The Debate of “whether one believes in Eternal Salvation/Security; the concept of once Saved forever saved” is something I do not like to talk about because people sometimes hold unto a revelation for the sake of wanting to satisfy their ego of having gotten a revelation.
The same question was asked of me when I wanted to become an executive in NCCF.
My answers to you would not be to take a Stand of whether I believe in the concept or not. It would be to show you and I the scriptural perspective of Salvation. And by light, we may both come into an understanding that defies sentiments of Spiritual ego.
There is a misconception that people have, and that is to think Salvation started and ended with Jesus’ time frame of birth and death on Earth.
Salvation was an Eternal Agenda to get man to the stature of God, and every pros and cons were considered carefully in planning it out. The Lamb was Slain from the foundations of the Earth. As a prototype of tendencies to any derailing or rebellion that the creation to be created; Man. May have. This is why it was a coucil of Godhead, the Father, the Son and the Spirit that came into a conclusion that: “Let us make Man in our Image.”
Do not forget that the aim of salvation is to bring Man to come into the stature of the God (Christ).
The council of Godhead, saw that Man may not understand what it means to be saved (and the concept of what they are to be saved from until they are shown.) Unless a Template is given to them. This is why the first template was Adam. With or without the temptation of the Garden, Salvation would still have happened, it only may not play out the way it has played out in the days of Jesus.
So, from generation to generation, a trademark was being left to denote and connote what salvation would look like in it’s set time. From the days of NOAH, till, ABRAHAM, MOSES, JOSHUA, All the Judges, the Priests, the Prophets, till John… They were template to explain the many faces of salvation, and the curriculum embedded in it.
The same way the aim of going to school is to “Become”, All that takes place in school is a means to an end, (all the discipline, exams, tests, competition etc.. The instrument of achieving this (of becoming) is in what we call EDUCATION.
THIS IS THE SAME WAY SALVATION IS….
SALVATION is an Intention.
REDEMPTION is the action process within salvation.
GRACE Is the instrument through which redemption was achieved and through which Salvation (the intention) will be perfected.
ETERNAL LIFE [being in the stature of God (Christ) ] is the AIM
From the birth of Jesus, to his trials, to his, death, to his resurrection, was REDEMPTION of Mankind, paying the price once and for all. But it is the nucleus, the heart of SALVATION. Salvation was achieved and assured of it’s perfection through the work of Redemption.
WHAT IS TO BE SAVED…?
Answer: MAN.
But Man is a tripartite entity. Consisting of the Spirit, Soul and Body.
When Jesus Died and Resurrected, He redeemed the whole world, both unbeliever and believers. But He did not save the whole world. Salvation or Being saved comes by accepting the finished work of Christ. So as many as believed that Jesus Is the Christ, is born of God (1John 5:1)
Romans 10:9-10
9. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
The Salvation like I said is tripartite… When we confess and accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, we are Saved. Emphasis: Our SPIRIT Is saved. What of our Soul and Our Body?
Our soul is daily being saved. This is because the atmosphere, the world is corrupt, so we need a constant renewal of our mind to keep it from being corrupted.
Roman 12:2
2. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
James 1:21
21. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
One would wonder why the simplicity of the salvation of the Soul. This is because our Soul is the custodian of our consciousness here on Earth. (where our Mind, Emotions, are). When we are raptured or dead, our Soul would no longer be valid.
This is not to say in the Old testament, they confused and interchangeably used the words (Heart, Spirit, and Soul) to mean the same thing. But they are not the same.
The SALVATION of the BODY IS THE LAST, Dimension of the perfection of the work of salvation.
1 Corinthians 15: 45-54
45. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
48. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
50. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
EMPHASIS:
51. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
Now to drive it all home, God Knows that it is possible if we are let alone on this Earth, which is wired into depletion and exhaustion, we would by:
1. Deliberate Rebellion,
2. Ignorance ( being veiled of the Devil),
3. The Limitations of the Flesh we are wearing,
4. Attachment to the Affairs of this world.
Go back to rejecting Him. And that we cannot really help ourselves to both believe in Him and live right. So when Salvation was being planned, it was needful that from the time of Man’s saving, an entity be introduced into the realm of Man to guarantee their Being Saved, and their Staying Saved, till the day of Harvest. This Entity is the HOLYGHOST.
John 16:8-11
8. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9. Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10. Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
11. Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
We could not have being saved, if we were not convicted, He helped us to get saved.
John 14:16
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
The HOLYGHOST was to help us stay being saved. And His staying is forever.
Ephesians 1:13-14
13. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14. Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 4:30
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
_____________________________________________
When people want to argue about whether a person believes in Eternal Salvation or not, one of the Major verse they Isolate is:
Hebrews 6:4-6
4. 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,
5. And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6. 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.
Why Is it Impossible the renew them again until repentance …? Because:
1. They have tasted of the Heavenly Gift, which is Jesus (salvation)
2. Have being made partakers of the Holy Ghost. This is because the Spirit bears witness in our Spirit that we are the sons of God, so everyone who has received the gift can know the sincerity of the truth they have received. So when they with all the conviction both from without and from within them by the HolyGhost… now Deny that Jesus was ever true, they cannot be renewed.
3. Tasted the word of God; Life through Jesus, known what it can do.
4. Powers of age to Come, talks about veterans of the Gospel who have had a walk with God to know what possibilities are locked up in Him. E.g. imagine the likes of Benny Hinn, Papa Adeboye, Kenneth Copeland e.t.c. saying God no longer exists.
If they fall away cannot be renewed. Why? Seeing that they crucified Christ afresh by denouncing him.
That is the Way to loose one’s salvation. When a person DENOUNCES CHRIST.
You then may want to ask that if a person DENOUNCES CHRIST, can he not be Forgiven? NO HE CANNOT BE FORGIVEN. — WHY? This is because before a person can denounce Christ, it would mean that He had neglected the
1. Conviction of the HolyGhost that brought him salvation.
2. Deliberately avoided and suppressed the Voice of the HolyGhost bearing witness to him that he is the son of God.
It is these acts that Apostle Paul referred to when He said when should not Grieve the HolyGhost, through whom we were Sealed unto Redemption. This was the same thing Jesus Said when he asked us not to blaspheme against the HolyGhost, for such sin cannot be forgiven.
Luke 12:8-10
8. Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
9. But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
10. And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.
WHAT IS BLASPHEMY..?:
From the dictionary1. Irreverence toward something considered sacred or inviolable.
example: That imam said that drawing the prophet Muhammad is a form of blasphemy.2. The act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for any religion’s deity or deities.
3. The act of claiming the attributes of a deity.
Simply, the Blasphemy is the Sin against the HolyGhost that cannot be forgiven. When a person shows contempt towards the HolyGhost, a lack of irreverence. (Usually a posture of the heart, whether acted upon or not)
This BLASPHEMY…. Could be as grave as deliberately Darknening one’s heart with know of the dark world, which can Lead to denouncing and loosing salvation.. OR Can be as simple as not Revering God, not prioritizing Him and His, words above other things.
Romans 1:28-32
Emphasis on 28
28. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29. Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30. Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31. Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32. Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
