LoveGodsWord wrote: Your simply stating what I already shared with you. If you believe what you just posted you would know that if a person stops believing (present tense) then they forfeit the conditions of eternal life which is believing in the present tense.
Your response here...
Please, please please quote me the single most clear verse that makes this clear. Note: I am not asking for specific wording, but I am asking for specifically clear teaching.
How about many scriptures showing that if a person stops believing (present tense) then they forfeit the conditions of eternal life ?
1. REPENTANCE
(Matthew 3:2; Matthew 4:17; Mark 6:12; Luke 13:3; Act of the Apostles 2:38; Act of the Apostles 3:19; Act of the Apostles 8:22; Act of the Apostles 17:30; Revelation 3:19),
2. CONFESSION OF SIN
(1 John 1:9; 1 John 2:1; Proverbs 28:13) and of course all of the above are acts of believing God's Word and are linked into
3. FAITH IN GOD'S WORD (present moment John 3:15-16; 18; 36; Romans 1:16; Hebrews 11:6; Romans 14:23; James 2:17-26; Romans 3:31).
All of the above are conditions to receiving eternal life. If we forfeit these conditions we forfeit God's promises of eternal life as God's promise of eternal life is only to those who believe and follow his Word *John 10:26-27 in the present moment. For example if we once believed and followed Gods' Word yesterday and depart the faith today to become an "unbeliever" then we are no longer believing and following Gods' Word and therefore God's promises do not apply. Let's consider what God's Word says on this topic...
HEBREWS 6:4-8
[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 TO REPENTANCE; SEEING THEY CRUCIFY TO THEMSELVES THE SON OF GOD AFRESH, AND PUT HIM TO AN OPEN SHAME.
[7], For the earth which drinks in the rain that comes oft on it, and brings forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receives blessing from God:
[8], But that which bears thorns and briers is rejected, and is near to cursing; WHOSE END IS TO BE BURNED.
HEBREWS 6:4-8 links right in here but it is referring to those who were once Christians but fall away in to a life on known unrepentant sin receiving the same punishment as the above scriptures show v8....
whose end is to be burned.
Note the following points pulled directly from
HEBREWS 6:4-8 ...
1. They were once enlightened;
Hebrews 6:4
2. Having tasted of the Heavenly gift;
Hebrews 6:4
3. They were made partakers of the Holy Ghost;
Hebrews 6:4
4. Having tasted of the good Word of God;
Hebrews 6:5
5. Having tasted of the power of the world to come
6. THEY (BELIEVERS) FALL AWAY;
Hebrews 6:6
7. THEY (BELIEVERS) renew themselves to repentance;
Hebrews 6:6
8. THEY (BELIEVERS) by their sins crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame;
Hebrews 6:6
Let now link this to
Hebrews 10:26-39...
HEBREWS 10:26-39
[26], FOR IF WE SIN WILLFULLY AFTER THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH, THERE REMAINS NO MORE SACRIFICE FOR SINS, [27], BUT A CERTAIN FEARFUL LOOKING FOR OF JUDGMENT AND FIERY INDIGNATION, WHICH SHALL DEVOUR THE ADVERSARIES.
[28], He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
[29], OF HOW MUCH SORER PUNISHMENT, SUPPOSE YOU, SHALL HE BE THOUGHT WORTHY, WHO HAS TRODDEN UNDER FOOT THE SON OF GOD, AND HAS COUNTED THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT, WITH WHICH HE WAS SANCTIFIED, AN UNHOLY THING, AND HAS DONE DESPITE TO THE SPIRIT OF GRACE?
[30], For we know him that has said, Vengeance belongs to me, I will recompense, said the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
[31], IT IS A FEARFUL THING TO FALL INTO THE HANDS OF THE LIVING GOD.
[32], But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great fight of afflictions;
[33], Partly, whilst you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst you became companions of them that were so used.
[34], For you had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that you have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
[35], Cast not away therefore your confidence, which has great recompense of reward.
[36], For you have need of patience, that, after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise.
[37], For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. [38], NOW THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH: BUT IF ANY MAN DRAW BACK, MY SOUL SHALL HAVE NO PLEASURE IN HIM.
[39], But we are not of them who draw back to perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
Then in
HEBREWS 10:26-39 ...
