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Author Topic: RIGHTEOUS *SCARCELY* SAVED
J4Jesus
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well this is cool.


Man, i'm not even worried, I know where I've been the past couple of years.


I know how much i've cried out to Jesus. And I know that He heard my Cry. He's Shown me several times.

Sadly, i chose not to walk in His light.


However, i HAVE Sinned greatly and HAVE done so wrecklessly, i need to stop, i know.


i am no mormon, catholic, baptist, i'm a Born Again backslider who God has already told to get in line.


i'm not gonna argue anymore.


I know what Jesus HAS done for me IN THE PAST, just nothing lately. And i haven't done much either.


Time that i do.

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Clay777
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Hi J4,

I've witnessed to Mormons, new-agers, people who are openly homosexual, and they all have sweared to me that they have been born again. One cannot go by words. The Bible says we will know them by their fruits.

You're saying you choose to sin. Look at this:

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
(Romans 6:1-2)

J4, I'm typing all of this because I do not want to see you perish. I want you to KNOW for sure that you're saved. Please, read 1st John and then let me know what happened.

--------------------
Clay
www.truthfindersgame.com

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J4Jesus
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I know what you would say but I swear to you that God has told me who i am and that i have crossed that line.


I just choose to sin more than i choose to resist.


Maybe i'll stop if it's not too late.

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Clay777
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Hi J4,

Please hear me out, and please know that I'm not mad or angry at you - I am pleading with you for your own soul's sake.

Here's what you said:

quote:

Ever since i was born again, i've looked at porn without thinking twice. I mean, i NEVER have EVER felt a Strong Conviction for it.
...
I don't think about the Cross or the Bible very much. I've wasted alot of time Reading the Bible and it's never done anything for me.

Those are not the words of someone who has been born again. You may think that God told you that you are saved, but your actions say otherwise. Our fruits are the true test, for many will say to Jesus on judgement day "Lord, Lord" and He will say He never knew them. Don't listen to your heart because "the heart is decietful above all things". Listen to the Bible - not your heart.

If you can sin and not be convicted over it, you are not saved. If you are saved, Christ is the MOST important person in your life and you think about Him and talk about Him constantly, because you have "set your mind on things above, not on things below". That's how the apostles could go gladly to their deaths!

Please J4, please read the book of 1st John. If you do this, you'll know if you're saved or not!

Also, you can listen to this MP3 that will let you know:
http://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/singlefile.php?lid=12827

Friend, I'll be praying for you! Please take all of this seriously.

--------------------
Clay
www.truthfindersgame.com

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J4Jesus
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ya'll, geez, i hate it when people read my stuff wrong.


i'm already born again. God told me i am.


but i've just had the hardest time since.

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Itty-Bitty Girl
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Amen Dale, what an excellent post and an excellent testimony!


May God bless your very soul.

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becauseHElives
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J4,

You can't because you will not commit your ways to Yahweh...

You love your sin too much, exercise your free will to do as Yahweh commands.

Hell is not a place you want to go to,

You have to choose who you will serve...

Yahweh will not force you to serve Him.

Please do not continue to play games with Yahweh His love for you is so great.

Remember John 3:16...

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Most people mis-quote this one word....

notice it does not say "shall not perish"

it says they "should not perish"...

everything has been done that eternal life is finished, completed, all that left is for you to walk in it.

Walk in eternal life now, not just some where in the sweet by and by.

J4Jesus, I have been in your shoes, I have ran from the Father, I have walked in sin professing salvation, I have sinned and the whole time committing the sin known it was grieving the Father's heart. I started in pornography at the age of 10, and till I was 21 never gave it a second thought to God.

At 21 I made a profession of faith, it was real. In one moments time the things I loved, I hated and the things I hated I loved. But then the war began, the old man / the old nature did not want to give up.

But I knew I had to have God or die

My experience with Yahweh was like a roller coaster, up and down and lots of curves…

I fell so many times that only a calculator could keep up

But I have learned, no matter how many times you fall, if you keep reaching to Yahweh the Father, He will pick you up and put you right back in the race…

But unlike some I am not going to tell you don’t have to ask forgiveness for failure.

