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The salvation we have received in Christ, which is based on the finished work of the cross, is complete. We don’t need to do anything to make it better or perfect. However, scriptures make us understand that under certain circumstances and situations, believers can forfeit this perfect gift given to us by God.
Persecution or tribulation is one of the main tools the enemy uses to cause us to deny or reject Christ and thus forfeit our salvation.
The young church Paul and his team left behind in Thessalonica was going through severe persecution when they were in Athens. The enemy tempted the believers to abandon their faith in Christ. Timothy was then sent to follow-up on them to establish them in the faith. Paul then wrote his first epistle to this church after Timothy’s mission in Thessalonica.This epistle reveals a very significant thing about how the enemy tempts us through persecution or tribulation for us to forfeit our salvation.
1 Thessalonians 31-5(NKJV)
1Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, 2 and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, 3 that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. 4 For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know. 5 For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, LEST BY SOME MEANS THE TEMPTER HAD TEMPTED YOU, AND OUR LABOUR MIGHT BE IN VAIN.
Why would their labour be in vain if Paul’s new converts had abandoned their faith in Christ or denied Him? Again, why will the enemy tempt believers to deny Christ? The enemy does this for the genuine believer to forfeit his salvation by denying Christ. This explains why Paul claimed that THEIR LABOUR WOULD HAVE BEEN IN VAIN. The phrase in vain means useless, fruitless, and worthless.
Believers are, therefore, admonished in the face of persecution to endure to the end. The Saviour denies us when we deny Him. The reality is that only those who endure to the end will be saved – Mk 13:9-13; 2 Tim. 2: 12.
The second thing the enemy uses to move us from the faith and cause Christians to forfeit their salvation is false doctrine. Genuine believers who follow the doctrines of demons can depart from the faith. We are therefore admonished to abide in the doctrine of Christ – 1 Tim. 4:1; 2Jn 9.
Finally, the deception of sin can harden believers for them to depart from the living God. Understand that we only share in all that Christ has for us IF ONLY WE HOLD OUR FIRST NEWBORN CONFIDENCE AND ORIGINAL ASSURED EXPECTATION FIRM AND UNSHAKEN TO THE END – Heb 3:12-14.
The several warnings given to us in the Bible clearly show that the believer can willfully and deliberately forfeit his salvation under certain circumstances, including those stated in this teaching.
GOD’S servant: Peter Collins Obeng
GRACE COVENANT GLORY
