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    Default The Catholic Church

    Jesus said his Church would be "the light of the world." He then noted that "a city set on a hill cannot be hid" (Matt. 5:14). This means his Church is a visible organization. It must have characteristics that clearly identify it and that distinguish it from other churches. Jesus promised, "I will build my Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18). This means that his Church will never be destroyed and will never fall away from him. His Church will survive until his return.

    Among the Christian churches, only the Catholic Church has existed since the time of Jesus. Every other Christian church is an offshoot of the Catholic Church. The Eastern Orthodox churches broke away from unity with the pope in 1054. The Protestant churches were established during the Reformation, which began in 1517. (Most of today’s Protestant churches are actually offshoots of the original Protestant offshoots.)

    Only the Catholic Church existed in the tenth century, in the fifth century, and in the first century, faithfully teaching the doctrines given by Christ to the apostles, omitting nothing. The line of popes can be traced back, in unbroken succession, to Peter himself. This is unequaled by any institution in history.

    Even the oldest government is new compared to the papacy, and the churches that send out door-to-door missionaries are young compared to the Catholic Church. Many of these churches began as recently as the nineteenth or twentieth centuries. Some even began during your own lifetime. None of them can claim to be the Church Jesus established.

    The Catholic Church has existed for nearly 2,000 years, despite constant opposition from the world. This is testimony to the Church’s divine origin. It must be more than a merely human organization, especially considering that its human members— even some of its leaders—have been unwise, corrupt, or prone to heresy.

    Any merely human organization with such members would have collapsed early on. The Catholic Church is today the most vigorous church in the world (and the largest, with a billion members: one sixth of the human race), and that is testimony not to the cleverness of the Church’s leaders, but to the protection of the Holy Spirit.

    FOUR MARKS OF THE TRUE CHURCH


    If we wish to locate the Church founded by Jesus, we need to locate the one that has the four chief marks or qualities of his Church. The Church we seek must be one, holy, catholic, and apostolic.

    The Church Is One (Rom. 12:5, 1 Cor. 10:17, 12:13, CCC 813–822)
    Jesus established only one Church, not a collection of differing churches (Lutheran, Baptist, Anglican, and so on). The Bible says the Church is the bride of Christ (Eph. 5:23–32). Jesus can have but one spouse, and his spouse is the Catholic Church.

    His Church also teaches just one set of doctrines, which must be the same as those taught by the apostles (Jude 3). This is the unity of belief to which Scripture calls us (Phil. 1:27, 2:2).

    Although some Catholics dissent from officially-taught doctrines, the Church’s official teachers—the pope and the bishops united with him—have never changed any doctrine. Over the centuries, as doctrines are examined more fully, the Church comes to understand them more deeply (John 16:12–13), but it never understands them to mean the opposite of what they once meant.

    The Church Is Holy (Eph. 5:25–27, Rev. 19:7–8, CCC 823–829)
    By his grace Jesus makes the Church holy, just as he is holy. This doesn’t mean that each member is always holy. Jesus said there would be both good and bad members in the Church (John 6:70), and not all the members would go to heaven (Matt. 7:21–23).

    But the Church itself is holy because it is the source of holiness and is the guardian of the special means of grace Jesus established, the sacraments (cf. Eph. 5:26).

    The Church Is Catholic (Matt. 28:19–20, Rev. 5:9–10, CCC 830–856)
    Jesus’ Church is called catholic ("universal" in Greek) because it is his gift to all people. He told his apostles to go throughout the world and make disciples of "all nations" (Matt. 28:19–20).

    For 2,000 years the Catholic Church has carried out this mission, preaching the good news that Christ died for all men and that he wants all of us to be members of his universal family (Gal. 3:28).

    Nowadays the Catholic Church is found in every country of the world and is still sending out missionaries to "make disciples of all nations" (Matt. 28:19).

