ETERNAL SECURITY?

ETERNAL SECURITY?

The cost of salvation has always been the same. For Adam and Eve God himself provided a blood sacrifice on their behalf (Gen. 3:21). This was certainly no fashion statement. And if it was only for a covering against the cold Adam could have done it. This was an offering for sin. And Cain and Abel made sacrifices too. The only one God accepted was the blood sacrifice of Abel (Gen. 4:1ff). Why? Because, to remove the penalty of sin there must be a blood sacrifice (Lev. 17:11). The O.T. teaches us that God was planning all along to provide that sacrifice for us. It was teaching us that Jesus would be the sacrifice we needed (Gal. 3:22-26).

But God’s laws required the offering to be made in a way that we were totally incapable of doing. We needed a spotless offering, made by a holy and sinless high priest, in God’s temple and on His altar in Heaven. You will find this expressed in Hebrew 8-10 (particularly read, 8:1-2; 9:11-12; 9:24-26; 10:10).

If that is what it takes to save you, what would it take to lose your salvation? That is the question Paul asks his Jewish friends in Heb. 6:4-6. Allow me to paraphrase, “It is impossible, if a person were truly saved (v.4,5), and if they lost that salvation, to ever regain salvation because they would need another sacrifice (v.6).” You see, Paul is saying that if you lost your salvation the only way to regain it would be to re-sacrifice Christ; and God will never allow such a thing. He states the case in Hebrews 10:26-29. The Jews had taught that Christ forgave past sin but willful, outright sin after conversion required the temple sacrifices be continued for future forgiveness.

Listen to Paul’s explanation:

Heb 10:26 For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, (no other sacrifice can work if Christ’s sacrifice was insufficient. His sacrifice cleanses from past, present and future sin or…not at all.)

Heb 10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. (If his sacrifice was ineffective hell is inevitable)

Heb 10:28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

Heb 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?  (“trodden under foot” and “counted the blood of the covenant…an unholy thing” is the unstated attitude of the person who feels they need something in addition to Christ’s sacrifice.) 

Remember the question leading the above paragraph, “If that is what it takes to save you, what would it take to lose your salvation?” Adam, in a sinless state, committed one act of disobedience. He simply ate of the tree that God had restricted. In that one act of disobedience he condemned all of humanity (Romans 5:12ff) for all of eternity. If we can lose salvation it will be lost with our very first act of disobedience. And according to what we saw in the above passages we can never reclaim it because we would need to re-sacrifice Christ which would “put him to an open shame.”

Also, if a person is truly saved God made a down payment on their soul. He put within each of us His Holy Spirit, a promise that He would come again and claim us as His very own (Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:15-16) and God has never lost a down payment yet.

Now look at Romans 8:29-39 God knows all things and so He knows who will or will not be saved. (I believe He “knows” but does not “determine” who will be saved; a study I will not get into here.) So, He does everything necessary to secure our salvation and safe arrival in Heaven. He predetermined that we would be like Christ, and placed us in right standing before Himself (justified) and has already glorified us. And if that is not enough look at verses 31-33. Who can stand against us? God gives us everything we need to remain His child. Who can say we have sinned? Only God, and He is the one who said we are in right standing with Him (v.33). Who can condemn us? Only Christ, but he is the one who died for us, was raised as proof of our forgiveness, and now intercedes on our behalf before God (v.34). So, then what can separate us from God’s love which is ours in Christ? Nobody, nothing, ever, anywhere (v. 35-39).

You see, God had a plan that one day he would have a people who would stand before him holy, blameless and in a loving relationship and he would accomplish that through his son Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:1-13). Through the blood sacrifice of His son all who would believe will, assuredly, stand holy and blameless before God bringing glory to God for his love and grace in saving us.

Have you noticed that in all this discussion there has been no mention of what “we” do? “He” planned it, “He” enacted it, and by His Holy Spirit “He” sealed it. His plan will not fail because none of it depends upon us or our ability. It is simply a matter of trusting that God really does love us that much (John 3:16).

