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工程技術，地產投資，信仰家園，時尚生活
OSAS And Galatians 5
A Bible Study by Jack Kelley
People who try to deny the Doctrine of Eternal Security (OSAS) sometimes point to Galatians 5:13-26 to support their position. And if you just considered those verses you might be tempted to agree. But if you look at the entire chapter you get a completely different perspective. So that’s what we’ll do.
Before we begin, it’s important to remind ourselves that the Bible, being the word of God, cannot contradict itself. If Galatians 5 denies OSAS it’s in direct contradiction to statements the Holy Spirit led Paul to make in Ephes. 1:13-14 and 2 Cor. 1:21-22. Ephes. 1:13-14 tells us that our salvation is assured from the moment of belief with the Holy Spirit sealed within us as a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance. Before we had done anything, either good or bad, before we were baptized, before we had even fully responded to the altar call, we were saved forever. These other things are important, but our belief in the Lord’s completed work on our behalf came first and it’s the one essential ingredient to our salvation which alone brings us eternal life (John 1:12-13, 3:16, 6:28-29, 6:40).
2 Cor. 1:21-22 says, It is God Who makes us stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit guaranteeing what is to come. There are no passages in Scripture that speak of revoking or even modifying this guarantee. It would be impossible for the Holy Spirit to have led Paul or any of the Bible’s other writers to make any statements that contradict these clear promises.
So what was Paul saying? Let’s start at the beginning of the chapter.
Freedom In Christ
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. (Galatians 5:1-6)
The context of Galatians 5 is the debate that was raging between two groups there. One consisted of believers in the Doctrine of Grace Paul had taught them. The other was made up of those who were being swayed by the teaching of the “Judaizers”, Jews who claimed that Gentile believers had to come under the Law and be circumcised to be saved.
Paul warned them that while neither circumcision nor uncircumcision was relevant in and of itself, it was being proposed to them as a sign of their acceptance of the Old Covenant. Therefore agreeing to it would obligate them to the whole Law. Attempting to keep the Law alienates us from the Lord because it denies what He’s done for us. It makes His death of no value leaving us responsible for saving ourselves.
You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be. Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves! (Galatians 5:7-12)
Law Or Grace?
You can’t have a little bit of Law mixed with Grace. Just as a little bit of yeast will permeate the whole batch of dough to change its composition, a little bit of Law will work its way through the doctrine of Grace, changing it into something it was not intended to be. When Paul said in that case the offense of the cross has been abolished, he meant the Law cancels Grace.
(The Judaizers were hinting that Paul preached the Law among Jews but switched to a watered down version of the Gospel when speaking to Gentiles. His response was, “If I’m preaching the Law to the Jews then why are they persecuting me?” His frustration with them is evident.)
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. (Galatians 5:13-15)
Paul’s comments here concern the Galatians’ arguments over Law vs. Grace and was a warning to stop it. He called their arguing “indulging the sinful nature”and said while in Christ they were free from the Law they shouldn’t use their freedom to behave that way. Instead, they should serve one another humbly in love.
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. (Galatians 5:16-18)
This is a clear demonstration of the difference between the desires of the sin nature and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Our sin nature will always prompt us to do things that are contrary to the Spirit. As He did in Romans 7:18-19 Paul said our sin nature will sometimes cause us to do things we know we shouldn’t do. Here he said if we’re led by the Spirit we’re not under the Law, meaning these things are not counted against us.
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. (Galatians 5:22-26)
The differences between the acts of the sin nature and the fruit of the Spirit can be seen in the comparison of these two passages. In reading the first one we can all admit to periodically doing one or more of these things as believers. In Romans 7:20 Paul said from God’s perspective it’s not us but the sin nature that dwells within us that’s to blame when this happens.
His final words on the subject confirm that the whole chapter had been about about their arguing. He said since the Galatian believers belonged to Christ they should live by the Spirit and not become conceited, a common failing among Law keepers. He said they should stop provoking and envying each other, a reference to the contention among them. These are acts prompted by the sin nature and are not appropriate for believers.
What’s The Meaning Of This?
If you’re going to deny God’s Grace by going under the Law you’ll disqualify yourself from receiving two things that are essential to your salvation. First, you won’t have the Holy Spirit to guide you, so you’ll be left with only your sin nature which will always take you in a direction that’s opposed to God’s Spirit.
