Will the unholy enter the Kingdom of Heaven?

[CallofChrist]

Also, keep in mind, if we think our sins are forgiven, if we don't continue to pursue holiness, we have reason to believe our sins are not forgiven. We MUST not continue in sin.

As my first post had this scripture in it, I think that I am keeping that in mind:
Hebrews 12:14 - Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

 

[ByTheSpirit]

The Bible doesn't care much about our terminology. We tend to want to use one word to mean one thing, but it doesn't always.

Also, keep in mind, if we think our sins are forgiven, if we don't continue to pursue holiness, we have reason to believe our sins are not forgiven. We MUST not continue in sin.

That last statement of yours really hits the nail on the head I think. What we abide in determines a lot I think

 

[CallofChrist]

What is Sanctification?

This is an interesting short article on the topic of sanctification, from a Reformed point of view.

 

[ByTheSpirit]

What is Sanctification?

This is an interesting short article on the topic of sanctification, from a Reformed point of view.

That is a good read thank you

 

[com7fy8]

Simple question, will the unholy enter the Kingdom of Heaven?

Not if they continue to be unholy.

Does God sanctify a person once for all time, or are they sanctified as they walk with him?

I understand that "sanctify" means to make holy.

When a person first trusts in Jesus > Ephesians 1:12 > the person becomes a child of God and therefore is holy . . . no longer belonging to sin and this evil world. So, this is being sanctified by having a change of status in relation with God. The person has been "set apart" from the world. So, holy can mean set apart, given a place with God.

But then comes sanctification which means changing the person's character to become the way God's character is holy. This is character holiness being developed. This takes major correction in a person, by God Himself alone able to truly change anyone's character > this is spoken about in Hebrews 12:4-14.

Does God sanctify a person once for all time, or are they sanctified as they walk with him?

Along with what I just offered, above > first, the person who trusts in Jesus is brought into God's family, and therefore is set apart from this evil world. This change of status, to being holy, is a one-time thing, and it lasts. Maybe it's like picking up a dirty child who is stuck in mud, and putting the child on a dock. The child will stay there. But more then will be done!

Once we are saved, now comes the process of changing our character to become the way God's love is holy in quality and character and not only in status and position.

Do you think that a person can begin to walk by the Spirit, then turn from that back to their former life and still inherit God's Kingdom if they continue on in an unrepentant lifestyle?

My opinion is that if a person trusts in Jesus, now the person becomes changed so the person does not have the sinful nature which can cause the person to fully turn from God.

"But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him." (1 Corinthians 6:17)

This union with the Lord is almighty. And there then begins an almighty effect on the saved person's character, and no power can undo what God almighty has begun and is doing. What He does in a person's character is permanent. And God is the One committed to making this work.

Hebrews 12:4-14 guarantees how every child of God is being corrected by our Father. And this scripture presents what becomes of anyone who is truly corrected the way God's word guarantees that He corrects His children.

So, in case someone stays unrepentant . . . this is not being corrected the way God's word guarantees that our Father corrects His children. Hebrews 12:8 says someone "without" our Father's correction is not a child of God, I understand.

What we abide in determines a lot I think

Each one is going to reap so much more than those little seeds we have sown > Galatians 6:7-8. So, what we stay in does matter, and what we are sowing matters and will bring a harvest.

 

[Guojing]

Also, keep in mind, if we think our sins are forgiven, if we don't continue to pursue holiness, we have reason to believe our sins are not forgiven. We MUST not continue in sin.

If you understand Romans 5:12-19 well, it is not our individual sins that brought death, it was the sin of the first Adam, his sin nature that we inherited, that brought death.

 

[ByTheSpirit]

If you understand Romans 5:12-19 well, it is not our individual sins that brought death, it was the sin of the first Adam, his sin nature that we inherited, that brought death.

While that is true that's not the whole picture. Adams sin result in the fall which ends in death yes, but our individual sins can lead to our own demise as well if we should love those more than we love God.

 

[Guojing]

While that is true that's not the whole picture. Adams sin result in the fall which ends in death yes, but our individual sins can lead to our own demise as well if we should love those more than we love God.

