30/12/2021
ETERNAL SALVATION??..
Part 1
"For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The LORD will judge His people." It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” NKJV
To several Christians, these verses have been tagged ANTI ETERNAL SECURITY verses. I think it is out of place to be so learned in the word of God that we begin to look out for certain verses of the bible as counters for other verses of the bible. We are so scripturally unlettered that we attempt to make God’s word, work against God’s word in a very clever way. I was just thinking of the logical rationale of seeking verses that negate a thing as fundamental as ONCE SAVED FOREVER SAVED!
We must learn from the verses above and be educated, as these verses are not anti eternal security in anyway. The very first thing that I think that we should note about these verses is that if they truly suggest that once a Christian sins willfully, there is no more repentance, or Christ’s sacrifice for his sins, then no Christian on earth can make it through with God because there is no man on earth who does not sin.
I know, and not only this, I have also met a number of Christians who would justify themselves on the ground of being free from grievous sins like adultery, may be because they are married, impotent or lack luster; justify themselves to be free from lying because they are now full-grown humans, who have become self-dependent, but the question is this, can these same set of people justify themselves on all grounds of all possible sins, like doubts, unbelief, knowing to do good, and not doing it, keeping all the laws and commandments of God through Christ blameless?
Rom 14:23 “But the man who has doubts (misgivings, an uneasy conscience) about eating, and then eats [perhaps because of you], stands condemned [before God], because he is not true to his convictions and he does not act from faith. For whatever does not originate and proceed from faith is sin [whatever is done without a conviction of its approval by God is sinful]. AMP
If Heb. 10:26-29 claim that there can never be repentance after a Christian sins willfully, and possible forgiveness, then, several verses that we have ever read, exposing repentance to us, and assuring us of God’s forgiveness become useless or meaningless. We find an example below:
1 John 2:1-2 “ MY LITTLE children, I write you these things so that you may not violate God's law and sin. But if anyone should sin, we have an Advocate (One Who will intercede for us) with the Father — [it is] Jesus Christ [the all] righteous [upright, just, Who conforms to the Father's will in every purpose, thought, and action]. And He [that same Jesus Himself] is the propitiation (the atoning sacrifice) for our sins, and not for ours alone but also for [the sins of] the whole world.” AMP
We also find II Cor 5:10 . “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” NIV By simple inference, the Child of God who has done even a bad thing in his body will appear before God’s judgement seat (seat of reward) to receive the reward for things done in his body, though bad!
How do these verses and several others work with a total impossibility of repentance and possible forgiveness in Christ? How do the verses at Heb. 10:26-29 align with redemption, if the claim is the impossibility of forgiveness?
The truth is that Heb. 10:26-29 does not claim that there is no possibility of repentance, and also a corresponding possibility of forgiveness if a Christian sins willfully, instead, it states that there is no more sacrifice for sins if an unbeliever despises, or rejects the blood of Christ that brings sanctification and redemption to humanity.
The verses do not speak about sinning as a Christian, but REJECTING THE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST’S BLOOD! It is impossible or contradictory to say that the Christian has rejected the blood of Jesus because he has committed a sin, and this is because it is by the blood of Jesus, that the Christian has become a Christian.
Eph. 1:7 “In Him we have redemption (deliverance and salvation) through His blood, the remission (forgiveness) of our offenses (shortcomings and trespasses), in accordance with the riches and the generosity of His gracious favor.” AMP
Col 1:14-15 “In Whom we have our redemption through His blood, [which means] the forgiveness of our sins.”AMP
The Christian is blood bought and redeemed, so we can never make a logical reasoning out of a fact like, he is rejecting Christ’s blood. The unbeliever however who in spite of the knowledge of God’s forgiveness through Christ who decides not to give his life to this sacrificial work of atonement is the person despising the blood of Jesus Christ.
(We'll conclude this series tomorrow)
I hope it blesses you?....
•Leroy ministries