Quote:
Originally Posted by Igzy
I don't think God wants us to go around wondering if we will end up going to hell after we've professed faith. I don't think that mindset is one of faith, I think it is one of fear, uncertainty and doubt. It's the FUD Christian gospel.
I don't think God is trying to trip me up. I think he plans to never let me go. You can believe in a God who is looking for reasons to flick you off like a booger if you want to. I don't believe in that kind of God. I used to, and let me tell you doing so didn't make me much of a testimony of anything other that being a head case.
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To some extent you can't blame us folks who are not as sure about our own salvation. There's quite a few passages in scripture where Paul admonishes us to have holy fear and desire our best to be blameless and innocent by the grace of God all within the context of salvation, perhaps because there are eternal consequences if we let our vigilance down from guarding our good deposit:
Philippians 2:12-16
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence,
work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15
that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 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.
Paul seems to have a fear of laboring in vain. Perhaps that's why it seems he's trying his best to instruct the Philippians of every spiritual safeguard to ensure he'll see his spiritual children in eternity?