John 3: 36 Commentary

Roland G. DID I SAY THE FOOLISH APOSTATE WILL ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD?

I did not say that…whether God will let them be saved later on is God’s prerogative…it is not for us to decide!

The trouble with you is that you do not wait on God decision on the individual matters of the salvation of each person…you are generalizing that since they are saved they will always be saved…you are going before God on this matter…you are putting your own words before His Word!

I did not say Jesus is a liar.. for you see i am quoting Him..it is either one of us now who is lying about salvation…not Jesus!

By TIUCHE (wrote 2749 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 7/14/2011 14:00 pm

Monsieur Tiuche (Post #3): The fast-talking crowd think that by listing lots of Scriptures without explanation they can convince others that Jesus Christ is a liar. But truth is truth. And, the truth is what it is. The Scriptures you quote do not have to do with losing salvation. They have to do with apostasy and backsliding after salvation. Apostate believers get to go to Heaven. Man’s legalistic thinking always underestimates the love of God.

By Roland G (wrote 1413 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 7/14/2011 13:46 pm

ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVE? TAKE HEED LEST YOU FALL
Source:http://www.bibleanswer.com/takeheed.htm
Intro.
1. Possibility of falling away is a real threat to every child of God.
2. To think otherwise is a great danger! – 1 Cor. 10:12
3. Israel is a warning to Christians to remain faithful & true.

I. ISRAEL: OUR EXAMPLE – 1 Cor. 10:1-10.
A. Of Relationship With God – 1 Cor. 10:2; Gal. 3:27.
-Baptized into relationship with God’s prophet / Relationship with God’s Son.
B. As God’s Chosen People – Exo. 19:5-6; Psa. 135:4; 1 Pet. 2:9-10.
C. Israel’s Unbelief – Heb. 3:15-19.
1. Eyes fixed on Egypt instead of God & land of promise – Num. 11:4-6.
2. Fell in the wilderness due to their sinful & disobedient unbelief.
3. Our warning: 1 Cor. 10:6-10.
-Confidence of salvation must rest upon obedient faith, not wishful thinking!
D. Therefore, Take Heed Lest You Fall! – 10:12
-Look carefully & discern the warning that is given to us.
1. Israel thought she stood with God (chosen, saved, protected). Cf. Matt. 3:8-9 – Thinking we stand w/ God not same as actually standing with Him!
2. Israel did not take heed to herself. Mixed & mingled with worldly idolaters while complaining against God’s care & provisions - 1 Cor. 10:6-10; Psa. 106:13-15, 19-22, 24-25.
3. Israel fell. Consumed in wilderness – Psa. 106:26-27; Num. 14:26-35.
-What About Us?!-

II. WE MUST EXAMINE OUR FAITH & TAKE HEED LEST WE FALL.
A. Discern the Signs of a Faltering Faith – Heb. 3:12-13; 2 Cor. 13:5.
1. Use God’s word – Heb. 4:12-13; Jas. 1:25.
2. Apply God’s remedy for every sin we find – Acts 8:20-24; 26:20.

III. SIGNS OF A FALTERING FAITH WHICH IS READY TO FALL – Gal. 6:3.
-We can Deceive Ourselves that our Faith is Stronger than it is By…
A. Equating Men’s Estimation of our Faithfulness with God’s Approval of Us – cf. Lk. 6:26.
1. Reputation of faithfulness is not equivalent to proof of it! – Rev. 3:1
2. Instead of trusting what others say about your faithfulness – trust what God says about it! (2 Cor. 13:5)
3. Take heed: It is God’s evaluation that matters!
B. Minimizing the Corrupting Effect of Evil Companions – 1 Cor. 15:33.
1. Evidently Israel did this – Exo. 23:2; Num. 25:1-2; 31:16.
2. 1 Pet. 4:1-2 (1 Jno. 2:15-16) – Don’t be deceived! (At work, tempted to steal, Tit. 2:10; At school, tempted to cheat, Eph. 4:25; at home, media bombards our senses with sensuality, Col. 3:5).
3. In the world but not of it (sanctified) – 1 Cor. 5:9-10; Jno. 17:15-17.
4. Take heed: If you befriend the world you are God’s enemy! (Jas. 4:4)
C. Becoming Spiritually Complacent, Neglectful, Apathetic – Rev. 3:17.
1. Lukewarm Christian rarely acknowledges their real condition!
2. Take heed: Avoid downward spiral of apathy. Rom. 12:11 (Jas. 4:17)
D. Thinking We Are Above Temptation & Sin – Jas. 1:12-16.
1. By not recognizing the dangers of sin &/or temptation – 1:16.
2. Exactly where Satan wants you to be! – 1 Pet. 5:8
3. Take heed: Pride goes before a fall – Prov. 16:18.
E. Relying on our Past Faithfulness.
1. As long as we are alive we have a battle before us! – 1 Tim. 6:12 (Eph. 6:10-13).
2. Only when near death did Paul say he had “fought” the good fight (2 Tim. 4:7).
a. Just a few years earlier Paul had not yet attained or been perfected – He was pressing onward & upward! – Phil. 3:12-14
b. Imitate his forward-pressing faithfulness (Phil. 3:17).
3. Take heed: We cannot rest on past victories when present battles & opportunities exist! (Gal. 6:10; Jno. 4:35)
F. Equating Believing with Obeying – Lk. 6:46.
1. Faith without obedience: Incomplete, profitless, dead, unseen, demonic & barren (Jas. 2:14-20).
2. Only “faith working through love” has the power to produce a genuine hope of righteousness – Gal. 5:5-6.
3. Take heed: Affirming your faith but not obeying Christ is not real faith!

Conclusion
1. Israel’s fall is our warning: We can also fall!
2. Constantly check your faith in the light of divine truth & walk by faith – 2 Cor. 5:7-9…this will please God!

By TIUCHE (wrote 2749 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 7/14/2011 13:31 pm

SALVATION FACT: Once a person believes on the Son he has eternal life. A believer can never lose their salvation or this verse would not be true (John 3:36).

By Roland G (wrote 1413 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 7/14/2011 09:48 am

Note that the second clause says “he that believeth not the Son shall not see life.” It does NOT say “he that beleiveth not [IN] the Son….” but “he that believeth not the Son shall not see life.” That is, you have to not only beleive IN Jesus or ON Jesus to have life, but you must also beleive Jesus, that is, beleive what he says, beleive his teaching. Whoever supposedly believes on him, yet doesn’t believe him, will not be saved. You will note that some other translations translate this second clause “he who does not obey the Son shall not see life” which is in fact the logical conclusion from “he that believeth not the Son shall not see life.” What does it mean to beleive in him and yet not beleive him? It means that you beleive he exists, and you believe he died for the sins of mankind, even for your sins, but you don’t beleive him when he says (for example) “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” and you try and undo what he said with your “oh, you don’t need to be baptize” or again, you don’t beleive him when he says “whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man,” and “every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man,” because you having read that turn right around and say “nay, Lord Jesus, but he that shirks your teachings is wise, for he is saved by faith only, but he that doeth your teachings is a fool for he trusts in works.” By such like doctrines men show that although they beleive in him, they do not beleive him. They beleive in him as a child believes in the Easter bunny. They beleive he exists and they hold some set notions about him, but they do not hold him to be a credible teacher and they refuse to beleive and practice what he teaches–these men shall not see life. See then that you not only beleive in him, but also beleive him.

By jk (wrote 36 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 4/26/2008 01:50 am