Full Assurance
by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam
It is wonderful to have the full assurance of salvation, and it is God’s will that every one of us enjoy this assurance. Toward the close of his life the Apostle John wrote by divine inspiration:
“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life…” (I John 5:13).
There are three bases upon which believers in Christ may enjoy the full assurance of salvation: First, God urges every true believer: “Let us draw near, with a sincere heart, in full assurance of faith…” (Hebrews 10:22). This is the full assurance that results from simply believing God; much as a child implicitly believes what his father has said and is absolutely sure that it is true. God says: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life” (John 3:36). We may simply — and with good reason — believe His Word and enjoy the full assurance of faith.
Second, we may enjoy what Hebrews 6:11 calls “the full assurance of hope.” The hope of the Bible, however, must not be confused with wishing. The Christian’s “hope” is “an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast” (Ver. 19). It comes from having proved God. Thus the full assurance of hope is the confidence that results from having accepted God’s Word.
But third, and best of all, is what Colossians 2:2 calls “riches of the full assurance of understanding.” This full assurance is God’s reward to Christians who study His Word and His purposes, beginning with His plan of salvation as revealed in “the gospel of the grace of God.” When one not only believes God’s Word, but begins to understand it he cannot but be gripped by its sublime reasonableness, its powerful logic, and its provision for his deepest needs, and thus he comes to enjoy “all [the] riches of the full assurance of understanding.”
It is my personal opinion that a person who has not obeyed the gospel has no assurance of salvation. Many claim to know what that gospel is and perhaps some do. But, the how to obey the gospel is not so clear to many. Scripture makes it clear that God will return in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them who #1 know not God, and #2 obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. II Thess. 1:7-8 So, if God is not what some think he is; a Trinity of persons, wouldn’t that be considered idolatrous worship to believe that he is something he is not? And, Exactly what is the gospel and how does one obey it? I know what it is and how to obey it. I wonder if everyone that claims to be saved does! This is just a thought I considered and hope someone can further the conversation. Thanks for reading
Dear Mr. Dale,
While it is good your belief goes against “once saved always saved,” or “once and done,” our opinions have no bearing in anything. What matters is the inerrant, living, active Word of God.
And the Word of God nowhere states once a person is saved they can then commence an ungodly, disobedient life and expect the reward of eternal life. To the contrary.
The ASSURANCE of which the Apostle Paul writes, with the power of the Spirit of God working in him, is not to be misunderstood as a person merely believes in Jesus and has the assurance of eternal life, for we all know even Satan believes in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and anyone believing Satan has salvation doesn’t understand anything. We are to come to the Word of God always seeking, always asking the Holy Spirit to increase our DISCERNMENT, increase our spiritual understanding, and if we take the whole Word of God, all the examples, all the instruction we can surely discern one cannot live an ungodly, unrepentant, disobedient life going against God, going against the Word of God and expect eternal life in heaven.
No where does the Bible indicate this.
This whole “once and done,” or “once saved always saved” heresy and false teaching is no different than the lies and beguilement Satan used in the Garden of Eden with the woman, Eve, and her husband, Adam, and he has been using the very same technique with excellent results ever since as Satan knows human nature better than us humans do.
Nowhere in the Bible does it say merely believing is the end. Belief, faith, is merely the BEGINNING. And Scripture gives us many examples of what happens if one backslides, does not repent, or becomes again so ensnared in the world they are again slaves to sin and have lost what they once had. Readers of this reply please see 1 Corinthians 5, Luke 9:62, Hebrews 2:1-3, and the Apostle Peter in his second epistle instructs us;
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. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 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. 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. 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.
2 Peter 2 — King James Version
We all can lose the gift of salvation if we do not protect it, work at it, maintain it, tend to it as good stewards.
Our ASSURANCE comes in knowing, and believing the Word of God as given us by the Apostle Paul, and by our Lord Jesus Christ, the other apostles, and the prophets. If we fight the good fight, if we do not waver, if we do not succumb to the ways of the world and we are diligent daily DISCIPLES of Jesus Christ living to live the Word of God in our lives we have the hope, the assurance of our faith and God’s promise made to us.
We live in Biblical times of the Great Falling Away, the Great Apostasy. The age of more false teachers and false teachings than those speaking and following the truth.
