The reader writes that salvation is, "a Gift Eternally no if or ands about it...You must be born again, and you can't get unborn." One can't be "unborn" but he can so sin that God will cut him off from his inheritance. "For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again" (Rom 11:21-23). This scripture teaches that one can be cut off but if he will return to God he can be grafted in again. How is it possible to be "cut off" and "grafted in again" where one has never been?
"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" (Heb. 6:4-6). It is not possible for a person to fall away from where he has never been. Without doubt this passage makes reference to a child of God. If it is impossible to lose his salvation, how is it possible to "fall away?"
Paul in Gal. 5:1, instructs the Galatians Christians to, "be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." He was making reference to the law of Moses. Then in verse 4 he states: "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." If it is possible for one to go back to the law of Moses (and many do) then according to Paul one can fall from grace. One who has been saved is in the grace of God. If he cannot fall from that grace why did Paul say that he would if he would if he went back under the law?
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Eph 2:8-9)."For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom 6:23). It is not possible to earn salvation. Yet, if there is nothing one must do, then all men will be saved and we know that cannot be true. "And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power"(2 Th. 1:7-9).
Rom. 6:23 says that eternal life is "through Christ our Lord." II Tim. 2:10 states, that salvation is "in Christ." In order for one to be in Christ, he must be baptized "into Christ" (Gal. 3:27; Rom. 6:3). There is no other way given to get into Christ.
If there is at least one thing, one must do in order to be saved (the reader stated that one must "repent and ask"), then why is it not necessary to obey the other commands of God?
The Bible teaches that one must believe, repent, confess Christ, and be baptized in order to be saved from his sins (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:36-37). Visit with us at Newton St. and be our honored guest.
"If any man speak let him speak as the oracles of God" (I Pet. 4:11).
Don H. Noblin
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