Losing Salvation

Some believe there's no way you can lose your salvation. But I personally believe the Bible nowhere teaches that we can't lose our salvation, but even says the opposite (Romans 11:20-22; John 15:6). I believe it says that those who were sanctified by the blood of Christ (Hebrews 10:29) and made partakers of the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 6:4) and who prophesied and performed many wonderful works in the name of Jesus (Matthew 7:22) can still be damned for unrepentant sin (Hebrews 10:26-29; Matthew 7:22-23; Luke 13:27-28; Matthew 24:48-51; Job 13:16; 1 Corinthians 9:27; 2 Peter 2:20-21; Galatians 5:19-21), or for apostasy (2 Timothy 2:12; Matthew 10:33; Luke 8:13; Hebrews 6:4-8), or for not bearing fruit (John 15:2, 6; Matthew 7:19; Revelation 2:5; Matthew 25:26, 30; Jude 1:12-13), or for not overcoming (Revelation 2:11, 3:5), or for blaspheming the Holy Spirit (Mark 3:29), or for taking away from the words of the book of Revelation (Revelation 22:19).

"Thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off" (Romans 11:20-22).

"He is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned" (John 15:6).

"Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end" (Hebrews 3:12-14).

"For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?" (Hebrews 10:26-29).

"Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matthew 7:22-23).

"Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out" (Luke 13:27-28).

"If that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 24:48-51).

"He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him" (Job 13:16).

"I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway" (1 Corinthians 9:27).

"For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them" (2 Peter 2:20-21).

"Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:19-21).

"If we deny him, he also will deny us" (2 Timothy 2:12).

"Whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 10:33).

"Which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away" (Luke 8:13).

"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. And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 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. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned" (Hebrews 6:4-8).

"Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away... He is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned" (John 15:2, 6).

"Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire" (Matthew 7:19).

"Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent" (Revelation 2:5).

"Thou wicked and slothful servant... Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 25:26, 30).

"Without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever" (Jude 1:12-13).

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death" (Revelation 2:11).

"He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" (Revelation 3:5-6).

"He that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness" (Mark 3:29).

"If any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book" (Revelation 22:19).

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Continuing In Jesus' Hand

Note that in John 10:27-28 Jesus is referring only to those who are actively following him, not to those who fall away from following him by their own apostasy (Hebrews 6:4-6) or unrepentant sin (Hebrews 10:26-29).

We have to continue in his loving hand by our own free will unto the end:

"He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved" (Matthew 24:13).

"Continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off" (Romans 11:22).

"Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee" (1 Timothy 4:16).

"Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, IF we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end" (Hebrews 3:6).

"IF ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed" (John 8:31).

"For we are made partakers of Christ, IF we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end" (Hebrews 3:14).

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Having Eternal Life

Note that just as we can "have" diamonds which last for billions of years in our possession and then subsequently lose them without this loss requiring that diamonds themselves don't last for billions of years, so we can "have" eternal life in our possession and then subsequently lose it without this loss requiring that eternal life itself doesn't last forever. I believe we "have" eternal life only as much as we "have" anything else. Today we are going to live forever if we keep following Jesus, but tomorrow we aren't if we fall away from following him (Romans 11:20-22; John 15:6; Hebrews 6:4-8).

Note that no scripture says one cannot lose one's eternal life once received, just as no scripture says one cannot lose one's mortal life once received.

Note that life is not intrinsic to an individual, for a person can commit suicide and forfeit his life, or in the case of Lazarus lose his life and then receive it back again (John 11:44), or in the case of Jesus lay down his life and take it again (John 10:17-18). I believe that just as an individual can forfeit his mortal life by committing suicide, so he can forfeit his eternal life by falling away (Hebrews 6:4-8).

Note that just as money is not an intrinsic part of an individual, for a person can give it away in payment of a ransom, so life is not an intrinsic part of an individual, for a person can give it away in payment of a ransom (Matthew 20:28).