    The Church Jesus established was known by its most common title, "the Catholic Church," at least as early as the year 107, when Ignatius of Antioch used that title to describe the one Church Jesus founded. The title apparently was old in Ignatius’s time, which means it probably went all the way back to the time of the apostles.

    The Church Is Apostolic (Eph. 2:19–20, CCC 857–865)
    The Church Jesus founded is apostolic because he appointed the apostles to be the first leaders of the Church, and their successors were to be its future leaders. The apostles were the first bishops, and, since the first century, there has been an unbroken line of Catholic bishops faithfully handing on what the apostles taught the first Christians in Scripture and oral Tradition (2 Tim. 2:2).

    These beliefs include the bodily Resurrection of Jesus, the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, the sacrificial nature of the Mass, the forgiveness of sins through a priest, baptismal regeneration, the existence of purgatory, Mary’s special role, and much more —even the doctrine of apostolic succession itself.

    Early Christian writings prove the first Christians were thoroughly Catholic in belief and practice and looked to the successors of the apostles as their leaders. What these first Christians believed is still believed by the Catholic Church. No other Church can make that claim.

    Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth

    Man’s ingenuity cannot account for this. The Church has remained one, holy, catholic, and apostolic—not through man’s effort, but because God preserves the Church he established (Matt. 16:18, 28:20).

    He guided the Israelites on their escape from Egypt by giving them a pillar of fire to light their way across the dark wilderness (Exod. 13:21). Today he guides us through his Catholic Church.

    The Bible, sacred Tradition, and the writings of the earliest Christians testify that the Church teaches with Jesus’ authority. In this age of countless competing religions, each clamoring for attention, one voice rises above the din: the Catholic Church, which the Bible calls "the pillar and foundation of truth" (1 Tim. 3:15).

    Jesus assured the apostles and their successors, the popes and the bishops, "He who listens to you listens to me, and he who rejects you rejects me" (Luke 10:16). Jesus promised to guide his Church into all truth (John 16:12–13). We can have confidence that his Church teaches only the truth.


    source: http://www.catholic.com/library/pillar.asp
    "Grant that we may be one flock and one shepherd! Do not allow your
    net to be torn, help us to be servants of unity!
    " - Pope Benedict XVI

  2. #2

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    "Grant that we may be one flock and one shepherd! Do not allow your
    net to be torn, help us to be servants of unity!
    " - Pope Benedict XVI

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    Quote Originally Posted by CatholicCrusader View Post
    Jesus said his Church would be "the light of the world." He then noted that "a city set on a hill cannot be hid" (Matt. 5:14). This means his Church is a visible organization. It must have characteristics that clearly identify it and that distinguish it from other churches. Jesus promised, "I will build my Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18). This means that his Church will never be destroyed and will never fall away from him. His Church will survive until his return.
    You don't need physical buildings for this. The Church is built on truth.

    Among the Christian churches, only the Catholic Church has existed since the time of Jesus. Every other Christian church is an offshoot of the Catholic Church. The Eastern Orthodox churches broke away from unity with the pope in 1054. The Protestant churches were established during the Reformation, which began in 1517. (Most of today’s Protestant churches are actually offshoots of the original Protestant offshoots.)
    The Roman Church came along centuries later. The only Church that remained is the one that exists today, the universal Church body of Christ. The Church is not defined as a denomination. The Bible is against denominations. A church is a locality of believers.

    Only the Catholic Church existed in the tenth century, in the fifth century, and in the first century, faithfully teaching the doctrines given by Christ to the apostles, omitting nothing. The line of popes can be traced back, in unbroken succession, to Peter himself. This is unequaled by any institution in history.
    There are no popes in the Bible. And Apostles don't appoint Apostles.

    Even the oldest government is new compared to the papacy, and the churches that send out door-to-door missionaries are young compared to the Catholic Church. Many of these churches began as recently as the nineteenth or twentieth centuries. Some even began during your own lifetime. None of them can claim to be the Church Jesus established.
    They are not churches nor is the Roman Church the Church.

