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Email
response from Tom Gaston:
Listen to what the apostle John says about these people that we have been talking about here who are "really not saved." John says the following in 1John 2:19.
(NASV) 1 John 2:19 - They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out, that it might be plain (made clear) that they all are not of us.
We know that these so called "false believers" which John mentions above here is the kind of people that others "pick out of the crowd" in order to try and support their false teaching that a believer can "Lose their salvation", when in fact they NEVER had it! They use these kind of people in order to try and "support" their false teaching. The fact is, according to the epistle of John above, THEY NEVER HAD IT TO BEGIN WITH! And that is why they NEVER REMAINED in the Faith and fell away. Their conversion to Christ was NOT real or valid.
This is what the apostle Paul teaches clearly in the following text:
"And through Him (Christ) to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, YET He has NOW reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach---------(v. 23) "IF INDEED YOU CONTINUE in the faith, and NOT moved away from the hope of the gospel...............etc" (Col. 1:20-23).
You see here! Paul is teaching
the same teaching that the apostle John is
teaching in 1John 2:19. I
have had so called Christians in the past take me to this text here
in Col. 1:20-23
and say to me the following: "See! if
they turn away, then they will be lost!"
But Paul says NO
such thing here, and neither is he teaching any such false teaching!
Paul is just simple reaffirming the saints at
"If someone has truly been saved, and is of "the faith" (Jude 1:3), then they WILL CONTINUE in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and NOT MOVED AWAY from the hope of the gospel.........etc." This does NOT mean that a Christian is perfect in their walk, But ONLY that their continuation the faith is proof that they have been truly "born of God." God's word does NOT contradict itself, but people contradict God's word by a "lack of understanding it." Paul is NOT teaching in this text that a Christian can lose their salvation if they "don't continue in the faith", BUT Paul is teaching just the opposite. Paul is clearly teaching and showing here that anyone who "DOES CONTINUE" in the faith therefore has been truly reconciled to God" through faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Paul the apostle is teaching a foundational truth here which he has penned in other scriptures as well. A good example of this is found in Phil 1:16 in-which Paul the apostle says the following:
"For I am confident of this very thing, that HE who began a good work in you "will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ" (resurrection/Rapture).
Paul teaches here that it is God who begins the work within the believer from the moment that He saves them, and that He continues that work within that "true believer", and "perfects that work" which He began in them all the way up until the "Day of Christ" (see also Eph 4:30), which is the appearing of Christ, the resurrection/Rapture, which is the glorification of the saints body.
Once a persons places their faith and trust in Christ, then they have become "God's divine property" through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, and they no longer belong to themselves, but to God whose Holy Spirit has taken up permanent residency within them (read 1Cor. 6:19,20). Man "was" and "is" incapable of saving himself (1Cor 1:30), and therefore It was up to God alone to come up with a divine plan for mans eternal redemption, to impart that eternal redemption in man, and to keep that individual whom He has redeemed by His own divine method which He alone devised. God keeps every believer in Christ through the eternal work of the Cross of Jesus Christ.
"Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to THOSE who are CALLED, beloved IN GOD THE FATHER, and KEPT FOR JESUS CHRIST" (Jude 1:1).
, When I was saved back in 1976, I was neither searching nor looking for Christ. I didn't have a clue as to what God was getting ready to do in my life when my brother Mark led me to the Lord that year. I was a mixed up young man headed for hell ! I praise the Lord that He "chose me, He called me, that He saved me, and He alone keeps me" through the eternal shed blood of His Son Jesus Christ (Heb 9:12). I had NOT ONE THING TO DO WITH IT. He alone convicted me of my sin by His Holy Spirit through the sharing of His eternal word through the mouth of my brother Mark. He alone gave me the faith that I needed to trust in Him (Eph 2:8-10), which came to me by way of the gospel of Jesus Christ, He alone implanted in my heart His hope and His love for His Son, Yes it is ALL ABOUT HIM, and NOT about me! And THANK GOD He has designed it this way! Otherwise I would NEVER MAKE IT TO HEAVEN!
Praise the Lord that I can "REST IN THE LORD", and that I can be ASSURED IN HIM that I can know that I am "SECURE IN HIM", and ONLY by His Shed blood!
"But by HIS DOING you are IN CHRIST JESUS, who became to us "wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption. That just as it is written, "LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD!" (1Cor 1:30, 31)
God bless you for taking a stand in Christ for His His truth, and Nothing but His Truth!
Continuing in another email:
Look at
what the apostle Paul says in 1Tim 1:18-20 which says:
"..........That by them you (Timothy) may fight the good fight,
(19). "Keeping the faith and a good conscience, which "Some" have REJECTED and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.
(20). "Among these" are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered over to Satan, so that they may be taught NOT to blaspheme."
Notice first that Paul encourages Timothy to "keep the faith", which Timothy obviously did because he was a "true servant" of Jesus Christ. Then Paul goes on to say in that verse.............which "some have rejected" and suffered "shipwreck" in regards to WHAT? Paul says "In regard to "Their faith", or (so called faith).
Then Paul says that "Among these" (Those who Paul spoke of who have rejected and suffered shipwreck in "regard to their faith"). Then he goes on to name "Hymenaeus and Alexander" who were among those whom Paul was referring to.
These men were NOT saved. They taught "Heresy" among the Christian community. Below is a link you can click on. It will come up as "insight Broad band." Scroll down to # 10 and click on "Hymenaeus in the Bible Encyclopedia - ISBE (Bible History on Line) This will bring up an excellent Biblical history and commentary on this very subject of "Hymenaeus and Alexander."
You can send this email out to everyone on your email list. Send it also to those at that website who are confused on this whole issue on the "Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit." What you sent me earlier shows that some people from this website were trying to use this scripture here in 1Timothy 1:18, 19 in order to support their confused and unscriptural view that a Christian can "blaspheme the Holy Spirit." This commentary below will be of great value to them, and it will give them greater understanding and more insight to the text of 1 Timothy 1:18,19. They will then be able to interpret this text in the "proper context" in-which it was written.
<a href=”http://www.insightbb.com/external/infospace_search.asp?qcat=web&qkw=biblical+definition+of+blaspheme&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmsxml.infospace.com%2Fisight.main%2Fsearch%2Fredir.htm&btnG.x=27&btnG.y=15”>Click Here:
I hope this is helpful to many
God bless
In Christ, Tom Gaston
And a
little tiny bit more from Tom.
Notice the scripture below. Paul the apostle teaches the "once pagan" Corinthians (1Cor. 12:2, 3) what a "true believer" in Christ CANNOT SAY because of the presence of the Holy Spirit within them. And He also teaches what the "un-regenerated man" has NO power or ABILITY to say because they DO NOT possess God's Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:3 - Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says "Jesus be cursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit.
In Christ, Tom Gaston
bravenet.com