Note that just as eternal punishment is not an intrinsic part of an individual, for a person enters into it, and nothing requires that it become an intrinsic part of an individual even after a person enters into it, so eternal life is not an intrinsic part of an individual, for a person enters into it, and nothing requires that it become an intrinsic part of an individual even after a person enters into it (Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:43).

Note that just as a house is not an intrinsic part of an individual, for a person receives it, and nothing requires that it become an intrinsic part of an individual even after a person receives it, so eternal life is not an intrinsic part of an individual, for a person receives it, and nothing requires that it become an intrinsic part of an individual even after a person receives it (Mark 10:30).

If someone can go from the state of being already "condemned" to being "saved," then why can't someone go from being already "saved" to being "condemned"?

"He that believeth not is condemned [perfect tense; krino] already" (John 3:18); "That they all might be damned [aorist tense; krino] who believed not the truth" (2 Thessalonians 2:12).

If someone can go from the state of being presently "lost" to being "saved," then why can't someone go from being presently "saved" to being "lost"?

"If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost [present tense; appolumi]" (2 Corinthians 4:3); "The preaching of the cross is to them that perish [present tense; appolumi] foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18); "Them that perish [present tense; appolumi]; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved" (2 Thessalonians 2:10); "In them that are saved, and in them that perish [present tense; appolumi]" (2 Corinthians 2:15); "The Son of man is come to save that which was lost [perfect tense; appolumi]" (Matthew 18:11); "Whosoever believeth in him should not perish [aorist tense; appolumi], but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

If someone can go from the state of already having "damnation" to having "salvation," then why can't someone go from already having "salvation" to having "damnation"?

"Having [present tense] damnation [krima], because they have cast off their first faith" (1 Timothy 5:12); "Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall [aorist tense] into the condemnation [krima] of the devil" (1 Timothy 3:6); "There are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained [perfect tense] to this condemnation [krima], ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ" (Jude 1:4); "damnation [krima]" (Matthew 23:14); "eternal judgment [krima]" (Hebrews 6:2).

It is true that God is not an "Indian giver" and that he always stays true to his promises. But are we always true to God?

"If we deny him, he also will deny us" (2 Timothy 2:12).

"Whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 10:33).

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The Hope Of Salvation

Note that even though we are saved now, salvation is also something we still hope for:

"We are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it" (Romans 8:24-25).

"The hope of salvation" (1 Thessalonians 5:8).

"Now is our salvation nearer than when we believed" (Romans 13:11).

"Kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Peter 1:5).

"Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life" (Jude 1:21).

"Hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:13).

"He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved" (Matthew 24:13).

"Unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation" (Hebrews 9:28).

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Sealed By The Spirit

Note that in Ephesians 1:13-14, Paul says that the Spirit by which we are sealed is only the "earnest" of our inheritance until a future "day of redemption" occurs (Ephesians 4:30). And receiving earnest money or a down payment in no way guarantees that a future redemption will occur, for they can be forfeited and the deal cancelled:

"Earnest Money. The deposit money given to the seller or his agent by the potential buyer upon the signing of the agreement of sale to show that he is serious about buying the home. If the sale goes through, the earnest money is applied against the down payment. If the sale does not go through, the earnest money will be forfeited or lost."
(from http://hometown.aol.com/dshaw86498/myhomepage/terms3.html )

"Down payment... If the seller cannot deliver good title, the agreement of sale usually requires the seller to return the down payment and to pay interest and expenses incurred by the purchaser."
(from http://hometown.aol.com/dshaw86498/myhomepage/terms3.html ).

"Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, IF we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end" (Hebrews 3:6).

Note that Hebrews 9:15 refers to the same eternal inheritance (kleronomia) as Ephesians 1:14, and it says only that we "might" receive it.

"Which is the earnest of our inheritance [kleronomia]" (Ephesians 1:14).

"They which are called might receive [subjunctive mood] the promise of eternal inheritance [kleronomia]" (Hebrews 9:15).

"The subjunctive mood is the mood of possibility and potentiality. The action described may or may not occur, depending upon circumstances."

"Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears" (Hebrews 12:15-17).

