Before you write me off as an eccentric or heretic...
I am quite aware of such Scriptures as -"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. "
John 3:16 (ESV)
"because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Romans 10:9-10 (ESV)
and I believe them to be completely true. However, I believe that biblical salvation is based more on the whole counsel of God than by one or two proof-texts. In the Romans passage, it is understood that confessing Jesus as Lord means doing it with a measure of revelation and understanding. That is why the Scriptures say, "Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says "Jesus is accursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except in the Holy Spirit. "
1 Corinthians 12:3 (ESV) Otherwise anybody can say just about anything. And "believing in one's heart that God raised Jesus from the dead" is a belief that is so pregnant with meaning that it must continuously be pursued. I don't believe any of us will get it all in this lifetime.John 3:16, the verb "believes" is the Greek word pistueo (Strong's G4100). As such, the verse and the two follow
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever “continues or goes on believing” in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever “continues believing” in him is not condemned, but whoever does not “continue believing” stands condemned already because they have not “continued believing” in the name of God’s one and only Son.
“Throughout this passage an important truth is presented that again might be missed by many English translations. When Jesus describes the one who comes to him and who believes in him [3:16, 5:24, 6:35, 37, 40, 47, etc.], he uses the present tense to describe this coming, believing , or, in other passages, hearing or seeing. The present tense refers to a continuous, on-going action. The Greek contrasts this kind of action against the aorist tense, which is a point action, a single action in time that is not on-going…… The wonderful promises that are provided by Christ are not for those who do not truly and continuously believe. The faith that saves is living faith, a faith that always looks to Christ as Lord and Savior.”[1]
As a result, any idea of "once save - always saved" can only be properly understood in the context of the some 130-140 times the phrase "in Christ" is used in the New Testament. Fortunately for us, being (remaining) in Christ is not based upon our perfection. Sincerely confessing sin and repenting thereof (1 John 1:9) is part of being (remaining) in Christ. Although God puts no limit on the number of times a believer can come back to 2 John 1:9 (OT counterpart Proverbs 28:13), Satan (the "accuser of the brethren") will plant a deceiving lie in the minds of some that they have used this as a Band-Aid too often and it won't work any more. That is a LIE! At the same time, we are not taught that we should do whatever the flesh desires and then come back to 1 John 1:9 for a quick fix. There is a tension presented here that every believer must work out with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12).
We must understand that the Bible nowhere supports the idea that if you just say a quick prayer you are saved, or cleansed from all unrighteousness. This may be the first step but it is not an automatic ticket into the Kingdom of God (or, as John Bunyan put it, "The Celestial City").
We must understand that the Bible nowhere supports the idea that if you just say a quick prayer you are saved, or cleansed from all unrighteousness. This may be the first step but it is not an automatic ticket into the Kingdom of God (or, as John Bunyan put it, "The Celestial City").
Salvation is no haphazard afterthought, but a carefully thought-through, well-planned and precisely executed program. We might say that salvation was designed by the Father, effectuated by the Son, and applied by the Spirit. This is a great and awesome salvation and the Scripture asks rhetorically, "...how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?" Hebrews 2:3a (ESV)
Let's take a summary look at what biblical salvation involves, in addition to continuously believing in Jesus Christ. First of all, there are three tenses of salvation:
Past: We are saved from the penalty of sin (justification)
Present: We are being saved from the power of sin (sanctification)
Future: We shall be saved from the presence of sin (glorification)
This great salvation is multi-dimensional and it may be approached from any one or combination of its facets. For example, there is the God side (atonement, regeneration, etc.) and the human side (what the Holy Spirit enables us to do - repent, believe, etc. and with which we must cooperate). Christians are saved unto a hope (something sure, something certain, that just hasn't happened yet) based on the fact that Jehovah is a covenant-keeping God.
I've always felt that a person coming to the point of saving faith is such a magnificent work of the Triune God that to break it down in theological terms diminishes the awe somewhat. That said, it is still important to understand what true salvation entails. Remember, the devil is very accomplished at perverting the truth. SO let's continue.