    The Catholic Church has existed for nearly 2,000 years, despite constant opposition from the world. This is testimony to the Church’s divine origin. It must be more than a merely human organization, especially considering that its human members— even some of its leaders—have been unwise, corrupt, or prone to heresy.
    The Roman Church never existed in the first century, since Mary sinned, chiliasm was taught and salvation is OSAS. And there was no intermediary priesthood. No need for physical buildings. No need to add books to the Bible. And no need for earthly promises.

    Any merely human organization with such members would have collapsed early on. The Catholic Church is today the most vigorous church in the world (and the largest, with a billion members: one sixth of the human race), and that is testimony not to the cleverness of the Church’s leaders, but to the protection of the Holy Spirit.
    She is the great harlot (Rev. 17).

    If we wish to locate the Church founded by Jesus, we need to locate the one that has the four chief marks or qualities of his Church. The Church we seek must be one, holy, catholic, and apostolic.
    The Roman Church is unholy, not original (catholic), and it has no Apostles.

    The Church Is One (Rom. 12:5, 1 Cor. 10:17, 12:13, CCC 813–822)
    Jesus established only one Church, not a collection of differing churches (Lutheran, Baptist, Anglican, and so on). The Bible says the Church is the bride of Christ (Eph. 5:23–32). Jesus can have but one spouse, and his spouse is the Catholic Church.
    Where 2 or 3 are gathered in His name there is the Church. The Roman Church gathers in the name of a false Christ. Jesus said unless you believe who I say I am, I will deny you before the Father in heaven.

    His Church also teaches just one set of doctrines, which must be the same as those taught by the apostles (Jude 3). This is the unity of belief to which Scripture calls us (Phil. 1:27, 2:2).
    The Apostles never taught non-OSAS and amillennialism and sinless Mary and transubstantiation and on and on.

    Although some Catholics dissent from officially-taught doctrines, the Church’s official teachers—the pope and the bishops united with him—have never changed any doctrine. Over the centuries, as doctrines are examined more fully, the Church comes to understand them more deeply (John 16:12–13), but it never understands them to mean the opposite of what they once meant.
    Those same false teachings are still held onto come hell or high water.

    The Church Is Holy (Eph. 5:25–27, Rev. 19:7–8, CCC 823–829)
    By his grace Jesus makes the Church holy, just as he is holy. This doesn’t mean that each member is always holy. Jesus said there would be both good and bad members in the Church (John 6:70), and not all the members would go to heaven (Matt. 7:21–23).
    Matt. 7.21-23 doesn't say members of the Church are unsaved but that they will lose rewards. OSAS is not violated.

    But the Church itself is holy because it is the source of holiness and is the guardian of the special means of grace Jesus established, the sacraments (cf. Eph. 5:26).
    The Church is holy because everyone in the Church is saved and will be in the New City.

    The Church Is Catholic (Matt. 28:19–20, Rev. 5:9–10, CCC 830–856)
    Jesus’ Church is called catholic ("universal" in Greek) because it is his gift to all people. He told his apostles to go throughout the world and make disciples of "all nations" (Matt. 28:19–20).
    The Roman Church is not catholic.

    For 2,000 years the Catholic Church has carried out this mission, preaching the good news that Christ died for all men and that he wants all of us to be members of his universal family (Gal. 3:28).
    I am sure Satan wants this, but Jesus has never recognized the Roman Church.

    Nowadays the Catholic Church is found in every country of the world and is still sending out missionaries to "make disciples of all nations" (Matt. 28:19).
    Satan is prolific growing his mustard seed into a great tree where birds like demons land on its extended branches.

    The Church Jesus established was known by its most common title, "the Catholic Church," at least as early as the year 107, when Ignatius of Antioch used that title to describe the one Church Jesus founded. The title apparently was old in Ignatius’s time, which means it probably went all the way back to the time of the apostles.
    Catholic means original, not Roman.

