WHAT IS SO POSITIVE ABOUT TRIALS?

God is interested in transforming believers into His image more than anything else. As such, He places our comfort secondary to the change He wants to bring about in our lives. This goal of personal transformation is achieved, to a large extent, through trials.

                                                                      

Recently, a friend shared that there is some misconception about the place of trials in the life of believers. People conveniently attribute all suffering to the work of Satan, which is a deception and far from reality, he added. http://bit.ly/1Iedif1 

For the believer to grow toward maturity, he must understand that God is interested in the ‘bigger-picture’ of his life, rather than his comfort. It is through trials that God moulds a believer into His likeness. However, it is sad that the local church seldom teaches its members to embrace suffering for the sake of Christ and personal transformation.

                                                                            

“And the God of all grace who called you to His eternal glory in Christ after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast” (1Peter 5:10).

Of course, it does not mean we intentionally inflict pain upon ourselves like masochists. Rather, we need to reframe our thinking and view trials as something positive (James 1:2-3).

Broadly speaking, there are two main reasons why a believer suffers. First, God allows him to go through suffering for his own good and personal growth. Second, He chastises him for disobedience in order to bring him back to Himself.

                                                                       

The passage in Hebrews 12:5-11 tells us that divine correction is part of our growth into Christlikeness. Discipline is about learning, not punishment. The attitude a person adopts amid trials determines what he gets out from divine discipline. A person is not deemed to have truly changed just because, when viewed by others, he behaves differently. Rather, when he sees who he is in Christ—realises his identity in Christ—he spontaneously changes from within.

                                                                       

God-ordained suffering is necessary for growth whereas chastisement is optional. Before every believer lies two approaches to suffering: One, to see nothing good in it and to loath it—this attitude will consign him to a life of endless misery and regret; the other, to see suffering as part of  God’s purpose and benefit from it. This will allow him to be transformed through God-ordained trials designed for his own good.

Brian Edwards writes: “Christianity is not about how to escape from the difficulties of life but how to face them.” A believer can never be the same after experiencing God-ordained suffering because, when he is down to nothing, God is up to something. God uses suffering to mould the believer into Christlikeness. For the sovereign God has a pre-determined purpose in every twist and turn of events in the believer’s life.

                                                                      

Trials are meant to make a person, not to break him. Thus, God ordains suffering not only to test his worthiness but make him more like Jesus. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you” (1Peter 4:12). “Man that is born of a woman us of few days and full of troubles” (Job 14:1).

God’s intention is that a believer becomes a better person through trials—that he may experience Him, be dependent upon Him, be delivered by Him and glorify Him. God never intends suffering to destroy the faith or life of the believer.

God-ordained trials derail the believer’s plans and upset his expectations. They are unforeseen events that interrupt his schedule or maladies that affect his health. But he needs to learn how to manage these disruptions.

Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones states: “It is a fundamental principle in the believers’ walk of faith that we must always be prepared for the unexpected when we are dealing with God.” The only thing certain in life is that nothing is certain.   

The English word ‘tribulation’ comes from the Latin word ‘tribulum’, which is an instrument used to beat and separate the wheat from the chaff. This is what God-ordained suffering is all about—it removes negative values and develops godly virtues in the believer’s life. “Tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience (character); and experience, hope” (Romans 5:3-4).

William E. Cox states: “Scripture shows conclusively that God-ordained sufferings are a natural by-product of genuine Christianity.” Thus, crises do not make or break a person; they reveal what is in him. To grow in Christ, the believer needs an honest evaluation of himself and the crisis he is facing. He also needs to seek divine wisdom for a proper response.

John Killinger states: “Failure is the greatest opportunity I have to know who I really am.” But, from my personal observation, both leaders and members are afraid to face failure.

Lastly, God-ordained suffering is an antidote for pride. This was true in the case of the apostle Paul who had to be kept humble. “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure” (2 Corinthians 12:7).

RELATED POSTS

BLESSINGS FROM GOD, TRIALS FROM SATAN?  

Someone shared on Facebook: “Trials and suffering are designed by the devil against believers. God only wants to bless believers.” 