I do not know the exact origin of the false teaching of “once saved always saved” but it is a creation of Satan working in sinful and ungodly man — not of God, not of the Son of God, not of the prophets or the apostles. It’s origin emanated from the father of lies, Satan, and was eaten up just as the forbidden fruit in the Garden was by man seeking his own pleasure rather than sacrificing and serving God and the Word of God.
Everyone wants the easy path. Everyone wants the “get out of hell free” card. Everyone wants things their way rather than God’s way.
We live in perilous, lying, trying times Mr. Dale, as you certainly are well aware.
We are to test all spirits and judge and discern wisely.
I feel sorrow for those souls who serve Satan in their hearts and lives while with their lips professing to be “Christians” thinking no matter what they do, no matter how they live they are guaranteed of eternal life in heaven.
If Lucifer, the greatest creation of God above all other angels can get kicked out of heaven certainly every much lower man and woman who disobeys the Word of God and REBELS, lives more with and for the world than with and for God can also lose their salvation.
Can one repent and be forgiven? Certainly. For the Word of God tells us this as well. I am once such myself and it is due to this the poems I wrote and write, this very website exists. For I felt such sorrow and grief from my turning from God and sinning and being more in the world than in the Word I promised God our Father I would serve Him each and every day and give thanks always for His forgiveness.
But I have no guarantee if I were to backslide again, if I were to return more to the world than to the ways of God and the ways of the Word of God.
Of that I am assured! And my ASSURANCE of eternal life comes in my faith THAT IF I LIVE A GODLY LIFE, PLEASING AND ACCETABLE UNTO THE LORD OUR GOD AND I LIVE IN OBEDIENCE TO GOD I HAVE THE BLESSED HOPE OF JOINING THE HEANVELY HOSTS FOR ETERNITY.
But there is no guarantee. I need to work at this daily. Always. Diligently.
Sadly, the false teaching of God is not a God of wrath or judgment is preferred over the truth of what the Bible teaches us.
It is my prayer anyone reading this comes to the knowledge salvation is a GIFT from God and we can lose it if we do not live according to the Word of God to the best of our ability. And our ability increases the more we turn to and rely upon God and the Holy Spirit to lift us, carry us, keep us, teach us the ways of the Lord.
Thank you for taking the time to comment and visiting A Crooked Path. I, too, hope others will enjoin this conversation and we can as brothers and sisters, as true believers in the faith be of like-mind on this most important matter, dispelling and pushing away the lies, the heresies, the false teachings so prevalent in the very ill body of Christ at this point in Biblical history as the church refuses to heed or obey the Head!
Sincerely, Ken Pullen
If I needed to be saved, what must I do? I am not a believer in the Trinity and I am pretty sure I can prove it. I am not a Jehovah Witness because I don’t believe Jesus was just a man. I am not a Mormon because I am not going to become a god anytime, sooner or later. I am not a Unitarian because I don’t believe that Jesus is only a tool or instrument created for a specific purpose and now he’s no more than a man God used as an instrument of/for his redemption of man. If we don’t know who Jesus Christ is, can we be saved? Without a knowledge of and real relationship with Jesus Christ, can we make it to heaven. My other question was not mentioned, either. What is the gospel and how does one apply/obey the gospel? That’s pretty heavy conversation, but not many even know. Even most so-called Christians don’t really understand it. You are correct in the statement about the false teaching of God is only love and there’s no God of Judgement/Wrath involved. Oh, the goodness and severity of God! But, first thing’s first. If our gospel be hid, unknown/unrecognized, etc., who is it lost to? If we don’t even know what the gospel is in application to out live’s, we have a great problem. A lot of folks haven’t got the understanding of just what it is, besides I Cor. 15:1-3 He lived, died and rose again. But, there is a obedience to the gospel, as I mentioned in my first post. How must I obey it? If God is going to take vengeance on those who don’t ‘know’ God and don’t obey the gospel, it should behoove us to understand whom God is and how to obey the gospel. To ‘know’ is more than just a casual affair. It’s an experience. There is much more to Jesus Christ than any average Christian or Minister understands. I am known as Allan, not Lloyd. For over 59 years, I was Allan, because of adoption. In 2008, I had a stroke and decided to change my name back to my birth name. When I did that, and put my personal information on the web in searching for a brother who was adopted by a separate family, I found my brother. And, now have a relationship with him. Over forty years ago, I wrote my brother, Steve, three letters which his parents never gave to him. They died and he found those letters in their effects. When they got on-line, they found my searching for him and we have since met. I even moved closer to him so we can now ‘grow up’ together. I am 64 and he’s 66. But, I got my miracle.