Note that 2 Corinthians 1:22; 2 Corinthians 5:5; and Ephesians 1:14 in no way say we can't lose our salvation, for "earnest" is the Greek word "arrhabon," which simply means a down payment, and we all know a down payment made by a buyer doesn't guarantee that the seller or the one for whom the down payment was made won't somehow ruin the thing being purchased before it can be completely paid for, just as a father could make a down payment on a car for his son, but the son could then run away from the father and drive the car into another country, or wreck the car in a drunken spree, or drive himself and the car off a cliff. So we see that our receiving of a down payment of the Spirit in no way guarantees our own behavior toward God. Again, a father could make a down payment on a house for his son, but his son could then go and murder someone and go to jail and be executed. At that point the down payment and the house would mean nothing as far as the son was concerned, for he had thrown them away:

Even though the believers Paul addressed had been sealed, didn't they still "stand" by faith?

"After that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit" (Ephesians 1:13).

"Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth. Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand" (2 Corinthians 1:22-24).

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Nothing Can Separate

While it's true that nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:39), for God is love (1 John 4:8) and he is everywhere, even in hell (Psalm 139:7-8), note that this doesn't mean we can't lose our salvation, for note that Paul had just finished saying "if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live" (Romans 8:13).

See Wilfully Sinning Section below.

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They Shall Never Perish

In John 10:28, Jesus is speaking of those that continue to abide in him, not of those who stop abiding in him: "If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned" (John 15:6).

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I Should Lose Nothing (John 6:39)

See Continuing In Jesus' Hand section above.

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No Condemnation

I believe that in Romans 8:1-6 Paul speaks of our same current deliverance from condemnation and the same passing from death to life that Jesus speaks of in John 5:24-27:

"He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life" (John 5:24).

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death... For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace" (Romans 8:1-2, 6).

But note that Paul makes clear that "there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" (Romans 8:1-2) that is, we have to remain "in" Jesus, we have to continue to "walk" after the Spirit, "for if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live" (Romans 8:13).

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Becoming Unborn?

Note that a believer who loses his salvation doesn't become unborn; he dies.

"If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die" (Romans 8:13).

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New Creature Back To Old Creature?

Note that a believer can end up in an even worse state than an old creature (2 Peter 2:20-21).

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Old Things Passed Away?

Note that old things can come back for believers through willful sin (Hebrews 10:26-29).

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Cease Being A Child Of God?

Note that even if parents may at one time consider their children to be good, they can subsequently condemn their own children if they go bad:

"This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die" (Deuteronomy 21:20-21).

"If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods... neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him: but thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death" (Deuteronomy 13:6, 8-9).

"The good seed are the children of the kingdom" (Matthew 13:38); "The children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 8:12).

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Sheep Won't Follow Strangers

"And the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow" (John 10:4-5).

While Jesus' sheep won't follow "strangers," they will follow "pastors" (which word literally means shepherds) which Jesus sets over his flock: "I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding" (Jeremiah 3:15). "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof... And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory" (1 Peter 5:2, 4). "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood" (Acts 20:28).

The sheep that are caught and scattered under some shepherds hired by Jesus are the same sheep that Jesus is the good shepherd of and gave his life for: "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep" (John 10:11-12). Pastors hired by Jesus can "become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered" (Jeremiah 10:21). "Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD" (Jeremiah 23:1).

While Jesus' sheep are following his hired pastors they will not follow a stranger, but if their pastor does not watch over them properly and guard them, as Jesus said, "The wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep" (John 10:12). And as Paul said "After my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock" (Acts 20:29). It is at this point, when they are scattered apart and no longer being guarded by any pastor and are being attacked by wolves that the hearts of many of them will turn away from God: "They shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved" (Matthew 24:10-12). "The Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils" (1 Timothy 4:1), and this departure from the faith (the falling away or apostasy) will happen before Jesus comes to rapture us (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3).