1. WE (BELIEVERS) return back to a life of known unrepentant SIN;
Hebrews 10:26
2. WE (BELIEVERS) being those who have received a knowledge of the truth;
Hebrews 10:26
3. WE (BELIEVERS) will receive the judgments of God;
Hebrews 10:27
4. WE (BELIEVERS) will receive a greater punishment for returning to a life of known unrepentant sin because we have received a knowledge of the truth and turned away from it;
Hebrews 10:29
5. WE (BELIEVERS) by returning back to known unrepentant sin after we receive a knowledge of the truth we count the blood of the covenant an UNHOLY thing and do despite to the Spirit of Grace;
Hebrews 10:29
6. WE (BELIEVERS) are warned not to CAST AWAY our confidence which has great reward;
Hebrews 10:35
7. WE (BELIEVERS) receive God's promise after we do God's will;
Hebrews 10:36
8. WE (BELIEVERS) are WARNED NOT TO DRAW BACK INTO UNBELIEF;
Hebrews 10:38
These are "WARNINGS" from God's Word and it is God's Word alone that says that these people were "BELIEVERS" that departed the faith to return to a life of known unrepentant sin showing indeed that someone who was "ONCE A BELIEVER" can lose their salvation. God's salvation and all of God's promises are always "CONDITIONAL" on "BELIEVING AND FOLLOWING God's Word in the "PRESENT TENSE" *
John 3:15-21. If we do not believe and follow God's Word we come under "CONDEMNATION" because salvation is by faith in God's Word *
John 3:18.
This is different to
PROVERBS 24:16 which is talking about a "RIGHTEOUS MAN" not an "UNRIGHTEOUS MAN" which is being spoken of in
HEBREWS 6:4-8 and
HEBREWS 10:26-39 who has "FALLEN AWAY" and has "DRAWN BACK" by rejecting the faith to live a life of known "UNREPENTANT SIN"
Salvation is "CONDITIONAL" on BELIEVING AND FOLLOWING God's Word. If we do not believe and follow God's Word to the end than we do not have eternal life according to the scriptures *
HEBREWS 3:14;
HEBREWS 10:38;
HEBREWS 12:25-27;
2 PETER 2:20;
HEBREWS 3:6-8;
HEBREWS 2:3;
COLOSSIANS 1:23;
JAMES 1:12;
MATTHEW 24:13;
MARK 13:13; 2 THESSALONIANS 2:1-3;
1 TIMOTHY 4:1.
God's Sheep hear His Voice (the Word of God) and follow him *
JOHN 10:26-27. These are the ones God gives eternal life and will not perish. Those who do not endure temptation to the end and do not continue believing and following God's Word do not receive eternal life according to the scriptures and perish with the unbelieving wicked because they departed the faith to become unbelievers.
Luke 8:11[13], They on the rock are they, which,
when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and
in time of temptation fall away.
James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love him.
Matthew 10:22 And you shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but
he that endures to the end shall be saved.
Only those who believe and follow Gods' Word to the end receive everlasting life. Gods promises are conditional on believing and following God's Word always in the present moment.
.................
Now the above scriptures provided are a closed case as they state specifically that we can believe God's Word in the past tense and then fall away and depart the faith in the present moment and not be in a saved state before God.
My challenge to you then is to show from the scriptures alone that we can believe and follow God's Word yesterday, depart the faith to become an "unbeliever" today and still be in a saved state with God when God's Word directly says the opposite. Are you up for this challenge? According to the scriptures only God's Word is true and we should believe and follow it. Ignoring God's Word does not make it disappear.
Ezekiel 3:20-21 [20], Again,
When a righteous man does turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling-block before him, he shall die: because you have not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at your hand. [21], Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also you have delivered your soul.
Ezekiel 18:20 [20],
The soul that sins, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be on him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be on him.
1 Timothy 4:1 [1], Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall
depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils
Luke 8:13 [13] They on the rock are they, which, when they hear,
receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
............
The scriptures above clearly show if we fall away and depart the faith we are not in a saved state with God but have cast our lot in with the wicked and "Unbelievers" and will receive their reward. God's salvation is conditional on believing and following Gods' Word.
Your welcome.