THE IMPORTANCE OF BIBLICAL WORDING

The fact that we, “are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation” should be a source of comfort to every believer (1Peter 1:5). Just as God has saved us by His grace, He will keep us by his grace. That is the word of God! However, if we assume that “because we are kept by the power of God we cannot lose salvation,” that is an assumption, not something the Bible actually says. And because it is an assumption, if it becomes our authority it can lead us away from the word of God.

In order to explain what I mean, let us think of two men. The first believes that he cannot lose salvation. The second believes that God will keep him from losing salvation. On the surface it might look like they believe the same thing. However, when the first man is challenged by the question, “Do you believe that once someone is saved he can live in sin and still be saved?” he replies, “Yes, once he is saved he cannot lose it no matter how much he sins.” In contrast, when the second man is asked, “Do you believe that once someone is saved he can live in sin and still be saved?” he will say, “Those who are kept ‘by the power of God’ are not going to live in sin (Jude 24, Galatians 5:17). And, if they do something that is wrong they will be grieved by that fact, and will humbly acknowledge their sin before God looking to Him for mercy and forgiveness (1John 1:9). For that reason, if someone who claims to be saved is living in sin he is deceiving himself, for the Bible plainly tells us that, ‘the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God, Do not be deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor sex perverts, nor homosexuals, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor foulmouthed revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were: but you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.’” (1Corinthians 6:9-11).

Gary Ray Branscome