Once a Sheep Always a Sheep, or Salvation Deficit Disorder?

[TomSki]

"Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist—he denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also." (1 John 2:18-23)

[vemee]

cid03, thanks for the reply I will have to think about Hebrews 6 more because I really don't interpret it the same way as you but I will keep in mind what you say and it will be helpful in looking at all the other verses I mentioned in Hebrews. Tomski, thanks I was looking for that verse

[LightOfMyLife]

"Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist—he denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also." (1 John 2:18-23) :wave Jesus paid the price for past, present, & future sins. It is paid in full meaning done. I believe in eternal security that we can't lose our salvation. After we are saved, there will be evidence of fruit in our lives. In heaven we will be rewarded according to our good deeds, but he isn't going to kick us out of heaven because we don't have enough good ones. I John 5:10-13 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. :yeah Love, Janice

[CID03]

cid03, thanks for the reply I will have to think about Hebrews 6 more because I really don't interpret it the same way as you but I will keep in mind what you say and it will be helpful in looking at all the other verses I mentioned in Hebrews. Tomski, thanks I was looking for that verse

Here a couple of articles by a well respected pastor, Jack Kelley. It's a very good read. Also, I used to believe just like you, so dive in and don't stop until you are satisfied. God doesn't want us to be confused.

Hebrews 6
http://gracethrufaith.com/selah/falling-away-a-study-of-hebrews-6/

Hebrews 10
http://gracethrufaith.com/ask-a-bible-teacher/osas-and-hebrews-10/

[vemee]

Here is an article by a well respected pastor, Jack Kelley. It's a very good read. Also, I used to believe just like you, so dive in and don't stop until you are satisfied. God doesn't want us to be confused.

http://gracethrufaith.com/selah/falling-away-a-study-of-hebrews-6/

Thanks

[CID03]

and added another article

[vemee]

cid03, thank you for the articles, after reading them I still think the referenced passages are speaking about salvation instead of fellowship. However, they gave me a new look as to what is going on in the verses and I think I am making progress. Like you said earlier, Hebrews was written to the Jewish Church that was being tempted to go back to the law in order to avoid persecution; the same was happening in Galatia with the Christian gentiles who were trying to be coerced into circumcision. In Galatians 5:4 Paul tells the Galatians " you have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by the law; you have fallen from grace." The passages in Hebrews that I sited and the one in Galatians are talking about trying to be saved through a means of salvation other than the Cross. When Jesus says In John 3:16 that whosoever believes in him should not perish, the eternal security question revolves around believing in him for salvation. Sin although it does break fellowship with God and hardens the heart against God does not negate grace. However, Hebrews 3:7-19 warns of sin hardening the heart and causing a departure from God in unbelief. To me this issue of eternal security is now different, does eternal security protect you even if you stop believing in Christ? Probably the main argument to this will go to how can someone with the Holy Spirit deny Christ?

I hope I made some sense I'm falling asleep so my eloquence is lacking.

[CID03]

cid03, thank you for the articles, after reading them I still think the referenced passages are speaking about salvation instead of fellowship. However, they gave me a new look as to what is going on in the verses and I think I am making progress. Like you said earlier, Hebrews was written to the Jewish Church that was being tempted to go back to the law in order to avoid persecution; the same was happening in Galatia with the Christian gentiles who were trying to be coerced into circumcision. In Galatians 5:4 Paul tells the Galatians " you have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by the law; you have fallen from grace." The passages in Hebrews that I sited and the one in Galatians are talking about trying to be saved through a means of salvation other than the Cross. When Jesus says In John 3:16 that whosoever believes in him should not perish, the eternal security question revolves around believing in him for salvation. Sin although it does break fellowship with God and hardens the heart against God does not negate grace. However, Hebrews 3:7-19 warns of sin hardening the heart and causing a departure from God in unbelief. To me this issue of eternal security is now different, does eternal security protect you even if you stop believing in Christ? Probably the main argument to this will go to how can someone with the Holy Spirit deny Christ?

I hope I made some sense I'm falling asleep so my eloquence is lacking.

Again,
I am not a scholar in this area. However, it is likely they never were really saved then. There are tons of verses in the bible guaranteeing eternal security. I am heading out the door to work and can't list them, but just read the book of John and those words come out of our Lord's mouth.

[HeIsEnough]

the book of Hebrews was written to Jewish readers. I've heard it said that in Hebrews 6, they were trying to go back to the law by daily sacrifices for their sins. The writer of hebrews was telling them this would be of no use to them as they would be sacrificing the son of God over and over again, since he is the lamb of God. In hebrews 10, he is warning them to not pass up the only sacrifice for sin in Jesus Christ, instead of relying on the law. 2 Peter is speaking about false teachers, I believe. Someone with more knowledge than me can expound on this.


You actually did a fine summation. :thumb

[CID03]

You actually did a fine summation. :thumb

Thanks, I appreciate that.:hat