Once Saved Always Saved?
Posted by: bneumann848 <bneumann848@...>
Jesus replied, “I
tell you for certain that you must be born from above before you can see God’s
kingdom!” Nicodemus asked, “How can a grown man ever be born a second
time?” Jesus answered: I tell you for certain that before you can
get into God’s kingdom, you must be born not only by water, but by the Spirit.”
John 3:3-5 (CEV)
“Do you
believe in once saved, always saved?”
I’ve been asked that question a few times, and the answer is both yes
and no.
I’ve known
people who prayed the sinner’s prayer to ask Jesus into their heart yet never
pursued a relationship with God. They went on living their life as though
nothing changed – even to the point of believing that God’s blessing was somehow
bestowed thereafter upon their sinful lifestyle. Whatever their reason for
praying the sinner’s prayer, they never brought forth fruit consistent with repentance
(Matthew 3:8, Luke 3:8). While God alone is the judge of men’s hearts, this
type of “fire insurance” is not what He had in mind when He subjected His Son
to the cross.
However, for
those who have truly made Jesus their Savior and Lord, who have repented of
their sin, who follow Him and live to please Him alone, hear His words in John
10:
My
sheep recognize My voice. I know them, and they follow Me. I give them real and
eternal life. They are protected from the Destroyer for good. NO ONE can steal
them from out of My hand. The Father who put them under My care is so much
greater than the Destroyer and Thief. NO ONE could ever get them away from Him.
(John 10:27-29 The Message, emphasis mine)
No matter
what comes this year, one thing is infinitely certain: you and I will both need
Jesus. If your very next breath were your last one on earth, do you know where
you would spend eternity? If you’re not sure, don’t spend another minute of
2014 without Him. There is a heaven to gain and a hell to shun. Hell isn’t a
party place, as some surmise; it’s a place of never-ending torment and agony.
God doesn’t want any human being to go there, that’s why He made a way so that
you don’t have to. The price has already been paid; all you have to do is
accept it for yourself. If you’ve never asked Jesus to be your Savior and Lord,
or you asked Him but it didn’t impact your life, or if you just need to come
back to intimacy with Him, please pray this prayer, not from your head, but
from your heart.
Dear Jesus, I know I’m a sinner. I’m
not living right, doing right; I’m not in fellowship with You, but I want to
be. Jesus, I believe You died on the cross for me, that You rose again for me,
and that you stand at the right hand of God praying for me. I ask you to come
into my heart, be my Savior and my Lord. I believe that you are the Son of God,
the only way to heaven. I give You my life, and ask You for a new heart. Change
me from the inside out; make me clean and help me to live for You. God, You’re
now more than my God; You’re my Heavenly Father. Thank You for receiving me and
loving me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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