Fourth Year Ministries

In this final part of the series on the question, "What is salvation and can you lose it?", we will turn our attention to the difficult subject of "apostasy." If you missed the first four parts, you can read them here: Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3 , and Part 4 . As we've surveyed issues relating to salvation, it seems clear that the gift of God in eternal life is not something that can be lost or stolen from the individual who repents and places their faith in Christ. Thank God, for this is good news indeed! However, this does not appear to be the end of the story -- and there is a danger of "giving up" or "forfeiting" this salvation based on our own stewardship of the gift we have received (1 Timothy 4:1-3). Paul apparently recognized this danger in his own life when he states plainly regarding his "freedom in Christ": I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it. 24 Do you not k...

Q: What is salvation and can you lose it? There's the saying "once saved always saved". Using the scripture that no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand. (John 10:29) but it says in verse 27 My sheep hear my voice, I know them and they follow me. So the no snatching is referring to those who hear and follow, in other words who are obedient to His Word. So, the ones that do not heed the call of the Lord and follow can be snatched? What about sin hardening the heart? (Hebrew 3:13) Shipwrecked faith? (1Tim 1:19) I have heard the saying - "It's not how you start the race but how you finish it." In Hebrew 3:14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, If you aren't a true follower of Christ then how can you have the strength on your own to even run the race. It is because of Christ and who He transforms you to be that you would even want to ...

After taking a look at the past ( Part 1 ) and present ( Part 2 ) elements of salvation, it's time to turn to the future element of salvation. To briefly recap, salvation is being rescued from the penalty of sin (the past element) and the power (the present element) of sin, death and the devil by the grace of God. In the future , we will be saved from the presence of sin. God is Holy and Righteous, so no sin can dwell in His manifest presence (Habakkuk 1:13; Psalm 5:5; 76:7; 130:3) and in the final state (what some theologians refer to as "The Eschaton") God will be manifestly present among His people in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1-4). Since this is the case, sin will necessarily be dealt with fully and finally prior to ushering in the final state of Heaven at a time yet future (see these posts for more about the current state of Heaven and Hell ) by God. As part of the coming judgment , God will bring every thought, word and deed into light and wil...

In Part 1 we looked at the reality that salvation has a past element and that for those who have received salvation, they have been saved from the wrath of God, the penalty of Adam's rebellion (enslavement to the Devil) and the penalty for their own personal sin. In Part 2 we will now turn to the facet of salvation that deals with the present . God does not offer salvation simply to save us from the penalty and power of sin, but also for something else: His glory. If the past element of salvation can be summarized as a being rescued from the penalty of sin, then the present element can be summarized as being set free from the power of sin. Understanding that Adam's rebellion against God sold humanity into slavery to death and the Devil should lead us to understand that the Enemy of our souls was given great power over us to deceive and lead us towards destruction. Jesus explicitly taught that the Devil is a liar and had strong words for the "religious" o...

Question - "In the Gospels (Matthew 12:31, Mark 3:29, and Luke 12:10) what is the "definition" of sinning against the Holy Spirit?" Answer - According to Jesus' own words recorded in these scriptures... Matthew 12:31-32, 37 (I added verses 32 and 37 for context) - (31) "Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. (32) "Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him either in this age or in the age to come... (37) "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." (NASB) Mark 3:28-29 (Verse 28 added) - (28)"Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; (29) but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness; but is guilty of an eternal sin". (N...

Q: What is salvation and can you lose it? There's the saying "once saved always saved". Using the scripture that no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand. (John 10:29) but it says in verse 27  My sheep hear my voice, I know them and they follow me.   So the no snatching is referring to those who hear and follow, in other words who are obedient to His Word.  So, the ones that do not heed the call of the Lord and follow can be snatched? What about sin hardening the heart? (Hebrew 3:13) Shipwrecked faith? (1Tim 1:19) I have heard the saying - "It's not how you start the race but how you finish it." In Hebrew 3:14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, If you aren't a true follower of Christ then how can you have the strength on your own to even run the race.  It is because of Christ and who He transforms you to be that you would even want to run the race ...