This was sent to me and I wanted to share it with you all.
Have you ever felt disconnected from God? I have not had the time (or made the time) to study and meditate on God’s word for the last week. And the last couple of days, I have really felt distance between myself and our Lord and Savior. Not that I haven’t prayed, but I just feel empty. I was speaking to a close friend of mine and he had mentioned that; we (as humans) have the tendency to get relaxed, in our relationship with God, when trials and tribulations are no longer upon us. And unfortunately this is true.
Today I sat, studied and meditated. And to tell you the truth I feel rejuvenated. But not quite there.
In my other book I’m reading, by John Piper, it also helped with the way I’m feeling (leave it to God to find a way to tell you what you need to hear). And this is what it said:
“There are times in the lives of the most godly people when spiritual hunger becomes weak, and darkness threatens to consume the light, and everything but the vaguely remembered taste of joy evaporated….Martin Luther wrote to Melanchton from the Wartburg Castle on July 13, 1521, while he was supposedly working feverishly on the translation of the New Testament:
‘I sit here at ease, hardened and unfeeling-alas! Praying little, grieving little for the Church of God, burning rather in the fierce fires of my untamed flesh. It comes to this: I should be afire in the spirit; in reality I am afire in the flesh, with lust, laziness, idleness, sleepiness. It is perhaps because you have all ceased praying for me that God has turned away from me…. For the last eight days I have written nothing, nor prayed nor studied, partly from self-indulgence, partly from another vexatious handicap…. I really cannot stand it any longer….Pray for me, I beg you, for in my seclusion here I am submerged in sin.’ ”Now, I’m not as far as Luther ( I hope), but I have felt that my spiritual hunger may have weakened. I only write because I hope that you will continue to pray for me, and those around you, that we may always have that strong spiritual hunger for the Lord, His word and His desires. I thank you for all the times you have prayed and thought of me, and the Lord has blessed me from it, but I ask that you continue to pray for my spiritual walk (and for other’s), as we know that we are never out of troubled waters until that great day when we see our Savior’s face.
Thank you,
God bless
Signed a Friend
As he stated “leave it to God to find a way to tell you what you need to hear”, the timing was perfect for me to receive this letter. For I too feel the darkness of the flesh (world) tugging anxiously on me.
Thank you God for giving me this dear friend and may he be encouraged to know that YOU have chosen him to minister to the likes of me.
peace_Out
Wednesday, 20. August 2008
I feel the same way when I go a couple days or a week without reading the word of God. Do you think the Lord may be trying to tell us something? Perhaps. We need to be in it everyday. To put on our armor against the world. My husband and I were reading this the other night and wow did it hit me, which goes perfectly with the letter above.
Ephesians 6:10-19
The Whole Armor of God
10 A final word: Be strong with the Lord’s mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. 12 For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.
13 Use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the sturdy belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News, so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere.
19 And pray for me, too.
God’s word is our Armor. We must dwell in it, on it and live it to fight and overcome the evil powers of this world that are very real. God’s word is also like a Holy Spirit booster of the day (like your morning coffee), we need to be refreshed constantly. Did you have your caffeine fix today? Did you read your bible today? Did you need your bible today? Just some thoughts…get into the word today and be rejuvenated.
Friday, 22. August 2008
I just read this for the second time and today it cuts a little deeper because of the day I had. I was with wonderful Christian friends and the subject came up that is being taught in alot of God’s churches of “Once saved always saved”!! I am so frustrated and distraught by this phrase, which I would add is not scriptural. My friend said this is tearing churches apart!!!! Well, this is not the only thing tearing churches apart. It is our selfish desires. Our selfish hearts. If we are centered on me me me then we allow darkness to slowly burn out the light.
I will never waiver on my thought of salvation. I focus on John 15:1 He is the branch we (Christians) are the vines if we do not produce fruit, we will be cut off to wither and die and thrown in the fire to burn. If we believe “once saved always saved” do we just disregard this verse as so many do to fit their own lives. Be careful who you are bringing glory to, that it is always God and not yourself. “Once saved always saved” to me is just an excuse to live for you and not Him. We should always fear the Lord, never allowing Satan to enter our daily lives. We should never stop learning, growing and praising the Lord for the gift he has given us, all of us to choose what we do with it. Accept it or throw it away?
I would like to hear what some of you mature, yet still growing Christians make of this controversial subject.
Friday, 22. August 2008
I am saved and will always be saved. My name is in the book of life and his word is good enough for me. It is not by our works but his rightousness that we are saved. His rightnousness is never lessened or diminising. I may sin but it is not the new nature to sin by choice. When we sin it is covered by the blood of the perfect sacific and nothing is left to be done but rejoice and love Jesus for completing all the work.
1 John 3:9
No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because He is born of God.
Revelation 3:5
All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine.
Friday, 22. August 2008
Good, so how is John 15 then explained. And also I am led to Hebrew 3:12-14 Hebrews 3:12-14
12 Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. 13 You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. 14 For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.
We are all sinners but can our sin not lead us into darkness. And if it does, will we not be cut off. Revelations is after the rapture, I will not be here. Why, is this scripture saved for after the second coming. Why was this scripture not written in the new testament for the new believer. All will not be taken home when Christ returns, this scripture does not pertain to me because it is for those who live or not live through the rapture. Victorious.
1 John 3:9 refers to the true convert not living a life of habitual sin. NIV reads “No one who is born of God continues to sin. Habitual and Absolute. We are all sinners and continue to sin every day. Do you not sin? Or, do you do your best to live a life free of sin and ask for forgiveness when you do?
Thank you for taking the time to converse with me. In Christ.
