Currently like many other things I have believed in the past, that I have wrestled with and changed my mind for example from several doctrines in calvinism to no longer believing in those doctrines I'm currently wrestling with the issue of salvation being unconditional or conditional for the following reasons.
1- The bible is written to believers not unbelievers, the church, churches in the epistles.
2- The warning passages only make sense if they are written to believers, not unbelievers.
3- Our relationship with God is much like our relationship to our spouse in marriage
4- Marriage is until death do you part much like salvation is enduring/abiding until the end.
5- Marriage like salvation is a life long commitment.
6- Just as we can walk away from the promise and commitment/vows we made in our marriage we can do the same with God. People fall out of love in a marriage and Jesus warns believers in Revelation that they lost their first love and to repent.
7- If one wants assurance of salvation then remain faithful, abide in Him, endure until the end
8- I believe salvation and sanctification are synergistic not monergistic like I once believed
9- Its not how you begin the race that counts its how you finish the race
10- Jesus and the Apostles warn believers in many places to be ready at all times for His 2nd Coming. Those with their lamps full will not be caught off-guard, those who are ready and faithful will not be taken by surprise and left behind.
So those are some of the ideas that I'm wrestling with these days. I was dogmatic for decades about eternal life cannot be lost. But now I'm reconsidering the other side of the debate. It just might be conditional, not unconditional.
hope this helps !!!
Understanding Eternal Security is something I think we are all going to struggle with, and the only way we can truly settle this in our hearts is through study of God's Word.
It doesn't go without notice that the L.O.S.T. (loss of salvation teachers) do not really view themselves in danger of losing salvation and are always ready to point out how ignorant those of us who are in fact trusting in Christ are.
I will try to address these points you raise:
1- The bible is written to believers not unbelievers, the church, churches in the epistles.
I would have to disagree with this. First, Eternal Redemption was not possible for man until Christ died on the Cross, so until faith came (Galatians 3:22-26) we don't really see "believers" as represented in this Age, those trusting in the Gospel of Christ.
Second, the very reason God gave the world the Word was for the express purpose that they know His will for their lives. Since all men enter this world dead and separated from God, it stands to reason that the Word of God was given to the world, not just those who have been saved.
2- The warning passages only make sense if they are written to believers, not unbelievers.
And when you look at these proof texts you will find that in view are unbelievers every time.
An example that was just given, found in 2 Peter:
2 Peter 2:20-22
King James Version
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
It is assumed that because they have received the knowledge of the truth they are saved.
But what is the context of the Chapter?
2 Peter 2
King James Version
1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
It is dealing with those no one in their right mind would consider saved.
2 Peter 2:20-22
King James Version
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
It is obvious they have received the knowledge of the truth, but that is how God brings about conviction—He ministers to unbelievers the truth. In John 16:7-9 we see that the Comforter ministers to unbelievers regarding sin, righteousness, and judgment. "Of sin," says He, "because they do not believe in Jesus Christ."
Does that mean those who receive this ministry will respond to the Gospel and the convicting ministry of the Comforter? No, most will reject the Gospel.
These are not believers, they are those likened to the false teachers (who themselves are the New Testament counterparts of the false prophets of the Old) who have turned from the Holy Commandment.
They are still dogs, they are still pigs—there has been no conversion.
3- Our relationship with God is much like our relationship to our spouse in marriage
The marriage relationship is only a picture of our union with Christ and is a figure like animal sacrifice was of Christ's death. The difference between your marriage with your wife and your marriage (Union) with Christ is that you don't have the ability to divorce yourself from Christ.
Regeneration is the receiving of the Life He came to bestow and that Life is received when we are baptized into Christ. Now, if you think you can step outside of Christ I would surely like to know how exactly you might plan on doing that. Nothing in Scripture implies a believer can do that, and with Eternal Salvation always stated as Eternal/everlasting either Scripture is in error or those who say it is not eternal/everlasting are.
4- Marriage is until death do you part much like salvation is enduring/abiding until the end.
Actually, salvation is receiving life you never had before. The Life of Eternal God. It is true that Christians are still under the death penalty for sin, but that has nothing to do with being made a new creation in Christ. Again, nothing in Scripture teaches that the new creation becomes dead again.
5- Marriage like salvation is a life long commitment.
You didn't effect your salvation, you cannot cancel it. Big differece.
Either you believe your salvation is through the Work of Christ or you believe your salvation is a joint effort between you and Christ.
Did you die on the Cross? Or was Christ alone when that happened, abandoned by disciples that had followed Him for three years.
Where in Scripture does it teach Eternal Redemption is a result of Christ and Civic? It doesn't, right?
Yes, you can bring physical death upon yourself through sin, but you cannot bring Eternal Damnation upon yourself if you are in Christ.
6- Just as we can walk away from the promise and commitment/vows we made in our marriage we can do the same with God. People fall out of love in a marriage and Jesus warns believers in Revelation that they lost their first love and to repent.
Do you understand what the candlesticks represent? Find out then see if you can maintain this argument.
7- If one wants assurance of salvation then remain faithful, abide in Him, endure until the end
You won't receive assurance through what you do, lol. You can only have assurance when you properly understand how you are saved.
With what you are saying here, it seems apparent that you believe that you and Jesus Christ are saving you.
Does that not mean you are not trusting Christ for your salvation? You feel the burden to supplement the Work of Christ with the work of Civic?
8- I believe salvation and sanctification are synergistic not monergistic like I once believed
So let me ask you this: were men born again before Pentecost?
I would like to see if you have an understanding of Salvation in Scripture beyond the popular understanding of Modern Christendom today.
9- Its not how you begin the race that counts its how you finish the race
Then the Author and Finisher (completer) of your faith is not the Author and Finisher of your faith?
You are?
10- Jesus and the Apostles warn believers in many places to be ready at all times for His 2nd Coming. Those with their lamps full will not be caught off-guard, those who are ready and faithful will not be taken by surprise and left behind.
You seem to apply a Rapture meaning to the Second Coming of Christ. I would suggest to you that you have improperly used a passage that has application to Israel when Christ returns.
The Church will be raptured prior to the Tribulation, so the parable has application to those who are saved during the Tribulation. They will be of the Church, but are found in a time period outside of the Age we now live in.
Keep in mind that Christ came only to the Lost Sheep of Israel. This refers to His earthly ministry under the Law. He came for the entire world in His Redemptive Ministry, but while ministering among Israel He ministered in and within the Law. So when we look at His teachings we need to keep them in their proper context. For example, when Christ is speaking to Nicodemus about the Kingdom of God, what Kingdom would Nicodemus have thought of? The one presented in the Hebrew Scriptures. The revelation they had, at that point—received.
You are trying to, in my opinion, make your personal feelings fit Scripture. Marriage is given as an example, not a direct correlation. Salvation happens because Eternal God opened your natural mind to the truths of the Gospel, and you responded to that truth in faith (I am assuming, and rightly, I believe). You didn't go out seeking God, He came to you. He knew before He saved you that you would sin after being saved.
But that is why Christ had to come: because we couldn't and can't save ourselves.
Your daily conversation is truly in your control for the most part, and you can make decisions that will affect your relationship with Christ, but don't think for a second anything you do contributes to the Work of Christ.
If righteousness could be obtained by any other means, Christ is dead in vain.
As I said, assurance of salvation isn't something we are going to have until we understand how we are saved. And the most basic principle of Eternal Salvation is that Jesus is the Savior. Not you. Not me. Not Jesus plus you and me.
God bless.
