Once saved always saved? / Is eternal security Biblica

[rojoloco]

The doctrine of eternal security as you call it. Is this a Biblical doctrine in terms of "once saved always saved".

It is synonymous. The problem here is not semantics. The problem here appears to be your misunderstanding of the atonement.

From the standpoint of God's perfect plan, He most certainly does not lose any who go astray. He does go out and find them and bring them back to the fold.

And this is the Eternal Security bit in a nutshell. If you are a Christian, you will persevere. Eternal Security does not mean live however you want and still be saved. Eternal Security means God will work in your to the point of perseverance because the good work that He began in us He has also promised to complete.

But the crucial problem with this so called Biblical doctrine is SIN.
We are not talking about going astray, we are talking about wilfull disobedience (sin).

Hebrews 10:26-27 "For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,"

This person is not a Christian. This person is not under the blood of Christ. He is still marred with the stain of sin. He has not been cleansed. He has not been justified. He does not have an Advocate. He was never a part of the flock. This is why he has no remorse and is still viewed by God as sinful instead of as one wearing the robes of Christ, the spotless Lamb.

This is as clear as a bell, sin willfully with no repentance and there comes a time when the sacrifice is no longer available.

The person sinning previously was under grace but later they were not. It is useless to imagine that the person was originally not a Christian. Because the person was under the sacrifice for sins.

And this is where the misunderstanding of the atonement kicks in. 1 Peter 3:18 is crystal clear that Christ died once for all. There is no repetitious sacrifice as the Catholic Mass is all about. Christ is not being sacrificed day in and day out for the purpose of sins. He died once, was resurrected once, and atoned the sins of mankind once. It was a complete act of perfect sacrifice never again to be repeated. If one was ever cleansed by the blood of Christ, he need fear not ever falling from grace. However, if he does "fall from grace," he was never really under grace and was never cleansed by the blood of Christ to begin with. He was only confused about his position as a child of God because the Spirit never regenerated him, caused him to die to self, or caused him to rise in Christ. Simply put, his sins were never atoned for and he was never under the sacrifice.

Theology is no shield against this clear warning. God's plan was perfect, man's response of course is imperfect. Look hard and long at church history, it is full of division.

This statement puts man over God. This statement makes man more powerful than God. This statement makes Christ an afterthought. This statement makes Christ a remedy to a bad situation instead of Christ being the reason for everything. This statement makes God a butler cleaning up a mess. This statement rejects God's sovereignty. This statement just is not Biblical.

 

[David777]

Interesting answer

Hebrews 10:26, "For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,"

Your reply firstly was that I did not understand atonement. I do in fact understand that Christ was reconciling His creation by His perfect sacrifice. You are mistaken on that point. Atonement is a clear doctrine of the New Testament.

Second, the Catholics doctrine of transubstantiation is clearly in error. I do understand that point.

But, I do also see that you state that a person cannot fall away from a sovergien God. What you are in fact saying is because God is soveriegn then by default, His calling is irresistable, final.

Are we closer to understanding your interpretation of Hebrews 10:26?

 

[David777]

Conclusion

Forgetting the dribble about man being above God. Where you got that from I don't know. But, you did answer the question on Hebrews 10:26-27.

There no longer remains a sacrifice for sin, because the person was not really availing themselves of the sacrifice. They were not Christian in the first place. This is what you said.

Is this really the way you read Hebrews 10:26-27. For me its so simple, the person fell away. That is actually what this verse says.
It is a warning to young Christians. Sometimes I wonder?

 

[Crazyguy19]

Forgetting the dribble about man being above God. Where you got that from I don't know. But, you did answer the question on Hebrews 10:26-27.

There no longer remains a sacrifice for sin, because the person was not really availing themselves of the sacrifice. They were not Christian in the first place. This is what you said.

Is this really the way you read Hebrews 10:26-27. For me its so simple, the person fell away. That is actually what this verse says.
It is a warning to young Christians. Sometimes I wonder?

It does say that they received the knowledge. This could have been head knowledge.... that does not mean they received the Holy Spirit. Please show me how this makes them Christians just by having knowledge of Him.... because even the demons know who He is..... so how does knowledge equal salvation all of a sudden?

