I was recently discussing how salvation and forgiveness work with some friends on Facebook. Some of them say that when we get saved, God forgives all of our sins even our FUTURE sins that we haven't committed yet, which frees us up to do any sin. For example, I believe that if you become a Christian and repent of your sins and then turn around and kill somebody, then you need to repent again and ask God for forgiveness. If you don't, then you'll go to hell. They say that it's unnecessary to ask for forgiveness a second time, because God has already forgiven your future sins. In other words, a backslider is forgiven because he got saved previously. Once you get saved, it's like you get a never-expiring ticket to heaven. You can do anything you want, sin all you want, and you'll still go to heaven. This is so wrong.!
�Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways,� says the Lord God.
�Repent, AND turn
from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. Ezekiel 18:30 Is this a command to do two different things, or, the same command repeated?
�Therefore say to the house of Israel, �Thus says the Lord God: �Repent, turn away
from your idols, AND turn your faces away
from all your abominations. Ezekiel 14:6 Is this a command to do two different things, three different things or, the same command repeated multiple times?
To which of the 9 Hebrew and Greek words which are all lumped into the one English word repent, are you referring when you say we must repent? Do you understand the differences in meaning of the different words, and are you sure you are properly using/conveying the correct meaning of the words on the correct subject matter with the use of the word repent? And seeing how there are so many meanings, and indeed, some which have nothing to do with the others, isn't it better to dispense with that unclear word, and be more precise? For a better understanding of the many meanings of the word repent, and the correct use of the word, there is a book called "All About Repentance" by Dr. Richard Seymour.
So let's cut to the chase. Here is everything else you need to know about salvation John 3:16-18 (We've already covered the fact the Christ is the Word who was God and is God in John 1)
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. �He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not (has never) believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
There are no used to be Christians according to Jesus Christ in John 3:18. If you are not one now, you could not have been one before. 1 John 2 sheds light on it, saying that the fakes left off with the charade because "they were not of us". Believing God, not knowing facts about God, but trusting Him, that the things He tells us are true. It's a reliance upon the truth that God has asserted. That's what it means to believe on, which is different than to believe about. I believe Jesus when He says the defining issue in salvation is believing Him. He said it, that settles it. With or without my, or anyone else's approval.
"There are no used to be Christians according to Jesus Christ in John 3:18. If you are not one now, you could not have been one before."
Okay. So, are you are looking at this like a Calvinist, which is not how I look at it. In the world, our destiny is not set in stone until we die. God is outside of time, so from His perspective, everything is a done deal. But I am not God, and I am not outside of time. So, from our perspective, we are in time where events happen in succession. So, from God's perspective you might appear like a saint who was chosen from the beginning. But if you look at it from an earthly perspective, you had a point where you got saved. You accepted Jesus as your savior. Before that point, you were lost. You were a sinner. And had you died before that point, you would have gone to hell. But God doesn't see it that way, because He sees only your final state. And He knows that you are saved. So, as far as you're concerned, you're saved. We could say that the unsaved are actually saved. Some of them are saved already from God's perspective. But looking at reality from God's perspective and then from man's perspective only leads to a huge confusion. So, let's settle this once and for all : Since we are humans and we are limited by time and space, it is necessary for us to look at the world from OUR perspective. A ship's captain can pretend to see his ship from land, but it's not really beneficial for him, because he is on the ship. It is better if he describes what he sees from his perspective than trying to describe the state of his ship from another perspective. Or if a man talks about himself using third person singular and never uses the pronoun "I" or "me" to refer to himself, then it sounds really confusing and weird! And that's what Calvinism is like. You know, when you look at things from another's perspective, you are not describing things as you see them. You are giving others a distorted description which messes up their imagination. So, I find it more beneficial to look at things from my perspective than from a dead-man's perspective. So, if we are alive and well, then it is possible to become saved and turn to God, and then turn away from God and then turn back to God again just like the prodigal son in the Bible. See, he decided to have nothing to do with his dad anymore ever again. He set out to leave and never come back. But then during his long journey, he had a change of heart. And he turned around and went back!
