A look at mans' responsibility to obtain and retain eternal security.

God and His word are perfect, eternal, and good. Of course, a believer is secure, unless he has become an ex-believer, almost believer, or fruitless believer.

    Today, many churches, denominations, preachers, and theologians say it is impossible to be an ex-believer. Jesus said; Luke 8:13 (KJV) They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

     The Bible is true always and forever! Men, even theologians and preachers change, make mistakes, and die. The word of God endures forever. What Jesus said is true then, now, and forever and He said "they --- believe for a while--- and fall away".

  Many today say and sincerely believe that believing in the Lord Jesus Christ is an isolated event occurring once in an individuals life.
But the Bible says believing is A WAY. Acts 24:22 Hebrews 10:20 1st Corinthians 12:31.
A PILGRIMAGE Hebrews 11:13 and 1st Peter 2:11
and A WALK 1st John 2:6 Colossians 1:10 and Ephesians 5:8.

  Jesus described four types of believers, almost believers, ex-believers, fruitless believers, and fruitful believers in the parable of the sower. This parable is so important it is in three of the four gospels.
Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20 and Luke 8:4-15. We are using Lukes' version and going directly to the explanation.
Please note, some of all four types attend church regularly, sometimes their whole life long.

         Let's look first at ex-believers. Luke 8:13 They hear, and receive the word with joy. They believe for a while, but in temptation, persecution, or when it gets hard, they fall away.
Believing must be continued, till the end.
Heb 3:12 (KJV) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
It is possible for a brother, believer to become an ex - believer or unbeliever, by departing from the living God.
Heb 3:6 (KJV) But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, IF we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
Please notice the, IF.
Heb 3:14 (KJV) For we are made partakers of Christ, IF we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
Col 1:21-23 (KJV) And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: IF ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; Notice the, "if you continue".
  John 15:4 (KJV) Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
         The decision as to where we will abide, live, dwell, is ours.
Jesus says "abide in me, and I will abide in you. Clearly it is our choice, with the only alternative being cut off the vine and eventually burned.
John 15:6 (KJV) If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
we each choose where we're going to live, stay, abide.
  Heb 6:4-8 (KJV) For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

Unfruitful believers.
   Notice please, they have to have gone far enough in their experience to have been:
1. Once enlightened.
2. Experienced the heavenly gift.
3. Made partakers of the Holy Ghost.
4. Experienced the good word of God.
5. Experienced the powers of the world to come.
But, even after growing this much, it is still possible to fall away. And if after growing this much they fall away it is impossible for them to come back to God thru repentance. It is not impossible to come back to God by repentance if we fall away, before we experience these things. Most American Christians don't even know what "these things" are, and certainly haven't experienced them.
     Hebrews 4:11 ..Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Rev. 21:8... But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.
If ALL liars means ALL liars, then it's certainly possible for believers to burn.
    Matthew 15:9 and Mark 7:7 ... "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." Jesus said, "it is possible to worship in vain".
     2 Corinthians 6:1 ...We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. It is possible to receive the grace of God in vain.
   James 1:26 ... If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. It is possible to be religious, in vain, or for nothing.
1 Corinthians 15:1-2 ... Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. It is possible to believe in vain.
Luke 16:13 ... "No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."
Luke 12:42-47 (KJV) And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. But and if that servant say in his heart,
         My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
Note: This is not just a believer; this is, or was a faithful and wise steward.
         1 John 2:4 (KJV) He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
   Titus 1:16 (KJV) They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
Gal 6:7 (KJV) Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
James 4:4 (KJV) Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
James 4:17 (KJV) Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
Luke 8:13 (KJV) They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. It is possible to believe for a while, Jesus said it.

Here are a few other Scriptures you might wish to study.
1st Corinthians 6:9, 1st John 3:7-10, Romans 2:6-10 Colossians 1:23, Hebrews 12:14, Ephesians 5:6, and there are many others.

Believing is a walk, a way, and a pilgrimage, not an isolated event. Believing is a way of life and must be continued until the end.
See Hebrews 3:6, 3:14, 6:4-6.
Thank God for 2 Pet 3:9 (KJV) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. and for the prodigal son. Luke 15:11-32.
There is in nearly every case a way back to believing and serving God. Thankfully, grace, Gods' marvelous grace is available to all.

   But grace is never a license to sin. The wages sin pays is always death!
         Wages are paid if we work. Wages are paid even if we're rich, have won the lottery, inherited millions, or grace. If we continue working or serving sin we will die.

We should include this part of the Roman road in our salvation messages.
         Rom 2:6 (KJV) Who will render to every man according to his deeds: Rom 2:7-9 (KJV) To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; Of course a believer is secure, unless he is an ex-believer, an almost believer, or an unfruitful believer. Please know, it is possible to be an ex-believer.