I expect Satan will use the failure of the pre-trib rapture to happen as a great weapon against Christians who believed with all their heart that Jesus had promised them a pre-trib rapture. He could say something like: "Jesus promised you that he would whisk you away before the tribulation started, but did he keep his word? No. Just like he kicked poor Adam and Eve out of the garden of Eden to keep them from eating the tree of life and living forever, as it says in Genesis 3:22-23, so even now he doesn't want the best for you; he just wants you and your poor baby to suffer and starve to death for his amusement! You don't believe me? Read it for yourself in Job 9:22-23 and Proverbs 1:26. But look here, I'm not laughing at you, I'm offering you and your baby food to eat. Why? Because unlike him I care about what happens to you. All you need to do is take this little mark on your hand or forehead and worship me and my man here for a little bit and we'll take perfect care of you; and once we're all united we'll storm heaven together and I'll let you eat of the tree of life and live forever and do as you please."

I believe it's possible that some Christians, desperate in their suffering, could fall for this deception, for haven't many already fallen for a false gospel which says Jesus saved them from the tribulation?

"They shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward. And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness" (Isaiah 8:21-22).

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Perfected Forever

"We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified" (Hebrews 10:10-14).

The context doesn't require that we can never fall from grace, never again become imperfect before God, but that Christ's sacrifice by which we are sanctified was for all eternity -- there will never be another sacrifice for sin for our sake.

The writer of Hebrews goes on to say in this same tenth chapter that because of this, if, after we have been sanctified by the blood of Christ, we subsequently trample on it by committing unrepentant sin, we are damned: "For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?" (Hebrews 10:26-29).

Note that it says "he was sanctified," just as "we are sanctified" (Hebrews 10:10).

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Future Sins

"Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past" (Romans 3:25).

Some believe we're already forgiven for future sins. But I believe we won't be forgiven for future sins until we confess them (1 John 1:9, Luke 11:4), sincerely repent from them (Hebrews 10:26-31, 2 Peter 2:20-21, Revelation 2:5), and also forgive others (Matthew 6:15, Luke 11:4).

How can we confess sins we haven't committed yet?

Some say that we need to repent of sins, but only to restore fellowship with God, not to prevent our losing our salvation. But how could our fellowship with God ever be broken if he's already forgiven us for everything?

I believe all forgiveness from God for a sin is both temporal and eternal (Micah 7:19, Psalm 103:12), once we confess it (1 John 1:9, Luke 11:4), sincerely repent from it (Hebrews 10:26-31, 2 Peter 2:20-21, Revelation 2:5), and also forgive others (Matthew 6:15, Luke 11:4).

Some believe the word "confess" in 1 John 1:9 is properly translated "agree with." But this is not necessarily the case. See verses such as Romans 10:9, Matthew 10:32, Luke 12:8, John 12:42, and Acts 24:14, where the same Greek word is translated again as "confess," and where "agree with" wouldn't make as much sense.

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Never Without Sin?

Note that right after 1 John 1:8, John says "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9), so that we can be cleansed from ALL unrighteousness if we confess it; "That the man of God may be perfect" (2 Timothy 3:17); "Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Corinthians 7:1), "faultless before the presence of his glory" (Jude 1:24); "Be ye therefore perfect" (Matthew 5:48).

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"I do that which I would not."

We only sin because we want to. We are never tempted beyond our ability to bear it. There is always a way of escape if we are willing to receive it from God:

"God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).

I believe when Paul said "what I hate, that do I" (Romans 7:15) and "with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin" (Romans 7:25), that he could not have been referring to the situation of someone who is saved, but must have been referring to the situation of someone under the Mosaic law, without the Spirit of Christ:

"The Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:2).

"For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit" (Romans 7:5-6).

"Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live" (Romans 8:12-13).

We can avoid condemnation only if we "walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" (Romans 8:1).

"Make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof" (Romans 13:14).

"Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16).

"That the man of God may be perfect" (2 Timothy 3:17).

"Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Corinthians 7:1).

"Be ye therefore perfect" (Matthew 5:48).

"For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God" (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5).

"Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world" (Titus 2:12).

"I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway" (1 Corinthians 9:27).

"Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:19-21).

"There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness" (Proverbs 30:12).

"They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient" (Titus 1:16).

"As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked" (1 Samuel 24:13).

"Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin" (John 8:34).

"They themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage" (2 Peter 2:19).

"He that committeth sin is of the devil" (1 John 3:8).

"Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do" (John 8:44).

"I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly" (Proverbs 5:14).

"I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness; they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah" (Jeremiah 23:14).

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables" (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death" (Proverbs 14:12, 16:25).

"Now they have no cloak for their sin" (John 15:22).

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What If We Forget A Sin?

I believe if we are his, Jesus lets us know when we've sinned: "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent" (Revelation 3:19).

I believe that Jesus would not let those he loves continue in sin. "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons" (Hebrews 12:6-8).

Some say that while God may chastens his sons, they don't cease to be his sons. I agree. But I believe sons can still lose their salvation, for some of "the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness" (Matthew 8:12).

"The good seed are the children of the kingdom" (Matthew 13:38).

Some ask, what if we die right after doing a sin? I believe God will always give us time to repent: "The Lord... is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent" (Revelation 2:5). "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent" (Revelation 3:19).

But if we are unwilling to repent in the time Jesus gives us before we die, then we will perish (Hebrews 10:26-29).

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How Many Sins Before We Lose Salvation?

I believe 1 act of sin is enough for us to lose our salvation, if we don't repent from it; and 1,000 are not enough, if we repent from them.

I believe if we Christians continue in a sin until death without repentance, then we will be damned: "For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?" (Hebrews 10:26-29) Note that "he was sanctified," just as "we are sanctified" (Hebrews 10:10).

But if we Christians repent from our sins we will not be lost: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent" (Revelation 2:5).

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Wilfully Sinning

Regarding a besetting sin, we must ask ourselves, are we really "honestly" trying not to sin this sin? Have we thrown away everything that leads us into this sin? Have we broken every wrong relationship, so that there is nothing external left to help us commit this sin again? If not, then we haven't truly repented from it.

If we have gotten rid of every external thing that we can related to this sin, have we examined our inward motives for it? Are we angry with God about something, do we hate him deep down for something? For we show our love for Jesus by obeying him (1 John 2:3-5, 5:3).

Have we been baptized in water and had hands laid on us to receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:5-6)? For the burial of water-immersion baptism makes us dead to sin (Romans 6:3-7) and only the indwelling Holy Spirit can keep us from sin (Romans 8:9-14).

I believe some recurring sins are also due to demonic influence. Have we gone to a Pentecostal or charismatic type church and asked for deliverance from the spirit of this sin? Have we prayed and fasted for deliverance from every evil spirit (Mark 9:29)?

I believe that while God himself never tempts us into any sin (James 1:13-15), it's only by God's grace that we can be kept from being tempted (Luke 11:4, 22:40), and it's only by God's grace that we can truly repent from any sin. I believe we need to pray and fast that Jesus would give us true and lasting repentance (2 Timothy 2:25-26) from this sin.

Lack of worship and thankfulness toward God can lead us into heinous sins (Romans 1:21-32), as I believe can judgment of others for sins that we ourselves are kept from being tempted into only by God's grace toward us. We may find that as soon as we judge another for some sin (that is, think within ourselves something to the effect "how disgusting; I myself would never do such a thing") -- that within a few days we'll be doing the exact same sin (Romans 2:1), just to teach us not to judge (Matthew 7:1-5), and not to forget that it is not we who are keeping us from temptation and sin, but our merciful savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Falling Away

I believe Hebrews 6 teaches the loss of salvation through falling away: "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. And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 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. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned" (Hebrews 6:4-8). Note that it says they were made "partakers" of the Holy Spirit, just as it says we are made "partakers" of Christ (Hebrews 3:14) and his heavenly calling (Hebrews 3:1).

