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View Full Version : Once a Sheep Always a Sheep, or Salvation Deficit Disorder?



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yogi3939
November 10th, 2009, 07:02 AM
Here is my take on it and it's also Jack Kinsella's and Hal Lindseys take:

Now we come to the question posed about the Bema Seat. The Bema Seat is where we are judged as servants. The only ones at this judgment are believers. This judgment takes place after the Rapture. The basis for this judgment is not grace, but works.

Now this is critical to understanding the whole scene: what is at stake is not salvation, but rewards.

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." (2nd Corinthians 5:10 (http://biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=KJV&passage=2+Corinthians+5%3A10))

The Scriptures say that every one of us will give an account of ourselves before the Lord, either as a sinner before the Great White Throne, or as a servant at the Bema Seat.

The Scripture is clear: one day I will stand before the Lord at the Bema Seat where I will also be called to give account for every idle word spoken. I will not be punished for it but I've no doubt I will suffer great shame.

There will be the Lord, with the nail holes in His Hands and Feet, with the spear wound in His side, all five wounds received by Him on my behalf.

And there I will stand, explaining why it was too hard for me. . . yes, there will be great shame. And judgment. But no punishment.

That is the part that the Lord 'forgets'. The Bema Seat judgment is not for sin, but for service. How well did you serve?

We can't lose our Salvation...that is a gift bestowed upon us by Jesus because we have accepted and believed in Him. Our service to others here upon this earth is what is judged at the Bema Seat. There will be much shame and embarrassment, but we won't lose our Eternal life with Jesus. Many will walk away with nothing to show, but will still have their Eternal Security intact. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." (1st Corinthians 3:13-15)

This is one of the best answers I have recieved so far. The reason I posited the original question (if you are confused try to find my first post in this MERGED thread. It is post #3222) is because I know I was saved and it was, and still is, a life altering event. But I am still somewhat a product of my past and any of you that have seen how the mods occasionally have to kick my butt (but lovingly I am sure) you will know that even though I am saved I still have some rough edges that need a little more smoothing by the Lord. So the question of what the results will be of a continued sin nature are important to me. While I may not look so much like a real bible thumping Christian today, if you had known me before salvation you would agree that the new me is at least a 1000% improvement over the pre salvation me. Fortunately, I have some really good role models to try to follow in the church I attend now. They are more Godly in their walk with the Lord than I will ever be but they are an inspiration to me to try to improve myself every day of my life.

Christina
November 10th, 2009, 07:49 AM
I don't really have much to say that hasn't already been said but for those who find themselves going through difficulties and feel that God is nowhere to be found, PLEASE rest assured that if you know Jesus as your personal Savior, HE IS THERE!

We don't always understand why we go through the things we do (at the time) and it can be really easy to cry out "Lord, where are you?" but know that Jesus said He will NEVER leave us nor forsake us. It is US who fail when we doubt our Father, it is US who fail when we accuse Him of ignoring us because it isn't the Lord, it is US who are walking away, it is us who are ignoring Him.

I went through a rough life for 22 years and for the first 6 years of those 22 I can't remember how many times I yelled at God, how many times I accused Him of turning His back on me, how many times I accused Him of not loving me, of forgetting about me, of abandoning me when I needed Him the most and all along it was ME who turned my back on Him, it was ME who abandoned Him....He was there all along, He was just waiting patiently (I wish I had the Lord's patience) for me to come back to Him.

When we go through trials and tribulations it's because the Lord is either trying to show us the right path or we are being refined. The Bible even says in Romans 12:12 ~ "Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;" and in Romans 5:3 ~ "And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;" (I wonder if when we ask the Lord for patience He sends us tribulations since the Bible says tribulations work patience :thinking).

There is so much that we don't see when we are IN the tribulation or trial, we have to remember to search for Him when we are going through tough times, not just assume He took a vacation from us (although I'm sure He'd love a short vacation from a few of us...lol:lol2).

When "you" are down and out, LOOK for Him, SEEK Him out, SEARCH for Him, He is ALWAYS there waiting with open arms to sweep us up and comfort us, to wipe our tears away, to soothe the wounds, His love is endless :hug

HeIsEnough
November 10th, 2009, 05:42 PM
(but lovingly I am sure)

I'm sure I can speak for all the mods to say that is the goal, yogi. :thumb

ae123
November 10th, 2009, 06:56 PM
That White Throne and Bema Seat stuff is good. Is that from the Bible? It's always been my belief that the righteous must have something to show for their works. And that the wicked and everyone in between will also be given according to their works, in some fashion, post redemption, or in other words, after our grace obtained through Christ. Kinda sounds something like pergatory, to a lesser degree with regards to the suffering, shame, and guilt to be experienced apart from earth because of one's sins.