But far more importantly you won’t have the guarantee of the Lord’s death on your behalf to save you. You’ll be responsible for your own salvation. Without these two things you can not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Remember, the Law was only given to point out our sins and no one can be saved by keeping it (Romans 3:20). But through faith we can achieve a righteousness apart from the Law and be saved (Romans 3:21-24). So there are only two ways to live one’s life, by Law or by Grace through faith. We can’t have it both ways. If we’re under the Law we can not benefit from God’s grace.
In summary, if we depend solely by faith on our belief that the Lord saved us forever then we’re saved forever. If we think we have to apply our own effort to complete the work Jesus only began, then it’s doubtful we were ever saved. Paul wasn’t contradicting himself. Galatians 5 is not about losing our salvation once we receive it, it’s about whether we ever had it to begin with. Selah 07-30-11
雅各書 2:14-18 RCUVSS
我的弟兄們，若有人說自己有信心，卻沒有行為，有什麽益處呢？這信心能救他嗎？ 若是弟兄或是姊妹沒有衣服穿，又缺少日用的飲食； 你們中間有人對他們說：“平平安安地去吧！願你們穿得暖，吃得飽”，卻不給他們身體所需要的，這有什麽益處呢？ 信心也是這樣，若沒有行為是死的。? 但是有人會說：“你有信心，我有行為。”把你沒有行為的信心給我看，我就藉著我的行為把我的信心給你看。
James 2:14-17 NKJV
What does? it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does? it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.??But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
你們要常在我裡麵，我也常在你們裡麵。枝子若不常在葡萄樹上，自己就不能結果子；你們若不常在我裡麵，也是這樣。 - 約翰福音15:3-5
哥林多前書 9:24 RCUVSS
你們不知道在運動場上賽跑的，大家都跑，但得獎賞的隻有一人？你們也要這樣跑，好使你們得著獎賞。
聖靈給我的光照和啟示：
1）行為從信那時刻就開始有，它是信心的結果。信心的行為可以僅僅是意誌，思想或情感的行為，也可以是語言和其他身體的行動。
2）有永恒價值的行為，是出於信心，是有聖靈感動的結果，就是結出永恒的果實，也就是哥林多前書第三章講的用金 、 銀 、寶石做的工作，經得起火的考驗；沒有永恒價值的行為，是出於信心和自我，就是用草木 ， 禾秸建造的工作，經不起火的考驗, 是沒有永恒價值的行為?。
3） 在馬太福音13章播種者的寓言裏，第三種情形，就是有信心和行為，但沒有神靈的感動，因為沒有接受主為生命的主，所以沒有結果，但能得救。（播種寓言裏的第一種情形，完全沒有接受福音的道，即在理智上心裏沒有任何接受神的道的土壤，頭腦和心是硬的，完全是石頭；第二種情形，理性上認識接受，但心是硬的，即上麵是薄土，下麵是硬石頭，所以道不能紮根，不算信，也不能得救；第三種有土壤，神的道能紮根, 但不是好土壤，長有荊刺，即?世 上 的 思 慮 、 錢 財 的 迷 惑，即信以後沒有接受主耶穌為生命之主, 隻是認罪悔改接受祂為救主, 雖然靈得到重生與聖靈結合, 但還是自己做主，隻信靠神為自己生命的祝福者保護者, 所以不能結永恒的果子，但能得救；第四種是神的道落在好土壤，理性上接受，心裏紮根，接受主為救主和生命的主，又得救又結果，即在聖靈的引領下，行為有永恒價值。現代大部分基督徒屬於第三和四種之間。）
4) 馬太福音13章講得葡萄樹和枝子的寓言, 也是講論得救以後如何結果的問題。
5) 哥林多前書 9:24講的獎賞, 就是結果後得到的獎勵, 即靠著
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凡事順服聖靈不是一瞬間就能達到的，而是一個過程，這個過程中會有軟弱跌倒，這很正常，但隻要真心悔改神都會赦免，而且給他們能力從罪中出來。彼得從羅馬逃走是隨從己意（可能是肉體中的膽怯），耶穌讓他回去，他就心甘情願地回去殉道了，他最終選擇了順從聖靈，拒絕了肉體。
長在荊棘中的麥子，不結果，會被焚燒，這焚燒有兩種可能：1不得救進入地獄的用火2勉強得救但仍要經曆火燒，至於多久，Paul沒說。不結果還能得救，隻是一種可能，還有不結果不得救的可能，願意在這裏和上帝打擦邊球的人真的很危險。
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我引用天使是為了說明最接受聖靈引導的天使，都有自由選擇拒絕聖靈，最後墮落，信徒也有這種可能：領受了聖靈，明白了真理，但卻因選擇罪中之樂而拒絕聖靈的引導，不肯悔改最終徹底墮落。講道魔鬼，並非想與你探討天使與人的不同。
