Danny Hickman Supporter Believer in The Gospel Of Jesus Christ

I don't understand how a person can 'think they are saved' for a time, and then 'think' something totally different later; even to the point of 'thinking' that "there is no God." 

To be saved by God is to be born again of the Spirit of God. To be born of the Spirit of God is to be indwelled by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit lives in believers; He teaches us, guides, chastens, comforts, consoles, etc. In other words, He moves in and choreographs the believer's life. 

Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you (believers, the saved) are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. (Romans 8:8,9)

This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself (II Timothy 2:11-13). 

Paul was telling Pastor Timothy that he could use his (Paul's) predicament as evidence of the faithfulness of God's calling. There Paul was in prison for preaching the gospel. He could ease his suffering if he would just DENY Christ as the Son of God and get on with his life. But he told Timothy why he continued in the ministry. Vs 10 - Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

Paul has the Holy Spirit within himself. He won't deny Christ because that would be the Holy Spirit denying Himself. That's what he's telling Pastor Timothy. And he begins by saying, 'You can bet your last dollar on this.' (he called it ''a faithful saying.")

For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. (I Corinthians 2:11) In plain language:

No one can say who other than themselves is saved for eternal life. Only God knows the heart of a man. Man looks at the outward appearance, but God sees the heart. We are not to put ourselves in the seat of a judge. (We're not to condemn others). But this I will confess: no one is saved for a while and then lost again. 

You say your dad was saved when he was young. If he was, then he's still saved. Salvation isn't maintained by the saved! We aren't charged with speaking the right way, or any other lifestyle requirements to belong to God. 

(A king's children should behave like children of royalty, but if they don't, they are still the king's children... even if they refuse to live in their father's castle).

3 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Mark Vestal Supporter Proud of nothing of myself. Freed by Christ who did it all!

Yep! He'll be there. He once believed, and here's what happened at that moment:

Eph 1:12-13
"That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
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,"

How long does our "seal" last?

Eph 1:14
"Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."

Eph 4:30
"And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."

Paul admonishes believers to "walk honestly", in 1 Thes, and as in:

Rom 12:1
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."

1 Thes 4:13 is regarding believers who do not "walk honestly", for instance, the Corinthian who was sleeping with his mother-in-law. Verses 14 and 15 are to be "comforting" to those who are "walking honestly" (alive spiritually), and who fear for fellow believers who appear "asleep", not "awake" spiritually. This applies to anyone who ever once believed but simply do not show or proclaim it. In chapter 5 Paul confirms this with vs. 6-11:

1 Thes 5:6-11
"Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do."

Paul would not be imploring believers to "not sleep, as do others" if this were regarding physical death in chapters 4 and 5 unless he is admonishing suicide (which he isn't). Paul is speaking to believers who have "work" to do for reward other than salvation (1 Cor 3:14-15), which is to share the good news of God's grace (Christ crucified for them) and salvation being gifted to anyone who will simply believe (Eph 2:8-9). He is affirming that a believer's occasional unrighteous living, although "lawful" but not "expedient" (1 Cor 6:12, 1 Cor 10:23), does not alter their positional and eternal standing "in Christ". He confirms that although we are eternally saved believers we are still trapped in this sinful body of carnal flesh and will sometimes fail in our efforts...or lack thereof.

This freedom is the true saving power that sinners, who have ever believed, now possess to defeat their sinful nature if they will allow the Spirit to guide them in their spiritual growth (consider the ongoing "war" within Paul's "members" in Romans chapter 7). Knowing we will not be punished for our shortcomings (because of God's love for us/the world, as is seen in Christ crucified for us) frees us from having to give in on occasion to our carnal desires of the flesh during our ongoing internal war between our flesh and the Spirit. The realization that there is no benefit (or need/desire) to continue in the rebellion against "the law"/God eventually manifests itself as we begin to "quench not" the Spirit's guidance:

1 Thes 5:19
"Quench not the Spirit."

Paul is "comforting" believers to remember that their fellow once believing brethren/loved ones (who do not "walk honestly") will still take part in the great "catching away" at Christ's return in the clouds (1 Thes. 4:17). In the end, the work of a believer who once persuaded someone to believe (such as someone did with your father) "is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Cor 15:58).

Eph 5:14
"Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light."

Be comforted!

2 days ago • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Janet Austin Supporter Lover of God. Right to the Soul, author

I’m sorry to hear about your father’s change of heart. I don’t believe he will go to heaven unless he turns his heart back to God in complete submission. Those who are saved are those who, by grace through faith, accept Jesus as Lord. 

Consider the following verses: Matthew 7:21-23:

21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’"

For your father: I pray that the eyes of his heart may be open to the truth of who our Lord Jesus Christ is. May God tug at him with a love that your father cannot deny. May your father be born again.

3 days ago • 6 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Donna Williams Supporter

Dear Anonymous, I would like to say that nobody knows but God!

I would like to share the scripture verses that came to mind, which is found in Romans 9:1-16. Particularly verses 15 and 16, for He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion." 16. So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. 

Paul wrote these verses concerning the Jews/the children of Israel; however, I believe that it is for all whom God chooses to show mercy to. 

It is very unfortunate that your dad has rejected the only one who can save him, and that is Jesus Christ. 

May I add that belonging to a certain denomination doesn't matter or save anyone. According to John 3:3-8, we must be born again. 

Only those who have put their faith in Him are eternally secure, and have been delivered from the wrath that is to come.

May I encourage you to pray for him that the Holy Spirit will give him a change of heart and mind. It is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance. I am praying as well that he will obtain the Lord's mercy!

3 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report