No, I am looking at the very words of Jesus Christ and trusting Him that He knows better than anyone else. John Calvin did not author these words of Almighty God in the flesh, and I didn't refer to anything John Calvin said. I quoted Almighty God.
"He that believes is not condemned, but he that does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed ... ." He, the one which Jesus says "has not believed" and "is condemned already", has never placed his faith in the correct object of faith.
not ( me with an accent over the e in the Greek, pronounced may, biblehub.com/greek/3361.htm ) commonly translated as never in some versions.
Belief in Christ results in the new birth. We are born of the Spirit by the will of God. John 1 This is an actual event in time, and is a one time for all time BIRTH. It is a spiritual birth. It is not something that happens over and over and over again. God's seed is incorruptible 1 Peter1. We are sealed with the Holy Spirit, permanently bonded with the Holy Spirit of God. God's Spirit in us does not die or leave, and come back later again. Romans 8; 1 Corinthians chapters 2,3,6; 2 Corninthians 1,5; Galatians 3,5; Ephesians, 1 Peter 1, I could go on. And notice in Galatians 5, that you can live in the Spirit, but not walk in the Spirit, i.e. be in sin; but you are still in the Spirit. The new man cannot sin, but the flesh, triggered by its lust, can. That is why we are instructed to "consider" to treat as if, the old man is dead. Romans 6:11
The meaning of the text in John 3:18 is that the person has not previously done a thing, the thing being believing in Christ. This is conveying the truth of it being a thing that has never occurred in the past right up until now; and therefore, unless he repents (changes his mind-metanoia, metaneao) and believes, he will remain condemned.
Salvation is a 3 part process, with part one being forever settled upon belief. The Christian has already been saved from the eternal penalty of sin, eternal death. The Holy Spirit gives us power to overcome sin in every situation: "there is no temptation taken me, but such as is common to man, but God, with EVERY temptation, will provide a way of escape, that I may be able to bear it." See also Romans 6:18 "Being then made free from sin...". Anybody who says different is calling God a liar. When a Christian sins, it is by choice, not because they have no ability to not sin. The Holy Spirit has given us the ability to not sin in EVERY situation. We do it because we are selfish, self centered crybabies, not because of lack of ability.
In the future we will be saved from the presence of sin, after the execution of the last judgment of God and those under judgment are forever banished to the lake of fire. But make no mistake, we are already, as a practical matter, saved from the eternal penalty of sin, and the power of sin over us in our decision making. The sin of other can negatively impact us, but we don't have to yield to sin in our lives.
To any who think they can send a part of their being away, i.e., that which is born of the Spirit of God, I would say, (if it wasn't such an evil thought to believe that one could do such a thing), Let me get some popcorn. This is going to be entertaining to watch. The Holy Spirit ain't goin' nowhere. But it is serious, a lie straight from the mouth of the evil one. A Christian cannot break the seal of the Holy Spirit. If you think so, you haven't understood the book of the Revelation, nor the passages where it talks about having the authority to break God's seals. Revelation chapter 5ff It is the height of arrogance to think you have the power to break the seal of God.
The new birth is a real event in time. It isn't some esoteric truth to be understood by a wee portion of Christians. Every Christian should learn and fully grasp these issues.
Jesus said that if we do not forgive people their sins, God will not forgive our sins. When was the last time you had unforgiveness in your heart? Or once we believe in Jesus, unforgiveness is an impossibility for us ? Not so, because what would be the point of Jesus warning us about the issue of forgiveness? If it was impossible for us to not forgive, then why would Jesus tell us to watch out and forgive? Forgiveness is something that we have to do everyday many times. I mean people often do and say hurtful things to us, and we have to forgive. If we don't watch out, we may hide a grudge or hold on to resentment or even plan a revenge. But such things are like a cancer, and they basically cancel out our salvation.