“人的靈可以重生，人的重生的靈可以跟神的靈結合，結合後不能分離”這話沒有聖經根據，是你們的推論，最多算是一種可能性，我個人認為這麽說有繞彎灣之嫌。聖經教導的重生：選擇順從聖靈，不順從肉體，仿佛是被聖靈生下來的一般，是神的孩子的樣子。
如果選擇順從肉體又不思悔改，那就是肉體生出的孩子，肉體是屬魔鬼的，所以選擇肉體的人是魔鬼的孩子。
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請讀：加拉太書5:19-21：情欲的事，都是顯而易見的。就如奸淫，汙穢，邪蕩，拜偶像，邪術，仇恨，爭競，忌恨，惱怒，結黨，紛爭，異端，嫉妒，（有古卷在此有凶殺二字）醉酒，荒宴等類，我從前告訴你們，現在又告訴你們，行這樣事的人，必不能承受神的國。
Paul在這裏說這些行肉體情欲之事的信徒（保羅稱之為弟兄），是不能承受神的國的，你也說了：““不能見神的國”意味著什麽？不能見神的國，不僅僅是上不了天堂的問題，更是能不能作神百姓的問題”，這裏的不見與不承受神的國意思基本一致：不得救。
Paul並沒有說：這些喜好肉體的信徒隻是結不出聖靈的果子，其實還是得救的 這樣的話，原文也引申不出這樣的意思。因信稱義是對的，但是這裏的信是指順服聖靈引導的信，否則連魔鬼也能得救了，因為雅各說：魔鬼也信，卻是恐懼戰兢，意思是魔鬼根本不得救。所以，心裏相信上帝，行為又隨從魔鬼的人，如果不悔改，是不得救的。
耶穌回答說：“我實實在在地告訴你，人若不重生，就不能見神的國。”（約3：3）
（1）耶穌這裏用“我實實在在地告訴你”，可見，耶穌不是不願意將自己交托給他們（參約 2：24），從祂的語氣可以體會到，其實祂比耶路撒冷的人更著急。“實實在在”原文是連續兩個“阿們、阿們”，可見祂是如此迫切、真誠地對尼哥底母說這番話。這裏重生的“重”，原意：“從上頭的”；意思：“重生”就是“從上麵被生”，人若想到天父那裏去，就必需要經曆從上麵被生。
（2）“人若不重生，就不能見神的國”，耶穌開門見山地給他指出來，你最要關心的是你自己的生命。尼哥底母是法利賽人，他當然知道“不能見神的國”意味著什麽？不能見神的國，不僅僅是上不了天堂的問題，更是能不能作神百姓的問題。猶太人認定他們是亞伯拉罕的後裔，又受過割禮，再加上遵行律法，又信神跡，他們當然有份進神的國。現在耶穌突然告訴他，不是這樣的，“人若不重生，就不能見神的國”，意思：無論何人若不從上麵被生，就不能見神的國。這不僅對猶太人和尼哥底母的信仰來講，是一個極大的挑戰；同樣今天，也讓我們所有的人清楚地知道，沒有任何人可以借著肉身的出生來成為神國的子民，人必須透過生命的更新和整個內心的改變，才能進入神的國。
願上帝在我對聖經的理解 和 你們一次得救永遠得救的人對聖經的理解 之間判斷（judge），讓錯誤的早早悔改，不再誤導他人；讓正確的如明光照耀，靠主使人受益！
你同意嗎？
上帝是全能的，但他不能做違背他自己慈愛公義屬性的事，尊重人的自由就是慈愛公義之一，聖靈與人是彼此尊重的，聖靈不會在人拒絕的情況下還與他同在；魔鬼附體才是強行的，使被附之人神智不清。
聖靈與重生的靈永運不分離。 神要挽救的人，沒有人和魔鬼能奪走。
羅馬書8:35-39
2013-03-08 00:39:14
8:35 誰能使我們與基督的愛隔絕呢．難道是患難麽、是困苦麽、是逼迫麽、是饑餓麽、是赤身露體麽、是危險麽、是刀劍麽。
8:36 如經上所記、『我們為你的緣故、終日被殺．人看我們如將宰的羊。』
8:37 然而靠著愛我們的主、在這一切的事上、已經得勝有餘了。
8:38 因為我深信無論是死、是生、是天使、是掌權的、是有能的、是現在的事、是將來的事、
8:39 是高處的、是低處的、是別的受造之物、都不能叫我們與 神的愛隔絕．這愛是在我們的主基督耶穌裏的。
約翰福音10：
25?耶穌回答：“我告訴過你們，你們卻不相信。我奉我父的名所行的這些事為我做見證； 26?可是你們不信，因為?你們不是我的羊。 27?我的羊聽我的聲音，我也認識他們，他們也跟著我； 28?並且我賜給他們永恒的生命，他們絕不會滅亡，直到永遠。誰也不能把他們從我手中奪走。 29?我父，就是把他們賜給我的那一位，他比一切更大。誰也不能把他們從我父的手中奪走。 30?我與父是一體的。”
phes. 1:13-14 and 2 Cor. 1:21-22. Ephes. 1:13-14 tells us that our salvation is assured from the moment of belief with the Holy Spirit sealed within us as a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance. Before we had done anything, either good or bad, before we were baptized, before we had even fully responded to the altar call, we were saved forever. These other things are important, but our belief in the Lord’s completed work on our behalf came first and it’s the one essential ingredient to our salvation which alone brings us eternal life (John 1:12-13, 3:16, 6:28-29, 6:40).
