Are God's Servants Saved?

[Dr. Shane]

Here is the story of two of God's servants. Notice neither of them are non-believers.

Luke 12:

36. And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.

37. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

38. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

39. And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.

40. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

41. Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?

42. And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?

43. Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

44. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.

45. But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;

46. The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

47. And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

[David Koot]

Hmmm . . . let me see, the title of this thread is, "Are God's servants saved?" Then you post the story about some who were not ready. Okay. First of all, I would say that there may be some misunderstandings about Paul's use of the word "saved." He does say, "By grace are ye saved through faith." And, elsewhere, he speaks of the fact that "you were saved," etc.

I understand Paul to be speaking of the fact that without Christ, we have no hope, and are condemned to eternal death. When we accept Christ, we are placed on the platform of grace (Rom. 5:1,2) and start on the road to heaven. Without salvation, we would not even be on the plaform. Although Paul uses the term, "you are saved," or "you have been saved," then, he also stresses the importance of walking the walk, and staying with Christ. See, for example, vv. 3 and 4 of Rom. 5, to the effect that we glory in tribulations, because tribulations produce perseverance, and perseverance proven character, and proven character hope. He also emphasizes the importance of staying faithful into Jesus comes, so that after leading others to Christ, he himself may not be lost.

Dave

[John317]

Hmmm . . . let me see, the title of this thread is, "Are God's servants saved?" Then you post the story about some who were not ready. Okay. First of all, I would say that there may be some misunderstandings about Paul's use of the word "saved." He does say, "By grace are ye saved through faith." And, elsewhere, he speaks of the fact that "you were saved," etc.

I understand Paul to be speaking of the fact that without Christ, we have no hope, and are condemned to eternal death. When we accept Christ, we are placed on the platform of grace (Rom. 5:1,2) and start on the road to heaven. Without salvation, we would not even be on the plaform. Although Paul uses the term, "you are saved," or "you have been saved," then, he also stresses the importance of walking the walk, and staying with Christ. See, for example, vv. 3 and 4 of Rom. 5, to the effect that we glory in tribulations, because tribulations produce perseverance, and perseverance proven character, and proven character hope. He also emphasizes the importance of staying faithful until Jesus comes, so that after leading others to Christ, he himself may not be lost.

Dave

I believe you're right, Dave. There's the argument between those who believe what I consider a dangerous doctrine, "Once saved always saved," and those, such as SDA, who believe that Christians are still on probation until just before Christ returns. That is really what the SDA doctrine of the heavenly sanctuary, or the Investigative Judgment, is about, and why it is so vital that we all have a personal understanding of what the Bible teaches about it.

A close friend of mine, Brad Williams, recently wrote an excellent book on this subject, entitled, The Silencing of Satan, The Gospel of the Investigative Judgment, which can be purchased or ordered at the Adventist Book Center. He provides the abundant Bible evidence for the Pre-Advent Judgment, and answers many of the objections raised by Desmond Ford, etc. He also discusses in depth the very question raised by Shane in the above post.

[Dr. Shane]

Quote:

the title of this thread is, "Are God's servants saved?" Then you post the story about some who were not ready. Okay. First of all, I would say that there may be some misunderstandings about Paul's use of the word "saved."

The passage of Scripture is about two types of servants - not one. Both are servants of God. The passage is taken from the gospel of Luke - not an epistle of Paul.

We are told that the wheat will grow with the tares and this passage seems to be consistant with that.

[David Koot]

Quote:

The passage is taken from the gospel of Luke - not an epistle of Paul.

Are you suggesting that Paul's teaching is not on point here?

Perhaps, although the parable of the wheat and tares seems to refer to two distinct classes of people, one class being the servants of the Lord, and the other being the servants of satan. That does not appear to be the case in this parable. You are suggesting that both types of servants are servants of God.

[Dr. Shane]

They were talking about this portion of Scripture on 3ABN Today lastnight.

I am not saying anything so much as I am asking questions.

"But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming... The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers."

Now this does seem to say this unworthy servant is a servant of the Lord. The phrase "The lord of that servant" refers to Christ, not Satan. And "will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers" seems to indicate this servant is indeed a believer.

Perhaps he or she falls into the same category as those in Matthew 7:22 that say, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?"

[David Koot]

The NT is overflowing with info that those who belive in Christ are saved. No talk of wait and see..that would be a cruel God, one that I could not believe in.

The NT teaches that we have been saved from hopelessness, from certain death. We have been saved in exactly the same sense that the Israelites were saved from bondage in Egypt, and slow but certain death. Also, like the Israelites, we are traveling on the road to the heavenly Canaan. So long as we follow the pillar of cloud, we are safe, and Jesus will lead us safely home. We may end up going around Mt. Sinai again and again, like they did. But the question is, will be stay with Jesus? All who do so, will receive eternal life. Until that time, we still have the option of turning back. Those who endure to the end will be saved.

[David Koot]

So, did God put us on probation to see if we are fit?

Fit? Interesting choice of word. I believe it was EGW who spoke of title to heaven and fitness for heaven. The earthly sanctuary illustrated the steps in getting ready for heaven. At the beginning of the process was the courtyard, in which were the altar of burnt offering and the laver--pointing to Christ's sacrifice, which opened the way to the holy places, and the purification from past sins.

The Holy Place experience is what we call sanctification. It contained the three elements of the Christian's spiritual life: the table of shewbread, pointing to the daily sustenance of the believer from Christ, through His living Word; the altar of incense, depicting the constant attitude of prayer; and the candlestick, illustrating the work of the HOly Spirit and the fruits of the Holy Spirit in the life, and in Christian witness.

The Holy Place experience was to prepare the believer for the Most Holy Place experience. In the MHP, evaluation took place. Had the believer availed himself or herself of the purification process in the courtyard and the HP? God is a holy God, and if we cherish sin, cling to sin, continue to knowingly practice sin, we cannot abide in His presence, in the Most Holy. It is up to us, in this life, with the help of God, to separate ourselves from our sins, and to experience the purification from sins which Jesus offers. All of that is considered and evaluated in the Investigative Judgment, in which the final decision is made as to who will go to heaven, and who will be lost.

Throughout thie entire process, our standing before God is based on the merits of Christ and His perfect life and atoning death. I think a big question in the IJ is, has the believer truly experienced the power of the risen Christ in his or her life? has the believer allowed Christ to change him or her into His own image? Has there been a change of heart, a cooperative effort with Divine agencies?

[Dr. Shane]

It seems the Bible teaches that not all of God's servants will be saved. That is to say there will be believers burning in the fires of hell. Now why is that? "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."(Matt. 6:24) Perhaps these servants of God that will find themselves burning in the lake of fire will be those that served God with a divided heart.

[Woody]

The only requirement for salvation is to Believe on the Name of the Lord and you will be saved. We are given that assurance. There is no doubt. The only doubt we can have is if we will continue to accept His gift of salvation and continue to believe on His name.

As far as Once Saved Always Saved ... The SDA church does believe that at the end of time we will no longer have a mediator and our decisions for or against christ will be sealed.

Once that happens it is a Once Saved Always Saved situation. Once you are saved ... you are sealed and no matter what you do ... you will still be saved.