For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
lowell franck
I would disagree of the idea that once saved always saved. when a person accepts Christ into their heart they receive their salvation then, and God will never take back what he is given. But, we as humans can reject what was given to us, turn our backs on it and walk away. I have known a pastor who rejected everything that he believed, and he died in horrid sin. He will not be in heaven. (B
Lynda Hickman
Key words in John 10:28-30:
ETERNAL - without beginning or end
NEVER - means never, by any means
ANYONE - Webster's says, 'randomly selected'
GREATER THAN ALL - larger & stronger than anyone & all things
NO ONE - GOD is greater than all, everyone, anyone, anything, GOD is greater than all sin, even one's self!
Some say 1 Jn 3 means that one who sins is not born again.
That's not what he meant.
In vs. 4-6, he said, those who sin are lawless, "sin is lawlessness." We know Christ came to take away our sin.
"In Him there is no sin. Whoever who abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him."
Vs. 9 says, "Whoever has been born (born again) of GOD does not sin."
In all Scripture, we must open His Word objectively, without any baggage, not subjectively with preset notions or teaching.
John said that one who sins is lawless because sin is lawless. True.
Jesus Christ came to take away our sins. True.
In Him there is no sin. True.
Those who sin don't 'abide' in Him, see Him or know Him. True.
But the kicker! Those born of GOD, BORN AGAIN, can't sin because His seed is in them.
Only Jesus was without sin.
As long as we are in this body, even though He has replaced our heart (Ez. 36) & (2 Cor. 3) we can sin.
NOTHING can separate a born again believer from Him. (Romans 8:37-39)
Any other "created thing" includes self!
We can't know the condition of someone's heart.
One may seem to reject Christ, but Christ will never reject him/her.
Neil Parks
As one man said “change is not change until it is change”. Jesus said . “I tell you, no; but unless you repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways and live changed lives], you will all likewise perish.”
Luke 13:3 AMP
Repent means (CHANGE). If you have not changed you are not Saved. The Bible also says in “If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just [true to His own nature and promises], and will forgive our sins and cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness [our wrongdoing, everything not in conformity with His will and purpose].”
1 John 1:9 AMP.
Confess means to admit, so without admitting He cannot cleanse!