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

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Can Your Soul Be Forfeited Forever? (Part II)

It Is Not Impossible For A Child of God to Sin.

My Friends, if it is impossible for a child of God to sin, why did Paul command the brethren at Colossae "lie not one to another; seeing that ye have put off the old man with his doings" (Col. 3:9)?

My Friends, they were children of God, they had put off the old man, and they were told not to lie. If it is possible for a child of God to lie, it is possible for him to sin. For Paul wrote to his brethren at Rome, "thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, doest thou commit adultery? (Rom: 2:21,22).

My friends, it is possible for a child of God to steal and commit adultery. It is possible for a child of God to become drunk. Paul wrote to his brethren at Ephesus, "And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit" (Eph. 5:18). It is possible for a child of God to lust. Peter wrote to his brethren, "Beloved, I beseech you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lust, which war against the soul" ( 1 Peter 2:11). The scriptures my friends, affirm that it is possible for a child of God to lie, steal, get drunk, and lust.

It is contended by those who subscribe to the false doctrine of the "Impossibility of Apostasy" on the part of the child of God that when he sins it is only his body that sins; he sins outwardly but not inwardly. Jesus said, however, in Mark 7:21-23, "For from within, out of the heart of men, evil thoughts proceed, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, covetings, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, pride, foolishness: all these evil things proceed from within, and defile the man."

The body is the instrument of sin and the outward acts of the body are within. Paul wrote to the brethren at Rome, "neither present your members unto sin, as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves unto God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God" (Romans. 6:13). That it is possible for the spirit of the child of God to sin is seen in this verse: "Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilements of flesh and spirit" (1 Cor. 7:1). Paul was adressing his brethren at Corinth. If their spirits could not be defiled, why were they urged to cleanse themselves of all defilements of flesh and spirit? Why not the flesh only if it was impossible for them to sin inwardly? Were they commanded to cleanse themselves of that which was impossible to defiled?

The Child of God Can Be Lost:

Jesus told his disciples to "rejoice because, your names are written in heaven" (Luke 10:20). He wrote the Philippians that their names were "in the book of life" (Phil.4:3), and the inspired writer referred to the church in Heb.12:23, as "the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven." To the angel of the church at Sardis in Rev. 3:5, the Lord wrote; "He that overcometh shall thus be arrayed in white garments, and I will in no wise blot his name out of the book of life." It is possible my friends, for a child of God to have his name blotted out of the book of life. Those whose names remain are those who overcome. Salvation my friends is in fact "Conditional."

It is possible for a child of God to sin; it is possible for him to lie, steal, cheat, get drunk, and lust, live with a man, and sleep with a man, outside of marriage. Now the question I pose for you my friend to consider is: If a child of God should die while guilty of these sins or any other sin, will he go to heaven or will he be lost?

Paul says in Romans 8:13, "For if ye live after the flesh, he shall die." These readers are addressed as "brethren" in the preceding verse. The epistle was written to "saints" (Rom. 1:7), members of the Lord's Church. Spiritual death is meant here because men die physically regardless of how they live. It is possible for a child of God to die in his sins, die spiritually.

Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 6:9-10, "Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kindgom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkdards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kindgom of God." Fornication was a sin that was committed by a member of the church at Corinth (1 Cor. 5:1). Paul wrote the following to his church in his second epistle: "lest again when I come my God should humble me before you, and I should morun for many of them that have sinned heretofore, and repented not of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they committed" (2 Cor. 12:21). Paul stated in 1 Cor. 6:9-10 that those who were guilty of those sins would not inherit the kingdom of God. There were some of those sins prevalent in the church at Corinth. Paul feared that he would come to Corinth again and that some had not repented of those sins. If they did not repent they would not inherit the kingdom of God. They would be lost, and language could not be made any plainer. Who were they? They were sanctified people (1Cor 1:2), children of God.

Paul feared that he, a child of God might lose his "Reward". He wrote in 1 Cor. 9:27, "but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others. I myself should be rejected." Paul recognized that his body could become the instrument of sin; therefore he said, "I buffet my body." Paul realized that he might be rejected, and that he might lose his reward.

James refers to the erring brother in James 5:19-20 where he write: "My brethren, if any among you err from the truth, and one convert him; let him know, that he who converteth a sinner from the error of his way shall save a sould from death, and shall cover a multitude of sins." The book of James, my friends, was addressed to Christians. In this passage being considered he has in mind those who were in sin because of past action. The child of God who errs from the truth is a backslider and he is in a serious condition. James says that if an erring brother is converted, that is, turned back to the truth, a soul is saved from death. (Eternal Punishment).

This can only mean eternal death because repentance will not save a person from physical death. It is plain that the erring brother who does not repent, turn back, is lost forever thru eternity.


My Friends, a child of God who sins will be lost is evident from 1 Peter 2:20-22. Here we read, "For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the last state is become worse with them than the first. For it were better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered unto them. It has happend unto them according to the true proverb, the dog turning to his own vomit again, and the sow that had washed to wallowing in the mire." Peter draws an ugly picture of "Apostates", does he not, my Friends?

Here were those who had once "Obeyed" the gospel, they had "escaped the defilements of the world," but they were overcome. My friends, it cannot be argued that these people never were saved because we are told that they had escaped the "defilements of the world." They had lapsed into their former manner of living and their last state had become worse with them than the first. The dog and sow illustration is given and the point of the proverb is not that the dog remained a dog, and the sow remained a sow, but that each returned to its former state of defilement.

Remember always my friends, a Man was a man before he became a Christian and he is still a man, but he is a washed man (1 Cor. 6:11; Heb. 10:22). A washed sow can return to her wallowing and a washed man can return to his former life. The child of God is one washed by the blood of Christ but if he returns to his former condition he will be lost for eternity, unless he repents.

In The Conclusion Of This "Food For Thought"
I'll Be Discussing:

Warnings Against Falling
Examples of Falling
How to Keep From Falling
My Closing Remarks.

So Stay Tuned My Friends.


Jim