Thought for the Month - June 2001

Saved, but secure? - By Pastor Ian Wilson

Here are a number of points, written by Pastor Ian Wilson, to a man concerned about the fact that he was doubting his salvation.

Firstly 'Friend' let's be certain that once saved always saved. The following scriptures should leave us in no doubt.

Romans 8:1 "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit"

John 5:24 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life"

John 10:28-29 "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. [29] My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand"

John 6:37 "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out"

Secondly, let us ask the question is it possible for a believer to sin?
What does John say in his epistle?

1 John 1:8 "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us"

1 John 1:10 "If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us"

It is quite clear, that as Christians, it IS possible for us to sin. With this in mind what does John mean then in 1 John 3?

1 John 3:6 "Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him"

1 John 3:9 "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God"

It appears that this contradicts what John said In 1 John vs 8&10. But let us examine it a little closer. Look at 1 John 3:6:

1 John 3:6 "Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him"

1 John 3:6 "No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him" [NIV]

The NASB translate this verse as follows:

"whosoever is born of God does not practice sin"

The idea behind this word is that the one who professes to know Christ as Saviour will not continually practise sin, in other words sin will not be his lifestyle. Look at 1 John 3:9:

1 John 3:9 "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God"

"Doth not commit" is in the present tense again, it should read like this:

"doth not habitually practise sin"

John is teaching that if we profess to be saved, it doesn't mean that there will not be times when we sin. But it does mean that our lives should not be marked by continual, habitually sinning. If this is the case, then John says not that we have lost our salvation, but that we were never truly saved.

Let me illustrate it like this, a Christian was once asked a question "Have you got to the place were you cannot sin?"

He replied "No, but I have got to the place were I cannot sin and enjoy it"

A born-again child of God may sin, but that sin will be accompanied by guilt, remorse and repentance.
I hope that this is a little clearer for you.

God Bless

Pastor Ian Wilson

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