If you fail, “repent“, or you will not finish the race

there is nothing that I haven't seen, I know the claw in the brain that pornography can have, there is no drug addiction any worse. ...

But Yahweh will set you free. Yeshua has paid the price.

Don't let anyone lie to you and tell you a little sin everyday is alright.

You need the baptism in the Holy Ghost, nothing else will do. Everything else is just religious head knowledge.

--------------------
Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )

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Clay777
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Continuing with your questions:

1. We, as humans, are spiritually completely dead (Eph 2:1). We do not even seek after God (Romans 3:10). We are saved by grace (Eph 2), meaning that God is the One who saves us, and we don't save ourselves by "praying a prayer". I've witnessed to hundreds of people and almost everyone thinks they're saved because they "prayed a prayer", but their life is in complete rebellion to God and they live in sin. I should know - for the first 24 years of my life I was sleeping around, getting drunk, etc, but I was SURE I was saved because I had prayed a prayer and been baptized. It wasn't until I was 24 when God saved me and I became born again. The words "born again" were purposely chosen to show us how radical the change is when Jesus saves us. Being born again is a radical change, and unless someone has been born again, they cannot see the kingdom of God.

2. Christians do sin (1 John 1:8). They stumble into sin, but they don't dive into it - big difference. I sin - but the difference is that I hate it. I hate my sin and I hate myself for doing it when I do sin(Rom 7:4, "wretched man that I am"). That is one of the marks of a Christian. When they sin, they absolutely hate it and they are sorrowful and ask God for forgiveness. If someone can sin and love it, that person is not saved. And if someone sins, thinking "I'll just ask God for forgiveness, because God forgives", they have turned the grace of God, which cost God His only beloved Son, into a license for sin. Such a person does not know God, and I would counsel a person to get alone with the book of 1st John and cry out to God for mercy - and don't stop until He does have mercy and give you a new birth.

If you have been born again, you will know. Please read 1 John, and please let me know if there is anything I can do for you.

--------------------
Clay
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Clay777
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J4,

First, thank you for your honesty.

Second, I'd encourage you to read the book of First John. The entire purpose of the book is that you will know if you're a Christian or not (5:13). Please read it and read it again, as it's only 5 chapters. Read it slowly and carefully, and honestly.

Going from your comments, I would say that you were never saved. As Paul Washer says it, if you got hit by a logging truck, you'd know it. You would be affected. Which is greater - a logging truck or God? When God meets us, He changes us. 2 Cor 5:17 says that if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation - the old has passed, the new has come.

Please read 1st John and examine yourself to see if you are in the faith.

--------------------
Clay
www.truthfindersgame.com

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wparr
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J4

meditate on(ponder on, run over and over thru your mind)and ask Yahweh to bring you understanding on these next verses.

Jeremiah 2:13
"For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, The fountain of living waters, To hew for themselves cisterns, Broken cisterns That can hold no water."


Romans 12:1-2
(1) Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
(2) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

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J4Jesus
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well i don't know if i can do that now. the Holy Spirit left me some time ago. I just cannot connect the Bible to my life.


but lets say for a second that i do follow those verses, what's gonna happen?


is it wrong to ask God to change my desires, motives, etc..? Cause i've done that MORE THAN ONCE and He has NEVER EVER Replied or Given That To Me.


Lets talk about ya'll now. Do ya'll follow those verses? What happens when you Obey God? How do you know you're Doing it right? What If you're doing it for the wrong reasons?


How do change all that by yourself? I mean, we're just humans, what SPIRITUAL thing could we ever do??

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wparr
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2 Chronicles 12:14
He did evil because he did not set his heart to seek the LORD.

Isaiah 55:6
Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near.

Hebrews 4:16
Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

J4, the problem is YOU and not God.

You have to STOP playing games.

You LOOK for excuses for failure, well LOOK IN THE MIRROR.


