Can you clear it up for me...

[Faithandblood]

:help: I am new to Lutheran theology. I have been studying the small catechism and I have been reading the LCMS website etc...
But I having trouble understanding the Lutheran teaching of the security of the believer. I have come from Arminianism to the belief that I can not loose my salvation. Can you explain to me the Lutheran view. I talked to a Pastor who said faith is a living thing and like all living things it can die. So if you could help?
Thank you in the Name of He who saves us completely, Jesus the Christ!

Charles:kiss:

[LilLamb219]

Since you've been studying what Lutherans believe then you must have come across Law and Gospel somewhere along the way. The Law shows us what we are to do and not do and always accuses (but doesn't only accuse us) and the Gospel shows us what God does for us and most importantly for our salvation (He does it all 100%).

The Law within scriptures tells us that we can lose faith and fall away. The Gospel tells us that God is always with us and no one can snatch us out of His hands. Both are true, for both Law and Gospel come from God and He does not lie. We are to be reminded that we can fall from faith, but when in despair, God will send His Gospel message to us for assurance (or reassurance).

Edited to add, Welcome to the Board and I'm happy you've taken an interest in Lutheran theology :)

[Faithandblood]

Thank you VERY MUCH!!!!

[RayJGentry]

keep asking questions. we're all here to help and there are many knowledgeable and kind people in the forum. some of us smell funny (like me) but you don't have to deal with that online! welcome to CF and to Theolgica Crucius! God bless and we look forward to hear from you, FaithandBlood!

[Jim47]

:help: I am new to Lutheran theology. I have been studying the small catechism and I have been reading the LCMS website etc...
But I having trouble understanding the Lutheran teaching of the security of the believer. I have come from Arminianism to the belief that I can not loose my salvation. Can you explain to me the Lutheran view. I talked to a Pastor who said faith is a living thing and like all living things it can die. So if you could help?
Thank you in the Name of He who saves us completely, Jesus the Christ!

Charles:kiss:



LiL Lamg got a real good start on answering your question, but I will add my 2 cents.

Quite a few years ago I began a pretty intensive bible study, at least in abilities it was intensive. As I read the bible and particularly the gospel I became confused, because Jesus said that we should keep the law, or at least that is what I believed, but I knew that I could never keep it, as I am a sinner. My answer and comfort came in the epistles. What I found was that God forgives us inspite of our sin, for Jesus sake, if we only believe in Him.
Eph 2:1 As for you, you were dea
d in your transgressions and sins,
Eph 2:2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
Eph 2:3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
Eph 2:4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
Eph 2:5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
Eph 2:6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
Eph 2:7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
Eph 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
Eph 2:9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
Eph 2:10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

To make it short and simple, our comfort comes in knowing that it is not what we do that assures us of salvation. Our comfort comes in knowing that Jesus paid the price in full just as LilLamb said. Therefore, our assurance is in Jesus and the work He has done, not in our own ability to keep the law and do good works. Just as Ephesians above states. Another good epistle to read is Romans.

[Daniels]

:help: I am new to Lutheran theology. I have been studying the small catechism and I have been reading the LCMS website etc...
But I having trouble understanding the Lutheran teaching of the security of the believer. I have come from Arminianism to the belief that I can not loose my salvation. Can you explain to me the Lutheran view. I talked to a Pastor who said faith is a living thing and like all living things it can die. So if you could help?
Thank you in the Name of He who saves us completely, Jesus the Christ!

Charles:kiss:

Welcome To Cf.
Romans
8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be
conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn
among many brethren.
8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and
whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them
he also glorified.
8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can
be against us?
8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all,
how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

[MORTANIUS]

We are not immune from the punishment of Hell if we resist and reject our Heavenly Father.

The 'once saved, always saved' mentality is dangerous to believe if one does not live accordingly to what our Lord Jesus Christ has instructed onto us through his disciples and through the Good Book!

I know plenty of people (myself included) that are Lutheran, and yet are not living entirely the way we should be in Gods eyes.

Its not how we enter this world that defines us as saved, but how we leave it!

May the Lord Bless and Keep you.

[Faithandblood]

Thank you all for your words and thougths!

In the Name of Jesus, Thank you.
Charles