Bible Questions and Answers

Thanks for your question.

Are you allowing your theological notion of “once saved always saved” to override what scripture plainly teaches?  I notice that you did not address one of the scriptural points I raised in my Email. 

What I read in your response is that if salvation in Christ is not offered on your terms, you don’t want it.  It’s not for nothing that Jesus said, “Take up your cross and follow me.”  Paul said, “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” [1 Cor. 9:27 NKJV  “disqualified” is translated as “cast away” in the KJV.] Paul knew that if he were to leave the circle of God’s grace he would not be saved. If that is true of Paul, it is certainly true of us. 

Obedience is required but not as a way to “earn” salvation it is the evidence of our transformation in Christ.  “Faith without works is dead” and “I will show you my faith by my works” says James in his epistle. 

The Lord Jesus said in Matthew 5:31-46  31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32  And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36  Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 41  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43  I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

44  Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45  Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46  And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

The Bible clearly teaches that we shall be held accountable for what we do and fail to do in the day of Judgement.

Matthew 7:21-23 21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 

Works do not save but the saved person works.

Why would you come to Christ? That is not a wise question. Just because what the Bible really teaches does not conform to the false teaching with which you are burdened does not mean that he can’t give you eternal life. On the contrary, it is his good pleasure to do that.  For your part, you must take up your cross too and “crucify the flesh with its passions and desires.”  Galatians 5:24. 

We are not expected to walk perfectly. Our savior knows that is impossible. What he does expect is that we will make “every effort” – see 2 Peter 1:5 – to grow in Christ and obey him first of all no matter what the cost. It is important to stay within the circle of God’s grace and do the things that identify us as His children.  As the Lord himself said:

“You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” John 15:14

I hope you have found this helpful.

God bless!
Mike,
www.thisisyourbible.com