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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
雅各书 2:14-18 RCUVSS
我的弟兄们，若有人说自己有信心，却没有行为，有什么益处呢？这信心能救他吗？ 若是弟兄或是姊妹没有衣服穿，又缺少日用的饮食； 你们中间有人对他们说：“平平安安地去吧！愿你们穿得暖，吃得饱”，却不给他们身体所需要的，这有什么益处呢？ 信心也是这样，若没有行为是死的。? 但是有人会说：“你有信心，我有行为。”把你没有行为的信心给我看，我就藉着我的行为把我的信心给你看。
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.
你們要常在我裡面，我也常在你們裡面。枝子若不常在葡萄樹上，自己就不能結果子；你們若不常在我裡面，也是這樣。 - 約翰福音15:3-5
哥林多前书 9:24 RCUVSS
你们不知道在运动场上赛跑的，大家都跑，但得奖赏的只有一人？你们也要这样跑，好使你们得着奖赏。
圣灵给我的光照和启示：
1）行为从信那时刻就开始有，它是信心的结果。信心的行为可以仅仅是意志，思想或情感的行为，也可以是语言和其他身体的行动。
2）有永恒价值的行为，是出于信心，是有圣灵感动的结果，就是结出永恒的果实，也就是哥林多前书第三章讲的用金 、 银 、宝石做的工作，经得起火的考验；没有永恒价值的行为，是出于信心和自我，就是用草木 ， 禾秸建造的工作，经不起火的考验, 是没有永恒价值的行为?。
3） 在马太福音13章播种者的寓言里，第三种情形，就是有信心和行为，但没有神灵的感动，因为没有接受主为生命的主，所以没有结果，但能得救。（播种寓言里的第一种情形，完全没有接受福音的道，即在理智上心里没有任何接受神的道的土壤，头脑和心是硬的，完全是石头；第二种情形，理性上认识接受，但心是硬的，即上面是薄土，下面是硬石头，所以道不能扎根，不算信，也不能得救；第三种有土壤，神的道能扎根, 但不是好土壤，长有荆刺，即?世 上 的 思 虑 、 钱 财 的 迷 惑，即信以后没有接受主耶稣为生命之主, 只是认罪悔改接受祂为救主, 虽然灵得到重生与圣灵结合, 但还是自己做主，只信靠神为自己生命的祝福者保护者, 所以不能结永恒的果子，但能得救；第四种是神的道落在好土壤，理性上接受，心里扎根，接受主为救主和生命的主，又得救又结果，即在圣灵的引领下，行为有永恒价值。现代大部分基督徒属于第三和四种之间。）
4) 马太福音13章讲得葡萄树和枝子的寓言, 也是讲论得救以后如何结果的问题。
5) 哥林多前书 9:24讲的奖赏, 就是结果后得到的奖励, 即靠着
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凡事顺服圣灵不是一瞬间就能达到的，而是一个过程，这个过程中会有软弱跌倒，这很正常，但只要真心悔改神都会赦免，而且给他们能力从罪中出来。彼得从罗马逃走是随从己意（可能是肉体中的胆怯），耶稣让他回去，他就心甘情愿地回去殉道了，他最终选择了顺从圣灵，拒绝了肉体。
长在荆棘中的麦子，不结果，会被焚烧，这焚烧有两种可能：1不得救进入地狱的用火2勉强得救但仍要经历火烧，至于多久，Paul没说。不结果还能得救，只是一种可能，还有不结果不得救的可能，愿意在这里和上帝打擦边球的人真的很危险。
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我引用天使是为了说明最接受圣灵引导的天使，都有自由选择拒绝圣灵，最后堕落，信徒也有这种可能：领受了圣灵，明白了真理，但却因选择罪中之乐而拒绝圣灵的引导，不肯悔改最终彻底堕落。讲道魔鬼，并非想与你探讨天使与人的不同。
“人的灵可以重生，人的重生的灵可以跟神的灵结合，结合后不能分离”这话没有圣经根据，是你们的推论，最多算是一种可能性，我个人认为这么说有绕弯湾之嫌。圣经教导的重生：选择顺从圣灵，不顺从肉体，仿佛是被圣灵生下来的一般，是神的孩子的样子。