 

[David777]

In reply

Please read the verse again and note, "there no longer remains".

What no longer remains, answer = "a sacrifice for sins"

Please tell me how there could be a "sacrifice for sins" if the person never believed in the first place?

There no longer remains a sacrifice for sins!

I don't remember reading about some "head knowledge" in Hebrews.

This is a warning to the Hebrews. It is not some irrelevant rant about someone who may not have been elect. Please just read the text.
Do not overlay the text with theoretical possibilities.

Baa, baa. baa.

 

[Crazyguy19]

Please read the verse again and note, "there no longer remains".

What no longer remains, answer = "a sacrifice for sins"

Please tell me how there could be a "sacrifice for sins" if the person never believed in the first place?

There no longer remains a sacrifice for sins!

I don't remember reading about some "head knowledge" in Hebrews.

This is a warning to the Hebrews. It is not some irrelevant rant about someone who may not have been elect. Please just read the text.
Do not overlay the text with theoretical possibilities.

Baa, baa. baa.

There could be a sacrifice for sins because Christ died for all... now that doesn't mean all will accept Him but He died for all... and that was the sacrifice... so please use to common sense.

Also I am pretty sure your last statement could work for you as well because you are interpreting the word in a way you wish to read it... or so it seems.....

 

[rojoloco]

Forgetting the dribble about man being above God. Where you got that from I don't know. But, you did answer the question on Hebrews 10:26-27.

There no longer remains a sacrifice for sin, because the person was not really availing themselves of the sacrifice. They were not Christian in the first place. This is what you said.

Is this really the way you read Hebrews 10:26-27. For me its so simple, the person fell away. That is actually what this verse says.
It is a warning to young Christians. Sometimes I wonder?

The problem here is that you are equating a knowledge of truth with salvation. As I believe it was stated earlier by someone else, demons have full knowledge of God yet they are not saved. In the same sense, it is quite possible for a person to have knowledge of God yet not be saved. They will never have faith but faith is not required to have knowledge.

Nowhere does it say that somebody fell away from faith. This meaning is being inserted by you. I challenge you to show me a spot where it says they fell away in that passage. All it says is that they continue sinning with a knowledge of the truth. The Greek word for general knowledge is gnosis. That is not the word used here. The word used is epignosis which literally means a full and accurate knowledge. The person being spoken of in that passage is an unbeliever. They were never saved. They were not only unbelievers. They were apostates. They understood exactly what they were rejecting and they rejected it willingly. The passage implies that many people within the church were apostates. Many of them were probably false converts such as those described in the parable of the seed and the sower. Regardless, they knew and they continued in their sinful ways regardless.

You claim the verse says a believer fell away. Show me where it says that and I'll buy you a cookie. :wink:

 

[rojoloco]

Please read the verse again and note, "there no longer remains".

What no longer remains, answer = "a sacrifice for sins"

Please tell me how there could be a "sacrifice for sins" if the person never believed in the first place?

There no longer remains a sacrifice for sins!

One is not cleansed by the blood of Christ automatically. One is not atoned for by default. One is not adopted into the family of God simply by being born. One is not granted eternal life simply by coming from the womb. The blood of Christ works in the life of the believer who has faith. Before I was saved, the blood of Christ was there waiting for me. By my faith, I was washed clean but it was not until the point of faith. Prior to that, I was a filthy depraved beast.

If one is an apostate, he willingly rejects something that he has full knowledge of. For this man, there is a sense of hopelessness. He will never see Heaven because there is no more knowledge to be gained. The only thing left is faith to put that knowledge into action yet this will never happen. Because of this, there no longer remains a sacrifice for him. The blood of Christ is not for this man. The sacrifice is not deemed null and void as it is still there for the many others who will come to faith but, for this apostate, there no longer remains a sacrifice.

It is not that he took advantage of the sacrifice only to fall away. If this were true, you would be compelled to admit he could come back to faith. If you say this, it would say volumes about what you believe the atonement to be as it would be rendered powerless. Christ died once. His blood was for His Church. The blood is sufficient for all but efficient for the Elect. It was spilled with a purpose and is 100% effectual, unfailing, and perfect.

I don't remember reading about some "head knowledge" in Hebrews.

That is what the word epignosis means.

