Expert: Elder Greg Madden - 9/29/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hi Elder Greg

I've written to you before and you've helped me a great deal.

My question please;

Can one loose their salvation once saved ?

Thank You Elder Greg
GOD BLESS
Mr.Ray M.

ANSWER: Bro Ray,

Hope all is well with you and your family. Thanks again for the opportunity to help.

The answer is no, a Christian cannot "loose" one's salvation (like one would mis-place or loose their keys). But a Christian can choose to lay aside, forfeit, or if you will give up their salvation. The Bible in no way teaches us that once your are saved that there is no way you can "loose" of forfeit that salvation. Please allow me to quote from our churches "What We Believe" page concerning this very subject...

SECURITY AND FREE WILL OF THE BELIEVER – We believe the Christian will be persevered unto the end and be saved because of the power of Gods grace pledged for their support. We believe any saved person who has sinned (backslidden), but has a desire to repent, may do so and be restored to God's favor and fellowship. However, since man continues to have free choice, it is possible because of temptations and the weakness of human flesh for him to fall into the practice of sin and to make shipwreck of his faith and be lost once again. Scripture References: 1 Timothy 1:18,19; John 15:1-7; Colossians 1:21-23; Hebrews 3:14; 2 Peter 2:20,21; Rev. 3:5;

Bro Ray, please let me know if this helps, or if you have any further questions. God bless!

Elder Greg Madden




---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Elder Greg

Thank you so much for your help with 'losing ones salvation'

Now, Elder Greg, here's a question that has always confused me but I've always accepted it.

Question(s) Please.

1. How is GOD three persons in one ?
2. If GOD came to the earth, He knew just what was going to happen to Him. Then why did HE bother at all?
3. JESUS said "... I and the Father are one. So HE prayed to Himself ? That sounds crazy.

4. JESUS is also the comforter, THE HOLY SPIRIT.
How can JESUS be in me and be in the world too ?

Elder Greg, I have been a born again christian for 4 yrs. now. Although I don't understang lots of verse and the reason for them, I ACCEPT ALL THE WORDS OF GOD in the Bible. If JESUS said it ~ ITS SO !!!

Thank You Again Elder Greg.
GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
Bro. Ray Monaco

Answer
The Bibles teaches us that there is one God, and that His nature is described as trinity. Though I believe that the word "triune" best describes the nature of God. You see, too many who believe in the trinity teach the plurality of God so strong that they are more tri-theists (the belief in 3 gods) that Trinitarians. While on the other side, those who emphases the unity of Gods nature so strong they fall into the false teaching of "modalism" (that God changed from Father, then to Son, then to Holy Spirit: ergo modes, or modalism).

The Bible teaches us that there is one God. The Word declares that He is the eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, sovereign, and immutable triune God; and it declares the unity of the Godhead where three personalities, equal in every divine perfection and attribute, execute distinct, harmonious offices, in the great work of redemption.

This does not mean that there are three "people" called God, but rather a way of saying God eternally exists in three personally distinct ways. Scriptures declare that there is only one God, Who is eternally (past, present, and future) manifested/revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

2 Cor. 13:14, John 1:1,2, Rev. 4:2-5 & 5:1-7

1 John 5:7
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

The Father - Co-existent, co-eternal, and co-equal with the Son and the Holy Spirit. He is the Creator and Giver of life. He is God revealed as Father in creation.
Scripture References: Isa. 43:10; 44:8, John 3:16, James 1:17, John 4:24

The Son - Co-existent, co-eternal, and co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Jesus was conceived by the Spirit and born of a virgin, to take upon Himself the form of man. By becoming obedient unto death, Jesus bore the curse of sin, sickness and sorrow redeeming us back to Himself. He arose the third day and ascended unto heaven, there He sits on the right hand of the Father, where He ever lives to make intercession for us. He is God revealed as Son in redemption.
Scripture References: John 1:1-3, Matt. 1:23 , 1 Tim. 2:5, Eph. 2:18 , Phil. 2:6-11

The Holy Spirit - Co-existent, co-eternal and co-equal with the Father and the Son. Sent by the Father, through the Son, He reproves the world of sin, prepares the church for Christ's return, and empowers the believer to follow the Lord. He is God revealed as Holy Ghost in regeneration.
Scripture References: John 14:26 ; 15:26 ; 16:8

Another way of understanding this definition of the nature of God, is to understand His attributes. By attributes I mean His omniscience (He knows all things), His omnipotence (He is all powerful), and His omnipresence’s (He is everywhere at the same time, and at all times). His omnipresence’s allows us to (in a very simplistic way) to see how He can be Father, Son, and Holy Spirit at the same time. Being omnipresent He is not only everywhere at the same time, He is everywhere at every time. God is here, now, at this present time. But He is also in the future. He is already there because He is not limited by time. He is also in the past. You see, time is linier. Time had a starting point (Gen. 1:1) and it will come to an end (Rev. 10:6). But God is eternal. He has no beginning, and He will have no end. Therefore time itself existents within God, God is not limited within time. Therefore the One God is the Father, Son, and Spirit eternally (in the past, in the present, and in the future). I know this is deep, but it does help understand how the One true and Living God is eternally manifested as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Hope this helps.

Elder Greg Madden