I have not posted here in quite some time. However, this is where I always post when I am in the mood to write something which is entirely personal. I see this blog as MY place where I can speak my heart and it is always ok.
This particular post is about a paradigm shift that took place in my mind and heart back in 1989. From the time I was born in 1965 until 1989, I had been part of a denomination that believed in conditional salvation. I loved the people of this particular denomination dearly (still do!) and considered them my family. The thought of not being part of them was almost like cutting off my right arm.
In 1989, I moved to Germany and there was no church of my particular denomination where we lived in Germany. I began attending a church with similar beliefs to my own, but they did not believe salvation was conditional. I struggled for some time and then the pastor asked if he could come over and study with my now ex husband and I about this issue. We were pretty firm in our beliefs, so we heartily agreed. I think we figured we would show him the "truth" instead of the other way around. I was pretty prideful of the fact that "I" had been to Bible College and this pastor had not. We had over 80 Scriptures which supported our point of view which is traditionally known as an Arminian viewpoint on the issue. He came for many weeks and encouraged us to share all of our Scripture first. After we had exhausted our references, he shared his. After two months of reading my Bible for 8 to 10 hours a day and studying the issue in earnest, I learned that indeed my salvation was not "conditional" but eternal. What I am about to share below is from my journal which I kept at that time.
My salvation is eternally secure because:
A. I am God's daughter (Romans 8:15, Ephesians 1:5)
B. I am of the circumcision not made with hands. (Colossians 2: 11-15)
C. Christ has forgiven all of my sins (Colossians 2: 13-14)
D. God keeps me (II Timothy 1:2) and He gives me strength to keep myself (John 17:11)
E. No man (including myself) can take me out of His hand. (John 10:28 to 29)
F. Sin has no dominion over me. (Romans 6:14)
G. I am sealed by the Holy Spirit (II Corinthians 1:22, Ephesians 1:13 and 4:30)
H. The Holy Spirit indwelled me from the moment of salvation. (Romans 5:5, John 14:26)
I. I am sanctified by the Holy Spirit. (I Peter 1:12, II Thessalonians 2:13)
J. I have been promised an inheritance. (Ephesians 1:11-14)
K. I have been promised eternal life. (Romans 6:22-23, John 3:16, I John 5:13)
L. Christ is in the Father, I am in Him and He is in me. (John 14:20, Galatians 2:20)
M. Heaven does not hold equal rewards for all believers. (Romans 14:13, Hebrews 6:13-17)
N. It is not possible for me to lose my salvation. (Hebrews 6:4-6, 18-20, Hebrews 12:28 and Romans 9:1-3)
O. Christ's righteousness is imputed to me. (Romans 6:24-25, Romans 5:19, II Corinthians 5:21)
P. Christ (the seed) is in me. (I John 3:9)
Q. He will never leave me nor forsake me. (Hebrews 13:5)
R. I am Christ's bride. (Romans 7:4)
S. God knows I am His (II Timothy 2:19)
T. I am saved by God, not of myself. (John 1:13)
U. I am a new creature. (II Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 4:24, Colossians 3:9-10)
V. I am a servant of righteousness. (Romans 6:18-19)
W. I am no longer condemned. (Romans 8:19)
X. Nothing can keep me from Christ's love. (Romans 8:38-39)
Y. I have been reconciled to God. (Romans 5:10-11 and Romans 5:21)
Z. I am already part of God's household. (Ephesians 2:10)
AA. Old things are passed away. (II Corinthians 5:17)
Some people say "but if you believe you are "once saved, always saved" you believe a person can just do what they want and be saved right?" The answer to this is absolutely NOT. I have found at least 10 consequences for the believer who is astray and none of them are pleasant. I will present that in my next post.
Comments (1)
This is very useful and I can see a lot of work (and prayer) went into it. I hope you post the next part sometime soon! :) Thanks for sharing it.