How Big is Your God?-Part Five
Who Can Be Used By God?

Does God only use righteous, holy people, or is God Big Enough to use people who you and I believe fall short?

Before we speak on this subject I want to make our position clear in regards holiness. We absolutely believe that God calls every Christian to walk in purity and holiness. He is coming back for a beautiful bride, not a dirty tramp that thinks she can do whatever she wants and who enjoys "playing the field". As Christians we are given the power to have victory over sin and to reflect the character of Jesus.We also believe that you should be careful who you allow to minister to other people.

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Here are other passages that would make it appear that salvation is conditional.

Luke 8:13
"Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away.
These are individuals who received and believed, but then fall away. The Bible talks about a great falling away. Cannot fall away unless you were 'in the way'.

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Salvation and Conditional Statements in the Bible
Besides the 'if' statements in the Bible, there are verses that set conditions regarding salvation.

Acts 14:21-22
²¹ After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,
²² strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God."
If the disciples were being encouraged to continue in the faith, there must have been some chance of them not continuing in the faith-thus they could walk away from the faith. If they were disciples, they were born again.

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The following are some of the 'if' statements in the Bible. It would appear that these verses are saying that salvation is conditional.

Revelation 22:18-19 (NASB95)
¹⁸ I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book;
¹⁹ and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.
Notice that vs 19 does not say that the person never had any part of the tree of life. It says their part will be taken away. That would mean at one time they had been a part of the tree of life.

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More 'if' verses

Hebrews 3:6-8 (NASB95) 
¹ Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession;
⁶ but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house—whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.
⁷ Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE,
⁸ DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME, AS IN THE DAY OF TRIAL IN THE WILDERNESS,
Vs 1 makes it clear that Paul is speaking to Christians.
Vs 6 Must hold fast until the end. This would mean there are consequences if a person dos not hold fast.
Vs 8 A Christian can harden their heart and there are consequences.

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2 Timothy 2:11-13 (NASB95)
11 It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him;
12 If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us;
13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.
2 Timothy was written to and addressing Christians.
Verse 11 is addressing being born again.
Verse 12, if endure, would mean a person must choose to endure. If we deny Him, means a person can deny Christ. Thus if a person does not endure, they will ultimately deny Him. The end result is He will deny them-the lose of salvation.
Verse 13-some would argue that it is saying God is faithful to get someone into heaven regardless if they are faithless. That argument violates the context of this passage. The context is that God will remain faithful to His conditions found in verse 12.

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It has been awhile since my last post on this subject. Last Post
I have been very busy upgrading this ChristianBlogSites.

Calvinism and Arminianism-Extremes

When I use the above verses I am using them in general terms. Most Christians see these two groups representing those who believe in unconditional salvation and conditional salvation.

Calvinism Extreme
If one takes the unconditional salvation to the extreme here is what it would mean:
1. A person does not have free will. God predestines (decides) who will be saved or not saved. Ultimately a person has no choice in their salvation-if God does not want them saved, they will not be saved. If God wants them saved, they will be saved.

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