Does God only bless believers and exempt them from trials?

http://bit.ly/1Iedif1 

WILL CHRISTIANS GO THROUGH THE GREAT TRIBULATION?

A popular teaching tells us that Christians will not have to go through the Great Tribulation because they will be raptured first. But is such a 'pre-tribulation rapture' view valid? Is it true to say Christians will be airlifted to safety before the Great Tribulation begins?

http://bit.ly/1w2LYfH

DON'T TRY TO FIGURE IT OUT

When believers go through trials and tribulations, it is natural to ask God, “Why? Why does this have to happen to me?” In some instances, God remains silent and fails to grant us relief from our suffering.

http://bit.ly/1graob4

STAR OR SCAR

God’s vision for our lives often revolves around our gifts—areas in which we shine like a star. Sometimes, this vision is birthed out of a scar, after we have gone through painful struggles.

http://bit.ly/1fvVzXG

HANG IN THERE, DON'T GIVE UP

Sometimes, we don’t like to admit that trials are an integral part of the Christian experience as much as blessings and victories. However, the process of growing into maturity involves learning to persevere through trials and arriving at a place of unshakeable faith.

http://bit.ly/1imb1GN

BLESSINGS FROM GOD, TRIALS FROM SATAN?

The other day someone shared on Facebook: “Trials and suffering are designed by the devil against believers. God only wants to bless believers.” 

Does God only bless believers and exempt them from facing trials?

It is clear that God had allowed satan to afflict these saints, Job and Paul.

When Job lost his children, wealth and health, he did not get any clear answer as to why he had to endure such pain. Earlier, a deal was struck whereby God allowed satan to afflict Job as long as his life was spared.

Similarly, Paul did not get any clear answer from God for his sufferings. Given a thorn in the flesh, a messenger from satan, he sought relief from God but was told: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

However, it does not mean that all trials are from satan. Sometimes trials are due to rash decisions, sins and adverse circumstances in life such as floods or retrenchment due to economic downturn.

But whatever the cause, God can use trials and tribulations to shape the character of believers —for their own good. God loves His children and desires to bless us (Matthew 6:33, Deuteronomy 28: 1-6). However, God does not exempt us from having to go through trials.

                                                                       

The half-truth that is bandied around in church circles is the “feel good” teaching that God will always bless us with “goodies” in life such as success, health and wealth. Trials and tribulations are downplayed—as if they play an insignificant role in the life of believers.

Such “feel good” teaching works beautifully during good times. But the crunch comes when its adherents face crises—such as retrenchment, incurable disease, failed marriage or persecution. They may then become disillusioned; some may even leave the faith.

Believers who are accustomed only to “fair weather” are likened to the seeds that fell upon rocky ground and among the thorns (Luke 8:13-14). As the challenges of the spiritual race (1 Corinthians 9: 24-27) have not been emphasised to them, they often lack the ability to endure trials (2 Corinthians 4:8-12).

Sometimes, we don’t like to admit that trials are an integral part of the Christian experience as much as blessings and victories. We may even feel that God has forsaken us while facing such trials (Psalm 77: 8-9). But the truth is God will never forsake us (Hebrews 13:5, Deuteronomy 31:6).   http://bit.ly/1graob4

In fact, the process of growing into maturity involves learning to persevere through our trials and doubts, and arriving at a place of unshakeable faith (James 1:2-4, Hebrews 12:11 and 2 Corinthians 4:16-17). http://bit.ly/1imb1GN

If we feel faint as we go through trials, we need to focus on Jesus—the pioneer and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2).

• God has put us through trials because He is treating us as His children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? (Hebrews 12:7).

• A servant is not greater than his or her master. Even so, believers who are His servants cannot be exempted or shielded from pain.

• “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps” (1 Peter 2:21).

To conclude, let’s reflect again on the above premise: “Trials and suffering are designed by the devil against believers. God only wants to bless believers.”  Is it true or false? Or is it a half-truth? 

It is true that God sometimes allows satan to inflict suffering on believers as illustrated in the lives of Job and Paul. God not only blesses believers with “goodies” in life but often uses trials to shape our character. Trials definitely have a positive role to play in the life of believers.