    The Church Is Apostolic (Eph. 2:19–20, CCC 857–865)
    The Church Jesus founded is apostolic because he appointed the apostles to be the first leaders of the Church, and their successors were to be its future leaders. The apostles were the first bishops, and, since the first century, there has been an unbroken line of Catholic bishops faithfully handing on what the apostles taught the first Christians in Scripture and oral Tradition (2 Tim. 2:2).
    Apostles are not Bishops. Bishops are Elders. Apostles appoint Bishops of a church locality.

    These beliefs include the bodily Resurrection of Jesus, the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, the sacrificial nature of the Mass, the forgiveness of sins through a priest, baptismal regeneration, the existence of purgatory, Mary’s special role, and much more —even the doctrine of apostolic succession itself.
    Breaking bread and drinking the wine is figurative in remembrance. Mass is a legalism. Gathering is informal whether 2 or 3 are together in His name without the pastoral method. Baptism can't regenerate anyone. There are no priests in the NT. We are a royal priesthood-all Christians! You can't pay for indulgences to reduce one's stay in purgatory. The technical name is called "outer darkness". No need to use the word purgatory. Mary is not sinless. She has a role only insofar as she was the body through whom the Messiah entered the world. There is no Apostolic succession. None of the Apostles in the Bible appointed the other Apostles. They were all directly commissioned by God.

    Early Christian writings prove the first Christians were thoroughly Catholic in belief and practice and looked to the successors of the apostles as their leaders. What these first Christians believed is still believed by the Catholic Church. No other Church can make that claim.
    The first century believers never believed in amillennialism and non-OSAS and baptismal regeneration and celibacy of church workers.

    Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth
    Man’s ingenuity cannot account for this. The Church has remained one, holy, catholic, and apostolic—not through man’s effort, but because God preserves the Church he established (Matt. 16:18, 28:20).
    Since the Roman Church is not the Church, the word of God in 66 books says, He will let the ten kings destroy it: "And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire" (Rev. 17.16). Clearly that's a dirty bomb that will blow up the Vatican and there will be radiation fallout.

    He guided the Israelites on their escape from Egypt by giving them a pillar of fire to light their way across the dark wilderness (Exod. 13:21). Today he guides us through his Catholic Church.
    Israel is the center of all nations not Rome. You're trying to compete with God's plan.

    The Bible, sacred Tradition, and the writings of the earliest Christians testify that the Church teaches with Jesus’ authority. In this age of countless competing religions, each clamoring for attention, one voice rises above the din: the Catholic Church, which the Bible calls "the pillar and foundation of truth" (1 Tim. 3:15).
    The Roman Church is the great harlot that makes drunk the nations with the wine of the wrath of her fornications (Rev. 14.8). She will be destroyed.

    Jesus assured the apostles and their successors, the popes and the bishops, "He who listens to you listens to me, and he who rejects you rejects me" (Luke 10:16). Jesus promised to guide his Church into all truth (John 16:12–13). We can have confidence that his Church teaches only the truth.
    No popes in the Bible. Rejecting the Roman Church is rejecting the false Christ of the Roman Church. Amillennialism and non-OSAS are great heresies. Rev. 20.3 says the nations won't be deceived in the 1000 years. Obviously they are still deceived. And John 10.28 says those who are born-again "they shall never perish" (John 10.28).

    So the Roman Church is wrong. She will never repent. That's why she must be destroyed. So it shall be.

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    "And upon her forehead [was] a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH" (Rev. 17.5).

    Rev. 17.5 "And upon her forehead a name written, Mystery, Babylon the Great"—She is a mystery, and yet this mystery is written on her forehead for everyone to read. This implies that whoever has an eye can perceive the meaning of this mystery.

    God recognized Jerusalem as the center of worship (religious) as well as the center of earthly dominion (political). The error of the Roman Church is to presume that God has established her in lieu of Jerusalem, thus making herself both a religious and political center. What Jerusalem is rightfully to be in the millennial kingdom is what the Roman Church has today already assumed.