Almost Believers

  There are Almost Believers, Luke 8:12, they hear, and then the devil steals the Word out of their heart to keep them from being saved. Many, Almost Believers, believe with their intellect, many attend church, teach Sunday school and live good lives. Why not, many have been told they are believers by the church or the pastor because they said the magic words or the sinner's prayer. But believing is a supernatural transaction.

Man can look like, act like, talk like a believer without being a believer. Matt 7:21-23 "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. 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? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." They cast out devils, healed the sick, did miracles and they did it in Jesus' name. But, Christ was not impressed. He said verse 23, "I never knew you."

         Born again is something men can't even understand and we most certainly cannot do it! Only God can make us new creations, 2 Cor. 5:17, by the new birth. John 3:3-6. Remember how many people after 5, 10, 20, even some 30 years of church attendance actually got saved, find the Lord, come to know the Lord. What were they before? Good people but only Almost Believers. If you're an Almost Believer, God can still fix it.
The devil always tries to steal the word but the only actual power he has is deception.

Please realize, believing, saved, salvation, got religion, came to know the Lord, is always a supernatural transaction. Out Father God can do it; nobody else can.
Temptation and usually suffering is to show us who we are actually believing. God Almighty, our loving Father, or the liar, thief, and murderer, the devil. John 10:10 (KJV) "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."
The scripture is true! Our feelings, intentions, ideas, interpretations, are not always true! We must believe Gods' truth enough to change the way we think and live.

    Fruitless Believers

Luke 8:14 (KJV) "And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection." They hear, they start, but cares, riches, pleasures of this life, choke the word, keep them busy and they bring forth no fruit to perfection. Of course, if as they say and teach "nobody's perfect" then at least speaking for themselves they will bring no fruit to perfection because for them it is impossible. They are fruitless believers, John 15:6, Matt. 7:19, Luke 3:9, Jude 12:13, Matt. 7:20, 2nd Thes. 2:12.
They don't believe enough to change, to love, to forgive, to praise, to suffer, to sacrifice, to obey.

  The devils believe in God and tremble. James 2:19 (KJV) "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble."
Unfortunately most American believers don't know or care enough to tremble. The gospel apparently didn't profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it, Hebrews 4:2.
The Gospel is: God changes man at man's request.Believing that God   changes man is believing the gospel. These Fruitless believers never believe strong enough. They think they can please the Almighty God by believing He exists, while they serve the world, the flesh, and the devil, in practice. They didn't necessarily stop attending church or giving or talking the talk they just never had, or took time to bring any fruit to perfection. They are believers but without fruit they are valueless to our Father God.

     Fruitful Believers

Luke 8:15 (KJV) "But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience."
A walk, a way, and a pilgrimage all take time and all can be discontinued by the pilgrim at any point along the way. There are milestones and there is progress. Building, growing, learning, are common terms in the Bible. We believe the major milestones are Babes in Christ, Children of God, Sons of God, and Men of God.

         A believer is born again to grow up into Christ, Eph. 4:15, 1st Peter 2:2 and 2nd Peter 3:18.
         We are challenged to believe God, and God's word again and again as we follow Christ our Lord. Temptation is to show us who (God or the devil) we're actually believing. The issue is always, who are you going to believe?
       The devil with his fear, doubt and negatives, or God, our infinitely perfect Father who knows and supplies all we need. Our Father God who is preparing us to take our place in His glorious family and to share His throne, Rev. 3:21 or the devil who wants to use us as food animals.
God made us out of dust, dust thou are, Gen. 3:19. The serpent was made to eat dust, Gen. 3:14. More on this available in other articles. Ask for them.

 Our goal for this article is as follows: To utterly devastate these ideas and doctrines.

1. That Christians are going to heaven on the basis of a single isolated  event, believing.

2. That because of that isolated event they are not responsible or accountable for sin.
1 John 3:9 (KJV) Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. (Gods' child can't sin or can't continue sinning.)  
3. That their actions or inactions are not relevant to their salvation/heaven.  
4. That salvation is actually a license to sin.
 And not to discourage, or set aside, anyone who is trying, (even if they are trying and failing as I did for 15 years) that is, making an effort to quit sinning. And/or ... to not exclude any true brother or sister from the kingdom no  matter what stage or age they are in, in their walk with our Father.

      Yes, of course a believer is secure! As long as they are not an ex-believer, almost believer, or fruitless believer. <{P>   Please Note: God Almighty changes men! I was shallow ground; I realized it. I went to the Lord and prayed, "Please make me good ground." He did!

         Praise His name forever. He can take an almost believer, an ex-believer  and/or a fruitless believer and make them hundred fold Christians. Where  are you? You don't have to stay there. Remember God changes men at their request.
We choose day by day to be an ex, almost, fruitless or fruitful believer.

         Remember it is our choice!

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Unless otherwise noted Format Publishing, the International College of Practical Christianity, or the author hold the copyright on all material appearing in this letter.

This was sent to me by a friend & her brother is the author. Thank you Barb Williams!