As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. ECC. 10:1

The question of Eternal Security has been around since the early age of the church.  Can we lose our salvation?  To answer this, I want to point you toward the apothecary. As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.  A single fly ruined the chemical balance and the entire amount was thrown out and made anew. God cannot abide with sin. Light cannot fellowship darkness, it removes it completely. If we sin we cannot say we walk with God.

Romans chptr 6 deals with continuing in God without sin, but then 7 deals with a natural man walking a spirit-filled walk. Yes, as men we do err from time-to-time and God is with us in mercy (which is why trinitarian churches still feel the presence of God without the revelation of His name). That doesn't mean he abides in us, only moves upon us during the moments we are reaching out....showing us we still have hope, should our hearts turn again toward him.

I believe myself that we are freed from sin through repentance and baptism in Jesus name.  That is, that the natural body and carnal nature are dead and the sin is buried with the flesh much like Christ was in the world, while we are risen in newness of mind and thought.  Our spirit is separated from this death by life in Christ, and kept there through submission to His Word.  Notwithstanding, the fact is that sin still abides in our bodies, so that we must die daily, or put it into subjection.  Therefore, we can fall away after salvation when our minds allow our bodies to sin, and our spirit is separated again from God. 

However, during the time that we sin (after our initial repentance and works meet for repentance) we find that God dictates in Romans 6 that we put off the former sin and not repeat it. If we do, we have an advocate, the Son of God (flesh knowledge and redemption revealed).  That doesn't mean he dwells in us during our separation by sin (sin kills/Christ makes alive), but rather with us as stated above.  Hebrews 10:18 - 33 - shows us the fact that we can sin both wilfully and unwittingly...one brings certain judgment if we do not recall the former things and find Him again, but the other brings unwitting separation from God, though both bring the same advocacy (1 John 2:1) 

That advocacy is needed because 1John 3:4-10 talks of the separation I just mentioned....whoever commits sin is of the devil.  For this purpose the son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. It stands then that when we sin we have an advocate with the Father. Some postulate that there is no repentance (no sacrifice for sin) if we sin after coming into the truth.  In reality, if we sin we can repent, but Jesus cannot hang on the cross again.  We must rebuild the relationship.  It is not possible to have the original experience that we had as newborn Christians.  We must strive even harder.  The original sacrifice has been applied ONCE and for all. 

However, when our flesh sins our spirit is no longer in communion with God as he cannot abide sin.  He cannot be tainted with it, nor walk in darkness for in Him is no darkness at all.  So, the separation that takes place requires repentance and attention.  We must be born again and remain so.  But if we do sin we are of the devil.  That is not to say you personally are of the devil in your error, but your works are now carnal (emnity with the spirit) and fallen (as opposed to risen with Christ)....to renew that is to repent and be renewed again. Without that renewal your sins are bound to your spirit and you become once again responsible for the judgment to come from your sins.   Some say that 1 John 3:9 means you CANNOT sin after receiving salvation, but in reality it means the risen spirit cannot sin, but it can fall subject to the body (carnal) and thus return to sin (a dog to its vomit) and we can lose our salvation.

Lord help us to stay true!  Help us to strive for faith, honor, integrity.  But, Lord, help those who fall back into their own ways to know that you stand, as always, an advocate for our souls!

In Love,

Elder Mark neddeau