Dear Allan,
I will seriously attempt to undertake all your questions and concerns to the best of my ability, as God measures out in me. Bear in mind I am but only one finite, limited man. A true believer, I consider myself a child of God, blessed to be forgiven my sins, blessed to have heard and come to know God as we can know Him in this realm, in our limited minds and flesh.
Limitations are acceptable. We are not gods. We are not perfect. We can and will only be made perfect upon having our souls and spirits removed from our fleshly beings, being perfected in Christ, in spirit to enjoin God our Father, Jesus the Son, all the elders and heavenly hosts in heaven.
Far too many people only think they can come to God if perfect, or if they have perfect understanding. The exact opposite is true. God knows our failings, our faults, our imperfections, our foibles, our sins. If we think we’re perfect or need to be perfect or have everything there is to understand understood then we would not need God much would we? We need Him, we need His Son, we need the Comforter which Christ sent to true believers, the Holy Spirit in our lives because we are imperfect sinful flesh still warring within this world of flesh vs. spirit.
First, let me say, and if you have any familiarity with my personal writings, or the writings of others I post here on A Crooked Path you then already know I am not a denominational believer. I am a God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Word of God believer. I do not identify a denomination, a sect created by man for man.
Many are in fact cults. You mentioned two true cults, totally alien and going against the inerrant Word of God in your 2nd comment here on ACP.
In order to be a true believer and be “saved?” It is the most simple and also complex matter a human being can undertake and do.
Acknowledge every person is a sinner. We all are inherent sinners and fall short of the righteousness of God our Creator.
Repent and confess your sins to Jesus. Literally. And you only need to do this to Jesus. Privately. But literally. I also do not subscribe to the lofty, bloated, full of themselves folks who think one who attends seminary, or theology school, or a Bible college are the only ones who know and can speak or write concerning the spiritual matters of God and the Bible. Truth is 6 out of 10 so-called theology students do not believe what is contained in the inerrant Word of God. They do not believe in the virgin birth. They do not believe Jesus Christ was literally God come to earth to be born of a virgin, of the lineage of King David, to become a man and to sacrifice Himself for the sins of all who will believe upon Him and take Him as their Lord. Most Bible college students do not believe in the literal resurrection.
Which gets to one of the other main requirements of being saved. In order to be truly saved a person needs to believe what is in the Bible, and believe it is the God-breathed inerrant, living, active Word of God given to a select group of men.
Now that said, it gets to one of the main points of belief and being saved — you must believe. You cannot contest or debate or refute what is contained in the Word of God. Of course there are different interpretations and viewpoints, each of us is given different gifts and measure of understanding and discernment pertaining to the Word of God just as we’re each given different gifts and abilities in every aspect of human life. No one needs to know everything. Or understand everything. But one does need to know and understand the foundational basics.
In the Bible God tells us, through His Son, Jesus Christ, or through His apostles and prophets — God wants simple people. Not the high-minded, not the so-called or thought most intellectual or worldly wise. Come as children. Act as children. Be God’s children.
Which also brings us to one main point — come in FAITH. It’s all about FAITH.
Here’s an example — you write in the very first sentence of your 2nd comment here,”If I needed to be saved, what must I do?”
Then in your very next statement you write,”I am not a believer in the Trinity and I am pretty sure I can prove it.”
When in the Bible the Holy Spirit, Comforter, or Holy Ghost is mentioned or referred to from Genesis 1:2 through Revelation 19:10 and numerous times in between. It is the Third Individual of the Godhead. There is God the Father, Jesus the Son who was with God always, Jesus who was the Creator of all things we know and every person who has ever lived has known. Then there is also the Spirit of God which is has appeared on earth at times prior to Jesus Christ being resurrected from the dead and 40 days later ascending into heaven, to guide us, help us, instruct us. The Spirit of God.
You write you want to know how to be saved and then in the next breath, or sentence claim you do not believe in the Trinity, do not believe in the Holy Spirit, and then also contend boastfully you can prove it!
