Losing Salvation or Never Saved at All? — J.C. Ryle

[JB Horn]

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Losing Salvation or Never Saved at All? — J.C. Ryle
 
A common reason why many do not hold perseverance is an incorrect view of the nature of SAVING FAITH. They regard faith as nothing better than a feeling or impression. As soon as they see a man somewhat impressed with the preaching of the Gospel and manifesting some pleasure in hearing about Christ—they set him down at once as a believer! By and by the man’s impressions wear away, and his interest about Christ and salvation ceases altogether. Where is the faith he seemed to have? It is gone. How can his friends, who have pronounced him a believer, account for it? They can only account for it by saying, that “a man may fall away from faith,” and that “there is no such thing as perseverance.” And in short, this becomes an established principle in their religion.

Now this is a mischievous error, and I am afraid sadly common in many quarters. It manifestly may be traced to ignorance of the true nature of religious affections. People forget that there may be many religious emotions in the human mind—with which saving grace has nothing to do. The stony ground hearers received the word with joy—but had no root in them. The history of all revivals proves that there may often be a great quantity of seemingly religious impression, without any true work of the Spirit. Saving faith is something far deeper and mightier than a little sudden feeling. It is an act not of the feelings only—but of the whole conscience, will, understanding, and inward man. It is the result of clear knowledge. It springs from a conscience not grazed merely—but thoroughly stirred. It shows itself in a deliberate, willing, humble dependence on Christ. Such faith is the gift of God—and is never overthrown! Make faith a mere matter of feeling—and it is of course impossible to maintain perseverance for such a one. . .

Not a few are ready to pronounce any change for the better in a man’s character, to be a conversion. They forget that there may be many blossoms on a tree in spring, and yet no fruit in autumn; and that a new coat of paint does not make an old door new. Some, if they see anyone weeping under the influence of a sermon, will set it down at once as a case of conversion. Others, if a neighbor suddenly gives up drinking or swearing, and become a great professor—at once rush to the conclusion that he is converted.

The natural consequence in numerous instances is disappointment. Their supposed case of conversion often turns out nothing more than a case of outward reform, in which the heart was never changed. Their converted neighbor sometimes returns to old habits—as the pig that was washed, to her wallowing in the mire. But then unhappily the pride of the natural heart, which never likes to allow itself mistaken, induces people to form a wrong conclusion about the case. Instead of telling us that the man never was converted at all, they say that “he was converted—but afterwards lost his grace and fell away.”

The true remedy for this is a right understanding of conversion. It is no such cheap and easy and common thing as many seem to fancy. It is a mighty work on the heart, which none but He who made the world can effect, and a work which will abide and stand the fire. But once take a low and superficial view of conversion, and you will find it impossible to maintain final perseverance.

– J.C. Ryle (1816-1900)
taken from: Never Perish.

[Hal]

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Grace is grace, it's a gift not earned.
If you give a hungry man food and he eats it, he is no longer hungry. If he doesn't eat it then he is still hunger or never was hungry.

To Repent means to change your life to conform to God's will. You either repent or you don't .

[kjw47]

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Grace is grace, it's a gift not earned.
If you give a hungry man food and he eats it, he is no longer hungry. If he doesn't eat it then he is still hunger or never was hungry.

To Repent means to change your life to conform to God's will. You either repent or you don't .

One must continue down that path until the end-Matt 10:22-- Repentence is the stopping of the doing of sin. not doing the sin--asking forgiveness and repeating that process--that is just mocking Jesus' sacrifice on their behalf.

[Fat]

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One must continue down that path until the end-Matt 10:22-- Repentence is the stopping of the doing of sin. not doing the sin--asking forgiveness and repeating that process--that is just mocking Jesus' sacrifice on their behalf.

So the question to JW's is do you run the race to win salvation or do you run the race because of your love for Christ? Does someone who quits the race and does not finish Love Christ to begin with?

Rom 9:16 So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.

So kjw47 do you run your race for love or reward?

[kjw47]

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So the question to JW's is do you run the race to win salvation or do you run the race because of your love for Christ? Does someone who quits the race and does not finish Love Christ to begin with?

Rom 9:16 So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.

So kjw47 do you run your race for love or reward?

All humans have love--all look forward to entering Gods kingdom( that believe in it)

God does show mercy to the repentant--not the workers of iniquity( Matt 7:22-23)Nor to the ones who partake off the table of demons( 1Cor 10:21) many are mislead to partake off both tables, but God assured there one--CANNOT.
The many being mislead into serving non existent Gods will not receive mercy.

Yes I would say out of a great love for Jesus these( Matt 7:22-23)  did powerful works, prophesyed, and exorcisms-- all in Jesus name--were told they were Christian, most likely told they were saved--yet they weren't. They were mislead by these-2thess 2:3--2Cor 11:12-15-- Mark 3:24-26-- a house divided will not stand.

[Fat]

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All humans have love--all look forward to entering Gods kingdom( that believe in it)

God does show mercy to the repentant--not the workers of iniquity( Matt 7:22-23)Nor to the ones who partake off the table of demons( 1Cor 10:21) many are mislead to partake off both tables, but God assured there one--CANNOT.
The many being mislead into serving non existent Gods will not receive mercy.

Yes I would say out of a great love for Jesus these( Matt 7:22-23)  did powerful works, prophesyed, and exorcisms-- all in Jesus name--were told they were Christian, most likely told they were saved--yet they weren't. They were mislead by these-2thess 2:3--2Cor 11:12-15-- Mark 3:24-26-- a house divided will not stand.

Let me get this right so I can't be accused of misinterpreting your stand:

Christ doesn't even know those that have "great love for Jesus" unless they never sin again. And you are saying that you have never sinned sense you have professed Jesus, less you have not finished the race you so proudly claim to have started. So for you and your fellow JW's your own fight against Satan is triumphed over sin.