Every single thing God gives to us has an antidote. Have you noticed that? Fatih. Can anything stop faith? Yes! Unbelief stops faith. (See Matthew 13:58) Salvation. Can anything block our salvation? Yes! Unforgiveness can block our salvation. (See Matthew 6:15) How about prayer? The Bible says that if we turn our ears away from God's Law, then our prayers are an abomination to Him. He won't listen. (See Proverbs 28:9)
So, how does that seal of the Holy Spirit work? It works like this: If you are sealed, you will eventually forgive. But if you currently have unforgiveness in your heart, then you need to forgive. Otherwise you won't go to heaven. If a person died with unforgiveness in his heart, then that person was never sealed in the first place. You don't know whether you're sealed or not until you die and find out where you will go. That's how it works.
I the salvation and forgiveness that GOD Almighty gives, it is the result of what we are able to do, OR is it the direct result of the CROSS, on the basis of the Life, death, burial, and resurrection of Messiah.
What must we do to do the works of GOD.
THIS is the WORK of GOD , to believe on the one that He has sent.
John 6: 26- 29
Words to the People
26 Jesus answered them and said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 27 "Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal." 28,Therefore they said to Him, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?" 29,Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent."
ONLY GOD Almighty is able to be doing the work of GOD
No sir, you have no fully grasped the issues. You are confused by the differences in eternal truths as opposed to temporal truths. Positionally, all of our sin is already forgiven, even the sin we have not yet committed. Practically, our sin must be confessed to maintain fellowship. Each sin committed is a barrier to fellowship no matter how small. Each sin committed is an act of unbelief. Are you saved and not saved hundreds, even thousands of times a day? Not with regard eternal salvation. Yes with regard to each temptation. We are saved from the power of sin hundreds of times, if not thousands by being delivered on a practical basis from the power of sin with regard to each particular temptation, or not, depending on how we respond. That doesn't change our status as a member of the body of Christ, which is an eternal truth.
"And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal." 1 Corinthians 3:1-3
The "brethren" here are clearly saved, else they would not be called brethren. But they are in sin, according to Paul. Why would Paul refer to them as "brethren", if a particular sin had caused them to lose their status as a member of the body of Christ, by committing an act of unbelief? It doesn't.
"For we are God�s fellow workers; you are God�s field, you are God�s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one�s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one�s work, of what sort it is. If anyone�s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone�s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire." I Corinthians 3:9-15
The works which are burned are acts of the flesh, not done in faith but in vanity; acts of unbelief. Yet, God says, the individual is still saved. There is a loss in temporal realm of loss of fellowship, and in the eternal realm, loss of reward; but it doesn't impact the status as one of the "brethren" who is eternally saved.
And you still haven't understood the reality of the new birth. You completely ignored this reality in your response. Be careful of being so dismissive of this reality which God, of His own will, causes. It is a permanent creation, more alive than an unbeliever in the flesh. The new man cannot sin.
"If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death. We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him." 1 John 5:16-18
When you sin, you suffer loss of fellowship, but as God clearly states, that doesn't mean eternal death, eternal separation for the Christian.
Lastly, that you think that you have the authority to break the seal of Almighty God shows how little understanding you have concerning the seals of God. God alone has that power. You do not. Your unbelief in any given situation does not equal you attaining equality with God and ability to break God's seal.
"And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, �Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?� And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. But one of the elders said to me, �Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.�
And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying:
�You are worthy to take the scroll,
and to open its seals;
for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood
out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
I understand the questions put forth, and I understand that salvation, forgiveness and the keeping of one in Messiah is the complete work of GOD Almighty.
If ANYTHING concerning salvation and the forgiveness of sin depends upon you or I, we will never be saved for we sin, fail and have unbelief daily for we are still in this body, and this fallen life.
Second, our salvation is conditional. The condition to be met is that we at some point in time, must believe God, that He came to earth and died for our sin. If we do not meet this condition, we do not get saved. Salvation is a gift we receive from God when we believe God the way Abraham believed God, and it becomes accounted to us for righteousness, because God wills it to be so. Over 90 times in the New Testament it is written that the sole condition for salvation is belief alone. But, it must be belief in the right object of faith, God.
"What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? �Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.� Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: �Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.�
To borrow a phrase, "(I) believe that the Bible teaches Lordship Christian living, not Lordship Salvation. Eternal salvation is received by faith alone in Christ alone! It is not my believing that makes these things so, but God, who sets the standards, saying they are so.
