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Originally Posted by Ohio
Admittedly Ehrmann's situation is precarious. He has professed to be both agnostic and atheistic.
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According to 1 Cor 15:2 and Phil 2:16 the faith Ehrmann had in the past is in vain if he doesn't repent and believe before the end of his life.
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1 Cor 15:2
By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
Philippians 2:16
holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
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Zacharias is easier. He is a believer who will be judged by the Lord like the rest of us. (2 Cor 5.10) Paul also makes it clear that many of us will suffer loss and will be burnt, yet we will be "saved, yet thru fire." (I Cor 3.13-15)
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The context of 1 Cor 3:13-15 are ministers in Christ who are laboring over churches and their good works.
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1 Cor 3:8-9
The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
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The fire will reveal the quality of the work. If the work was done out of selfish motivations instead of love, the work will be burned up.
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1 Cor 3:13
their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.
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The passage distinguishes between the quality of a believer’s good works (gold, silver, precious stones versus wood, hay, straw) and does not address ongoing sinful behavior. It is about the fruitfulness and impact of their ministry, not habitual wickedness which is the sign of a mouth professing believer who is not truly born again.
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Hebrews 10:26-27
For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.
1 John 3:6
No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.
1 John 3:8
By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.
John 8:34-36
Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
Titus 1:16
They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.
Luke 13:2-3
And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
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