2 Cor. 1:21-22 says, It is God Who makes us stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit guaranteeing what is to come. There are no passages in Scripture that speak of revoking or even modifying this guarantee. It would be impossible for the Holy Spirit to have led Paul or any of the Bible’s other writers to make any statements that contradict these clear promises.
Ephes. 1:13-14 and 2 Cor. 1:21-22. Ephes. 1:13-14 tells us that our salvation is assured from the moment of belief with the Holy Spirit sealed within us as a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance. Before we had done anything, either good or bad, before we were baptized, before we had even fully responded to the altar call, we were saved forever. These other things are important, but our belief in the Lord’s completed work on our behalf came first and it’s the one essential ingredient to our salvation which alone brings us eternal life (John 1:12-13, 3:16, 6:28-29, 6:40).
2 Cor. 1:21-22 says, It is God Who makes us stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit guaranteeing what is to come. There are no passages in Scripture that speak of revoking or even modifying this guarantee. It would be impossible for the Holy Spirit to have led Paul or any of the Bible’s other writers to make any statements that contradict these clear promises.
聖靈與重生的靈永運不分離。 神要挽救的人，沒有人和魔鬼能奪走。
羅馬書8:35-39
2013-03-08 00:39:14
8:35 誰能使我們與基督的愛隔絕呢．難道是患難麽、是困苦麽、是逼迫麽、是饑餓麽、是赤身露體麽、是危險麽、是刀劍麽。
8:36 如經上所記、『我們為你的緣故、終日被殺．人看我們如將宰的羊。』
8:37 然而靠著愛我們的主、在這一切的事上、已經得勝有餘了。
8:38 因為我深信無論是死、是生、是天使、是掌權的、是有能的、是現在的事、是將來的事、
8:39 是高處的、是低處的、是別的受造之物、都不能叫我們與 神的愛隔絕．這愛是在我們的主基督耶穌裏的。
約翰福音10：
25?耶穌回答：“我告訴過你們，你們卻不相信。我奉我父的名所行的這些事為我做見證； 26?可是你們不信，因為?你們不是我的羊。 27?我的羊聽我的聲音，我也認識他們，他們也跟著我； 28?並且我賜給他們永恒的生命，他們絕不會滅亡，直到永遠。誰也不能把他們從我手中奪走。 29?我父，就是把他們賜給我的那一位，他比一切更大。誰也不能把他們從我父的手中奪走。 30?我與父是一體的。”
倒是有生命的穆勒、宋尚節等真正為上帝擺上的值得學習。
真信徒很多，假的忽悠的假先知也不少，上帝愛的人上帝會讓他們擦亮眼睛看清楚的，專好虛謊的，上帝很可能都give up 他了，我就更該知趣了，盡本分憑著愛心說了誠實話且規勸了，就不宜再多話了。
The Gospel Plus
These are the religions that add to what Jesus did. They legislate behavior just like the Pharisees did, with rules and regulations you must obey or risk losing everything. In effect they’re trying to convince you that Jesus only began the salvation process at the cross. It’s up to you to complete it by behaving in ways that meet with their approval. Some of them say that Jesus paid for all your sins up to the moment you were saved, but after that everything’s on your head. It’s like you got a free gift but have to work to keep it. Your subsequent behavior will either keep you saved or cause Him to revoke your salvation, and once it’s revoked you can never get it back. Others would have you believe that His grace will only come into play after you’ve done everything possible to save yourself.