To be saved, truly saved? Takes faith. One must not only believe there is a God, or that Jesus is the risen Son of God — one must believe in the Holy Bible. All of it. No one can cherry pick what they will believe and what they won’t. Either believe it all in pure, sound, good faith or believe none of it. Believe in the Garden of Eden. In everything in the Older Testament, or older covenant. Believe everything in the Newer Testament, or newer covenant — and do not separate the two as man has done. History, life, is one unbroken thread. So, too, is the Word of God. From before the earth had form and before there was a sun, moon, and stars to this very moment you are reading this in these present Biblical times, these last days before the Lord returns as is prophesized in His inerrant Word.
One need to believe in God’s Word if they are to believe in the salvation afforded, the grace and mercy and forgiveness afforded us by God correct?
If you fall over a precipice and precariously are near falling to your death, and a person appears and begins speaking words of how they can save you, and they tell you about themselves and how they have the ability to save you? Can you truly expect to be saved by them if you doubt them, refute them, debate them, or flat out do not believe their words?
So besides realizing you’re a sinner in need of salvation, besides confessing your sins and repenting of them, you, as does everyone truly saved, you need to be “born again” or renewed of mind and spirit. CONVERTED. Allow the power of the Spirit of God to work in you.
BELIEVE! Have faith. Turn to God and away from your own understandings. Trust in God. Fully. And allow the changes He can and needs to make in you to occur. Let the Father hold you in His hands like a potter at the potters wheel forming a lump of clay. Let the Father shape you into the person who He needs to best serve Him.
But it requires faith of you. Not doubt. Not contention. Not attempting to disprove the inerrant Word of God.
Ever work for an employer? If so, did you always fight them, doubt them, refute them, contend with them, go against them and go your own way? If so, how did that go for you? Last long at that job? Do well?
Highly unlikely that was your approach.
So then, if you can abide by the instruction of a mere man and follow his instructions on how to live your life to keep your job why can’t you then abide by the instruction of He who created you and everything you know and serve Him rather than serving Satan and this world?
Do you desire to reside in heaven for eternity? If so, if you believe in a literal hell, if you believe in a literal heaven, if you believe in One True God, and you believe Jesus Christ was the literal Son of God? Why can’t you then take a few more steps along this path and get to where it is you need to be?
Believe in the whole, complete, inerrant Word of God.
Next you ask about the Gospel. Here is an excerpt written by R.C. Sproul pertaining to what the Gospel is:
“There is no greater message to be heard than that which we call the gospel. But as important as that is, it is often given to massive distortions or over simplifications. People think they’re preaching the gospel to you when they tell you, ‘you can have a purpose to your life’, or that ‘you can have meaning to your life’, or that ‘you can have a personal relationship with Jesus.’ All of those things are true, and they’re all important, but they don’t get to the heart of the gospel.”
“The gospel is called the ‘good news’ because it addresses the most serious problem that you and I have as human beings, and that problem is simply this: God is holy and He is just, and I’m not. And at the end of my life, I’m going to stand before a just and holy God, and I’ll be judged. And I’ll be judged either on the basis of my own righteousness–or lack of it–or the righteousness of another. The good news of the gospel is that Jesus lived a life of perfect righteousness, of perfect obedience to God, not for His own well being but for His people. He has done for me what I couldn’t possibly do for myself. But not only has He lived that life of perfect obedience, He offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice to satisfy the justice and the righteousness of God.”
“The great misconception in our day is this: that God isn’t concerned to protect His own integrity. He’s a kind of wishy-washy deity, who just waves a wand of forgiveness over everybody. No. For God to forgive you is a very costly matter. It cost the sacrifice of His own Son. So valuable was that sacrifice that God pronounced it valuable by raising Him from the dead–so that Christ died for us, He was raised for our justification. So the gospel is something objective. It is the message of who Jesus is and what He did. And it also has a subjective dimension. How are the benefits of Jesus subjectively appropriated to us? How do I get it? The Bible makes it clear that we are justified not by our works, not by our efforts, not by our deeds, but by faith–and by faith alone. The only way you can receive the benefit of Christ’s life and death is by putting your trust in Him–and in Him alone. You do that, you’re declared just by God, you’re adopted into His family, you’re forgiven of all of your sins, and you have begun your pilgrimage for eternity.”
We do know who Jesus Christ is. He is the Living Son of God. He is in truth, God while also being a part of God. One of the three distinct individuals comprising who God truly is.
While it might boggle the finite mind of man to attempt to understand the Godhead, and 3 distinct, INDIVIDUAL BEINGS, THREE SEPARATE INDIVIDUAL LIVING BEINGS making up ONE! It is true. It is. It is how it is.