�He who believes in (Christ) is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
Okay. It seems that we are talking about two different things here. Let's make something clear :
There are two entirely different situations.
(A.) A person who has never been a Christian before and learns about Christianity and decides to become a Christian. So, he GETS SAVED for the FIRST TIME.
VS
(B.) A person who already became a Christian once, got saved, baptized, and then backslidden at one point, and is now living a sinful life just like the prodigal son in the Bible, and then decides to RETURN.
I wan to make this distinction very clear, because the way to salvation is DIFFERENT for both persons. For person _A_, all he needs to do is to believe in Christ. Now since he is a Christian, he wants to love God, which will lead him to : be baptized, join a church, worship God, read the Bible, and leave sinful behaviors behind and forgive other people.
For person _B_, the way back to salvation is more difficult. He needs to humble himself, repent, ask for forgiveness, and stop sinning and forgive other people. He already believes in God and knows that Jesus died for his sins. So, he doesn't need to accept Jesus as savior again, because he already knows that He is The Savior. He just simply rejected Him. So, he needs to go back.
Now, let's also make a distinction between salvation AND being considered a "child of God." Why is this distinction necessary? Because for a child of God, it is possible to be considered a "prodigal son," who is still a child of God. But he wandered away from home like a lost sheep. And he is not saved currently. If this person were to die while he is lost, he would go to hell even though he was a "child of God." But he would go to hell, because he was a LOST CHILD. So, let's make that distinction clear. It is not enough to be a "lost child" or "lost sheep" because that means you are on your way to hell. You have to be a child of God in the full sense, and you have to be a sheep who is in the flock, not outside the flock.
Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice and the voice of a stranger they will not follow." And again He said, "Who are my mother and my brothers? Those who hear and keep my words--those are called my relatives." It is possible to be a lost child or lost sheep, but you are not on your way to heaven if that's the case.
"Positionally, all of our sin is already forgiven, even the sin we have not yet committed."
That is true. Jesus took away the sins of the world. He didn't come to take away my sin or your sin. He came to take away EVERYONE's sin. So, everybody's sins are wiped away. But this is not automatic. A person MUST become a believer and accept Jesus as Savior in order to redeem this free gift of salvation.
And let's look at one individual now. Let's consider me for example. He forgave ALL of my sins, not just one sin in particular. But I may sin from time to time, and each time I sin, I need to ask God for forgiveness and make sure that I have forgiven others. If not, then my sins are still there and I am on my way to hell. So, it is not enough to just say a prayer once which takes care of all of our sins. It would be too easy then. We could just say one prayer for our unbeliever loved ones who had died, and they would be saved then. No, it doesn't work that way. Also, it's not enough for us to say just one prayer if we sin, because if we sin again, we need to ask for forgiveness again. Recently my friend gave me a gift card to Starbucks on my birthday. Every single time I go to Starbucks, I need to show my gift card. It's not enough to just show it once. Every single time they want to charge me money, I show the gift card. The same is true about sinning. It's not enough to just say a prayer ONCE and pretend that all our future sins are forgiven. No! No! No! It doesn't work that way! Every single time you sin again, you must ask God for forgiveness again. This is what the Bible says.
I John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Notice the first word of this verse is the word "IF." Don't overlook that word. If you just overlook it and pretend it's not there, then you can say that God forgives all our sins. But it is tied to a condition.
Matthew 6:15 - "If you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
Notice the word "IF" appears in this verse again. That means we have another condition! If we hold grudges or want to do revenge on someone, then we have not truly forgiven and our Heavenly Father won't forgive us either. It doesn't matter how many times you asked for forgiveness or how hard you pray. There is no forgiveness for those who do not forgive others. The Bible cannot be any clearer than it is.
Now let's look at a third verse : Matthew 12:31-32 - "Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come."
These verse tell us that there is an even bigger condition to forgiveness: If somebody blasphemes the Holy Spirit, then there will be no forgiveness for that person. The door to mercy and justice is abolished for persons who blaspheme the Holy Ghost.