                                                                        

Conversely, if material blessings were the sole indicator of God’s favour, then drug dealers, human traffickers and mafia bosses would be deemed “spiritual giants”. While those who consult shamans sometimes get to enjoy temporal blessings—miraculous cures or lottery winnings—they have sold their souls to satan. Now who says satan cannot “bless” us?

References

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4).

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11).

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you” (2 Corinthians 4:8-12).

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:16-17).

RELATED POSTS

RELIGION AS A MEANS OF GAIN

The mantra of the proponents of the “prosperity Gospel” goes something like this: “Name it and claim it”; “Ask and you shall receive”; “The more you sow, the more you’ll reap.” All these affirmations are positive. Believers use it frequently. But even good things can be hijacked to serve selfish motives such as greed and ambition.

http://bit.ly/1COeffi

DOES GOD WANT US TO BE RICH?

What does the Bible say about abundance and riches?

http://bit.ly/PPIRI4

DOES GOD CARE WHETHER WE MAKE A PROFIT?

Is God’s wisdom only relevant in guiding us along the correct moral path? Has it no relevance to our finances? Doesn't God care for our financial well-being?

http://bit.ly/1cSWoHz

EXTERNAL LINKS

NAME IT, CLAIM IT

Faith preachers sometimes tell donors that when they give in an offering they should claim a specific benefit to get a blessing in return. The former call it “seed faith”.

Is this biblical? What has the father of the ‘Word of Faith’ movement to say?

http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/churchandministry/grady_hagan_prosperity.aspx

THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL AND SEED FAITH

Luther asked:  "If you, being the man of God, claim to have the heart of God, then why are you taking from the resources of the people for your own unjust gain, instead of, as the Apostle Paul, working night and day so as not to be a burden to the people?"

http://www.christianissues.com/roots.html

A MINISTER’S PENCHANT FOR PRIVATE JETS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksvEPpi-MTk

DANGER OF PRESUMPTION

When we prefer to honour man's teachings rather than the Word

                                                                
Many believers assume that whatever a world famous teacher says must be correct without carefully examining what he teaches—and the spirit behind his teaching. Many tend to say, “Whatever proceeds from this illustrious teacher must be correct, considering his far-reaching influence and the bountiful fruits of his ministry.”

However, we are instructed to test all things and hold fast to what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).

                                                                      

Like the Bereans, we need to be diligent in scrutinising any teaching against the Word.

A spirit of independent inquiry a la the Bereans keeps us from being deceived by false teaching.

"And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul's message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth" (Acts 17:11).

Being open-minded means having a non-judgmental attitude as we process the teaching material—being willing to listen or study the facts of the matter without any pre-conceived ideas or prejudices.

It means we are NOT easily intimidated by any teacher, no matter how well-known, illustrious or respectable he or she may be. We cannot say to ourselves or others, “Coming from this great man of God, it must be right.” That is highly dangerous. That is NOT being open-minded. That is tantamount to prematurely forming our opinion before we have listened to and investigated the validity of the message. No one is free from error, no matter how great he or she is.

One of the hallmarks of a disciple is diligence in studying God’s word so that we are approved by Him—not put to shame on account of lack of in-depth knowledge of scriptures.

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15) NKJV.

“Study to show thyself approved to God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15) Webster.

When we are ill-equipped with the Word, we might fall prey to deception and be easily swept by every wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:14). Once we are well-prepared, we will be able to judge and discern what has been taught against scripture (1 Corinthians 2:14-16).

While we study the Word, the Holy Spirit grants believers spiritual discernment:

                                                                   

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.

For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.

(1 Corinthians 2:12, 13, 15, 16)

                                                                        

Here are two examples of teachings from prominent leaders that clearly do not align with the Bible:

NO NEED TO CONFESS SIN

The teacher’s claim: After our one-time confession of sin at conversion, believers no longer need to confess our sins. When God looks at us, all He is going to see is Christ’s blood, not our sins whether it is past, present or future. We merely rest in the ‘imputed righteousness of Christ’.

http://bit.ly/1rcYJzl

JESUS SET ASIDE HIS DIVINITY WHILE ON EARTH

The teacher’s claim: Jesus operated only as a man and not God during His earthly ministry.

http://bit.ly/1vnWGyq

If you care to search this blog, http://bit.ly/1ijiXHp, you will find many other instances that demonstrate the extent to which believers are willing to honour man’s teachings rather than the immutable and inerrant Word of God.