    "The mother of the harlots"—Being herself the great harlot, all that come out of this woman are harlots. These are the state churches, since their institutional systems are similar to that of Rome, e.g. Lutherism. Any church group that is united with the world is a small harlot.

    (For example, membership is not based on regeneration, but is granted to any who pledge to give support financially; also, the qualification for taking communion or the Lord’s Supper is membership instead of salvation; and so forth).

    "Mother . . . of the abominations of the earth"—Abominations in Old Testament times always pointed to idols (see Deut. 7.25,26). The Roman Church is known for her idol-worshiping. She worships Mary, angels, apostles, saints, and so forth. Her split with Constantinople was over this matter of her idol-worshiping.

  5. #5

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    LOL:.

    Protestants! God love 'em
    "Grant that we may be one flock and one shepherd! Do not allow your
    net to be torn, help us to be servants of unity!
    " - Pope Benedict XVI

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    We love the word of God exactly what it says.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Peter View Post
    We love the word of God exactly what it says.
    So do we. The difference is: We understand it and you don't
    "Grant that we may be one flock and one shepherd! Do not allow your
    net to be torn, help us to be servants of unity!
    " - Pope Benedict XVI

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    There's no Scripture that says a person who is born-again can lose salvation.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Peter View Post
    There's no Scripture that says a person who is born-again can lose salvation.
    Some people promote a very attractive idea: All true Christians, regardless of how they live, have an absolute assurance of salvation, once they accept Jesus into their hearts as "their personal Lord and Savior." The problem is that this belief is contrary to the Bible & constant Christian teaching.

    Recall this Scripture: "If we have died with him [in baptism; see Rom. 6:3-4] we shall also live with him; if we persevere we shall also reign with him" (2 Tim. 2:11-12). So, if we do NOT persevere, we shall NOT reign with him. In other words, Christians can forfeit heaven. Jesus tells us, "He who endures to the end will be saved" (Matt. 24:13; cf. 25:31-46). Ergo, if you do not endure to the end, well........

    The Bible makes it clear that Christians have a moral assurance of salvation (God will be true to his word and will grant salvation to those who have faith in Christ and are obedient to him [1 John 3:19-24]), but the Bible does NOT teach that Christians have a guarantee of heaven. There can be no absolute assurance of salvation. The Bible says, "See, then, the kindness and severity of God: severity toward those who fell, but God's kindness to you, provided you remain in his kindness, otherwise you too will be cut off" (Rom. 11:22-23; Matt. 18:21-35, 1 Cor. 15:1-2, 2 Pet. 2:20-21).

    Note that this includes an important condition: "provided you remain in his kindness." It is saying that Christians can lose their salvation by throwing it away. He warns, "Whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall" (1 Cor. 10:11-12). , Paul admitted that even he could fall away: "I pummel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified" (1 Cor. 9:27). In saying this he points out that even he cannot be infallibly sure of his own present state or of his future salvation.

    As a Catholic, when someone asks me if I have been "saved," I answer: "I am redeemed by the blood of Christ, I trust in him alone for my salvation, and, as the Bible teaches, I am working out my salvation in fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12), knowing that it is God's gift of grace that is working in me."
    "Grant that we may be one flock and one shepherd! Do not allow your
    net to be torn, help us to be servants of unity!
    " - Pope Benedict XVI

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    Baptism is not co-death, but it is burial. Burial is what takes place after one has died on the cross with Christ. Those who gave their lives to Christ not only received forgiveness of sins by the substitution of Jesus, but identification with Him when He brought us to death with Him on the cross. So after having died then one gets buried. Do you see how misread Rom. 6.3-4? "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism."

    Persevering is for reigning. I am preserved but it is possible I might not persevere. Nothing is said of losing salvation. So those who are saved though they can't lose eternal life, they may yet lose the reward of reigning. "If we be dead with him, we shall also live with him" (2 Tim. 2.11). This is salvation. To live one must die. Whereas, "If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us" (v.12). To reign one must suffer. To deny here can refer to either initial salvation or not meeting His requirement for reigning. It doesn't mean one can lose salvation.