Where am I wrong?

[JB Horn]

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Let me get this right so I can't be accused of misinterpreting your stand:

Christ doesn't even know those that have "great love for Jesus" unless they never sin again. And you are saying that you have never sinned sense you have professed Jesus, less you have not finished the race you so proudly claim to have started. So for you and your fellow JW's your own fight against Satan is triumphed over sin.

Where am I wrong?

They recrusafy Christ and start their race again if they find the have sinned, say if they have a moment of pride💔

[kjw47]

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Let me get this right so I can't be accused of misinterpreting your stand:

Christ doesn't even know those that have "great love for Jesus" unless they never sin again. And you are saying that you have never sinned sense you have professed Jesus, less you have not finished the race you so proudly claim to have started. So for you and your fellow JW's your own fight against Satan is triumphed over sin.

Where am I wrong?

A worker of iniquity= a practicer of sin--willfull sin. At Hebrews 10:26--Paul taught---Jesus' sacrifice does not count for those who practice sin.
There are lists of unacceptable sin--1Cor 6:9-11--Galations 5:19-21--the majority do these.
Now if one is driving down the road and gets angry and a swear word slips out-- that wont keep one out of Gods kingdom, but both of those lists will.
Jesus himself said Matt 7:22-23( this is judgement scenario)-- he doesn't know a practicer of sin.

[Fat]

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A worker of iniquity= a practicer of sin--willfull sin. At Hebrews 10:26--Paul taught---Jesus' sacrifice does not count for those who practice sin.
There are lists of unacceptable sin--1Cor 6:9-11--Galations 5:19-21--the majority do these.
Now if one is driving down the road and gets angry and a swear word slips out-- that wont keep one out of Gods kingdom, but both of those lists will.
Jesus himself said Matt 7:22-23( this is judgement scenario)-- he doesn't know a practicer of sin.

As long as we understand that to a JW's - running the race includes sinning also to the end. And repentance is a half turnig to Christ.

So run your race to the end👹

[Moss]

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A worker of iniquity= a practicer of sin--willfull sin. At Hebrews 10:26--Paul taught---Jesus' sacrifice does not count for those who practice sin.
There are lists of unacceptable sin--1Cor 6:9-11--Galations 5:19-21--the majority do these.
Now if one is driving down the road and gets angry and a swear word slips out-- that wont keep one out of Gods kingdom, but both of those lists will.
Jesus himself said Matt 7:22-23( this is judgement scenario)-- he doesn't know a practicer of sin.

James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.

[Fat]

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James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.

Moss
The truth is that the JW's are all about works and not grace. Their race is about the work they do on behalf of the watchtower. There is nothing wrong about giving out Tracks as long as they lead to the truth, and you aren't trying to run a tab with our Lord for you salvation.

[kjw47]

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Moss
The truth is that the JW's are all about works and not grace. Their race is about the work they do on behalf of the watchtower. There is nothing wrong about giving out Tracks as long as they lead to the truth, and you aren't trying to run a tab with our Lord for you salvation.

not true at all. Works build a strong living faith--without works ones faith is dead( worthless)--Jesus made his followers fishers of men, not the watchtower( the watchtower is a magazine not a living being)-- you seem confused on reality. you must listen to those who know 0 about what is fact.

[Fat]

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not true at all. Works build a strong living faith--without works ones faith is dead( worthless)--Jesus made his followers fishers of men, not the watchtower( the watchtower is a magazine not a living being)-- you seem confused on reality. you must listen to those who know 0 about what is fact.

  Not true, you know zero about anything.

Even the tracks you hand out are printed by the watchtower.

Do you deny that the watchtower instruct you on how to interpret the Scriptures? Do you deny that the watchtower is owned by Jehovah's witnesses?

Your post confirms that works to you, come before faith.

[kjw47]

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  Not true, you know zero about anything.

Even the tracks you hand out are printed by the watchtower.

Do you deny that the watchtower instruct you on how to interpret the Scriptures? Do you deny that the watchtower is owned by Jehovah's witnesses?

Your post confirms that works to you, come before faith.

The watchtower is a magazine-- its writers are human beings--Jesus' anointed teachers-- Luke 10:16---he who listens to Jesus' anointed teachers are listening to Jesus. But if one rejects Jesus' anointed teachers they are rejecting not only Jesus but God as well.
No I said works build a strong living faith--without the works, James taught ones faith is dead. So obviously one better be doing works. Gods word teaches one will be judged by all of their works.
By the use of the watchtower magazine--scriptures in every paragraph backing truths taught in the magazine, every JW on earth receives the same spiritual feeding weekly --then this is accomplished-1Cor 1:10-- united in all thought. a truly remarkable feat in a world with thousands of religions that cannot accomplish that. trinity religions are a divided house-Mark 3:24-26--they will not stand.

[biblebuf]

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The watchtower is a magazine-- its writers are human beings--Jesus' anointed teachers-- Luke 10:16---he who listens to Jesus' anointed teachers are listening to Jesus. But if one rejects Jesus' anointed teachers they are rejecting not only Jesus but God as well.
No I said works build a strong living faith--without the works, James taught ones faith is dead. So obviously one better be doing works. Gods word teaches one will be judged by all of their works.
By the use of the watchtower magazine--scriptures in every paragraph backing truths taught in the magazine, every JW on earth receives the same spiritual feeding weekly --then this is accomplished-1Cor 1:10-- united in all thought. a truly remarkable feat in a world with thousands of religions that cannot accomplish that. trinity religions are a divided house-Mark 3:24-26--they will not stand.

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