                                                                     

But being on the side of the majority does not necessarily mean we are on the side of truth. http://bit.ly/19tAJX7

RELATED POSTS

                                                                             

SEVEN REASONS WHY FALSE TEACHING THRIVES

Why it’s easy to be fooled without realising you’ve been had

http://bit.ly/1AxRFr6

A DIFFERENT JESUS, A DIFFERENT SPIRIT, A DIFFERENT GOSPEL

These three areas of deception are just as alive today as they were in the Corinthian church long ago.

http://bit.ly/2fi4wKt

EIGHT WAYS TO FIGHT FALSE TEACHING

How to develop discernment and escape the clutches of destructive heresies

http://bit.ly/1g2CpED

ETERNAL SECURITY: HOW WILL IT IMPACT YOUNG BELIEVERS?

How will the 'Once Saved, Always Saved’ (OSAS) belief influence the mindset and lifestyle of young believers?

When a leader embraces and preaches OSAS, I hope he understands the full implications of this belief on young believers. The message he is imparting to young believers is that whatever moral decisions Christians make after being saved do not matter at all—since they will finally be saved, no matter what happens. They can willfully live in sin, deny God or commit apostasy and heaven will welcome them with open arms when they leave this earth. Whatever they do or don’t do is not going to affect their eternal destiny. In other words, they need not be accountable or responsible for their actions.

Would feeding them with this kind of ‘feel good’ teaching be likely to produce young believers who strive for excellence, demonstrate exemplary moral conduct and pursue a habit of in-depth, systematic Bible study?

How would the leader respond when the young believer says, “I won’t be coming to church from now on because, according to your teaching, I will still be saved; so why bother? I’d rather sleep in on Sunday and then go for an extended brunch.”

                                                                      

Would God be truly fair when he admits through the pearly gates of heaven—without any discrimination—the faithful believer and the unrepentant believer?

If examinations do not grade us according to our maturity and level of understanding of the course material, then what incentive is there to study hard? If everyone scores an ‘A’, even the one who hands up a blank sheet, then why bother to prepare well for an examination? So what is the point of keeping God’s laws since, according to OSAS, an unrepentant believer also gets to enjoy heaven’s rewards?

Let me end by sharing about how gardeners take care of a small garden patch. Isn’t it a laborious backbreaking task to keep the weeds, like lallang, from spoiling the beautiful patch of green?

The “default mode” is that young believers are prone to sin by virtue of man’s inherent sinful nature—just as weeds simply flourish even if we do not plant them. If we teach the liberal OSAS premise, wouldn’t it be likely to accelerate the growth of weeds (sin)? If, according to OSAS, whatever they do or don’t do is not going to affect their eternal destiny, is there much “incentive” for young believers to live holy lives? (There are many older, mature OSAS adherents who live responsibly).

At this juncture, I want to interject by saying we cannot strive in our flesh to be holy. Rather, holiness is attained through seeking God, submitting to Him and availing ourselves of the power of the Holy Spirit.   

To conclude, let me reiterate: “When a leader embraces and preaches OSAS, I hope he understands the full implications of this belief on young believers.” After having considered the points above, if he still thinks it is the correct thing to do, he is at liberty to do so.

What is seriously wrong with OSAS is that it overemphasises God’s grace, love and mercy and downplays His justice and righteousness, which hold us accountable for our moral choices. This belief also overlooks or ignores huge swathes of the New Testament in order to accommodate its liberal slant.