    "He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved" (Matt. 24.13) is not referring to initial salvation since the Bible says salvation is not by works, lest any one should boast. We must maintain consistency with the Scriptures. The Bible does not contradict itself, but man does. So "the same shall be saved" is all that salvation entails in this entrance into God's fold that can be appropriated by the believer or not. For example, the 5 unwise virgins remain saved, for they still have oil in their lamps which represents the Holy Spirit, He is still their Lord and are a light to the world through their lamps, except that they don't get to enter the millennial kingdom marriage feast to reign. Once the millennium is over, only then can they enter the New City. Before then only overcomers can enter the New City. Do you see how you miss this rich aspect of the Scriptures by believing in amillennialism?

    Matt. 25.31-46 pertains to the nations not to salvation. Matt. 24.4-31 deals with the Jews, and Matt. 24.32-25.30 speaks to the Church. God always has in view 3 three groups. I point this out because you misapplied Matt. 25.31-46 about the nations that are judged when Jesus returns is not about individual salvation.

    "And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us" (1 John 3.24). The Holy Spirit Who indwells all believers can effectively be rendered as though not even there if a Christian is negligent in his conduct. Hence, "he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him." This is not saying the Holy Spirit leaves, but that the believer has lost that union and intimacy with God's Spirit because of being worldly. He needs to be baptized to come out the world. This is the essential meaning of baptism. Water represents the world. Water can't save, it can only help you overcometh by forsaking it.

    To be cut off when speaking to believers is not losing eternal life but losing that communion with the Lord and intimacy with Him. This is seen in the parable of the unforgiving debtor (Matt. 18.21-35). "The kingdom of heaven can be compared to...." The kingdom of heaven is three things: 1) outward appearance (including saved and unsaved who appear to be saved), 2) outward conduct (unto rewards), 3) the reward of reigning during the 1000 years. "Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt" (Matt. 18.34). This cannot be read as God taking back His word concerning His initial grace towards redeemed sinners; but God’s subsequent grace, as illustrated in this instance, must be withdrawn by God in order to maintain His righteousness. God is not like your god who removes initial salvation, man's spirit regenerated, eternal life and the Holy Spirit. My God is bigger than that. In His infinite foreknowledge, He simply won't save you to begin with and put up with all the nonsense of you thinking you were saved one day, lost it the next, gain it back then lose it again. How absurd! Surely God can do better than that. Many don't have faith to believe Jesus can actually return in Person as He left (Zech. 14.4, Acts. 1.11, Rev. 1.7, 19.11-16) so that is why you reject the millennial kingdom on earth Jesus reigns from the 3rd Temple over the nations with His overcomers.

    "Pay all that was due"—After the thousand years of discipline come to an end. If you don't believe in the 1000 year reign (Rev. 20.2-7) by thinking it is now even though the nations are not deceived in the 1000 years (v.3) then naturally you will not read these verses properly because in your cold cold heart all you see is salvation, losing salvation and getting it back again to only to lose it yet again. That would be a weird kind of salvation. But what God does is He gives eternal life once. He doesn't take it away, give it back again then take it away again. He is no fool! God simply won't save you to begin with if that is the kind of selfish salvation you want. He has infinite fore knowledge so He knows whom to give His life, and to those He lets no man pluck us out of His hand, because that is the relationship chosen to be kept. This is the God you refuse to give your life to so you remain unsaved and bound for Hell. "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand" (John 10.28). "Never perish" is applied to every soul who ever received eternal life. Eternal life doesn't come later. It occurs at new birth. Eternal life is not only eternal blessings but an ability to have a relationship with God today. "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent" (John 17.3).

