Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Can Your Soul Be Forfeited Forever? (Conclusion)

WARNINGS AGAINST FALLING:

My Friends, to the church at Corinth Paul warned these brethren against falling when he gave the Israelites in the wilderness as an example (1 Cor.10:1-12). The Israelites had passed through the sea, they had been delivered from bondage, a type of our bondage from sin. They fell ! "Howbeit with most of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness" (vs.5).

My Friends, Why did they fall? Why are somes falling today? Why were they Overthrown? First, they, and yes too, my friends some today choose to lust after evil things.(v6) (2) They were and yes too, my friends some today choose to have know problems with Idolatry.(v7)(ex. Placing Money/Material Things First, even before God or in place of Him & His Ways) (3) They, like some today choose to think and believe, and act on Fornication. My friends, do you know anyone like this? I mean, perhaps one that has chosen to live in this sin? (Living with another(opposite sex) out side of marriage, or even perhaps choosing to have a sexual relations outside of marriage. Perhaps my friends, you may even know of one, who has chosen to support such behavior, and even has chosen to be so arrogant, or perhaps foolish enough to encourage it, even with their own loved ones, or even perhaps there own family members all the time turning there back on God Himself! Sad. Pray For them, that they might see the error of their Ways. (4) They made trial of the Lord (v.9) (5) They murmured (v10). Some of those Israelites lost their reward. Paul states that "these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition" (v.11)

What is the admonition, my friends? That we do not fall! For remember my friends back then they lost their inheritance and we can lose ours! For God has not changed His Mind, my friends, and we ought not attempt to think He has! Nor would it be wise, to think and act, and support such un-godly choices, in the hopes, our Lord will just "Wink" at it, and turn His head.
For its written "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" (1 Cor.l 10-12).

The Book of Hebrews was written for the purpose of preventing "Apostasy". As there was a danger that those Christians to whom the letter was addressed might return to their condition before their conversion, for warning after warning is given. "Take Heed Brethren, lest haply there shall be found in any one of you an evil heart or unbelief, in falling away from the living God" (Hebrews 3:12)(Heb. 4:1; 6:4-6).

My friends, the language cannot be plainer that a child of God can lose his reward. For Many today have chosen not to believe or obey those things, that are clearly taught in His Word! The major portion of the New Testament is written to Christians, teaching them how to live. For If a child of God cannot be lost, why all of this teaching? Why the many admonitions and warnings against falling?

EXAMPLES OF FALLING:

My Friends, as we have learned, the first man, Adam, who was made in God's likeness (Gen.1:26) sinned, and as a result he was separated from God, dead spiritaully (Romans 5:12). The Israelites sinned and perished in the wilderness; they lost their reward (1 Cor. 10:1-12).

Saul, the first king of Israel was God's anointed (1 Sam.10:1). He had God's spirit in him (v.10) and he was God's chosen (v.24). It cannot be said, therefore, that Saul was not a child of God. In 1 Samuel 15 we are told of Saul's disobedience. As a result he was rejected (1 Sam. 15:23). God's spirit departed Saul(1 Sam. 16:14) and Jehovah became Saul's enemy and departed from him(1 Sam. 28:15,16). Saul fell from "Grace" my friends!

My friends, you recall Judas Iscariot was a disciple of Christ (Matt: 10-1); he was an apostle (Matt: 10:2); and he was given to Christ (John 17:12). For Luke tells us in Acts 1:25 that he "Fell Away". The scriptures do not teach that Judas was "a devil from the beginning." The devil is not a disciple of Christ, but Judas was! From what did Judas fall? He fell from his apostleship.(Acts 1:25). As a result he went to his own place. That place could only be perdition because Jesus said in John 17:12 that none of his apostles had perished except "the son of perdition" and that was Judas, my friends. Judas, a child of God, fell away and was lost.

Ananias and Sapphira were members of the church at Jerusalem. They lied to the Holy Spirit and they died (Acts 5). My friends we can read in Rev. 21:, "But for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolators and all liars, for their part shall be in the lake that burneth with fire, and brimstone; which is the second death." My friends, are you listening, here it states "All Liars" will be punished in the lake of fire! My friends, do you know of any one, perhaps even on this site, that has chosen to lie, or be deceiving, or vulgar, first to themself, and then to others, while interacting on this new media age, called thee "Internet?" Have you encouraged them, that they ought not? Have you shared with them, what the Consequences will be for them, if they foolishly choose to continue down that broad path? Have you encouraged them to choose to be Godly and Christ-Like in so that they may not have to endure the consequences of such foolish choices?

For I recall sharing with you my friends, what my Big Sister (Rory) years ago, once taught me, for she said to me "Jim, Learn to be Wise, for your choices have consequences, Think before you act." Just Love her to death my friends! Do You have someone like this, you can share this wisdom with my friends? Have you? Will You? Can You? Well, if you Love Them enough, I pray that you will!

So my friends, as it is written "All Liars" will be punished in the lake of fire. Are we to suppose that the lying child of God is exempt? Ananias and Sapphira lied and "All" liars will be punished.

In Acts Chapter 8, we have the record of Simon the Sorcerer. Simon heard Phillip preach Christ and he believed and obeyed and was baptized (Acts 8:13). It cannot be argued that Simon was never saved because Jesus said in Mark 16:16, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." We read in Acts 8:13, "And Simon also himself believed; and being baptized, he continued with Phillip."

Simon sinned and he was told by Peter to repent and pray (Acts 8:22). This is the law of pardon for an "Erring" child of God, one that has wisely chosen to Obey the Gospel of Christ and become a New Testament Christian.

For they Obeyed, they Heard the Word of God, they Believed, they Confessed, they repented, and were then baptized for the remission of sins. Thus Now Saved! So my friends, I pray You too, will choose to do this as well!

My friends, not only are children of God warned against falling but God has given the terms of pardon if they do fall. They are to repent and pray. The case of Simon is a plain example of apostasy, a child of God who fell. When Simon attempted to buy the gift of God with money Peter told him, "Thy silver perish with thee" (Acts 8:20). Pardon or forgiveness could only be obtained by complying with the conditions that God set forth, "Repentance and Prayer".

HOW TO KEEP FROM FALLING:

The apostle Peter addressing Christians, wrote in 2 Peter 1:4-11, "whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust. Yea, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence in your faith supply virtue; and in your virtue knowledge; and in your knowledge self-control; and in your self-control patience; and in your patience godliness; and in your godliness brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours, and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful unto the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he that lacketh these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins. Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things ye shall never stumble: for thus shall be richly supplied unto you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."

My friends, these brethren had "escaped from the corruption that is in the world"(v4) and they had been cleansed from their old sins(v.9). By the very fact that Peter admonished his brethren to make their "calling and election sure" it is clear that there was a possibility that they could fail to enter the eternal kingdom. They were urged to add those things mentioned in verses 5 & 6 and if they failed to do so they are described as "blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing of his old sins."

Peter also wrote in 1 Peter 5:8, "Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." If there is no possibility of a child of God being lost, why this admonition?

That children of God may avoid falling, James wrote in James 5:12, "But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by the heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath: but let your yea be yea, and your nay,nay; that ye fall not under judgement." "That ye fall not under judgement."

And finally my friends, to prevent falling, Peter admonished, "Ye therefore beloved, knowing these things beforehand, beware lest, being carried away with the error of the wicked, and foolish, ye fall from your own stedfastness" (2 Peter 3:17). What would be necessary to make language any plainer that a child of God could lose his reward and be loss forever in hell? "Beware lest.. ye fall from your own stedfastness."

My friends, from all the above considerations, I've atempted to share with you that it is possible for a child of God to sin, that he will be lost in sin if he does not repent: therefore, it is possible for a child of God to so sin as to finally be lost. Eternal Life can be Forfeited!


******PERSONAL NOTE*************
I have Received Numerous Request
On The Topic of "Loneliness"!
I Will Be Preparing a "Food For Thought"
On Loneliness For Your Next Vist!

Stay Tuned My Friends:


Jim

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