James 4:6
But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE."

You MUST start humbling yourself.


As the syaing goes
"It's time to s**t or get off the pot"


You need to get to this point.

Romans 7:24
Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?


You have to understand the meaning and implications of this

Jeremiah 2:13
"For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, The fountain of living waters, To hew for themselves cisterns, Broken cisterns That can hold no water."


And you have to make this verse your lifes goal

John 8:31-32
So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you abide (continue - live in - encamp) in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;
and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

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J4Jesus
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i don't believe in that concept "listening for God"


naw i don't believe i'm supposed to sit there and strain and try to hear or even understand.


That's NEVER how the Prophets got their stuff. God Came To Them.


Jesus Came to Paul on the road, God is NOT coming to me.


ya see?

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wparr
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quote:
Originally posted by J4Jesus:
what through the Bible?


or Him speaking into my life outside of the Bible?

BOTH,

but you have to be REALLY listening.

and you HAVEN'T been, because He HAS been calling you to Himself.

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J4Jesus
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what through the Bible?


or Him speaking into my life outside of the Bible?

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J4Jesus
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what through the Bible?


or Him speaking into my life outside of the Bible?

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becauseHElives
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How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation? (Hebrews 2:3)

Acts 16:31 "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."

What does this mean? Is it only "believe"?

James 2:19 "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble."

The devils are believers, but they are still devils. They are lost, but they are believers. It is apparent that belief alone does not save.


Matthew 8:29 "And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?"

Mark 1:24 "Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God."

Acts 16:17 "The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation."


Lord = Master. He has the right to control our lives.

John 8:12 "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

He is our Guide.
In the mountains and glaciers, you must step in the guide's footsteps.
You must obey the guide.

To "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ" means to take Him as our Guide, Teacher, and Master -


Luke 6:46 "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?"

--------------------
Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )

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trafield
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1 Corinthians 3:10-15
10By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

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J4Jesus
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thanks for the advice.


oh how i wish i was back here two years ago when God was drawing me to Him. that's a day in the park compared to now.

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becauseHElives
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Ditto Kindgo,

WKUHilltopper, that is a great reply to J4.

J4Jesus get your eyes on Yeshua "Jesus" is your answer.

You are focusing to much on you and the problem, not on the solution "YESHUA"

I know how you feel more than I can make you know with words.

My prayer's are with you...

Lord do what it takes to humble J4Jesus and bring him to and end of himself, in Yeshua's Name

--------------------
Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )

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Kindgo
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WKUHilltopper, that is a great reply to J4.

I hope he will read it, and reread it again, and take the wise advice you have given him!

--------------------
God bless,
Kindgo

Inside the will of God there is no failure. Outside the will of God there is no success.

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WKUHilltopper
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quote:
Originally posted by J4Jesus:
.


Yet am I saved now? I was born again a little over two years ago but i've never had the joy. Just little spurts here and there where God had something to say to me. But i still have continued in porn.

Salvation isn't about "joy" or a way to make money or any other self centered abstract venture. Salvation is just that...salvation from the wrath and judgment of God. You must repent of your sins, turn away from them and trust in Jesus. In other words, the only way we can become righteous and worthy of everlasting life is thru Jesus.

Ask yourself, do you think those christians put in jail for Christ in China and islamic countries have "joy"? Those who have been ripped away from the love of their families for the sake of Jesus--these people have "joy"? They probably have a joy in their hearts by serving God, but crushed emotionally by the lost of their freedoms. You think those who died by the teeth and claws of lions a thousand years ago in Roman stadiums were happy and had a good life because they "accepted" Jesus? No! They died because of their LOVE for CHRIST and they refused to deny who Jesus is! I only pray I can ever be this strong!

When you repent of your sins before an awesome and powerful God, there's no magical broom that comes out of heaven and sweeps sin entirely out of your life. You must die on the cross every day! If one truly loves Jesus and is thankful for the torture He endured for us on the cross so we, as unworthy as we are, can have everlasting life, then anything in our lives offensive to this King would be removed for His sake--as a way to honor our God for His sacrifice.

