Originally Posted by MrMasterMind (Post 1024530)

It is possible to go to heaven with unrepented sin

When growing up we were taught to pity the poor man who lived for God for 30 years but happened to see a sixteen year old walk by, her skirt blow up, and just as a feeling of lust took over, he dies.

Sin can never enter in. Lost and doomed to hell forever.

Of course we were taught the opposite of that was the once saved always saved paradigm. In which case why sweat the small stuff, no matter what you were going to heaven.

What we were not taught was the law of covenant.

Covenant is actually another way of speaking of contract law. Even today we refer to the “marriage covenant.”

Romans 8: 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,m neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. NIV

This passage has often been misread as espousing once saved always saved.

What it actually says is a believer is in covenant with Christ. Sins have been repented of, propitiation accepted, and Lordship of Christ declared.

Once the covenant has been enjoined no one except those in privity can violate the covenant. Therefore unlike the marriage vow “until death do us part” has no place in the Christian covenant because that covenant transcends even death(that alone is worth shouting over.) Basic rule of law is only those within a covenant can breach it, an third party not in privity has no say.

Example- if there is a lawful marriage a next door neighbor cannot declare that marriage over because he wants to take that woman to be his wife. ONLY the parties in covenant can breach.

But it is possible for one or both parties to disavow covenant (divorce), therefore although nothing can separate you from the love of God, you CAN separate yourself.

Many other verses substantiate it is possible to be lost once saved.

But what about a breach of vows, does that automatically break the covenant?

Adultery is an often used example of breach of vows. Hypothetical- If my wife were to walk into a room and catch me in the act of coitus with an underage girl. Have I breached? Undoubtedly. Am I divorced legally as of that second. No.

It is the decision of the party grieved in this case the putative spouse as to the FUTURE action. She could even wait for months making up her mind. She can even choose to stay in covenant even though I had not yet repented, and we are STILL married.

It is the same when the Christian sins, even knowingly, willfully, and horrifically. The Christian is NOT automatically out of covenant with God. The blood stills covers, the covenant is still intact unless or until God decides to dissolve it.

Hence it is much more difficult to lose our salvation than we were taught, but it is not impossible either.

Originally Posted by LUKE2447 (Post 1024901)

I agree in part but your end result and point and focus is wrong. God always considers his covenant before you as he is faithful. To neglect and cast off faith for the flesh is immediate violation of what righteousness is in the covenant. You ARE NOT righeous before him. His blood does not cover you. You cannot be in unrepentant sin and righteous at the same time. To walk in the light is to do his commandment and your sins are cleansed. To turn away from His leading is to cast off all the righteousness by Christ you have done which is FAITH. Your past FAITH is not considered now. Your sin stands before you and the law condemns you.

Jas 2:9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

This is toward Christians! Faith without the resulting action is not "life or righteousness."

1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

1Jn 2:3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.
1Jn 2:4 Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,
1Jn 2:5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:
1Jn 2:6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

cf John 15:4-15

Originally Posted by Krazo (Post 1025027)

Thank God for mercy, and grace. Without it we'd be cinders mostly. However, if a woman kept seeing her husband in those predicaments she will probably END the marriage. The same is true if we continue in sin.

Originally Posted by Socialite (Post 1025010)

We were not made righteous, or loved, because of our works. We won't be cast off, or have our righteousness reversed because of our works. We simply, stay loving Him, stay in good relationship with Him. And he's not a passive judge either... He's pursuing us! We limit the Gospel to view God as one half of the "marriage party." He's about 7/8 of the marriage party.

The second bolded portion is how many UC's understand the Gospel and Grace. It was a moment when the past was erased, but the Cross, and our justification, do not exist for the present or future ---- unless of course, we specifically ask for it to. After our pardon, it's back on us doing good works to be approved and saved....

That's NOT the Gospel :(

Originally Posted by LUKE2447 (Post 1025090)

No it is on us from the beginning to walk by faith to be considered right before him. It is his work we do by his leading and power. You have a gospel in which what we do has nothing to do with our response at all to be considered "righteous". Again you are at a contradiction. You have faithfulness = still can sin and be considered Faithful or walking in faith. sorry but that is not truth. Living Faith that saves is the response to God that he considers righteous just as ABraham was considered righteous. to you it is not practical but forensic.