We need to believe that. It is vitally important. Why? Because that is what the Bible teaches and if we are to be whole we cannot go about with half a heart, half a mind, half a body encompassing half a spirit and soul. Half in.
The Bible is not a restaurant menu. We do not select only the morsels we like to partake and eat of for our spiritual nourishment and growth. We cannot afford to be picky eaters and expect to live and go on without becoming malnourished.
I do not know if this helps, if I answered all your questions as of this time. Remember — I am just one man. A sinner myself. Human. Limited. I need to turn to God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God daily if I am to live, grow, thrive, and know what it is God wants me to know.
That is another point we can continue at a later time — none of us needs to understand or know everything. We only need to know what we need to know in order to be saved, forgiven of God, and to pursue our lives serving Him living and striving to be godly and pleasing and acceptable unto Him.
Allan, again, thank you for getting in touch. I hope and pray this might be of some help to you. If you have any other comments or questions please do not hesitate to return and ask or comment.
Remember, please, take all things — take everything to God in fervent, humble prayer. Ask and believe and you shall receive.
Please continue fervent, mindful Bible reading and study asking the Holy Spirit of God to indwell you, show you, touch you, teach you, to open not only your eyes to the words, but to open your heart, spirit, and soul to the teachings and power of the Spirit of God to work in your life.
You already know in part — you found your real fleshly brother, and in your own words it was a “miracle.”
Now commit your life to God your Father, Jesus His Son, allow Jesus to become Lord of your life and place your trust in Him. And He will be with you, in Spirit, to help you in all things.
I hope to hear from you again sometime.
If you contend you can PROVE the Holy Spirit of God does not exist I contend you cannot, in truth, do such a thing. And you will never convince me, although I would read what you present as your case — but I know differently — because I am living proof the Spirit of God does exist in order to change me, change my life around, change my mind and heart.
Sincerely, Ken Pullen
Evidently, you don’t understand what people write. I never said that I don’t believe in the Holy Spirit. You don’t know what you’re talking about./Pro.4:7
Dear Lloyd,
“If I needed to be saved, what must I do? I am not a believer in the Trinity and I am pretty sure I can prove it”
Your opening remarks to me. Words with meaning behind them.
If I read, or if anyone able to read English with basic comprehension read the above words they would deduct you’re asking what needs to be done by you to be ‘saved,’ and that you do NOT believe in the Godhead — God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. That’s the Trinity. That’s what God is.
You are a contentious debater mired in theology attempting to cause division.
I will not be divided from the inerrant Word of God.
You may follow the words of men who have fallen away from the truth, such as your Mr. Lilly who wrote a book in which he now claims there is no Trinity.
What is the difficulty, if you believe in God, you believe Jesus is the Son of God, and you now state you never wrote you did not believe in the Holy Spirit? What is the problem you have? Other than you are looking for a fight, you desire to be contentious and you are determined to debate in the hope of bringing others into your state of confusion and double-speak?
I go to the Bible. As I have repeatedly stated. The Bible is foremost. The Bible speaks of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The 3 individual sacred, holy beings which comprise all that God is as a being.
God the Father in heaven, over all things. All knowing, all powerful.
Jesus the Son. Who became flesh and died to conquer death so we might have life.
And the Holy Spirit of God which instructs, teaches, and cares for the believers.
What is your real problem and questions other than you’re totally mired in verbiage and syntax and semantics?
You wrote in a previous comment:
“It is my personal opinion that a person who has not obeyed the gospel has no assurance of salvation. Many claim to know what that gospel is and perhaps some do. But, the how to obey the gospel is not so clear to many. Scripture makes it clear that God will return in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them who #1 know not God, and #2 obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. II Thess. 1:7-8 So, if God is not what some think he is; a Trinity of persons, wouldn’t that be considered idolatrous worship to believe that he is something he is not? And, Exactly what is the gospel and how does one obey it? I know what it is and how to obey it. I wonder if everyone that claims to be saved does! This is just a thought I considered and hope someone can further the conversation. Thanks for reading”
Your personal opinion does not matter. The Bible is very clear those who do not obey God — and part of that obedience is to believe upon His Son, Jesus Christ — those who are disobedient and do not live pleasing and acceptable to God will face His wrath. We all will face judgment. Each person who ever lived will be judged in the end by Jesus Christ the Lord.
You tell us nothing new — the Scriptures tell us often how many are misled, how there are always antichrists and false teachers everywhere. That is why we are to test the spirits to learn if they are of God, or of the great deceiver, the devil.
