Question 79. Can true believers, by reason of their imperfections, and the various temptations and sins into which they are ensnared, fall from the state of grace?

 

Question 79. Can true believers, by reason of their imperfections, and the various temptations and sins into which they are ensnared, fall from the state of grace?

Answer. Because of the unchangeable love of God, his decree and covenant to give them ultimate salvation, his inseparable union with Christ, his continual intercession for them, and the Spirit and seed of God dwelling in them, they cannot wholly or finally fall away from the state of grace, but are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

 

The imperfection of believers means that they cannot attain perfect holiness, and according to the doctrine, believers cannot attain perfect holiness. True believers are not imperfect in faith. Therefore, imperfect believers are not true believers.

Those who do not attain perfect holiness cannot be saved because of their sins. It is wrong to say that one is saved simply by believing in Jesus. Those who died with Jesus in regard to sin are led to salvation. God bestows grace and perfect holiness on those who repent and are united with Him through the atoning death of Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved, through faith—and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”

Before the creation of the world, God's plan was to choose the forerunners of faith to announce the coming of the Messiah before Christ came to the world. However, after Christ came, the role was centered around Jesus' disciples to announce that Jesus is the Christ and the resurrected one.

Colossians 1:25-28 “I became a servant of the church according to the ministry that God gave me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but now has been revealed to his saints. To them God would make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.”

That is why this mystery is passed on from Jesus’ disciples to the chosen saints. That is why there are ministers and saints who have been chosen by God with special gifts.

The second is that God's predestination is to save the saints in Christ. God leads those who are in Christ to complete salvation. The reason is that they look to Christ. Those who are in Christ become one with Christ. This is something that has already been determined in Christ's predestination and becomes a covenant. Ephesians 1:4 "For he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him in love."

Before the creation of the world, God did not predestinate certain saints to be saved, but God predestined Christ and predestined those who come into Christ to be saved. Therefore, through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, we are sealed with the covenant of salvation and seated in heaven. Romans 8:16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.

Romans 8:38-39, "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Salvation is something that no one or no event can change. The reason is because God promised it.

 

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