23 May '14 19:36>1 edit
Renunciation of Faith in Christ
God disciplines His children in love but never abandons them. Even under the pressure of intense discipline, God graciously continues to supply all that is needed to sustain their lives. Neither warning nor intensive discipline ever implies that God has forsaken His own children [anyone who has believed in Jesus Christ for eternal salvation]. Even renunciation of an earlier point in time faith in Christ does not effect the believer's eternal status as a member of the Royal Family of God:
"It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him [at the moment of an individual's faith in Christ the baptism of the Holy Spirit identifies the believer with Christ in His death], we will also live with Him [eternal salvation is now an irrevocable and unassailable fact]; 12 If we endure [persevere in daily obedience to the commands of God as this obedience to divine authority puts the power of God into effect in the believer's life], we will also reign with Him [as an eternal reward]; If we deny Him [refuse to utilize divine assets], He also will deny us [these unclaimed eternal rewards]; 13 If we are faithless [spend our lives as immature believers not growing in grace and acquiring the mind of Christ], He remains faithful [the unproductive believer is still eternally saved], for He cannot deny Himself." 2 Timothy 2:11-13 New American Standard Bible
At the moment of salvation, God imputes His absolute righteousness to every believer and having done so declares him/her righteous or justified. (Romans 3:21-28) If God subsequently excluded any believer from eternal salvation, He would have to deny Himself and contradict His own pronouncement of justification. A believer's salvation is anchored in the essence of God.
When God provided salvation [by faith alone in Christ alone] His omniscience knew that believers would be easily distracted. He isn't shocked if and when members of the Royal Family of God ignore their own royal birthright and proudly state they've renounced it. Other believers may be appalled and shocked by the disobedience and unfaithfulness of members of the Royal Family but the sins that shock them have already been judged at Christ's Crucifixion. God is never compelled or forced to alter or change His perfect Plan because a believer demonstrates the foolishness God always knew would be exhibited. God's plan is far greater than human ignorance and arrogance, sin and failure; God's grace is immutable. Divine discipline doesn't ever cancel salvation. God's sole purpose in discipline is to awaken and train Royal Family Members to obey His plan.
God disciplines His children in love but never abandons them. Even under the pressure of intense discipline, God graciously continues to supply all that is needed to sustain their lives. Neither warning nor intensive discipline ever implies that God has forsaken His own children [anyone who has believed in Jesus Christ for eternal salvation]. Even renunciation of an earlier point in time faith in Christ does not effect the believer's eternal status as a member of the Royal Family of God:
"It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him [at the moment of an individual's faith in Christ the baptism of the Holy Spirit identifies the believer with Christ in His death], we will also live with Him [eternal salvation is now an irrevocable and unassailable fact]; 12 If we endure [persevere in daily obedience to the commands of God as this obedience to divine authority puts the power of God into effect in the believer's life], we will also reign with Him [as an eternal reward]; If we deny Him [refuse to utilize divine assets], He also will deny us [these unclaimed eternal rewards]; 13 If we are faithless [spend our lives as immature believers not growing in grace and acquiring the mind of Christ], He remains faithful [the unproductive believer is still eternally saved], for He cannot deny Himself." 2 Timothy 2:11-13 New American Standard Bible
At the moment of salvation, God imputes His absolute righteousness to every believer and having done so declares him/her righteous or justified. (Romans 3:21-28) If God subsequently excluded any believer from eternal salvation, He would have to deny Himself and contradict His own pronouncement of justification. A believer's salvation is anchored in the essence of God.
When God provided salvation [by faith alone in Christ alone] His omniscience knew that believers would be easily distracted. He isn't shocked if and when members of the Royal Family of God ignore their own royal birthright and proudly state they've renounced it. Other believers may be appalled and shocked by the disobedience and unfaithfulness of members of the Royal Family but the sins that shock them have already been judged at Christ's Crucifixion. God is never compelled or forced to alter or change His perfect Plan because a believer demonstrates the foolishness God always knew would be exhibited. God's plan is far greater than human ignorance and arrogance, sin and failure; God's grace is immutable. Divine discipline doesn't ever cancel salvation. God's sole purpose in discipline is to awaken and train Royal Family Members to obey His plan.