Comments on: The Permanence of Salvation http://www.aleethia.com/the-permanence-of-salvation/ "The LORD will march out like a mighty man, like a warrior he will stir up his zeal; with a shout he will raise the battle cry and will triumph over his enemies." Isaiah 42.13 Sun, 14 Jun 2009 11:42:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Brance http://www.aleethia.com/the-permanence-of-salvation/comment-page-1/#comment-337 Brance Sun, 14 Jun 2009 11:42:39 +0000 http://aleethia.com/wordpress/?p=5#comment-337 First, you're creating a "what if" scenario that Scripture doesn't, so let's not go there. Second, I understand you're objection. You've seen someone who seemed dedicated to the Lord and then turned his back on it and walked away. You don't want to accept that the person may never have been a Christian to begin with, but listen to Jesus on this one. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'" (Matt 7:21-23) Even though these people did all these things and seemed dedicated to the Lord, and never turned away from it, they still weren't Christians. Jesus doesn't say he knew them at one time, but then they walked away, or he knew them at one time and then they lost it due to sin. He says he <b>never</b> knew them. It is possible for someone to appear to be a Christian, to work in ministry, and not know the Lord at all. That is a sobering thought. Let's not let it worry us needlessly about our own salvation, but do let it sober us to the seriousness of knowing Christ and him crucified. And if that is possible, then certainly it is possible that someone could appear to be a Christian minister, and have themselves and those around them convinced, and not know the Lord at all. For this reason we should constantly be applying the gospel to our lives and hearts. It is the power of God for salvation, and the fuel of our sanctification. First, you’re creating a “what if” scenario that Scripture doesn’t, so let’s not go there.

Second, I understand you’re objection. You’ve seen someone who seemed dedicated to the Lord and then turned his back on it and walked away. You don’t want to accept that the person may never have been a Christian to begin with, but listen to Jesus on this one.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” (Matt 7:21-23)

Even though these people did all these things and seemed dedicated to the Lord, and never turned away from it, they still weren’t Christians. Jesus doesn’t say he knew them at one time, but then they walked away, or he knew them at one time and then they lost it due to sin. He says he never knew them.

It is possible for someone to appear to be a Christian, to work in ministry, and not know the Lord at all. That is a sobering thought. Let’s not let it worry us needlessly about our own salvation, but do let it sober us to the seriousness of knowing Christ and him crucified.

And if that is possible, then certainly it is possible that someone could appear to be a Christian minister, and have themselves and those around them convinced, and not know the Lord at all. For this reason we should constantly be applying the gospel to our lives and hearts. It is the power of God for salvation, and the fuel of our sanctification.

]]> By: Dennis http://www.aleethia.com/the-permanence-of-salvation/comment-page-1/#comment-300 Dennis Wed, 22 Apr 2009 19:52:02 +0000 http://aleethia.com/wordpress/?p=5#comment-300 I have one question and it comes from the parable of the prodigal son. What would have happened had the son never came back? He was a true member of the family but what if he had died in the pig sty he was working in? I understand the concept of "well if he walked away from Christ, he must never have belonged.", but I knew a man who dedicated his life to Christ through ministry but toward the end he denied God altogether. Seems to me, even a believer can turn his back on God. I have one question and it comes from the parable of the prodigal son. What would have happened had the son never came back? He was a true member of the family but what if he had died in the pig sty he was working in?
I understand the concept of “well if he walked away from Christ, he must never have belonged.”, but I knew a man who dedicated his life to Christ through ministry but toward the end he denied God altogether. Seems to me, even a believer can turn his back on God.

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