Everyday, we all struggle with sin...some more than others. It's a spirtual battle to make us fall and dishonor God. God does not want us to fail, but He expects us to repent and be redeemed and turn away from the sin. The Holy Spirit will strengthen us and help us through it all.

quote:
And things like "thou shall not commit adultery" and where Jesus says "if you lust, then you've commited adultery in your heart" GO OVER MY HEAD.
Because a sinner is judged on their "thought life" as well as their actions. The Scriptures tell us "whatsoever is in your heart, you'll do also". You like porn because you have adultery and lust in your heart. The Holy Spirit will not abide in a fifthy temple. This is why you're struggling. You must repent and trust Jesus to lead your life.

Listen, we are all sinners. I'm as weak in sin as everyone else. It's only thru Jesus that I find strength to defeat sin. And I struggle all the time with it. I'm proud, hard headed, cocky, and commit adultery in my heart too--but it seems the second I start to think about something, there's something in my mind that clicks on "what are you doing??". I ask for forgiveness and ask for strength not to let it happen again. I must "die on the cross" everyday and ask Jesus to defeat myself so it will Glorify Him. When I think of all the pain, humiliation, torture and grief our Lord has gone thru just so we can be with Him and when I think of my rinky dink problems in relation to His sacrifice, well, there's really no comparsion.

Please, so you can escape the torture of eternal damnation and judgment in Hell forever, repent and put your hands in the life of Jesus. He is the only way to everlasting paradise. A God who can create the entire universe with just a thought is certainly capable of destroying our problems. And that's thru Jesus!

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Itty-Bitty Girl
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J4, I have a suggestion for you. If you have a problem with looking at pornagraphy, you should try getting rid of it. Take it out of your house, purge the evil from among you. You must get rid of the sourc of evil, on the outside.

And you must also get rid of the source of evil on the inside. Your mind must be cleaned of evil.

Cast down any of Satan's strongholds in your life.

Keep your focus on what is godly.

Philippians 4:8
King James Version

8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.


Here are lyrics to a song I like.

Song: Hunger for Holiness
Artist: Helen Baylor
Album: Highly Recommended

There’s a silent war that’s raging deep within me
My lower nature fights to dominate
My spirit man is poised and locked in battle
With the carnal side of me, I’ve grown to hate
The trumpet of my praise play towards heaven
A voice of desperation in my cry
Lord strengthen me that I might not yield myself to sin
But keep your righteous banner
Lift it high

Lord I hunger for holiness
And I trust for the righteousness that’s yours
That my mind would be cleansed
And my spirit renewed
And this temple that you dwell in would be pure

The tempter stalks about me as a lion
Searching for the slightest sense of blood
For when the skin of my resistance is broken
He moves in swiftly to deepen the cut
Lord of creation, hear your servant
You understand the weakness of man
I’m counting myself crucified with Jesus
Alive to Christ and dead indeed to sin

Lord I hunger for holiness
And I trust for the righteousness that’s yours
That my mind would be cleansed
And my spirit renewed
And this temple that you dwell in, yes, this temple that you dwell in

Lord I hunger for holiness
And I trust for the righteousness that’s yours
That my mind would be cleansed
And my spirit renewed
And this temple that you dwell in would be pure

Lord I hunger
Lord I hunger for holiness
For holiness

++++++++

I encourage you to be in pursuit of holiness. And don't ever stop praying.

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J4Jesus
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wow!


There seems to be theme here.


Everyone's talking about the lukewarm people like me.


I kinda feel it's too late to Change.


Ever since i was born again, i've looked at porn without thinking twice. I mean, i NEVER have EVER felt a Strong Conviction for it.


That's not my fault! I was BEGGING for any Kind of sign from Jesus that i was saved and NEVER got it. I have been Angered with Him since. Wouldn't you? He Ignored me and if He ignored you, you wouldn't be happy either.