 

[David777]

We can move to the other thread.

Dear Mr Rojocolo, we will move to the thread "Any Calvinist out there" This is more to the point. Thanks.

 

[Jaareshiah]

Once a person is saved are they always saved? When people come to know Christ as their Savior, they are brought into a relationship with God that guarantees their salvation as eternally secure. Numerous passages of Scripture declare this fact. (a) Romans 8:30 declares, "And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified." This verse tells us that from the moment God chooses us, it is as if we are glorified in His presence in heaven. There is nothing that can prevent a believer from one day being glorified because God has already purposed it in heaven. Once a person is justified, his salvation is guaranteed - he is as secure as if he is already glorified in heaven.

It need be understood that the collection of 66 books of the Bible are one harmonious book. One cannot use one Scripture here or there without giving consideration to the Bible as whole.

Thus, the belief that "once a person is saved they are always saved" is not based on the Bible, for at Ezekiel 18:24, God says: "Now when someone righteous turns back from his righteousness and actually does injustice; according to all the detestable things that the wicked one has done he keeps doing and he is living, none of all his righteous acts that he has done will be remembered. For his unfaithfulness that he has committed and for his sin with which he has sinned, for them he will die."

Furthermore, at Ezekiel 18:26, God says: "When someone righteous turns back from his righteousness and he actually does injustice and dies on account of them, for his injustice that he has done he will die." Over at Ezekiel 33, it provides a contrast, saying: "When someone righteous turns back from his righteousness and actually does injustice, he must also die for them. And when someone wicked turns back from his wickedness and actually carries on justice and righteousness, it will be on account of them that he himself will keep living."(Eze 33;18)

Hence, there is no "once saved always saved", for Jesus said that a person has to have faithful endurance, saying: "But he that has endured to the end is the one that will be saved."(Matt 24:13)

Jude wrote: "I desire to remind you, despite your knowing all things once for all time, that Jehovah, although he saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterwards destroyed those not showing faith."(Jude 5) Thus, for anyone to remain forever, these must continue to exercise faith in God. A person who exercises can build up their body, but when this is discontinued, the body can easily resort to becoming "flabby".

To live forever, requires never stopping to exercise faith in our Creator, Jehovah God. Just as eating is necessary in order to continue living, so likewise is anyone to continue obediently following God's laws in order to enjoy everlasting life. The nation of Israel is but one example that failed to maintain their obedience and were thus cast off forever as a nation.(Matt 23:37-39)

Romans 8:30 is speaking, not of individual persons, but the anointed members of the Christian congregation of God as a class that are selected by Jehovah God.(2 Thess 2:13) As a class, these are predestined, but not as individuals. God began selecting individuals to make up the "kingdom of God" at Pentecost 33 C.E., anointing these as "heirs: heirs indeed of God, but joint heirs with Christ, provided we suffer together that we may also be glorified together."(Rom 8:17)

However, some returned to their "former course of conduct" (Eph 4:22) and began to practice sin again as before God chose and made them "joint heirs with Christ." Therefore the apostle Paul wrote: "For if we practice sin willfully after having received the accurate knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice for sins left."(Heb 10:26)

Jesus shed blood no longer covers their sins, and if these remain disobedient till death, then these have lost any hope of a resurrection, for Paul continues, saying: "Any man that has disregarded the law of Moses dies without compassion, upon the testimony of two or three. Of how much more severe a punishment, do you think, will the man be counted worthy who has trampled upon the Son of God and who has esteemed as of ordinary value the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and who has outraged the spirit of undeserved kindness with contempt ?"(Heb 10:28, 29)

 

[koge06]

I have some (real and non-rhetorical) questions for those who do not believe in once saved always saved: what happens when you sin? you sin and fall from grace and then repent and have it back? If you prayed for forgiveness for all of your sins right before you died you would be fine but if you didn't then you wouldn't be fine? If you continue sinning for a long time, knowing that it is wrong, you can no longer have God's grace and mercy? If your salvation is something that you have to work on then are your good works supposed to outweight the bad ones, since we all fall short of the glory of God? I am genuinely curious.