Assurance of salvation is a promise of God (Romans 8:38-39, John 3:16, John 1:12, 1 John 5:12). But let’s not take God for granted—willfully live in sin, deny God or commit apostasy—and insist on the validity of the ‘feel good' teaching, eternal security or OSAS. http://bit.ly/1yXkool

                                                                      

"The OSAS assumption is the cause of dryness in our churches. It has spread so fast like bush fire. Teaching about repentance and holiness has not been given the emphasis it rightly deserves. Sugar-coated gospel dominates most church services today. Weeds in the churches have grown to become bushes. How God wants brave men and women to slash the weeds with the true gospel of the kingdom" (Isaiah 6:8-10).

         - Peter Wanyonyi

RELATED POSTS

WHAT CAN GOD DO FOR ME?

Isn’t it true that we’d rather ask what God can do for us rather than what we have to do to please Him?

http://bit.ly/1wtQclk

ONCE SAVED, FOREVER SECURE?

Some Christians believe, once they are saved, absolutely nothing can happen to them to alter their destiny. Even though they might live in sin or deny God, they believe that one day they will surely reach their final destination in heaven.

http://bit.ly/1yXkool

                                                                           

SHOOTING OURSELVES IN THE FOOT

Five ways believers could possibly jeopardise their eternal destiny

http://bit.ly/1nm6nuK

WHY PERSEVERANCE IS NEEDED

Why we have to be steadfast in our journey of faith. What are the possible consequences if we fail to persevere?

http://bit.ly/1imb1GN

REPETITIVE SINNING

What fate awaits those who sin repeatedly?

http://bit.ly/1hhs75c

EXTERNAL LINK

ETERNAL OR CONDITIONAL SECURITY? 

One of the best links to the perplexing issue of once saved, always saved (OSAS).

http://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/eternal-security.htm

CAN A BELIEVER FALL OUT OF FAVOUR WITH GOD?

Is it possible for Christians to fall out of God’s favour permanently?

What can we learn from the exodus generation who failed to enter the Promised Land?

                                                                      
Those who embrace the Once Saved, Always Saved (OSAS) premise believe that whatever moral decisions Christians make after being saved do not matter at all—since they will finally be saved, no matter what happens.

According to this premise, they can sin, deny God or commit apostasy and heaven will welcome them with open arms when they leave this earth. Whatever they do or don’t do is not going to affect their eternal destiny.

In other words, OSAS teaching may lead believers to believe that, after conversion, they need not be accountable or responsible for their actions. (I say may because there are those who embrace OSAS who live exemplary lives).

The OSAS stance forces us to ignore or overlook vast portions of New Testament (NT) teachings that hold believers accountable for their actions. Let’s start with the account about the exodus generation in the NT.

Many Israelites were destroyed after their exodus from Egypt because they did not believe in God and sinned. This falling away, according to the apostle Paul, serves as a warning to believers that they need to persevere in their faith in order that they might not be destroyed (Jude 1:5, 1 Corinthians 10:1-12).

The purpose of Paul’s teaching is that believers today might fear God and take heed so that they are not destroyed in the same manner as the exodus generation through sin, carelessness and complacency.  

First, let’s recall God’s faithfulness (1 Corinthians 10) among those who were saved out from Egypt:

• God’s guidance through the cloud (verse 2)

• God’s deliverance as the Red Sea parted miraculously (verse2)

• God’s supply of miraculous food, manna (verse 3)

• God’s supply of miraculous water from the rock (verse 4)

Despite God’s faithfulness towards them, they committed the following sins:

• Worshipped the golden calf (verse 7)

• Worshipped Baal, indulged in sexual immorality, resulting in the plague (verse 8)

• Put God to the test by complaining about food; destroyed by serpents (verse 9)

• Grumbled against Moses’ authority—Korah’s rebellion—and were destroyed (verse 10)

Now some smart aleck might tell us that all this happened in the Old Testament (OT); but we are now living in the age of God’s grace.

But Paul warns us that what happened to them serves as an object lesson to us (1 Corinthians 10:6, 11, 12). Why should Paul refer to the Israelites’ failures in his NT teachings if its relevance is only for a bygone era?

Is it possible for believers to fall out of God’s favour and be destroyed though they once knew God's goodness and witnessed His guidance, provision and deliverance?

Yes, of course.

The moral failures of the exodus generation serve as an example for believers today and a warning to them to stay holy and stay strong in the faith.

