When Did You Lose It

It has been said that sin causes a separation between God and man.

If sin separates us from God, does that mean that when Christians sin, (and they do) ... God's Holy Spirit leaves us?  Does the Holy Spirit ... step outside of our soul, heart or whatever part of our spiritual being He dwells in ... until we repent of that sin?  Does He stand beside us and wait for our repentance so He can once again abide inside of us?

Recently I was engaged in a discussion about ... "Eternal Security" ... or as some people call this subject or doctrine ... "once saved, always saved."

This brought to my attention a story that a former pastor mentioned once about a young man studying for the ministry in a Bible College.  He had been invited to speak to the students at this preacher factory and then have a follow-up question and answer session.  A question posed to him from one student was something along the lines of ...

"Just how close to the edge of sin can you live and yet not sin?"  The visiting pastor responded back ... "My question to you young man is, why would you even want to know?"

Was this student planning on, or did he desire to live on the edge as close to sin as he could?  The discussion about the doctrine of ... "once saved, always saved" ... seems to me to be very similar to the question above.  It's almost as if this doctrine gives a license for weak believers who continually sin not to worry about their lifestyle ... believing they can never be lost.

We are supposed to be saved from our sin, not in our sin.

If I really believed that I could never be lost, no matter what I did, would I have fought as hard against the sinful nature in my flesh as I did, training my soul to overcome these temptations?  Or would I have said to myself ... "Oh well, it doesn't matter, go ahead and enjoy these few chosen sins ... God won't disown me, I'm secure in Jesus."

And we are ... but not without continual repentance.  (1st John 1:9)  "If we confess our sins, He (Jesus) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  This was written to believers.

For me personally ... I believe we should live a life of repentance, submission and obedience.  Not that I always do ... but I try.

After you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, your lifestyle should change.  And if you don't change?  Now here is where the "apologists" ... those who argue doctrine like to say ... "Well, if a person still lives in sin after receiving Jesus, they were never saved in the first place."

What a cop out!  They aren't facing the real problem.  The problem is that it takes some time to teach the unsaved flesh (our natural bodies) to follow how the newly regenerated spirit and soul wants to live ... and that is, to overcome sin.

Some even teach that sin in a believers life doesn't matter, because God just covers you with more grace.  Really?  If you adhere to that doctrine, read what Paul said ...

Romans 6:1-2 ... "What shall we say?  Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?  God forbid.  How shall we, that are dead to sin, (born-again) live any longer therein?"

Galatians 5:13 ... "Brethren, you are called unto liberty, (freedom) only don't use this liberty for an occasion to the flesh (to sin) ..."

 Let me dig a little deeper and ask this question ...

What happens to the believer who seemingly returns to his sin?  Are you still saved?

2nd Peter 2:20-22 ... "For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through  the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, (salvation) they are entangled therein, and overcome, (habitual sin) the latter end is worse with them than in the beginning.

For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, (they choose) to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, (in Rabbinical writings) 'The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.' "

I cannot judge such a person that becomes entangled again and overcome because I don't know their heart.  I don't know what pain or attack they may have been under.  I've seen people just give up and choose the old lifestyle once again.

No one is immune from falling.  In fact, 1st Timothy 4:1 states, "... that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith ..."

What do these words mean?  To depart from something means you ... "leave."  So how can you leave the faith if you are not really in it?  The word depart in the original Greek means ... "to remove self or desert."   You cannot desert the army unless you are in the army.  Once saved, always saved?  Not if you choose to remove yourself. 

This then leads to the big question.  Can a Christian walk away from God and loose his salvation?  Let me answer that question with this question.

"When you first hear the Gospel you have a choice; you can choose salvation and accept Jesus or you can choose to walk away.  If you had that right of choice then, don't you think you still have that same right to walk away from God anytime you choose?  If you don't still have that right … when did you lose it?"

Choice ... your free will ... is something God will never take from you.



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