 

[Misty_Rose]

I am so thankful for God's grace that the shedding of Jesus's precious blood satisfied the righteous requirements of God regardless of my state. I am His because i have accepted Jesus as my Saviour. Having accepted that the Lord Jesus Christ died for my sins, regardless of my state, i am His although if i backslide i lose the joy of my salvation for time but not eternity. In God's sight the blood shedding by Jesus was done once and for all and having accepted Him as my Saviour i am His eternally and no accusations or doubts by Satan can change this. What joy and peace this brings every soul who has accepted and believed what God did on the cross.

The blood placed on the doorposts of houses to avert the avenging angel in the OT was not dependent on the state of the people inside the house but on the righteous and holy requirement of God.

Leanne

Do we become Robots when we get saved and no longer have a freewill to choose
in other words there's no right or wrong once you get saved... because you can never be lost?

Fishy?

 

[Misty_Rose]

I have some (real and non-rhetorical) questions for those who do not believe in once saved always saved: what happens when you sin? you sin and fall from grace and then repent and have it back? If you prayed for forgiveness for all of your sins right before you died you would be fine but if you didn't then you wouldn't be fine? If you continue sinning for a long time, knowing that it is wrong, you can no longer have God's grace and mercy? If your salvation is something that you have to work on then are your good works supposed to outweight the bad ones, since we all fall short of the glory of God? I am genuinely curious.

God gave us a Conscience when we get saved.
We don't want to do the same things as we have done before.
But we can over ride that conscience and sin..and keep ignoring our conscience
and continue to sin and backslide. after all we still have a freewill.


God does not force him self upon us.
If we don't want salvation and choose sin instead, God allows us to backslide.
We dont Work our way into heaven.
Our righteousness is as filthy rag to God.
we simply believe in Him.
BUT a believer is a doer.

We dont work in order to BE saved,
We work because we ARE saved.

I really cant imagine myself backsliding..
but i've never been under pain of torture or something terrible like that..
i've never been soo addicted to some form of sin, that i choose it over The Lord.
I don't put much faith in myself because im a failure and human.
I believe God will not put on us more than we are able to bear
but with every temptation make a way of escape.

But if we don't take the "way-of-escape" we can backslide.

Hebrews 2 Therefore we ought to give the most earnest heed to the things which we have heard lest at any time we should let them slip.

MY OPINION

 

[Misty_Rose]

Good Point Jaareshiah

I like what you said,_To live forever, requires never stopping to exercise faith in our Creator, Jehovah God. Just as eating is necessary in order to continue living, so likewise is anyone to continue obediently following God's laws in order to enjoy everlasting life. The nation of Israel is but one example that failed to maintain their obedience and were thus cast off forever as a nation.(Matt 23:37-39)



If we stop eating as humans we will eventually starve to death and die.:sick2:
If we starve the Spirtual Man (Christian) part of us by not reading, praying and
meditating on The Word of God, he will eventually starve to death too.

 

[David777]

Yo, hope this helps.

What happens when you sin?

"God rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, Jesus Christ. In Jesus we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Col 1:13-14)

As you can see Jesus Christ has already granted you citizenship in Heaven.

First of all, Jesus Christ performs the rescue. We cannot access eternal life by our own effort. This is what it says in Colossians.

When you sin you do not "fall from grace".

The Holy Spirit performs the heart surgery, regeneration thru conviction of sin.

When you sin, you are in effect resisting this heart surgery.

When you sin, you are still a full citizen of Heaven.

If and only if you turn from the sin and ask Jesus to forgive you.

Persistent sin is in fact resisting God's redemption thru Jesus Christ.

Persist in sin and you will lose citizenship, eventually.

How will you know, easy, you will no longer look to Jesus for forgiveness. Sin causes spiritual blindness.

Sin is saying "I do not want citizenship in Heaven".

Sin is rejection of the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit.

By nature we are of the flesh, sinful.

We all sin, but seek forgiveness, live in the Spirit.

Put to death the deeds of the flesh.

"If your salvation is something that you have to work on then are your good works supposed to outweight the bad ones"

Jesus Christ died for your sin, to allow you citizenship in Heaven.

We cannot earn this salvation by works.

Grace is God's free gift, God has allowed you to escape sin and death.

Your citizenship is granted freely, you do not walk in darkness.

Live by the Spirit, works are a result of living in the Spirit.