Israel's deliverance from the bondage of slavery in Egypt is as miraculous as our deliverance from the bondage of sin through Christ.

Just as believers long ago need to persevere in the faith before they can possess the Promised Land, believers today need to stay faithful to gain access to salvation’s ultimate reward—heaven (Hebrews 10:36-39).

To reiterate, the exodus moral failures show us that those who are saved can be destroyed later, thus debunking the OSAS argument.

Nowhere in the Bible does it ever say that believers lose their right to choose between right and wrong. God will never stop believers from doing anything, either right or wrong, even after they have been saved. Man has always been a free moral agent—whether before or after conversion—ever since the time of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden.

A person may have chosen to believe in Christ once upon a time. But somewhere along life’s journey, he may decide to live in sin, deny God or commit apostasy. Do you think God will still take him into heaven when he leaves this earth? No.

When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has done he shall die (Ezekiel 18:26).

To him who chooses his own way, I would say this: Do not be deluded; don’t believe in the lie of Once Saved, Always Saved (OSAS). The Word will not be mocked. Study and meditate on the all the passages given below for the sake of your eternal security.

By the way, the number of references one can marshal to support OSAS pales in comparison to tons of verses that repudiate this “feel good” teaching, OSAS.

What are some of the references against OSAS? 

SAVED BUT LATER DESTROYED

Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day—just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

(Jude 1:5-7)

WARNING AGAINST IMMORALITY AND IDOLTARY

For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. 

Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.

(1 Corinthians 10:1-12)

FAILURE OF THE WILDERNESS WANDERERS

For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

(Hebrews 3:16-19)

I hope as you correlate the above account of the moral failures of the exodus generation with the following references, it will become absolutely clear that OSAS cannot stand when the full weight of scripture is brought to bear upon it.

TASTING GOD’S GOODNESS IS NO GUARANTEE OF FUTURE BLESSINGS

For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.

(Hebrews 6:4-6)

For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.

(2 Peter 2:20)

For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.

(Hebrews 10:26)

NEED TO ENDURE

For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For,

“Yet a little while,

    and the coming one will come and will not delay;

but my righteous one shall live by faith,

    and if he shrinks back,

my soul has no pleasure in him.”

But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

(Hebrews 10:36-39)

                                                                       

RELATED POSTS

THE GREAT FALLING AWAY

The believers’ spiritual status is not static. Though we have been enlightened by the truth and transformed by the Holy Spirit, there is no iron-clad guarantee we won’t change. That’s because we are sinful by nature. And, because we have a will, we can choose to remain in God’s favour or reject Him.

http://bit.ly/1j1YYA1

IS CALVIN CORRECT?

John Calvin, the great reformer, believed that Christians can never lose their salvation. That is, Once Saved, Always Saved (OSAS). Is he correct?

http://bit.ly/1D1Ij6r

A TALE OF TWO BUDDIES

Two Christian friends, Alex and Bob, decide to go on a holiday. While travelling on a treacherous road that cuts through mountainous terrain, their 4WD vehicle fell off the cliff. Both died. What happens next?

http://bit.ly/1CGv1hz

EXTERNAL LINKS

ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED?
"The challenge I have with this teaching—ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED (OSAS)—is its failure to interpret individual passages honestly that disagree with this particular system. For example, Hebrews 6:1-8 and 10:24-29 clearly teach that people, after receiving the saving knowledge of Christ, can fall away and lose their salvation. Second Peter 2:20-22 and James 5:19-20 are as clear as tar on snow that a believer can fall away and once again be called sinners who have to be restored."

 —   Joseph Mattera, Presiding Bishop of Christ Covenant Coalition and Overseeing Bishop of Resurrection Church in New York.  

CAN BELIEVERS LOSE THEIR SALVATION?

Listen to this balanced seasoned teacher, David Pawson. A must-watch video.

He is able to keep us in the faith AND we are to keep ourselves in His love.

If we keep ourselves in the love of God, He keeps what we have committed to Him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy3tSIg7Gi0

CAN LUKEWARM BELIEVERS CONTINUE TO ENJOY GOD’S FAVOUR?

http://bit.ly/1M52Mh9