But then i did learn i was saved 6 months later. But by then, i didn't care. Did God do this on purpose?


I don't think about the Cross or the Bible very much. I've wasted alot of time Reading the Bible and it's never done anything for me.


I have to cover my mouth now when even looking at a Bible verse because i have THOUGHTS OF SPITTING IN IT. I've had the most random and craziest thoughts even BEFORE i was saved.


Yet am I saved now? I was born again a little over two years ago but i've never had the joy. Just little spurts here and there where God had something to say to me. But i still have continued in porn.


And things like "thou shall not commit adultery" and where Jesus says "if you lust, then you've commited adultery in your heart" GO OVER MY HEAD.


I'm not bragging about this, i'm questioning WHY???

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Itty-Bitty Girl
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[clap2] [clap2] [clap2] [clap2] [clap2]


*Standing Ovation*

What a fantastic read... I did enjoy.

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becauseHElives
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"RIGHTEOUS *SCARCELY* SAVED!" (1Peter 4:18)

What a headline! Try preaching that to "believers"! But what exactly does that word "scarcely" mean? It's used only 4 times in the New Testament, but by three different writers (thank God!):

...by Luke in Acts 14:18 "And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them."; and Acts 27:7 "And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone;"; by Paul in Ro 5:7 "For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die."; and by Peter in 1Pt 4:18 "And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?".

The Greek word is "molis", which means with difficulty, hardly, scarce(ly), with toil & work! But the usage indicates a much stronger meaning!

Luke says it means "barely", or "by the 'skin' of their teeth!". Paul gets a bit stronger & says it means "would not dare!". And Peter places it squarely against Salvation itself, as being almost unlikely!

Do these men know what they're saying? At first glance it may not appear so, until we examine other scripture in this light! It sure puts a whole new slant on what Jesus meant when He said "few" shall be saved; and "few" (Though called) are "chosen"; and a "way that seemeth right to a man, but the end thereof is death!". And it also lends a great deal of weight to many things Paul said - such as; "lest I too be a castaway"; and "work out your own Salvation with fear and trembling"; and "I am carnal, sold unto sin", etc., etc., etc.!

The writer to the Hebrews comes back to this theme (our taking our Salvation for granted as did the Israeli "children" in the wilderness) again and again! He warns the believer about "creeping-unbelief", which he calls a "bitter root" and says it will defile many believers (that is, it is highly contagious!).
Jesus cautions every believer to take what He calls the "narrow Way"! The Greek here refers to a path strewn with many obstacles! And the central theme of The Revelation given to John is how all Eternal Things are reserved for the "overcomer"!

Paul warns those who think they "stand" to be very careful, "lest they fall!". And we know the "father of sins" may be pride! [its "Mother" surely is coveting!]

There are countless examples of the wisdom of Peter's exhortation to "think it not strange" when "fiery trials" come upon us, "as though some strange thing has happened to us"! And, if history is any teacher, we can certainly see that God has not hesitated in demonstrating His Sovereignty in His Children by vigorous trials & vexations.

Jesus was abandoned (no, Led by the Holy Spirit) to vicious temptations of the devil himself! He later tells His disciples to pray and ask the Father not to lead them into such temptations!
No, I don't pretend to fully understand such deep things; but I am exhorted by my studies of the Living Word to "apply" myself without reservation to "coming unto Him" in all these issues of my life!

After all, why should I, who still have no good reason as to why God should love & care for & Save me, find it surprising that I am "scarcely" saved? It is for this very reason I continually thank God!

I am as one who's come back from the dead - I thank God for every precious minute He has retrieved from the fires of Hell, that I might now share & spend them in company with Him!
For Paul (who "died daily!"), life WAS Jesus Christ! And for one who believes the very predicate to Christian Life-In-Christ is Col 3:3 "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.", I am but GLAD-TO-GOD I am... ==>"scarcely saved"!<==

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Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )

Posts: 4578 | From: Southeast Texas | Registered: Jun 2002  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator


 
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