The Gospel Plus religions would have you believe that He loved you enough to die for you while you hated Him, but once you gave Him your heart He started adding conditions to make you toe the mark. Any slip on your part can lock you out forever. So no matter which way you look at it, the Gospel Plus means your salvation is really all up to you.
The Gospel Minus
Then there are the folks who don’t believe you have to claim the Lord’s death for yourself at all. Rejecting the notion of a personal Savior, they contend that He died for everyone, so we’re all going to heaven. Some say that those who aren’t saved can sit down with the Lord after they die and work things out. Others even say that Christianity is only one of the many roads to Heaven so it doesn’t matter who or what you worship as long as you’re sincere.
Both these views mount a serious attack on the clear and straightforward truth of the Gospel, making complex that which the Lord gave His life to keep simple. Paul said it’s our job to resist these attacks, to not let either view cause us to waver from the truth that we’re saved because of what we believe, not because of how we behave.
——————這話的聖經根據是什麽？聖經並未這樣講過。如果隻講正常的推論的話，人要接受聖靈的主權和引導，才能在聖靈幫助下重生，他決絕的話，特別是多次決絕的話，聖靈會尊重人的選擇，不再引導他，直至他堅持犯罪不悔改的地步，而徹底離開他。
你們對聖經好不好按正意理解，不要將自己的意思硬塞進去，這樣的後果很不好，看看啟示錄最後的話，給聖經增加或減少什麽，都是被神咒詛的。
你提到的這些，隻要認真讀上下文，都知道，跟人靠自己保救贖無關。 人靠自己保救贖是100%違反因信稱義，是人驕傲想自救的表現。 比如馬 太 福 音 7:21-23就是講假先知，不相信耶穌基督，隻想靠自己努力，通過行神跡奇事進天堂，遭受徹底失敗。 加了太書5就是講，人不重生，不靠與聖靈結合，就隻能活在律法的詛咒下。 人重生，有神靈結合，耶穌基督的寶血可以洗淨他一生的罪，他已經脫離律法的詛咒，因為耶穌基督已經替他接受詛咒和懲罰。 如果這人以後還失去救恩，說明耶穌的工作還沒有完成，就要耶穌重釘十字架。
福音，福音+與福音-
If you believe it you have it
Wednesday, May 7th, 2014
A Bible Study by Jack Kelley
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).
Over and over the Pharisees and teachers of the Law had told the people how God expected them to live, and a lot of it was down right impossible. So one day they asked Jesus point blank, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” (John 6:28). It was a perfect opportunity for the Lord to specify every detail of God’s “do list” for humanity, His non-negotiable standards for admittance into His Kingdom. Would He tell them to get out pen and paper and be ready to write while He repeated the 10 commandments, or the 613 laws of the Torah? How about the Sermon on the Mount? How would He answer humanity’s central question concerning our responsibility to our Creator?
“The work of God is this,” He replied, “To believe In the One He has sent.” (John 6:29) That’s it! That’s all He said. Believe in the One He has sent. Entrust your eternal destiny to the completed work done on your behalf by God’s Son.