Saturday, 23. August 2008
All scripture is intended for the here and how and when ever you live, whether 1000 years ago, today or in the future all scripture will still be intended for you. And I am sorry, I have read Revelations and I do not see how Rev 3:5 is intended for those after the, as you up it “The Rapture”.
Not to argue, but lovingly correct, Revelations 1:3 says, Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. The book of Revelations as we are told by John from the source Jesus that this book as well as all the books of the bible are for believers and blessed is he that readeth. If that book is not necessary for our teaching and growing than neither are the books written to specific churches or people. What is left to read and study?
Can someone loose his or her salvation? no. But this does not mean you have a license to sin either. Those that are saved are a new being (person) and sin is no longer in them. I’m not sure how the free will thing works, but I will trust God to His word and submit to His authority.
The only people that should be concerned about this statement “Once Saved Always Saved” are those that are living a life contrary to scripture while professing to be saved. That is dangerous. And I would venture to say that they were never truly saved in the first place then. Just my opinion and you can leave it at that.
I can go on, but I’ll leave it at this point for the moment.
Batter up…
Saturday, 23. August 2008
I agree with Marsha Marsha, you cannot loose your savation and when God siad that He will wright my name in the book of life and never erase it I trust He meant just that.
Saturday, 23. August 2008
After a long discussion and many read bible versus with my friends yesterday afternoon the conclusion was made as just that Scot T. That salvation is a gift. We can choose to accept it or not. There has been throughout the hundreds of years many many false conversions, And I am sure many more to come and I suppose after Jesus returns all will truly know if they were chosen or not. And I must agree that it is very very dangerous to live your life around that statement. There are too many scriptures I have read that are very contrary to this and give us warnings. We are always to examine our own hearts and make sure that all we do would please the Lord. Losing your salvation is entirely up to the the individuals way of life, God would not take it away, however we must continue to read scripture and live it to the best of our ability. We cannot dismiss any scripture. That in itself is very dangerous. We open ourselves to darkness and therefore allow evil another little opening. Remember Satan wants us as much as God does.
I do not claim to understand Revelations, I have tried to read some of it but I suppose God is not yet ready for it to be revealed to me. It is very difficult. However there is no question it is a prophesy from Jesus to John to warn the Churches. Revelation is a warning to all of what is to come.
Most people that claim the Once saved always saved cling to the one scripture in Revelations and I am not convinced that is what it means. If there is a scholar out there please educate me. A true bible scholar who has studied Revelations, not just your opinion. In the other books all the scripture had been witness in some way or another. I know the Revelation was given to John for a reason and it is in my Bible as well, so there is a point to it, I just cannot grasp it and am I mislead in the statement it refers to the end times after Jesus’s second coming? In Christ
Saturday, 23. August 2008
I have begun a study on revelation, I am reading from an online study at apocalypsetheunveiling.com. It is very informative in explaining each verse. Anyone want to join me for discussion? Lets study together. In Christ
Saturday, 23. August 2008
Here are my two quick points for now:
1: God never will erase our names from the book of life, BUT who’s to say that we can’t erase our own names?
2: If we truly are, “once saved always saved”, then what is Satan’s goal. If Satan knows that he can do nothing about our salvation, then what is his goal or purpose?
I’ll write more later, when I have the time. Just some food for thought right now.
God bless
Monday, 25. August 2008
Once saved always saved? huh. Then why is it every time I try to live right and become a mature Christian does Satan and this world seem to try so so hard to pull me and push me in every other direction? And not just me it always seems to get harder not easier (in some aspects) on a new believer. If once saved then why does the evil in the world try to continue to suck us back in? Why wouldn’t Satan just give up? Wouldn’t our lives just become so easy so simplistic? No more anger no more worries no more evil or temptation? I just don’t buy it! Even Jesus was tempted and he had the highest faith. I think that’s just something someone came up with so they don’t have to try, live it, become it. It’s just Satan’s illusion and you’re delusional if you believe it. It’s not your works but your Heart and your works will and should reflect you Heart.
Monday, 25. August 2008
I love baby Christians, they are so pure and see things for what they truly are and not try to manipulate scripture to fit their need. Bingo Lamb!!!!! My thoughts exactly. We must always strive to do more, grow more, love more. Satan does have a purpose and scripture tells us to beware. John 15 sums it up for me:
1. and I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5″I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
9″As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command. 15I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17This is my command: Love each other.
As Well as Matthew 7:21-23
21″Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he 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 perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Our Salvation will never be taken away from us. We have FREE WILL people, we can certainly choose to let it go, and if you think you cannot be very careful Satan is very good at fooling us.
Monday, 25. August 2008
The only way the statement “Once saved always saved” could be true is if, once you were saved,you became a perfect being. One who from that point on lived entirely without sin. There by; never having to ask for forgiveness for any wrong doing again. I myself have yet to see such a person and I know many people who have truly been saved. I, too, agree that there is great danger in this belief. I worked in the jails for 10 years. I saw so many inmates “find God” while in jail. They were taught,by the inhouse preacher, this very belief. Therefore; they had no fear of consequence,outside the law,for their crimes. They were convinced because they were “saved” that they would be forgiven their sin and still see heaven. Even though they continued to commit crimes and come back to jail over and over again. What they weren’t taught was that to be truly saved you must leave your old life behind and live your life completely for God. Sure there will be times that we slip up but you can’t continue to live your life as is and think you will still be delivered. I agree that this belief just takes the burden off the believer of having to try to live as Jesus did. Our walk is not suppose to be easy. We should live our lives daily trying to please God. And if you believe “once saved always saved” then what would you have to work on?