The thing I've come to believe is that after a couple thousand years we'll all look more like one another, one way or another, but the dignity earned through obedience to righteousness will be something we will always have, and that a lackthereof could always be held against us, if only as a reminder of the righteousness, through suffering, and love, of God, made known through and seen in Jesus.

RefinedbyFire
November 10th, 2009, 10:52 PM
This is one of the best answers I have recieved so far. The reason I posited the original question (if you are confused try to find my first post in this MERGED thread. It is post #3222) is because I know I was saved and it was, and still is, a life altering event. But I am still somewhat a product of my past and any of you that have seen how the mods occasionally have to kick my butt (but lovingly I am sure) you will know that even though I am saved I still have some rough edges that need a little more smoothing by the Lord. So the question of what the results will be of a continued sin nature are important to me. While I may not look so much like a real bible thumping Christian today, if you had known me before salvation you would agree that the new me is at least a 1000% improvement over the pre salvation me. Fortunately, I have some really good role models to try to follow in the church I attend now. They are more Godly in their walk with the Lord than I will ever be but they are an inspiration to me to try to improve myself every day of my life.

It's actually encouraging reading your post, as I often struggle with myself, having this ideal of an ultra "godly man" in my mind, that I so deeply want to live up to, to please God, and I fall short in different ways.

I know my past is wiped away, and so I try not to look back at it -- because I can absolutely cringe when I do. Jesus has healed me from so much, and truly restored me, but sometimes, I feel like I have an "emotional problem", or something, from so much drama I went through in the past (and the way I often reacted it, and to life in general, that wasn't pleasing to God, being really negative and stuff).

I can do pretty well at times, and other times, I feel like my emotions can get the best of me -- and negativity feels like it is trying to creep back. My mind can get so heavy with thoughts, and emotional pain, at times. Maybe it is all the result of my past sin?? I need prayer. But, thankfully, when I call to Jesus, He does bring me perfect peace. It is probably the enemy attacking me.

It is kind of a "Catch 22" because we have to realize that He loves us as we are, and it is unconditional -- but we are also supposed to still be growing in grace and knowledge, and strive to be perfect, as the Father in Heaven is perfect.

I just want to be pleasing to Him in every way, and it is so difficult at times. I've heard people say "Just let go...and let God." I know what they mean, and I tell the Lord stuff like "I can't be good on my own. Any goodness in me comes from You alone." So, the Lord does live through me, I know He does, and is there with me. I have a healthy fear of God, too, and sometimes I think I can struggle with a fear of God ready to punish me for any mistake I make -- when the reality is, He is a loving, patient Heavenly Father. The Holy Spirit reminds me that if He loved me back when I was "prodigal", and His love flooded into my life the moment I turned to Him, then of course, He loves me now, as I grow in my walk -- even as I fall short. Balancing that healthy fear of God, as you walk with Jesus, and feel His perfect love, is sure an interesting, fulfilling walk.

tekton
November 10th, 2009, 11:58 PM
I guess at some point we have all made the same mistake the Galatians did thinking we had to perfect ourselves.

Gal 3:3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Good for us that God who started the good work in us will also complete it.

Php 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Hootmon
November 11th, 2009, 02:49 AM
I guess at some point we have all made the same mistake the Galatians did thinking we had to perfect ourselves.

Gal 3:3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Good for us that God who started the good work in us will also complete it.

Php 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.We should all be careful of the archaic term 'perfect', seeing how it is closer to the modern meaning of 'complete'.

Chuck Taylorz
November 11th, 2009, 12:01 PM
Once saved always saved, is wrong!!
Hebrews 10:26-31..

Blood Bought
November 11th, 2009, 12:11 PM
Once saved always saved, is wrong!!
Hebrews 10:26-31..

Read the context of Hebrews 10.

First, it's directly to Hebrews. Second, in context, it's a warning not to fall back to sacrifices. We all have the once for all sacrifice in Jesus Christ.

Wally
November 11th, 2009, 12:11 PM
Hebrews 10:26-31 (King James Version)

26For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

27But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.


The sin here is the continued sin of unbelief.


John 18:9
that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none.”

John 10:28
And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.