Salvation includes five different things that have been labeled by Bible scholars as: Regeneration, Conversion, Justification, and Sanctification. Regeneration is an unmerited, instantaneous change where the heart is quickened (made alive) to hear the Word (the true Gospel). "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins," Ephesians 2:1 (NKJV) God alone is responsible for this. Conversion happens when a man exercises faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and repentance occurs. Man does this as he is empowered by God. Since man has a cooperating role, many fail to repent and exercise faith. For those who do, the next thing which happens is justification. This is also an instantaneous act. God alone is responsible for this as He declares the repentant, believing sinner cleared of all charges before Him. God the Almighty Judge says, "Not guilty!" When you put Regeneration, Conversion, and Justification together, the result is a person who has been born again. Jesus says, in John 3, that this person is now able to "see the Kingdom of God," and "enter the Kingdom of God."
Sanctification is the only one of the five which is a process. The process invariably involves the exercise of faith and repentance throughout a believer's natural life. It involves good days and bad days, spiritual seasons and carnal seasons. Through it all the true believer persists, never abandoning his relationship with and position in Christ. Jesus said in His most important parable - the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13) - covers these first four concepts of Salvation.
The seed (Word of God) is sown. The seed which lands on the hard path is the Word landing on a hard heart - a heart either never quickened by the Spirit or quickened but never brought to the place where faith and repentance are exercised.
The seed which lands on the stony soil represents the person who receives Word with joy. However, when the cost of following Jesus as Lord is understood, they become offended and wither. They give up on the process of sanctification and return to the world and the flesh.
The seed which lands among the thorns represents another category of people who receive the Word with joy. In this case the Sanctification process is stunted by worldly cares, the deceitfulness of riches (beware of the prosperity preaching), and materialism. They produce no fruit and are most likely those described by Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:15 as barely saved, just escaping the judgment fire.
The seed which lands on fertile soil represents people who also receive Word, but with understanding. When one understands the Gospel, which includes both the Gospel of the Kingdom and the Gospel of Salvation, they remain in Christ and His Word, no matter what, and bear much fruit. They have counted the cost and have determined that it is worth paying. Now this is not paying for salvation, for we all know that salvation is by grace, which is the gift of God. It is having faith and hope in the promises of salvation yet to be experienced or revealed to the extent that no weapon/test/trial presented by the flesh, the world system, or the devil will cause the believer to give up. Having been born again by the imperishable seed of God's Word (1 Peter 1:25), the true believer looks forward to his imperishable inheritance kept in heaven (1 Peter 1:4). With understanding he allows himself to be guarded by God for (that part of) salvation yet to be revealed. He rejoices when trials and tests come, knowing that these will be the proving ground of genuine faith. He realizes that genuine faith which brings glory to the Lord Jesus Christ. He rejoices knowing that faith which is genuine will produce the salvation of his soul. (1 Peter 1:5-9).
The true believer will desire to be a witness of God's love and mercy. He will be involved in a life-long love affair with God's Word. He will always be grateful that his eternal security is bound up in his relationship with Christ. He will be grateful for 1 John 1:9 but will never want to abuse it. He will desire to please his Savior and obey His Lord. He will walk gladly in the tension between the reverent fear of the Lord and the spirit of adoption which cries out, "Abba, Daddy!"
In closing (I must close now or run the risk of trying to writ another book) allow me to share a few more Scriptures that speak to dimensions of grace and love not often mentioned.
Grace:
While it is most definitely a gift of unmerited favor, bestowed upon the recipient by God, here is something which grace produces when properly understood: "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age," (Titus 2:11-12 ESV)
Love:
While the love of God referred to in Romans 5:8 is most definitely unconditional, there is a conditional aspect to His love as well. If man does not respond properly to the unconditional love of God, demonstrated in the unmerited gift of His Son, then man reaps no benefit. It's there in John 3:16. The first part is unconditional; the second part (beginning with "whosoever) is conditional. Here are two more verses demonstrating a conditional aspect of God's love. The benefit of meeting the condition is clearly stated.
"Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." (John 14:21 ESV)
"Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." (John 14:23 ESV)
I've always felt that a person coming to the point of saving faith is such a magnificent work of the Triune God that to break it down in theological terms diminishes the awe somewhat. That said, it is still important to understand what true salvation entails. Remember, the devil is very accomplished at perverting the truth. SO let's continue.