If you truly understand Romans 5:12-19, you would be able to give a straightfoward answer to this question,

"By whose obedience, were you made righteous?"

 

[ByTheSpirit]

If you truly understand Romans 5:12-19, you would be able to give a straightfoward answer to this question,

"By whose obedience, were you made righteous?"

I get what you are trying to say, but what does Paul mean here then?

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:16‭, ‬19‭-‬21 ESV

 

[Guojing]

I get what you are trying to say, but what does Paul mean here then?

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:16‭, ‬19‭-‬21 ESV

Well, do you agree that if Paul meant "will not inherit the kingdom of God" as meaning "will not be saved/lose his salvation", it will contradict everything he is teaching us regarding the gospel that saves us?

Think of Paul's letters, as largely 2 parts. The 1st part is indicative, it tells us how we are righteous, by the cross.

The 2nd part is imperative, since we are righteous by Christ's obedience at the cross, act like it.

Once you understand this, Galatians 5:1 tells you what he is teaching us in the rest of the chapter

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

 

[BNR32FAN]

I agree that in this form we will never be completed in sanctification. But I'm curious what your response would be to the following?

16So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.19The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; 20idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us walk in step with the Spirit.

Do you think that a person can begin to walk by the Spirit, then turn from that back to their former life and still inherit God's Kingdom if they continue on in an unrepentant lifestyle?

No I don’t, if we turn away from Christ and do not turn back to Him we won’t be saved.

 

[Servus]

The Bible doesn't care much about our terminology. We tend to want to use one word to mean one thing, but it doesn't always.

Also, keep in mind, if we think our sins are forgiven, if we don't continue to pursue holiness, we have reason to believe our sins are not forgiven. We MUST not continue in sin.

That often gets misunderstood as saying we must be completely sinless. But I'm sure you mean we must not continue to practice sin, like a doctor practices medicine.

 

[Mark Quayle]

If you understand Romans 5:12-19 well, it is not our individual sins that brought death, it was the sin of the first Adam, his sin nature that we inherited, that brought death.

Agreed. As my family likes to say, "We do so because it is so." Obedience and faithfulness doesn't produce salvation —it is the product of Salvation.

 

[Mark Quayle]

That often gets misunderstood as saying we must be completely sinless. But I'm sure you mean we must not continue to practice sin, like a doctor practices medicine.

That is correct.

 

[ByTheSpirit]

Agreed. As my family likes to say, "We do so because it is so." Obedience and faithfulness doesn't produce salvation —it is the product of Salvation.

I would disagree. While being born again is supposed to produce in us a nature that drives us to follow God, it is still possible for a regenerated individual to fall back into the world and put their soul in peril. Otherwise all the warnings in scripture about falling away and crucifying the flesh are empty threats.

 

[Blade]

Simple question, will the unholy enter the Kingdom of Heaven?

Unholy, wicked, sinful, unrighteous the word makes it very clear about them We are righteous because we believe in Jesus Christ aka righteousness holy. PRAISE GOD GLORY TO JESUS no man gets a say in this.. just who is or who is not. We can not see the heart we only see judge based on flesh which can be 100% different then the heart.

 

[Mark Quayle]

I would disagree. While being born again is supposed to produce in us a nature that drives us to follow God, it is still possible for a regenerated individual to fall back into the world and put their soul in peril. Otherwise all the warnings in scripture about falling away and crucifying the flesh are empty threats.

Good luck with that.

 

[Guojing]

I would disagree. While being born again is supposed to produce in us a nature that drives us to follow God, it is still possible for a regenerated individual to fall back into the world and put their soul in peril. Otherwise all the warnings in scripture about falling away and crucifying the flesh are empty threats.

By Romans 5:12-19, is it possible for an unregenerated individual, to fall into "righteousness" by doing good deeds or avoid doing bad deeds?

If your answer is, as expected, no, then when you believe its "still possible for a regenerated individual to fall back into the world and put their soul in peril", you are implying the final Adam's obedience at the cross is less powerful than the first Adam's disobedience in the garden.