Quote:
Originally Posted by Igzy
The free (gracious) gift of God is eternal life. But eternal life implies living forever. So if the gift is revoked, one was never given eternal life in the first place, because one didn't live forever. But the Bible says we were indeed given this gift. Therefore it cannot be revoked.
"For God's gifts and his call are irrevocable." Romans 11:29
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God also gifted the promised land to the Israelites, but they were expected to receive this gift by trusting in God's promises via walking by faith all the way into their everlasting inheritance. Many were called into this promise, but few were chosen. The Israelites who did not have faith in God that went beyond mere credence perished in the wilderness. God expected them to actually *believe* in him and not just intellectually acknowledge his existence.
From God's perspective he never revoked the gift because he is doing everything he can to deliver the good land to the Israelites despite their unfaithfulness.
Genesis 17:8
And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan,
for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.”
Many of the Israelites who perished would have had it better if they'd stayed in Egypt. At least they'd enjoy life a little even though they'd be slaves. In Luke 14, Jesus tells his followers to count the cost before deciding to follow him. He warned that if they weren't willing to give up their whole life to follow him, it wasn't worth it. It'd be better for them to return to the world and be slaves to their careers or whatever idols or lusts they lived for previously.
Regarding eternal life, Lordship salvation's view of eternal life is that it is something that can only be obtained *in* Christ Jesus. They look to John 15 as one of their major proof texts:
John 15:5-6
Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself;
it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and
the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
From their perspective, we will inherit eternal life as long as we remain in Christ since we cannot obtain eternal life by ourselves. David Pawson, a very listenable bible teacher and an Arminianist covers this in his talk here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy3tSIg7Gi0
The writer of Hebrews also alludes to this:
Hebrews 3:14
For we have come to share in Christ,
if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.
Since we can only obtain eternal life in Christ, we can only inherit eternal life if we endure to the end, just like the Israelites were expected to endure all the way into the promised land and conquer it by faith.
Matthew 24:13
But the one who endures to the end will be saved.