I believe falling away is apostasy, where Christians turn away from Jesus: "The Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils" (1 Timothy 4:1); "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first" (2 Thessalonians 2:3); "And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold" (Matthew 24:10-12); compare "From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him" (John [b]6:66[/b]).

Some say a true believer will never turn away from Jesus. But how can someone apostatize from a faith in Jesus they never had? And then how do we know we're a true believer unless we endure to the end (Matthew 24:13)?

"Which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away" (Luke 8:13).

"If we deny him, he also will deny us" (2 Timothy 2:12).

"Whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 10:33).

"Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief" (Hebrews 4:11).

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Keep You From Falling

Jesus "is able to" keep us from falling (Jude 1:24) if we remain willing for him to (John 15:6; 2 Timothy 2:12).

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Suicide

I personally believe suicide is murder, and that it says an unrepentant murderer has no eternal life in him (1 John 3:15). Does it say we can repent after we die? What do you make of 1 John 5:16?

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The Unforgivable Sin

I believe Mark 3:29 says to blaspheme the Holy Spirit is the only unforgivable sin. I believe the context (Mark 3:22-30) shows that this means ascribing to Satan a work done by the Holy Spirit.

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Delivered to Satan

I believe 1 Corinthians 5:1-5 does not refer to the killing of the person that sinned, but to his punishment and subsequent repentance (2 Corinthians 2:4-10).

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The Book Of Life

Note that if we believers "overcome," our names will not to be blotted out of the book of life: "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" (Revelation 3:5-6).

Just as I believe that Revelation 3:5-6 means that those in the church can be blotted out of the book of life if they fail to overcome, so I believe that both Revelation 22:19 KJV ("book of life") and Revelation 22:19 NIV ("tree of life") refer to the loss of eternal life, "lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever" (Genesis 3:22).

Note that the contexts of Genesis 3:22 (KJV) and Revelation 22:19 (NIV) don't change the fact that they are both referring to the same tree of life which causes those who eat of it to "live for ever".

Note that just no scripture says that those in mortal bodies don't need to eat in order to maintain their mortal life, so no scripture says that those in immortal bodies don't need to eat in order to maintain their immortal life, for even angels eat food in heaven (Psalms 78:25, 105:40).

Note also that both Revelation 22:19 KJV and Revelation 22:19 NIV refer to a person's loss of their part in the "holy city," which means that they will be outside of it, and "without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie" (Revelation 22:15).

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Love And Justice

Note that God's love and justice are not mutually exclusive, for in his love for us he gives us warnings that include the possibility of avoiding his certain judgment:

"See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it. But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it. I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them" (Deuteronomy 30:15-20).

"If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it" (Isaiah 1:19-20).

"As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" (Ezekiel 33:11).

"Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3).

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Love Never Fails (1 Corinthians 13:8)

"Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold" (Matthew 24:12).

See Falling Away section above.

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They Were Not Of Us (1 John 2:19)

Note that 1 John 2:19 says "if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us." I believe this is saying the same thing as Hebrews 3, that we have to continue in Christ unto the end if we are to be counted among the saved:

"Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, IF we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end" (Hebrews 3:6).

"IF ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed" (John 8:31).

"For we are made partakers of Christ, IF we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end" (Hebrews 3:14).

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Matthew 7:19-29

Note that in Matthew 7:19-20 the fruit of the tree is the lifestyle of the individual, while the tree itself is the individual himself.

Note that in Matthew 7:19-29 Jesus is not distinguishing between believers and unbelievers, but between those who believe in Jesus but do not obey him (don't bear good fruit, don't do his sayings), and those who believe in Jesus and do obey him (bear good fruit, do his sayings), for "not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21).

Note that those in Matthew 7:23 are not rejected for their good works, but for their sinful works, showing that the obedience required for salvation which Jesus refers to in Matthew 7:21 and which the writer of Hebrews refers to in Hebrews 5:9 includes not only doing good works but also at the same time keeping ourselves from all sinful works (Hebrews 10:26-29).