    Many have no faith to believe this so they pride themselves on a works-based salvation and power in themselves to keep themselves saved, but of course, no man has such power and just deceiving themselves because they are really propping up themselves as almighty able to do what only God could do. You'll be saved when you are willing with the humbleness of heart to trust in the God who keeps, not before. This is the gospel (1 Cor. 15.1-2). In 2 Pet. 2.20-21 the person was never saved to begin with but only came close to the door of salvation. it would have been better they had never known about Christ because their punishment in Hell will be worse than it was otherwise for rejecting Jesus.

    Whoever thinks he is standing firm should humble himself, because a humble heart is one that does not exalt oneself (1 Cor. 10.11-12). "Lest he fall" does not mean losing salvation, but lose rewards. A person who is saved who falls doesn't fall all the way. You can walk and fall down, but you are not crippled for life. Paul, indeed, could be disqualified. But disqualified from what? To run the race first you must be saved. How you run that race then determines your standing. To make it to the next heat of the race is the goal. If you just beat the air and are not in subjection to the Lord, you will be "cast away" (1 Cor. 9.27) into "outer darkness" for 1000 years. Each time this phrase is used in the Bible never does it have with it any attachment to a fire or a furnace. The darkness is to indicate it is outside the light of rewards of reigning with Christ for the 1000 years. So What Paul is saying is he can't be certain if he will be included in the first rapture (according to readiness) and the millennial reign first resurrection rewards. Paul knew with certainty he is saved and can never lose eternal life. This is the same salvation I have and you don't have! Satan teaches you can lose salvation and that you can never know for sure. That's a life not worth living for you are just being manipulated and controlled by the evil Roman Church empire.

    If someone asked me if you were saved, I would say to them you are not saved because you were too selfish to enter into the faith with the God who promises to keep. You did not want to be absolutely and necessarily kept because you are selfish and self-involved. You're in a bad marriage with one foot out the door, your prenuptial and able to get a divorce at any moment. I have no such relationship and know no such God. I am secured for life and thus, equipped to run the race. Your god is completely foreign to me.

    "And it is this Good News that saves you if you firmly believe it [the born-again "shall never perish" John 10.28]--unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place [a person could lose salvation]" (1 Cor. 15.2). "Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?" (John 11.26). It does not say "whosoever...keepest on believing me shall never die...." He who is dead shall not forever die. In other words, though a Christian can receive the hurt of the second death it is only temporary to correct his behavior. Whereas those who overcometh need no such correction. Eternal life is eternal, it can never be abrogated as we did not want it to be when we gave our lives to Christ so God remains faithful. The Lord Jesus (John 5.24), Paul (Romans 8.38-39), and John (1 John 5.11-13) have no qualms about offering absolute, objective assurance of salvation. We that were actually born-again "hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life" (John 5.24). You can't be born-again again. You can only be born in the flesh once. And you can only be born-again once. If you think you can lose salvation and get it back to be born-again again, you were never born-again in the first place.
    That's total nonsense!

    "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Pet. 1.3-5).

    "For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day" (2 Tim. 1.12). "Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete [perfect] it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 1.6). You have no such confidence because you prefer the evil spirit masquerading as an angel of light residing in your innerman and tells you otherwise, so you insert into the text at random what is not explicitly stated. You are not persuaded but "I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 8.38-39). You can yet be separated you admit. Therefore, while you can become like me, I can never become like you be cause once-saved-always-saved. "For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable" (Rom. 11.29). "If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself" (2 Tim. 2.13). "But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God" (John 1.12). A child of God is a child of God forever in God's book. "These things I write to you, who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know you have eternal life" (1 John 5.13) which can never be lost.

    "But it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has commissioned us; who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee" (2 Cor. 1.21-22). We have a "guarantee" and He "has sealed us" but you admit He has not sealed us and you have no such guarantee and that's sad. Since you admit you are not sealed and this salvation is foreign to you, just realize you were never born-again. But do not fret! Now is your time to give your life to Christ for the first time in your life and so shall you be saved. Praise the Lord! Amen.

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