Of course many do not understand what the Gospel of Jesus Christ is about. Most don’t.
The majority of people who have ever lived, live now, or are yet to live will not believe. Will not turn to God, but rather they turn to the world and serve this world rather than God.
You seem to revel in taking words out of context. 2 Thessalonians 1, after the Apostle Paul’s salutation is about COMFORT IN PERSECUTION and judgment coming to those who refuse to believe in God.
Tribulation is coming to those who persecute and bring suffering to believers.
Take everything in context. What comes before, what comes after, to whom it is addressed, when, where, how, and why?
Context.
Rather important in understanding and discerning.
I’m well aware of God’s coming wrath upon the unbelieving, disobedient, decadent, sinful world.
And God does return to earth to judge all. Our Lord Jesus Christ returns — Revelation 19.
Why are you so bogged down, ensnared, and tangled in your quest to disprove the Trinity and you appear to make that your main point and effort? And to those who believe what the Bible tells us you then call us heretics and false teachers and proclaim we lack understanding? Yet you appear to be also saying you believe in God, you believe Jesus of Nazareth, born of a virgin, of the lineage of King David, God who became flesh in the form of Jesus you believe in, and then you now state — “I never said that I don’t believe in the Holy Spirit.”
But it seems to cause you great distress when believers state they believe in the Godhead, the Trinity of God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit. So what is it Mr. Dale?
You cannot have it every which way and condemn over semantics and your own confusion.
You are taking something very simple, based on the Word of God and an individuals faith in those words, and you are twisting them and taking away from God’s Word with your incessant debating as you go to and fro’ changing things up like the wind coming from different directions.
Also, it is NOT idolatry if we believe in God, Jesus the Lord, and the Holy Spirit.
You wrote;
” Scripture makes it clear that God will return in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them who #1 know not God, and #2 obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. II Thess. 1:7-8 So, if God is not what some think he is; a Trinity of persons, wouldn’t that be considered idolatrous worship to believe that he is something he is not? And, Exactly what is the gospel and how does one obey it? I know what it is and how to obey it.”
Yes, God takes vengeance on those who DO NOT BELIEVE — on the heathen, on the worldly unbelievers. On those who refuse the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Lord. How do you go from what the Scriptures tell us in 2 Thessalonians 1 to the statement if a person believes in the Trinity it is idolatry!
You, your Mr. Yates, who you seem to be a disciple of, and other false teaching sects, which are in truth cults, the Mormons and the Jehovah’s Witnesses — two sects founded by individual people basing their formed “denomination” on their own views forsaking the Word of God to make up their own religion and beliefs — do not believe in the Trinity.
The great majority of Bible believing, Bible living Christians most certainly do believe in the Trinity of God the Father, Jesus the Son, Saviour and Lord of our lives, and the Holy Spirit.
And this is the last I will be writing to you on this matter since you appear to desire nothing more than contention and debate and we know, or should know where the root of contention and a desire to cause friction and mayhem originates in should we not?
If you do not like it here, if you are of the conviction I am a heretic and a false teacher, as you have stated, then why are you here, and why do you keep coming back like an insect to a light?
Get thee behind me Satan in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord!
I will not be sidetracked in meaningless contentious debate with someone who refuses to have faith in the complete, inerrant Word of God.
Good day, sir, and good bye.
And it is you who will be no longer approved to post here, as it seems you forget who is the administrator here. I do not really care if you block my comments, which come to your personal email. That is nothing. So block my comments from your email.
In this space the truth will remain posted for anyone to see, to test the spirits hereof.
Good bye.
Only some of the Bible verses pertaining to the Holy Spirit / Holy Ghost / Comforter;
John 14:26 – But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Romans 8:26 – Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Galatians 5:22-23 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (Read More…)
Acts 2:38 – Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
1 Corinthians 6:19 – What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
John 14:15-17 – If ye love me, keep my commandments. (Read More…)
John 16:12-15 – I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. (Read More…)
Isaiah 11:2 – And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
Luke 11:13 – If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall [your] heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
Acts 1:8 – But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
2 Corinthians 3:17 – Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord [is], there [is] liberty.
1 Corinthians 2:13 – Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Matthew 5:6 – Blessed [are] they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Romans 15:13 – Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
John 16:7-15 – Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. (Read More…)
Ephesians 1:13 – In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,