如果选择顺从肉体又不思悔改，那就是肉体生出的孩子，肉体是属魔鬼的，所以选择肉体的人是魔鬼的孩子。
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请读：加拉太书5:19-21：情欲的事，都是显而易见的。就如奸淫，污秽，邪荡，拜偶像，邪术，仇恨，争竞，忌恨，恼怒，结党，纷争，异端，嫉妒，（有古卷在此有凶杀二字）醉酒，荒宴等类，我从前告诉你们，现在又告诉你们，行这样事的人，必不能承受神的国。
Paul在这里说这些行肉体情欲之事的信徒（保罗称之为弟兄），是不能承受神的国的，你也说了：““不能见神的国”意味着什么？不能见神的国，不仅仅是上不了天堂的问题，更是能不能作神百姓的问题”，这里的不见与不承受神的国意思基本一致：不得救。
Paul并没有说：这些喜好肉体的信徒只是结不出圣灵的果子，其实还是得救的 这样的话，原文也引申不出这样的意思。因信称义是对的，但是这里的信是指顺服圣灵引导的信，否则连魔鬼也能得救了，因为雅各说：魔鬼也信，却是恐惧战兢，意思是魔鬼根本不得救。所以，心里相信上帝，行为又随从魔鬼的人，如果不悔改，是不得救的。
耶稣回答说：“我实实在在地告诉你，人若不重生，就不能见神的国。”（约3：3）
（1）耶稣这里用“我实实在在地告诉你”，可见，耶稣不是不愿意将自己交托给他们（参约 2：24），从祂的语气可以体会到，其实祂比耶路撒冷的人更着急。“实实在在”原文是连续两个“阿们、阿们”，可见祂是如此迫切、真诚地对尼哥底母说这番话。这里重生的“重”，原意：“从上头的”；意思：“重生”就是“从上面被生”，人若想到天父那里去，就必需要经历从上面被生。
（2）“人若不重生，就不能见神的国”，耶稣开门见山地给他指出来，你最要关心的是你自己的生命。尼哥底母是法利赛人，他当然知道“不能见神的国”意味着什么？不能见神的国，不仅仅是上不了天堂的问题，更是能不能作神百姓的问题。犹太人认定他们是亚伯拉罕的后裔，又受过割礼，再加上遵行律法，又信神迹，他们当然有份进神的国。现在耶稣突然告诉他，不是这样的，“人若不重生，就不能见神的国”，意思：无论何人若不从上面被生，就不能见神的国。这不仅对犹太人和尼哥底母的信仰来讲，是一个极大的挑战；同样今天，也让我们所有的人清楚地知道，没有任何人可以借着肉身的出生来成为神国的子民，人必须透过生命的更新和整个内心的改变，才能进入神的国。
愿上帝在我对圣经的理解 和 你们一次得救永远得救的人对圣经的理解 之间判断（judge），让错误的早早悔改，不再误导他人；让正确的如明光照耀，靠主使人受益！
你同意吗？
上帝是全能的，但他不能做违背他自己慈爱公义属性的事，尊重人的自由就是慈爱公义之一，圣灵与人是彼此尊重的，圣灵不会在人拒绝的情况下还与他同在；魔鬼附体才是强行的，使被附之人神智不清。
圣灵与重生的灵永运不分离。 神要挽救的人，没有人和魔鬼能夺走。
罗马书8:35-39
2013-03-08 00:39:14
8:35 谁能使我们与基督的爱隔绝呢．难道是患难么、是困苦么、是逼迫么、是饥饿么、是赤身露体么、是危险么、是刀剑么。
8:36 如经上所记、『我们为你的缘故、终日被杀．人看我们如将宰的羊。』
8:37 然而靠着爱我们的主、在这一切的事上、已经得胜有余了。
8:38 因为我深信无论是死、是生、是天使、是掌权的、是有能的、是现在的事、是将来的事、
8:39 是高处的、是低处的、是别的受造之物、都不能叫我们与 神的爱隔绝．这爱是在我们的主基督耶稣里的。
约翰福音10：
25?耶稣回答：“我告诉过你们，你们却不相信。我奉我父的名所行的这些事为我做见证； 26?可是你们不信，因为?你们不是我的羊。 27?我的羊听我的声音，我也认识他们，他们也跟着我； 28?并且我赐给他们永恒的生命，他们绝不会灭亡，直到永远。谁也不能把他们从我手中夺走。 29?我父，就是把他们赐给我的那一位，他比一切更大。谁也不能把他们从我父的手中夺走。 30?我与父是一体的。”
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.
圣灵与重生的灵永运不分离。 神要挽救的人，没有人和魔鬼能夺走。
罗马书8:35-39
2013-03-08 00:39:14
8:35 谁能使我们与基督的爱隔绝呢．难道是患难么、是困苦么、是逼迫么、是饥饿么、是赤身露体么、是危险么、是刀剑么。
8:36 如经上所记、『我们为你的缘故、终日被杀．人看我们如将宰的羊。』
8:37 然而靠着爱我们的主、在这一切的事上、已经得胜有余了。
8:38 因为我深信无论是死、是生、是天使、是掌权的、是有能的、是现在的事、是将来的事、
8:39 是高处的、是低处的、是别的受造之物、都不能叫我们与 神的爱隔绝．这爱是在我们的主基督耶稣里的。
约翰福音10：
25?耶稣回答：“我告诉过你们，你们却不相信。我奉我父的名所行的这些事为我做见证； 26?可是你们不信，因为?你们不是我的羊。 27?我的羊听我的声音，我也认识他们，他们也跟着我； 28?并且我赐给他们永恒的生命，他们绝不会灭亡，直到永远。谁也不能把他们从我手中夺走。 29?我父，就是把他们赐给我的那一位，他比一切更大。谁也不能把他们从我父的手中夺走。 30?我与父是一体的。”
倒是有生命的穆勒、宋尚节等真正为上帝摆上的值得学习。
真信徒很多，假的忽悠的假先知也不少，上帝爱的人上帝会让他们擦亮眼睛看清楚的，专好虚谎的，上帝很可能都give up 他了，我就更该知趣了，尽本分凭着爱心说了诚实话且规劝了，就不宜再多话了。
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.
——————这话的圣经根据是什么？圣经并未这样讲过。如果只讲正常的推论的话，人要接受圣灵的主权和引导，才能在圣灵帮助下重生，他决绝的话，特别是多次决绝的话，圣灵会尊重人的选择，不再引导他，直至他坚持犯罪不悔改的地步，而彻底离开他。
你们对圣经好不好按正意理解，不要将自己的意思硬塞进去，这样的后果很不好，看看启示录最后的话，给圣经增加或减少什么，都是被神咒诅的。
你提到的这些，只要认真读上下文，都知道，跟人靠自己保救赎无关。 人靠自己保救赎是100%违反因信称义，是人骄傲想自救的表现。 比如马 太 福 音 7:21-23就是讲假先知，不相信耶稣基督，只想靠自己努力，通过行神迹奇事进天堂，遭受彻底失败。 加了太书5就是讲，人不重生，不靠与圣灵结合，就只能活在律法的诅咒下。 人重生，有神灵结合，耶稣基督的宝血可以洗净他一生的罪，他已经脱离律法的诅咒，因为耶稣基督已经替他接受诅咒和惩罚。 如果这人以后还失去救恩，说明耶稣的工作还没有完成，就要耶稣重钉十字架。
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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，就受了所应许的圣灵为印记。这圣灵，是我们得基业的凭据，直等到神之
民被赎，使他的荣耀得着称赞。
2 Cor. 1:21-22：那在基督里坚固我们和你们，并且膏我们的，就是神。他又用印印了我
们，并赐圣灵在我们心里作凭据。（原文作质）。
