Questions On Remaining Saved

Answer This is a most controversial question although the Scriptures are plain. Yes, even though we have become Christians if we are not careful, we can lose our faith, live in such a way that we can be lost after once being saved. The Scriptures teach that faith is an obedient response to the word of God that displays trusting in God.

ROM 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

HEB 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

But, faith is something that we do and then god responds to us according to what He has done for us - Jesus shedding His blood for our sins. It is our choice as to how we will live and there are many warning to Christians about not going back to the old way of life, that is a life that is not of faith, leading to destruction. Here are just a couple of passages.

1CO 10:6 Now these things happened as examples for us, that we should not crave evil things, as they also craved.
1CO 10:7 And do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play."
1CO 10:8 Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day.
1CO 10:9 Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents.
1CO 10:10 Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.
1CO 10:11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
1CO 10:12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
1CO 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.
1CO 10:14 ś Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

2PE 2:20 For if after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.
2PE 2:21 For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment delivered to them.
2PE 2:22 It has happened to them according to the true proverb, "A dog returns to its own vomit,"and, "A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire."

HEB 3:12 Take care, brethren, lest there should be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart, in falling away from the living God.
HEB 3:13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today,"lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
HEB 3:14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end;
HEB 3:15 while it is said, "Today if you hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts, as when they provoked Me."
HEB 3:16 For who provoked Him when they had heard? Indeed, did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses?
HEB 3:17 And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
HEB 3:18 And to whom did He swear that they should not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient?
HEB 3:19 And so we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.
HEB 4:1 Therefore, let us fear lest, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it.
HEB 4:2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.

In all of these passages, Christians are warned not to follow examples of those who became disobedient after they once had been acceptable to God. The results would be to their destruction.

We should be secure in our faith, as long as we are striving to serve the Lord by obeying Him. And, when we fail to obey, we must repent and confess to Him those sins so that we might be forgiven. As long as we humbly walk with the Lord, we can be secure in Christ. Faith involves our continuous response to His word. Note the following passage especially verses 13 and 15.

LUK 8:11 "Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God.
LUK 8:12 "And those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they may not believe and be saved.
LUK 8:13 "And those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away.
LUK 8:14 "And the seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
LUK 8:15 "And the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance. Contact Gary

Question 2. Define assurance of salvation.

Answer We all want to be assured of salvation, and I believe we can be without doubt concerning our relationship to God. Let's look at some passages of scripture.

ASV Act 17:30 The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent: 31 inasmuch as he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

Paul speaking to the Athenians on Mars Hill tells them that God commands that all men need to repent of sin. Why? Because judgement day is coming, and Christ will be the judge. Proof or assurance of this is the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Assurance #1 is judgement is coming.

Next look at ASV Col 2:2 that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, (even) Christ,

In this context Paul comforts the Colossian Christians, reminding them that they can be assured that the true knowledge of God's mystery is in Christ. Also they were to "walk in Him" (Col. 2:6), they were complete in Him (Col. 2:10), they had been buried with Him in baptism (Col.

2:12), then they were forgiven of all their trespasses (Col. 2:13). Assurance #2 is forgiveness of all our trespasses is in baptism.

Next see ASV Heb 5:9 and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation;

The writer to the Hebrews makes it plain, Assurance #3 - Eternal salvation is to all those who obey Christ. Jesus Christ said in ASV Mar 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned. Jesus is very plain, Assurance #4 - Salvation to him who believes and is baptized.

Lastly look at ASV 1Jo 1:7 but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin. As long as we walk in the Light (Jesus Christ) we have fellowship with him.

In general we can be assured of salvation when we obey Christ, and continue to walk in Him. Contact Larry

Question 3. I am for a way in the bible that I can learn to forgive myself. And in doing so maybe I can learn to forgive others. My question is where in the Bible can I turn for help?

Answer Yes, the Bible speaks much about forgiveness, but very little about forgiving ourselves. However, we might be able to imply some things about forgiving ourselves from what we do find in the New Testament.

The basic idea is, we need to receive God's forgiveness because we have committed sins against Him. It is these sins that cause us to fall short of His glory and under His just condemnation. See Rom. 3:23, 6:23.

However, through Jesus and His sacrifice, God extends His mercy toward us so that we might be forgiven of our sins as we obey the gospel. This happens when we respond to Jesus in the way that the apostles revealed to us. When done, we receive forgiveness from God. See Mat. 26:28-28, Acts 2:36-38.

After receiving forgiveness from God, we can then live with ourselves, knowing that our sins are no longer held against us by God, and we can also forgive others because we know that God has forgiven us. See Mat. 18:21-35, Eph. 4:32. Contact Gary

Question 4. I have been troubled by this verse and the 2 verses that follow it. Hebrews 10:26-28 >After I was saved, I understand I now have an advocate with the Father, but I just don't understand these verses. Who was Paul talking to when this was writen and what does he mean when he writes "there remaineth no more >sacrifice for sins"?

Answer First let me answer your question about who the author of Hebrews was talking to. ASV Heb 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, (even) Jesus; So the author (it was probably Paul, but the book doesn't contain the name of the author) is talking to "holy brethren". Heb 10:23 indicates he is speaking to brethren.ASV Heb 10:23 let us hold fast the confession of our hope that it waver not; for he is faithful that promised:

So, the writer is speaking to Christians and plainly says that they are to hold fast - persevere. If they don't, verse 26 says the sacrifice of Jesus will not continue to apply and the brother who continues in sin will be judged and condemned.

I suspect that your trouble from this verse comes from a prevalent denominational teaching that once a person is saved, he is always saved. This passage definitely teaches otherwise. Sin can separate one from God who initially obeys Christ. The initial obedience that I refer to is Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned. Your reference to an advocate is pertinent. ASV 1Jo 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you that ye may not sin. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 and he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the whole world. 3 And hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. Yes, Christians have Jesus as an advocate, but we must keep his commandments.

What do you think? Contact Larry

Question 5. Please explain your thoughts and belief concerning Hebrews 10:26.Does this mean if we wilfully sin after being saved, we cannot be forgiven considering that there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin.If this does not mean this what does it mean in your words?