We, who have placed our faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ alone, Who died for our sins… and rose again bodily on the third day have been saved from the penalty of sin (eternal condemnation) by God’s grace through faith in Him (Acts 16:31; 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4; Ephesians 2:8, 9; Romans 8:1). We are being saved from the power of sin, and we will be saved in the future from the presence of sin. [1]
Some people erroneously think that “once saved, always saved” means that they can go out and keep on sinning (acting lawlessly). But they either don’t know or have forgotten some vital truths taught in the Scriptures. Instead of living out their full “potential years” they end up suffering greatly or dying prematurely with their “actual years.” (Read Scripture passages below.)
Yes, many Christians don’t live as long as they could/should have lived on earth, and they don’t do the good works that God planned for them to do (Ephesians 2:10; 1 Peter 4:10). If they had been obedient to the Lord and relied on Him and His Word to live victoriously over their three spiritual enemies (the devil, their own sin nature, and the present world system), chastening from God wouldn’t have been necessary. [2]
Even though God has made provisions for His children so we don’t have to keep on sinning (acting lawlessly – 1 John 3:4), He knows that we will sin periodically (1 John 2:1 ff; 3:9, 10). When we sin we need to promptly confess our sins to God by agreeing with Him about what we did and then claim His forgiveness (1 John 1:9; Proverbs 28:13). NOTE: Confession of every sin a person has ever committed in life is NOT a requirement for initial salvation. None of us can remember all the sins (expressions of lawlessness) that we’ve committed.
When God forgives us, He doesn’t forget what we’ve done. He is omniscient (Isaiah 46:10). He doesn’t hold our confessed sins against us (See Ezekiel 33:16). Sometime in the future He will allow us to be tempted in the same area again so we have another opportunity to demonstrate our love for Him rather than for the temporary pleasures we get from sin (Hebrews 11:26; James 1:12-15).
Are you certain you will go to heaven the moment you die? Why should God let you into His heaven? If you believe you’re saved, is there anything you could do to lose your salvation? If so, what? Are you a carnal Christian who is about to suffer greatly or die prematurely so you are not condemned with the world (1 Corinthians 11:32)? “It is a fearful thing [for a carnal Christian] to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).
We’re here to assist those who are uncertain about their eternal destiny, and to help Christians who have fallen into sin get back up and live victoriously so they can grow spiritually, and learn how to serve God and others with love. We can be reached here or though our website: www.kelseypeach.com.
If you claim to be a Christian, and you think that you are free to live a sinful (lawless) lifestyle,
Please Read These Passages Carefully
“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:5-7).
“If anyone sees his brother [another Christian] sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He [God] will give him [extended physical] 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” (1 John 5:16, 17).
“Brethren, if anyone among you [another Christian] wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner [another Christian] from the error of his way will save a soul [another believer] from [physical] death and cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:19).
“But let a man [a Christian] examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup [at the Lord’s Supper]. For he who eats and drinks [the bread and the cup] in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many [Christians] are weak and sick among you [have mental, emotional, and physical problems], and many sleep [have died physically and prematurely]. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world” (1 Corinthians 11:29-32). [3]
If you’re unsure of your salvation, please read these –
[1] Clear Gospel presentations –
“Bad News & Good News” https://kelseypeach.wordpress.com/2019/04/24/the-bad-news-the-good-news/
Dr. Manfred Kober: https://faith.edu/faith-news/do-we-really-know-the-gospel/
Dr. Ron Shea: http://www.cleargospel.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/English/English-Display-Pkg-2014.pdf
[2] Three Spiritual Enemies – https://kelseypeach.wordpress.com/2019/03/22/tested-and-tried-daily/
[3] The Lord’s Supper – https://kelseypeach.wordpress.com/2011/09/02/about-the-eucharist/
Scripture verses taken from the New King James Version.
Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved.