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My question is related to
eternal security.

In one of your responses,
I read there is no way we
can be "unsaved".

However, several passages
in the Bible warn against
falling off or having to
" work out our salvation"
(Philippines 2:12),

1/2

or "save ourselves through
continuing in the doctrine"
(1 Timothy 4:16),
or loosing the reward
(2 John 1:8),
even the book of Revelations
mentions
"taking away the part from
the book of life"
(Revelations 22:19).

2/2
cont

These passages and many
others show that one may
loose his reward if he falls off. As a saved person,
I will still sin because
of my human nature.
However in 1 John 3:9,
the apostle says that
whoever is born of God
does not sin and
cannot sin.

This is a bit confusing too.

cont

Suppose after I am saved,
I sin and die
before confessing my sins
committed before I die,
what will happen?
Will I loose my reward?

Answer to Question

You've asked a very
complex question,
but let me try to
summarize it in my answer.

First of all, remember
this principal.

Salvation is a free gift,
while rewards are something
you earn.

So if a passage is exhorting
us to work,
it can't be speaking about
salvation
because there's no work
we can do to earn it
or keep it.

It's unfortunate that the
translators used the word
"work"
in Philippines 2:12
because the idea is more
one of making a deal
or coming to a resolution,
like working out a problem
with someone.

1/2

The very next verse shows
who is really working.

"It is God who works
in you to will and act
according to His good purpose."

Earlier in the same letter,
Paul had written that
"He who began a good
work in us will carry it
on to completion."
(Philippians 1:6 ).

Besides, the clearest
passages on salvation
all tell us we're saved
because of what
we believe,
not because of how
we behave

( John 3:16, John 6:28-29,
John 6:40, Romans 10:9,
Ephesians 2:8-9,
Titus 3:4-7 )

In 1 Timothy 4:16,
Paul was admonishing
Timothy the Pastor
to make sure he always
taught sound doctrine
because his followers
depended on Him for
the truth that would
lead them to salvation, too.

The best argument for
making sure you fully
understand the context of
a passage is the one
you cite using 1 John 3:9.

If anyone born of God
cannot sin, then who
among us is saved?
We all continue to sin.

Armed with the clear promise
of guaranteed salvation
from Ephes. 1:13-14 and
2 Cor. 1:21-22,
and knowing that God's
word cannot contradict
itself,
we have to conclude
that John was dealing
with a specific sin,
not a general condition.

And he was.

1/2

His letter was a warning
against the sin of Gnosticism.

No one who is born again
can believe in it.

cont

And if he was speaking against all sin in general,
he wouldn't have included
our remedy for sin in
1 John 1:9,
because people who
aren't sinners
don't need reassurance
that confession
brings forgiveness.

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