Love can only grow in a repentant heart. A heart devoted to Jesus Christ.

A good tree produces good fruit, ultimately LOVE.

The Spirit gives ETERNAL LIFE, sin brings DEATH.

Faith in Jesus Christ ensures the citizenship is secure.

Hope that answered your question.

 

[rojoloco]

Leanne

Do we become Robots when we get saved and no longer have a freewill to choose
in other words there's no right or wrong once you get saved... because you can never be lost?

Fishy?

Free will is only as free as the nature allows it to be. No man will choose other than that which he desires most. The unregenerate man will never choose God because he hates the Light and can't understand the things of the Spirit. His nature desires the things contrary to God therefore, he freely chooses it. His will is free yet limited to his desire.

Does this make him a robot simply because he cannot choose something contrary to his nature? Not at all! It makes him human. We are all limited in our will. It's simply a fact of life.

As for your statement of there no longer being right or wrong (if eternal security is accurate), this stems from a misunderstanding of what eternal security teaches. I won't reiterate it here. Read this thread for more answers on it. The bottom line is one who is saved will not only persevere in salvation but also persevere in faithfulness since all faithfulness stems from God alone working in us. It isn't a matter of being saved and then living however we want as that would be evidence of a lack of fruit therefore, a lack of salvation regardless how sincere it may appear at the time.

 

[rojoloco]

Good Point Jaareshiah

I like what you said,_To live forever, requires never stopping to exercise faith in our Creator, Jehovah God. Just as eating is necessary in order to continue living, so likewise is anyone to continue obediently following God's laws in order to enjoy everlasting life. The nation of Israel is but one example that failed to maintain their obedience and were thus cast off forever as a nation.(Matt 23:37-39)



If we stop eating as humans we will eventually starve to death and die.:sick2:
If we starve the Spirtual Man (Christian) part of us by not reading, praying and
meditating on The Word of God, he will eventually starve to death too.

This philosophy puts Christianity in our control and, more or less, takes God out of the equation. Do you believe you are keeping yourself in the Lord or do you believe the Lord is keeping you? While the answer is technically both, which one do you believe is the root of it all? Do we keep ourselves in the Lord and, in turn, He keeps us (only because we have chosen to) or do you believe He keeps us and therefore, we stay with Him and love Him?

 

[David777]

Correct, but.

My friend Mr Rojocolo you said,

"Free will is only as free as the nature allows it to be. No man will choose other than that which he desires most. The unregenerate man will never choose God because he hates the Light and can't understand the things of the Spirit. His nature desires the things contrary to God therefore, he freely chooses it. His will is free yet limited to his desire."

What you said is accurate except you left out The Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit convicts the World of sin, righteousness and judgement.

That's how the flesh sees the light in the darkness.

Throught the Holy Spirit.

Of course the natural man would never choose Christ.

Christ is spiritual.

Please Mr Rojocolo.

 

[David777]

Interesting question Mr Rojocolo.

You said,
"This philosophy puts Christianity in our control and, more or less, takes God out of the equation. Do you believe you are keeping yourself in the Lord or do you believe the Lord is keeping you?"

Paul said,

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." Romans 1:16-17 (NASB)

Faith is a gift from God. You shall live by faith in Jesus Christ.
Simple.

 

[Jaareshiah]

I have some (real and non-rhetorical) questions for those who do not believe in once saved always saved: what happens when you sin? you sin and fall from grace and then repent and have it back? If you prayed for forgiveness for all of your sins right before you died you would be fine but if you didn't then you wouldn't be fine? If you continue sinning for a long time, knowing that it is wrong, you can no longer have God's grace and mercy? If your salvation is something that you have to work on then are your good works supposed to outweight the bad ones, since we all fall short of the glory of God? I am genuinely curious.

