Once Saved Always Saved

[votivesoul]

Sin is the transgression of the law. Now, what did John mean by "law", or nomos? Did he mean Mosaic covenant law? General Torah instruction? The law of Christ?

To me, it doesn't matter overly much, since all the law or nomos, whether covenantal, instructional, or even Messianic law, is summed up in two commandments: Love God with all you heart, soul, and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.

If a person does those two things, the "law" has been fulfilled, and remains un-transgressed.

But what if I didn't love God with 100% or didn't love my neighbor quite the way I should?

Did I transgress the law and so, have sinned? Maybe, perhaps even probably.

But!

Love covers a multitude of sins. The Hebrew word for "cover" is a word-picture. It means to fill in the cracks, or smooth over flaws, kind of like to do a drywall patch. God sees us, flaws and all, knows we are broken, earthen vessels, and His love nonetheless smooths us out, covering whatever mistakes we make, just as much as a loving father and mother with their children.

It is the love of Christ that "constrains" us, and not our love for Christ that constrains God.

Be careful to not put too much on yourself to think your salvation is dependent upon you and your ability to always, flawlessly love God and your neighbor.

Jesus loved God and His neighbor always, flawlessly. We trust in His faithfulness to fulfill the law or nomos. We shouldn't trust in ourselves.

The yoke of Christ is easy, and His burden is light. He took away the sins of the world at Calvary. He has given us the Holy Spirit, and with It, has made us to become partakers of the divine nature. We are new creatures, recreated in the image of Christ, in righteousness and true holiness. It may take time for that image to take shape, and become more and more permanent, but THAT'S WHY we have an advocate with the Father.

When you've transgressed the law and not loved God or your neighbor, confess it, ask for forgiveness, and remind yourself it's not your works of righteousness which causes God to want to save you and keep you saved. It's His kindness and mercy. His own nature is what caused Him to send His Son. Before you were born, God sent His Son to atone for you. After you came along, and became a sinner, Christ had already died for you 1,980 years ago.

Stop looking at yourself. You are never going to be the perfect fulfillment of God's laws. Otherwise, you could reach the glory of God on your own, by your own will and ability to love. Look at Jesus and remind yourself He did for you what you could never do for yourself. Jesus IS the glory of God. The light of the knowledge of the glory of God is in the face of Jesus Christ. He never fell short. He never will. That's why He can make intercession for you, and be your advocate.

The blood of Jesus is the sinner's perfect plea! The earnest of your inheritance wasn't given just so you could blast off some day and get to heaven. It was given to you here and now, to live a transformed, renewed life of moral innocence and purity before God--to become like Jesus. Yield to the Holy Spirit's influence and convicting power, and in time, you will become more and more like the Lord. You will sin less and less and less until, one day, you find yourself living a "sin-less" life of righteousness and true holiness, just like Jesus.