Salvation includes five different things that have been labeled by Bible scholars as: Regeneration, Conversion, Justification, and Sanctification. Regeneration is an unmerited, instantaneous change where the heart is quickened (made alive) to hear the Word (the true Gospel). "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins," Ephesians 2:1 (NKJV) God alone is responsible for this. Conversion happens when a man exercises faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and repentance occurs. Man does this as he is empowered by God. Since man has a cooperating role, many fail to repent and exercise faith. For those who do, the next thing which happens is justification. This is also an instantaneous act. God alone is responsible for this as He declares the repentant, believing sinner cleared of all charges before Him. God the Almighty Judge says, "Not guilty!" When you put Regeneration, Conversion, and Justification together, the result is a person who has been born again. Jesus says, in John 3, that this person is now able to "see the Kingdom of God," and "enter the Kingdom of God."
Sanctification is the only one of the five which is a process. The process invariably involves the exercise of faith and repentance throughout a believer's natural life. It involves good days and bad days, spiritual seasons and carnal seasons. Through it all the true believer persists, never abandoning his relationship with and position in Christ. Jesus said in His most important parable - the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13) - covers these first four concepts of Salvation.
The seed (Word of God) is sown. The seed which lands on the hard path is the Word landing on a hard heart - a heart either never quickened by the Spirit or quickened but never brought to the place where faith and repentance are exercised.
The seed which lands on the stony soil represents the person who receives Word with joy. However, when the cost of following Jesus as Lord is understood, they become offended and wither. They give up on the process of sanctification and return to the world and the flesh.
The seed which lands among the thorns represents another category of people who receive the Word with joy. In this case the Sanctification process is stunted by worldly cares, the deceitfulness of riches (beware of the prosperity preaching), and materialism. They produce no fruit and are most likely those described by Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:15 as barely saved, just escaping the judgment fire.
The seed which lands on fertile soil represents people who also receive Word, but with understanding. When one understands the Gospel, which includes both the Gospel of the Kingdom and the Gospel of Salvation, they remain in Christ and His Word, no matter what, and bear much fruit. They have counted the cost and have determined that it is worth paying. Now this is not paying for salvation, for we all know that salvation is by grace, which is the gift of God. It is having faith and hope in the promises of salvation yet to be experienced or revealed to the extent that no weapon/test/trial presented by the flesh, the world system, or the devil will cause the believer to give up. Having been born again by the imperishable seed of God's Word (1 Peter 1:25), the true believer looks forward to his imperishable inheritance kept in heaven (1 Peter 1:4). With understanding he allows himself to be guarded by God for (that part of) salvation yet to be revealed. He rejoices when trials and tests come, knowing that these will be the proving ground of genuine faith. He realizes that genuine faith which brings glory to the Lord Jesus Christ. He rejoices knowing that faith which is genuine will produce the salvation of his soul. (1 Peter 1:5-9).
The true believer will desire to be a witness of God's love and mercy. He will be involved in a life-long love affair with God's Word. He will always be grateful that his eternal security is bound up in his relationship with Christ. He will be grateful for 1 John 1:9 but will never want to abuse it. He will desire to please his Savior and obey His Lord. He will walk gladly in the tension between the reverent fear of the Lord and the spirit of adoption which cries out, "Abba, Daddy!"
In closing (I must close now or run the risk of trying to writ another book) allow me to share a few more Scriptures that speak to dimensions of grace and love not often mentioned.
Grace:
While it is most definitely a gift of unmerited favor, bestowed upon the recipient by God, here is something which grace produces when properly understood: "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age," (Titus 2:11-12 ESV)
Love:
While the love of God referred to in Romans 5:8 is most definitely unconditional, there is a conditional aspect to His love as well. If man does not respond properly to the unconditional love of God, demonstrated in the unmerited gift of His Son, then man reaps no benefit. It's there in John 3:16. The first part is unconditional; the second part (beginning with "whosoever) is conditional. Here are two more verses demonstrating a conditional aspect of God's love. The benefit of meeting the condition is clearly stated.
"Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." (John 14:21 ESV)
"Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." (John 14:23 ESV)
One concluding comment: "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling," (Philippians 2:12 ESV)
References: [1] https://psalmfiftyone.wordpress.com/2013/10/31/the-continuous-present-tense-of-john-316/
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