Being born of Adam, the apostle Paul says that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."(Rom 3:23) It is in within our members, our DNA is faulty, due to imperfection being passed to us from Adam's rebellion in the Garden of Eden. The word sin in Hebrew is chat·ta’th´ (Greek ha·mar·ti´a ) and literally means to "miss", as in missing the target when shooting an arrow. We are all sinners by reason of being the offspring of Adam, following his disobedient act of eating the fruit forbidden for him or Eve.(Gen 2:17)

We "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" due to missing the mark of perfect obedience. Jesus Christ was not a sinner, for he told the Jews that "I always do the things pleasing to (God)."(John 8:29) Jesus never faltered in word or deed, for Peter wrote that "he committed no sin, nor was deception found in his mouth."(1 Pet 2:22)

On the other hand, the "world" or those alienated from God, makes a practice of sin, consistently violating God's laws and principles, as found in the Bible. The apostle John wrote: "Do not be loving either the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him; because everything in the world—the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the showy display of one’s means of life—does not originate with the Father, but originates with the world. Furthermore, the world is passing away and so is its desire, but he that does the will of God remains forever."(1 John 2:15-17)

Those who who do not "exert themselves vigorously" (Luke 13:24) to conform their lives to God's thoughts, cannot remain forever. On the other hand, those who are to remain forever, must always seek to do "the will of God." These must "strip off the old personality with its practices, and clothe yourselves with the new [personality], which through accurate knowledge is being made new according to the image of the One who created it."(Col 3:10) Hence, by means of Jesus Christ perfect example, God has "created" the "new personality", that all who wishes to please Our Creator, must put on.

Though a person has ' clothed themselves with the new personality ', he or she is still imperfect, still flawed in both speech and conduct, though not near to the measure before ' stripping off the old personality.' These have made notable changes in their lives, learning the what it really means to love, both God and people, because of ' following Jesus footsteps closely.'(1 Pet 2:21; Matt 22:37-39)

Though a Christ-like person may sin seriously, if he or she is heart-felt repentant, then these can be forgiven by God. David is an example of one who sinned seriously on two occasions, one with Bathsheba (2 Sam 11:4) and the other with regard to taking a census of the nation of Israel.(2 Sam 24:1) On both counts, because David showed true repentance, Jehovah God forgave him. However, there were grave repercussions from his disobedience.(2 Sam 12:15-18; 24:15, 16)

After David had committed adultery with Bathsheba and then showed genuine repentance, he wrote: "Show me favor, O God, according to your loving-kindness. According to the abundance of your mercies wipe out my transgressions....Against you, you alone, I have sinned, and what is bad in your eyes I have done."(Ps 51:1, 4) David gave evidence of his remorse over what he had done, not only by verbal expressions, but by his being "cut to the heart" and never committing it again.

However, there is no "deathbed repentance", as if a person can continue in a "wicked and adulterous" life course and then at the point of death (Matt 16:4), says that he or she is sorry and expect a "miracle". Roman emperor Constantine (274-337 C.E.) became a so-called "Christian" on his deathbed, according to Eusebius. However, just the day before, had offered a sacrifice to the Greek god Zeus.

Many an individual has changed their life-course, realizing their manner and way of life was against Jehovah God.(1 Cor 6:9-11) Immoral and other unclean conduct must be "stripped off", applying Jesus words to be "no part of the world"(John 15:19), with it's political arena, selfish commercialistic "merchants", and false religious beliefs.(Rev 18:4)

The gaining of salvation is always ongoing, until realized, for Jesus said: "Exert yourselves vigorously to get in through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will seek to get in but will not be able.(Luke 13:24) Jesus also said: "But he that has endured to the end is the one that will be saved."(Matt 24:13) Obedience to God's laws must be adhered to under all circumstances.

Most will never measure up to pleasing Jehovah God, because these simply do not desire to put on the "new personality". These are unwilling to ' exert themselves vigorously ', finding fault with certain laws and principles of the Bible, such as the need to be "meek" and not arrogant or haughty.(Prov 21:4; Matt 5:5)

The apostle wrote to the Philippians: "Consequently, my beloved ones, in the way that you have always obeyed, not during my presence only, but now much more readily during my absence, keep working out your own salvation with fear and trembling.(Phil 2:12) Obedience to God's laws and guidelines, as found in the Bible, is an absolute must.

The churches have not only blurred what sin is, having failed "to make a distinction between the holy thing and the profane and between the unclean thing and the clean"(Lev 10:10), but have committed atrocities themselves in the "name of God", such as wars, the Crusades, the Inquisition, burning innocent people on the stake for just possessing a Bible, and dispensing false religious beliefs.