“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” (1st Cor. 6:19)
We serve a strange Master, in comparison, if you will, to those who are in authority over us on this planet, for we are not forced to obey.
I personally believe that in many cases that is why some preach that we can either lose our salvation, have it removed from us, or willingly walk away from it, for in this world that is how it works. If you do not obey those you are employed by, you will be fired, or if you choose not to work diligently there, or even not show up for a few days without notice, you also will be let go.
For these that do not accept the truth of the assurance of everlasting salvation offered in Christ, no verses will change their mind, and throughout the decades I have found that all of them they offer that they believe speak of that removing or taking away of His grace, His eternal promise, are always taken out of context.
“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (John 10:28)
But He is a strange Master indeed, because He does not force those who are hid in His Son to obey.
As a nation, and in many individual cases, when disobedience was present in the children of Israel, punishment arrived, sometimes extremely severe, even unto death of the flesh. There is not in that same sense a “nation” of born again believers, we are not all in one location on the planet, yet one must contemplate this question, on an individual basis, those that serve the Living God, are we punished still for willful disobedience, and the more important question would be this, is the possibility of punishment from Him your motivating factor for serving Him?
The first question is easily answered.
“For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” (Heb. 12:6)
The second only you can answer, but in part it can be answered here.
“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” (John 15:7)
There are numerous verses in context in the Scriptures that speak of those who submitted fully to the will of God because they were afraid of Him and any possible punishments that may come upon them, not because they fear Him.
The fear of God is reverential trust, abiding love, truth and unquestionable faith, the knowledge that He alone is not only worthy of our worship and praise but allows and does everything in our lives because He loves us.
You’re never going to be fired from this job my friends, and those who understand these truths would never once give any continuing thought to ever quitting.
But He is not going to force you to serve Him, and for those who are truly born again, He will never have to.
We love Him who first loved us, and so we obey Him.
Our assurance has no basis on our works, it is based in Christ, we do not look at our works after salvation as proof of that salvation, but as acts of love. Our assurance has no foundation within ourselves, it is completely and totally in the Lord Jesus Christ.
“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32)
We who are hid in Christ are the only truly free people on this planet for we know that not only is every step we take being directed by our Father in heaven, but that our last step here will lead us into His eternal Kingdom.
There is a peace in these truths that passes all understanding. I pray you know it.
