3:22-30

Now, if you will take the first and the last verses of this passage and place the latter immediately after the former you will know what the "Unpardonable Sin" is.

"And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils."

"But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit."

Please allow me to simplify it yet a bit further.

"But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness... Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit."

The sin which "...hath never forgiveness..." is attributing to Satan or demons that which has clearly been accomplished by the Holy Spirit of God.

From the Zondervan Dictionary of Bible Themes, Heading #8843:

unforgivable sin

"The willful, outwardly expressed and impenitent slander against the Holy Spirit, when Jesus Christ's mighty works, clearly performed by the power of the Holy Spirit, are attributed to Satan, thus subjecting Christ to public disgrace."

To further illustrate this meaning here is the same account as recorded by Matthew:

"And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David? But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you." -Matthew 12:23-28

I added this account because it provides for us a detail which Mark does not offer in his account. I shall abbreviate it here to distill the meaning for greater ease of understanding. You may compare it to Matthew's account above to ensure I have not altered the meaning in any way.

"...(the Pharisees) said, This fellow...cast(s) out devils, ...by Beelzebub the prince of the devils...." to which Jesus replied, "...I cast out devils by the Spirit of God..."

When the Pharisees said, "...doth not..., but by," they were employing a double negative, as the words "not" and "but" are both negatives, which when used together as they are here have the exact opposite meaning of that which it would appear to have. It means simply, "(He) does this by." The Pharisees attributed the miracles Jesus had performed by the power and authority of the Holy Spirit of God to the power and authority of Satan; which prompted Jesus to say,

"All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit."

I sincerely hope this clears up any misunderstanding of the "Unpardonable Sin," and I hope it also brings peace to anyone who may wondering if he or she has ever committed this most heinous of sins.

May the God of all hope and glory bring you joy and...

 

[sdowney717]

Hello, and blessings to all.
I would like, if I may, to try to help clear up some of the confusion surrounding the "Unpardonable Sin. I have read many opinions about what exactly this sin might be and I believe it is important enough to attempt to clarify it because many Christians seem to be fearful of having committed this sin. Perhaps, I can set your mind at ease if you are one of these who has ever been concerned about this.

I have quoted below this account from the book of Mark, chapter three:

"And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils. And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan? And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end. No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house. Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit." Mark 3:22-30

Now, if you will take the first and the last verses of this passage and place the latter immediately after the former you will know what the "Unpardonable Sin" is.

"And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils."

"But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit."

Please allow me to simplify it yet a bit further.

"But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness... Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit."

The sin which "...hath never forgiveness..." is attributing to Satan or demons that which has clearly been accomplished by the Holy Spirit of God.

From the Zondervan Dictionary of Bible Themes, Heading #8843:

unforgivable sin

"The willful, outwardly expressed and impenitent slander against the Holy Spirit, when Jesus Christ's mighty works, clearly performed by the power of the Holy Spirit, are attributed to Satan, thus subjecting Christ to public disgrace."

To further illustrate this meaning here is the same account as recorded by Matthew:

"And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David? But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you." -Matthew 12:23-28

I added this account because it provides for us a detail which Mark does not offer in his account. I shall abbreviate it here to distill the meaning for greater ease of understanding. You may compare it to Matthew's account above to ensure I have not altered the meaning in any way.

"...(the Pharisees) said, This fellow...cast(s) out devils, ...by Beelzebub the prince of the devils...." to which Jesus replied, "...I cast out devils by the Spirit of God..."

When the Pharisees said, "...doth not..., but by," they were employing a double negative, as the words "not" and "but" are both negatives, which when used together as they are here have the exact opposite meaning of that which it would appear to have. It means simply, "(He) does this by." The Pharisees attributed the miracles Jesus had performed by the power and authority of the Holy Spirit of God to the power and authority of Satan; which prompted Jesus to say,

"All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit."

I sincerely hope this clears up any misunderstanding of the "Unpardonable Sin," and I hope it also brings peace to anyone who may wondering if he or she has ever committed this most heinous of sins.

May the God of all hope and glory bring you joy and...

John 14:30 New King James Version (NKJV)
30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.

Simply Christ and Satan are not in league with each other whatsoever.
Attributing the casting out of demons by the Holy Spirit to the devil, Jesus says is impossible and a grave sin.
Jesus does not have an unclean spirit, He is the perfect Lamb of God, in Him all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily.

 

[EmethAlethia]

First Issue: Are they a real Christian or not ... "Many will say to Me, "Lord, Lord ..." (End of Mat. 7)There are many who believe He is their Lord and Savior and who are doing every thing all the real Christians are doing but that aren't.

Second: ALL non-repented sins, where we refuse to judge ourselves correctly, lead to death for all Christians and for non-Christians.

Third: The difference is that all "Christians", real Christians, see their reproof now.
1Co 11:29 For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. 30 For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep. 31 But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world.

And no, the word sleep is not them "taking a nap". It's the destruction of their physical body... physical death... being such an embarrassment to your Father that He takes you home. There you have it... God reproves all real Christians now so they don't have to be judged with the world. Weakness, sickness and physical death.

"There is a sin that leads to death. I do not say to pray for this.". Is an admonition to stay out of God's way when other Christians are sinning and are non-repentant after the steps of reproof are finished and the whole church.... everyone in the congregation is told, and everyone in the congregation goes to them to try and win them and they refuse and are put out of the church. No more prayers people. They are God's. Also, follow Paul's example and warn any other church they go to as well. (Look up "Alexander the Copper smith" in the bible if you have doubts.)

Do you lose your salvation? Well let's say you, your father and your step mom are all going to the same church. You are sleeping with your step mom. The whole church locally knows it. No one is willing to do anything about it though, and you and your step mom categorically refuse to repent and stop this behavior. You are practicing behaviors openly that even the non-Christians find those things abhorrent and you will not change. Do you lose your salvation?

1Co 5:5 I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

No loss of salvation. Just a loss of physical life. YOU WILL DIE.

One last thing. If you go through the steps and you do not see God stepping in and doing what He says He does with every single real Christian, i.e. weakness, sickness and physical death, then they never were Christians in the first place, regardless of the profession and beliefs of them or those that knew him.

Heb 12:5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, "MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM; 6 FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES." 7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

Some people want to make a case for losing salvation based on other verses. Here's one:

"Heb 6:8 but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned."

See, it uses the word burned. I agree. It does. I agree, according to the context, these are real Christians who have absolutely no possibility of repenting. They are done as far as that is concerned.

Here's the issue though. Going to hell means you are cursed. Are these people "cursed" or not?

Nope. Not cursed. "Close to being cursed." is NOT cursed... how close can you be to being cursed and not be cursed? You can enter the kingdom of heaven with everything in your life that you thought was of value burned away. No, this is not purgatory... The field is burned... everything built on it is gone, wasted, torched... But the field still exists because the field isn't what burns... just everything on it.

The same thing is discussed in this passage:

1Co 3:11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. 14 If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15 If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

Again, it is not the person that is "Burned" just like the field itself isn't burned in that other passage. These are not passages on purgatory... there is no suffering of the person going on, just everything the life was built upon or that was grown on the field is torched.