Throughout the New Testament this unmistakably clear answer would be repeated.Here are a few examples;
For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works so that no one can boast. (Ephe. 2:8-9)
If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as gold or silver that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a Lamb without blemish or defect. Through Him you believe in God, Who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him, so your faith and hope are in God. (1 Peter 1:18-19, 21)
But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:4-7)
How much clearer can it be? Our faith has saved us, and even that was a gift from God. He gave us the faith to be saved without cost or condition. Maintaining that faith is the only thing we have to do. Indeed it’s the only thing we can do, because holding on to our faith is the only effort we can exert that isn’t counted as work (Romans 4:4-5). Anything else we do in a misguided effort to improve or perfect our position before Him is religious work and devalues the incredible price He paid so that we could have it for free. It shows Him that we don’t think He finished the job.
So it’s not what you do that matters, so much as what you believe. The work that God requires is that you will hold on to the faith you’ve been given, to nurture it and to protect it from the hollow and deceptive philosophy that depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. (Col. 2:8) These deceptive philosophies fall into two categories I call Gospel Plus and Gospel Minus. Remember, they all claim to be Christian.
The Gospel Plus
These are the religions that add to what Jesus did. They legislate behavior just like the Pharisees did, with rules and regulations you must obey or risk losing everything. In effect they’re trying to convince you that Jesus only began the salvation process at the cross. It’s up to you to complete it by behaving in ways that meet with their approval. Some of them say that Jesus paid for all your sins up to the moment you were saved, but after that everything’s on your head. It’s like you got a free gift but have to work to keep it. Your subsequent behavior will either keep you saved or cause Him to revoke your salvation, and once it’s revoked you can never get it back. Others would have you believe that His grace will only come into play after you’ve done everything possible to save yourself.
The Gospel Plus religions would have you believe that He loved you enough to die for you while you hated Him, but once you gave Him your heart He started adding conditions to make you toe the mark. Any slip on your part can lock you out forever. So no matter which way you look at it, the Gospel Plus means your salvation is really all up to you.
The Gospel Minus
Then there are the folks who don’t believe you have to claim the Lord’s death for yourself at all. Rejecting the notion of a personal Savior, they contend that He died for everyone, so we’re all going to heaven. Some say that those who aren’t saved can sit down with the Lord after they die and work things out. Others even say that Christianity is only one of the many roads to Heaven so it doesn’t matter who or what you worship as long as you’re sincere.
Both these views mount a serious attack on the clear and straightforward truth of the Gospel, making complex that which the Lord gave His life to keep simple. Paul said it’s our job to resist these attacks, to not let either view cause us to waver from the truth that we’re saved because of what we believe, not because of how we behave.
The Shepherd And The Sheep
Throughout His ministry, the Lord characterized Himself as the good shepherd. Everyone who’s worked with sheep knows how they’re prone to wander, and that it’s the shepherd’s job to bring them back. There’s no behavior on the part of a sheep that would convince the shepherd to abandon it. And so it is between the Lord and us.
“This is the will of Him Who sent me,” He said, “That I shall lose none of all that He has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For My Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the son and believes in Him shall have eternal life and I shall raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:39-40)
He made our salvation possible and then did everything necessary to provide it without cost. All that remains for us is to receive it and believe it. If there was any way that we could save ourselves, surrender or lose our salvation, or get to heaven without receiving it in the first place, then at best the Lord was overstating His role in our lives and at worst He was saying something that simply isn’t true.
Sola Grazie, Sola Fides, Sola Scriptura
Only by grace, only through faith, only from Scripture. This was Martin Luther’s great epiphany, and it became the battle cry of the Protestant Reformation. But God’s enemies are not so easily defeated and sadly both the Gospel Plus and Gospel Minus philosophies eventually crept into the Protestant Denominations, and you’ll find elements of both scattered through out Christianity today.