以上两节经文是说：上帝赐给信徒圣灵做凭据，使信徒有资格承受救恩，这是从上帝的角度而言的；但是从信徒角度而言，信徒还有接受圣灵引导还是拒绝圣灵引导的自由，还有消灭圣灵感动的自由，而这样的人是不得救的，就是主耶稣所说的那些作恶的人。
此英语文章的作者把以上两节经文理解为:上帝一旦赐人圣灵就给这个人写了包票，他就永远得救，即便该信徒不接受圣灵的引导，甚至践踏圣灵的引导，且不悔改，上帝还是会救他们，首先经文的正常意思并非如此；其次即便这样理解下来，上帝有何尊严可言？正常人都会觉得这种逻辑荒谬，何况敬畏上帝的信徒？最后，上帝赐人救恩和圣灵的经文很多，但是上帝警告那些随从肉体不顺从圣灵主权的人失去救恩的经文也很多，这是很平衡的，并没有什么矛盾之处。不知为何此英文作者会读出矛盾来，应该是没有圣灵引导读的，看他总结经文的意思就不实事求是，把自己的想法加到经文中。
马 太 福 音 7:21-23： 21 凡称呼我主阿，主阿的人，不能都进天国。惟独遵行我天父旨意的人，才能进去。 22 当那日必有许多人对我说，主阿，主阿，我们不是奉你的名传道，奉你的名赶鬼，奉你的名行许多异能麽。 23 我就明明的告诉他们说，我从来不认识你们，你们这些作恶的人，离开我去吧（失去救恩）。
林前九章二十七节：“------。我是攻克己身（努力弃绝肉体），叫身服我（叫肉体服从圣灵）；恐怕我传福音给别人，自己反被弃绝（失去救恩）了。”
腓力比书三章十七至十九节：“弟兄们，你们要一同效法我，也当留意看那些照我们榜样行的人。因为有许多人行事是基督十字架的仇敌（指魔鬼），我屡次告诉你们，现在又流泪的告诉你们。他们的结局就是沉沦（失去救恩），他们的神就是自己的肚腹，他们以自己的羞辱为荣耀，专以地上的事为念。”——显然，保罗所说的人很可能是信徒，因为只有信徒才知道天上的事和地上的事。
使徒行传20：25-27：我（保罗）素常在你们（以弗所教会的信徒）中间来往，传讲 神国的道；如今我晓得，你们以后都不得再见我的面了。 26 所以我今日向你们证明，你们中间无论何人死亡（失去救恩），罪不在我身上。 27 因为 神的旨意，我并没有一样避讳不传给你们的。
足以说明，信徒是可能失去救恩的！
5:14 因为全律法都包在爱人如己这一句话之内了。
5:15 你们要谨慎。若相咬相吞，只怕要彼此消灭了。
5:16 我说，你们当顺着圣灵而行，就不放纵肉体的情欲了。
5:17 因为情欲和圣灵相争，圣灵和情欲相争。这两个是彼此相敌，使你们不能作所愿意作的。
5:18 但你们若被圣灵引导，就不在律法以下。
5:19 情欲的事，都是显而易见的。就如奸淫，污秽，邪荡，
5:20 拜偶像，邪术，仇恨，争竞，忌恨，恼怒，结党，纷争，异端，
5:21 嫉妒，（有古卷在此有凶杀二字）醉酒，荒宴等类，我从前告诉你们，现在又告诉你们，行这样事的人，必不能承受神的国。
5:22 圣灵所结的果子，就是仁爱，喜乐，和平，忍耐，恩慈，良善，信实，
5:23 温柔，节制。这样的事，没有律法禁止。
5:24 凡属基督耶稣的人，是已经把肉体，连肉体的邪情私欲，同钉在十字架上了。
5:25 我们若是靠圣灵得生，就当靠圣灵行事。
5:26 不要贪图虚名，彼此惹气，互相嫉妒。