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In the verse on page 22, who did Jesus say was
greater than all?
How great would someone have to be to
take himself out of God’s grip?
Are you greater than God?
In light of this verse, if you have
believed the Gospel of salvation, is it even possible for you to do
something that would result in God’s eternal condemnation?
(For additional passages on eternal
security see: Romans 8:37-39; Ephesians 1:13-14; John 6:37-40; Hebrews
13:5).
SHALL WE CONTINUE TO SIN THEN?
Although no sin can ever deprive a
believer of the eternal life which was freely bestowed upon him once and for
all, sin nevertheless has grave consequences both in this life and in the
life to come. First, there are natural consequences of sin. A person who
drinks to excess may kill himself or an innocent victim in an automobile
accident. One who engages in immoral activity may contract AIDS and die.
Knowing Christ as Savior will save one from hell, but it will not save one
from the natural consequences of sinful or foolish living. (See Galatians
6:7-8; James 2:14-17). Secondly, there are eternal consequences for sin.
Receiving a free ticket to a sports event guarantees one entrance into the
stadium, but it does not guarantee one a front row seat. Similarly,
receiving the free gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ
guarantees a person entrance in to God’s eternal kingdom, but in no way
guarantees one an exalted position in that kingdom! Our position in heaven
and the rewards associated with that position are totally dependent upon the
holy life and godly works which we manifest in this lifetime (1 Corinthians
3:11-17; 9:24-27; 2 Corinthians 5:10-11). While the pleasures of sin in this
life may at times appear more important than some distant hope of future
rewards in heaven, Scripture teaches that those who barter away their
"inheritance" (their future rewards in heaven) for the pleasures of sin will
one day weep uncontrollably when they see the unspeakable rewards which they
forfeited when they pursued their own sinful pleasures in this lifetime.
(Hebrews 12:14-17; Luke 19:11-27; 2 Peter 1:8-11; 1 John 2:28).
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