See also: http://christxalted.blogspot.com/2016/01/how-to-be-born-again.html

Disappointments and God

Disappointments and God

I was appalled when Obama was first inaugurated as President of the United States. I couldn’t quite wrap my mind around the reality that a vast number of people in this country had been so foolish. How could they justify electing a president solely on the color of his skin (little or no background was released at the time)? But imagine my consternation when it happened the second time. This time his extreme anti-American sentiments were on-the-table. His hatred of Israel was apparent. As much as the media did to hide his background it still leaked out. This time it was obvious to me that the world was about to end, civilization as we knew it would dissolve into a quagmire of human depravity.

Here we are 8 years after the first entrance into the White House of an Arab born, dark skinned (not African) liberal, anti-American, anti-Semite president (my own opinions) and we still exist. Some harm was done. But we still exist.

So, what happened? It takes more than one president to destroy a nation. One president can create problems, serious problems, but he has a legislative and a judicial branch of government to deal with as well as a nation of citizens with voting rights, the right to free speech and the right to petition and to demonstrate in public. And in America many of those citizens and government officials still pray.

When Obama first took office, I was dismayed. But, I did not need psychological intervention, a 'safe zone' or medical assistance to get me through. I did not seek group therapy. The other day I saw a video clip of a young man emotionally collapsed on the street crying out in despair at the inauguration of President Trump. I thought to myself, “What is the difference between us? I clearly had similar thoughts when Obama took office but outwardly I was calm. So, why such a different reaction?”

First, we must have had far different home lives. Mom’s help in my childhood took me through a 

lifetime. Mom spanked us when we disobeyed but I never laid my head on my pillow and night and wondered if I was loved. Mom didn’t coddle me. She hugged me…lots. She sat on my bedside at night expressing her love for me. She held me as tight as she could when she had no ability to stop the pain in circumstances that just seemed overwhelming to her. But she did not coddle me. If I bruised a knee she ignored it or told me to get up and go play. If I lost at some game or other she simply said to try harder next time and practice more. She taught me that sometimes others will do better than I do and that not everyone wins. Mom taught me that I should be happy for, and encourage, those who excel beyond my abilities and efforts. Dealing with the disappointments and general hardships of life seemed to be on Mom’s daily lesson planner for her children. She taught us well. Sadly, today too few families teach their children to cope with disappoints in life. Everything isn’t fair. Everyone doesn’t win. Sometimes the worst really does happen and we simply must go on with life.

Second, we must have had far different spiritual lives. God’s Word took me through a lifetime of myriad obstacles. I learned very early in my spiritual youth that God is in control even when I think he doesn’t seem to care. I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been for the young man in the video clip to have his only hope dashed in front of his eyes. When Obama took office his opponents were never my only hope. I hoped that our president would make wise decisions, that he would help to restore morality to a corrupt society and that his policies would ensure safety for our nation. With Obama that was all gone. In my mind that hope was shattered at his first, and disintegrated at his second, inauguration. But my hope was in Christ not in Obama. God was, and is, still in charge. These men that we place in office, whether it is Trump or Obama or any other man, will only be able to do what God allows. I have God as my hope. Clearly, and sadly, the young man in the video did not. So, when his hope was dashed his meaningless future became too bleak to endure.

When Obama took office I went to prayer. I knew that my God was still in control. When Israel was under the oppression of Pharaoh it had to be far worse for them than it was for us in America under Obama. People seem to lose hope when an ungodly leader sits in Washington. But think how it must have been Israel. What Israel was missing, what she could not see, was God’s plan. God used Pharaoh to move Israel out of Egypt and eventually into their own nation. He used an ungodly leader and severe oppression for one of Israel’s greatest blessings.

Instead of crying and weeping in despair over leaders we do not like maybe we should pray that God will bless their decisions in a way that will prosper the Church. Learn to cope with the disappointments in life while looking for the hand of God. The greatest blessing of all may be just beyond the darkest storm.

God is still in control.