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Matthew 7:23 - I Never Knew You

Note that the Greek word for "know" used in Matthew 7:23 (ginosko) is the same word used in John 2:24-25 and 5:42, which say that Jesus knows all men, even those who don't have the love of God, for his Spirit is everywhere and knows everything about everyone.

I believe what Jesus meant in Matthew 7:23 was that they had never borne any fruit of righteousness by which he might know them as his servants, for a tree is known by its fruit (Matthew 7:20), and the Lord "knows" the way of the righteous (Psalms 1:6), but Christians who just say the sinner's prayer and get baptized in the Spirit and do miracles, but never stop their sinful practices will be lost (Hebrews 10:26-30).

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Matthew 25:30 - Weeping And Gnashing Of Teeth

"There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out" (Luke 13:28).

"And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 13:42, 50).

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Matthew 25:30 - Outer Darkness

"Thou wicked and slothful servant... Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 25:26, 30).

"Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 22:13).

"The children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 8:12).

"Without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever" (Jude 1:12-13).

"To whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever" (2 Peter 2:17).

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Luke 8:13 -- No Root

Note that "root" in Luke 8:13 doesn't have to refer to Jesus, for "now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire" (Matthew 3:10).

I believe those in Luke 8:13 did have Jesus because they "hear" and "receive the word with joy" and "believe," and "He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life" (John 5:24). Do some believe that those in Acts 4:4 weren't saved: "Many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand"?

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John 3:16

"Should not perish [apollumi; aorist tense, middle voice, subjunctive mood] but have [echo; present tense, active voice, subjunctive mood] everlasting life" (John 3:16).

"The subjunctive mood is the mood of possibility and potentiality. The action described may or may not occur, depending upon circumstances."
(from http://www.blueletterbible.org/tmp_dir/strongs/1044459792-9491.html )

"The middle voice denotes that the subject is both an agent of an action and somehow concerned with the action."
(from http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=1999.04.0052&loc=mid&lang=greek&bytepos=511738&wordcount=1&doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0155&formentry=0 )

"The middle voice indicates the subject performing an action upon himself (reflexive action) or for his own benefit."
(from http://www.blueletterbible.org/tmp_dir/strongs/1044459746-8461.html )

"The active voice represents the subject as the doer or performer of the action."
(from http://www.blueletterbible.org/tmp_dir/strongs/1044462731-6662.html ).

"The active voice denotes that the subject is the agent of an action."
(from http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=1999.04.0052&loc=act&lang=greek&bytepos=511738&wordcount=1&doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0155&formentry=0 )

"Aorist tense is characterized by its emphasis on punctiliar action; that is, the concept of the verb is considered without regard for past, present, or future time."
(from http://www.blueletterbible.org/tmp_dir/strongs/1044459658-1015.html )

"The aorist can express a general truth and, in this case, should be translated as a present."
(from http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=1999.04.0052&loc=aor&lang=greek&bytepos=511738&wordcount=1&doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0155&formentry=0 )

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John 15 -- Branches Cast Into The Fire

Note that in John 15:4-5 Jesus makes clear that he is referring to himself as the vine and to individual believers as individual branches in the vine, so that in John 15:6 when he refers to branches being cast off the vine and cast into the fire he is referring to individuals being cast off from him and being cast into the fire, which his disciples would clearly understand to be the same casting and the same fire as Mark 9:47.

Regarding John 15:10, note that insofar as he is the Son of Man Jesus himself could have potentially rebelled against the Father, "yet learned he obedience" (Hebrews 5:8), for insofar as he is the Son of Man he "was in all points tempted like as we are" (Hebrews 4:15), and a temptation with no possibility of succumbing to it would not be a temptation. This is why insofar as he is the Son of Man even Jesus himself had to submit his will to the will of the Father, saying "not my will, but thine, be done" (Luke 22:42).

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Romans 8:13 - Ye Shall Die

Note that in Romans 8:13 when Paul says "if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die," he must be referring to eternal, spiritual death, the 2nd death, for we know from experience that in regard to physical death "there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness" (Ecclesiastes 7:15). But "he that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death" (Revelation 2:11); we must overcome the sins of the flesh through the Spirit if we are to avoid the 2nd death, "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live" (Romans 8:12-13).