So no matter where you attend worship each week, or even if you don’t, the best way to make sure you’re saved is to cling mightily to the simple truth of the gospel. Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, he was buried, and He was raised on the third day according to the scriptures. (1 Cor. 15:3-4) If you confess with your mouth “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved. (Rom. 10:9) That’s all there is. He gave you the faith to believe it, and if you believe it, you have it. Selah 09-04-05
他，就受了所應許的聖靈為印記。這聖靈，是我們得基業的憑據，直等到神之
民被贖，使他的榮耀得著稱讚。
2 Cor. 1:21-22：那在基督裏堅固我們和你們，並且膏我們的，就是神。他又用印印了我
們，並賜聖靈在我們心裏作憑據。（原文作質）。
以上兩節經文是說：上帝賜給信徒聖靈做憑據，使信徒有資格承受救恩，這是從上帝的角度而言的；但是從信徒角度而言，信徒還有接受聖靈引導還是拒絕聖靈引導的自由，還有消滅聖靈感動的自由，而這樣的人是不得救的，就是主耶穌所說的那些作惡的人。
此英語文章的作者把以上兩節經文理解為:上帝一旦賜人聖靈就給這個人寫了包票，他就永遠得救，即便該信徒不接受聖靈的引導，甚至踐踏聖靈的引導，且不悔改，上帝還是會救他們，首先經文的正常意思並非如此；其次即便這樣理解下來，上帝有何尊嚴可言？正常人都會覺得這種邏輯荒謬，何況敬畏上帝的信徒？最後，上帝賜人救恩和聖靈的經文很多，但是上帝警告那些隨從肉體不順從聖靈主權的人失去救恩的經文也很多，這是很平衡的，並沒有什麽矛盾之處。不知為何此英文作者會讀出矛盾來，應該是沒有聖靈引導讀的，看他總結經文的意思就不實事求是，把自己的想法加到經文中。
馬 太 福 音 7:21-23： 21 凡稱呼我主阿，主阿的人，不能都進天國。惟獨遵行我天父旨意的人，才能進去。 22 當那日必有許多人對我說，主阿，主阿，我們不是奉你的名傳道，奉你的名趕鬼，奉你的名行許多異能麽。 23 我就明明的告訴他們說，我從來不認識你們，你們這些作惡的人，離開我去吧（失去救恩）。
林前九章二十七節：“------。我是攻克己身（努力棄絕肉體），叫身服我（叫肉體服從聖靈）；恐怕我傳福音給別人，自己反被棄絕（失去救恩）了。”
腓力比書三章十七至十九節：“弟兄們，你們要一同效法我，也當留意看那些照我們榜樣行的人。因為有許多人行事是基督十字架的仇敵（指魔鬼），我屢次告訴你們，現在又流淚的告訴你們。他們的結局就是沉淪（失去救恩），他們的神就是自己的肚腹，他們以自己的羞辱為榮耀，專以地上的事為念。”——顯然，保羅所說的人很可能是信徒，因為隻有信徒才知道天上的事和地上的事。
使徒行傳20：25-27：我（保羅）素常在你們（以弗所教會的信徒）中間來往，傳講 神國的道；如今我曉得，你們以後都不得再見我的麵了。 26 所以我今日向你們證明，你們中間無論何人死亡（失去救恩），罪不在我身上。 27 因為 神的旨意，我並沒有一樣避諱不傳給你們的。
足以說明，信徒是可能失去救恩的！
5:14 因為全律法都包在愛人如己這一句話之內了。
5:15 你們要謹慎。若相咬相吞，隻怕要彼此消滅了。
5:16 我說，你們當順著聖靈而行，就不放縱肉體的情欲了。
5:17 因為情欲和聖靈相爭，聖靈和情欲相爭。這兩個是彼此相敵，使你們不能作所願意作的。
5:18 但你們若被聖靈引導，就不在律法以下。
5:19 情欲的事，都是顯而易見的。就如奸淫，汙穢，邪蕩，
5:20 拜偶像，邪術，仇恨，爭競，忌恨，惱怒，結黨，紛爭，異端，
5:21 嫉妒，（有古卷在此有凶殺二字）醉酒，荒宴等類，我從前告訴你們，現在又告訴你們，行這樣事的人，必不能承受神的國。
5:22 聖靈所結的果子，就是仁愛，喜樂，和平，忍耐，恩慈，良善，信實，
5:23 溫柔，節製。這樣的事，沒有律法禁止。
5:24 凡屬基督耶穌的人，是已經把肉體，連肉體的邪情私欲，同釘在十字架上了。
5:25 我們若是靠聖靈得生，就當靠聖靈行事。
5:26 不要貪圖虛名，彼此惹氣，互相嫉妒。