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Romans 11:20-22 - Branches Cut Off

Note that Romans 11:22 refers to individual branches being cut off and losing salvation, just as John 15:6 refers to individual branches being cut off and losing salvation.

Note that the multiple "branches" (plural) in Romans 11:21 represent multiple individuals, not just a single group of people, for Paul doesn't refer to a single branch being broken off, but to only "some" of the multiple natural "branches" (plural) being broken off (Romans 11:17), for Israel has been blinded only "in part" (Romans 11:25) and "at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace" (Romans 11:5), for "the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded" (Romans 11:7).

While believing Gentiles have been grafted into spiritual Israel (Romans 11:17, 4:16; Ephesians 2:12-19, Galatians 3:7-29; John 11:52), any Jew broken off from spiritual Israel can be grafted in again: "They also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graff them in again" (Romans 11:23).

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1 Corinthians 9:27 - Castaway

Note that "castaway" in 1 Corinthians 9:27 is "adokimos," which is always used to refer to those rejected or reprobate in the eyes of God: "That which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned" (Hebrews 6:8); "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" (2 Corinthians 13:5, compare 2 Corinthians 13:6, 2 Corinthians 13:7); "God gave them over to a reprobate mind" (Romans 1:28); "Men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith" (2 Timothy 3:8); "They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate" (Titus 1:16).

Note that Paul cared very little about how men judged him; he cared about how God judged him: "With me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment... he that judgeth me is the Lord" (1 Corinthians 4:3-4).

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Hebrews 3:12-14 - Departing From The Living God

Note that Hebrews 3:12-14 is addressing the brethren. One can't depart from God unless one is already a believer.

See Falling Away section above.

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Hebrews 6:4-8 - Falling Away

Note that Hebrews 6:4-8 says they were made "partakers" of the Holy Spirit, just as it says we are made "partakers" of Christ (Hebrews 3:14) and his heavenly calling (Hebrews 3:1).

Note that the work of faith, "remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love" (1 Thessalonians 1:3), "faith which worketh by love" (Galatians 5:6), "the work of faith with power" (2 Thessalonians 1:11), is not a dead work (Hebrews 6:1), but "faith without works is dead" (James 2:20). This is why we are to "be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises" (Hebrews 6:12), "for he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not" (Galatians 6:8-9); "God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life" (Romans 2:5-7), "wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him" (2 Corinthians 5:9); "He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him" (Hebrews 5:9).

Note that the writer of Hebrews expressly contrasts his description of those things which accompany those who have fallen away in Hebrews 6:6-8 with those "things which accompany salvation" (Hebrews 6:9).

I believe that Hebrews 6:4-8 refers to the burning of those who are lost, just as Matthew 7:19, Matthew 13:40-42, John 15:6 refer to the burning of those who are lost.

Note that in Hebrews 6:7-8, what the land bears is the lifestyle of the individual, while the land itself is the individual himself, and that in Hebrews 6:8 that which is burned is that land which bears thorns and briers, just as in Hebrews 6:7 that which is blessed is that land which bears herbs.

See Falling Away section above.

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Hebrews 10:26-29 - Sinning Wilfully

See "I do that which I would not." Section above.
See Wilfully Sinning Section above.
See Temptation.html

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Hebrews 10:26-29 - He Was Sanctified.

Note that Hebrews 10:26-29 says "he was sanctified," just as "we are sanctified" (Hebrews 10:10).

Some say sanctification doesn't require salvation. But I don't believe someone can be sanctified by Jesus and not be saved: "God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification" (2 Thessalonians 2:13); "To give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified" (Acts 20:32); "That they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me" (Acts 26:18).

I don't believe someone can be sanctified by Jesus and not be part of the church: "Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus" (1 Corinthians 1:2). Note that 1 Corinthians 7:14 doesn't refer to being sanctified by Jesus.

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