Tag Archive | Saul

Was the apostle Paul, or Saul, a murderer?

Did Paul kill someone before he was converted?

There is no evidence for that Paul actually killed someone in his life, but he was still acting violently in his goal to pursue his religion which he had adapted to a Pharisaic variant where he was actively searching for converted Jews with the aim to get them imprisoned.

Paul first enters the Biblical scene with his original name Saul (later changed to Paul by Jesus himself), and this is when he consented to the stoning (to death) of Stephen in Acts 7-8. Paul did not participate in the stoning itself, but he did not decline to guard the clothes of those who did – which means that they trusted him in the matter, and he was on their side.

Consenting to someone being killed/sentenced to death (or “capital punishment”) is not the same as being a murderer himself. If that were the case, loads of people would be charged for being murderers today just for voting “yes” to capital punishment. Paul would just be one in the crowd. Still, due to Paul’s actions there were some disciples of Jesus who were put in jail and received a death sentence. Paul had no authority to decide about the sentence/punishment, but it certainly looks like he was not against capital punishment. We can read that he received documentation from the high priests which authorized him to persecute certain men and women (who sided with Jesus) to send them to Jerusalem to be punished. He did not hesitate to do this even if some of the captured ones would end up dying as a consequence.

Acts 7:56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Acts 8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

Acts 22:4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.5 As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.

Acts 26:9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

So Saul caused mayhem in the church, and he entered into houses and caused people to end up in prison. Below we can also see that he was breathing threats and murder against them, but we still do not have any actual evidence that his violent treatment caused anyone to be killed. He did not hesitate to cause converted Jews to be brought bound to Jerusalem because of their (as he thought) incorrect belief – but this does not necessarily mean that anyone ended up being killed. By his own admission, Paul was certainly ready to to persecute people even if some of them would risk their lives, but was this the actual outcome? Maybe there would be an increased risk of people dying if he had been able to pursue all his plans, but he was stopped by the famous vision of Jesus on his way to Damascus.

Acts 9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

So Saul/Paul was halted in his plans and chose not to pursue them after being converted. It is not certain that his aim was to get Christians killed, but he definitely wanted to prevent them from maintaining their faith and spreading their faith to others – through all means possible.

Even if there is no evidence for that Saul/Paul actually killed someone (he was stopped before reaching Damascus) was he not a murderer in heart since he approved of the stoning of Stephen, and probably would not mind if even more converted Jews were stoned to death?

1 John 3:15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

It is true that whoever hates his brother is a murderer and is therefore not saved, but this is a different matter than the subject of whether Paul actually killed someone physically. There are people who store hatred in their hearts towards others but who have not killed anyone physically whether directly or indirectly, and who might even refuse to do so if they had a chance. They would therefore not be considered murderers. (Likewise, not all people would consider someone a murderer just because he/she votes for capital punishment in his country.) God will nevertheless one day judge our hearts on judgment day, and the key question is if we have repented for our sins or not.

We can get some more information about Paul:

Phil. 3:6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

1 Cor. 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Acts 9:13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

Acts 9:21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?

Paul repented for his past sins and left the old man behind

Paul was converted, and when Ananias placed his hands on him and prayed for him, he was healed from his blindness and was filled with the holy Ghost:

Acts 9:4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

Acts 9:10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. — 15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

Just because Paul was “chosen” vessel does not mean he had no choice in the matter. Jesus might have chosen him because he understood that Paul would respond positively to the task, and because Jesus wanted his help to spread the gospel to the gentiles and to “shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake”. (I. e. Paul would get a similar treatment to the one that he himself had chosen to give others.) Remember the parable in Matt. 22 about the wedding feast for the King’s son, and where those who chose to go (and chose to dress properly) were called the chosen ones, rather than those on the guest list (list with invitations) who declined to go:

Acts 26:19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision

When Paul was converted, he changed his way of thinking and left the old man behind. He walked the talk, and the man who wrote most letters in the New Testament was no hypocrite. Paul expected the followers of Jesus to have a pure heart and a good conscience, and he admitted that he was formerly a blasphemer and persecutor of the church.

1 Tim. 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,—12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;13 Who was BEFORE a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

Paul acted the way he did because he thought it was the right thing to do. He acted ignorantly in unbelief. This can be compared to situations where a sinner is fully aware that his deeds are evil (perhaps through stealing from someone else, or perhaps through being involved in adultery and lies) and his own conscience confirms it. The sinner might not want to be treated the same way that he himself treats others, and this is evidence of a sinful heart. This is how God will judge our hearts:

Rom. 2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

Many Christians misunderstand Rom. 7 as though Paul is speaking about his life as a converted Christian, even though he is only expressing the thoughts of someone (like himself) left to himself under the law. In Rom. 7 he says for instance:

Rom. 7:14 But I am carnal, sold under sin

And in the following chapter he claims that those who are carnal will reap DEATH – which would include himself, unless he changed his life style:

Rom. 8:6 For to be carnally minded is DEATH

It is absolutely clear that Paul did in fact change his life style and expected fellow Christians to avoid sin just like he did:

I Cor. 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and SIN NOT

Rom. 6:⁶Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. — 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.-— — 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of SIN UNTO DEATH, or of obedience unto righteousness? — 21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.

Rom. 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.—:⁴That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.⁵For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.⁶For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.— ¹³For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.¹⁴For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Paul claimed that he (and his two coworkers) were holy, just and unblameable (which is the same as being “perfect”), and he also claimed to have lived “in all good conscience before God until this day”. A person who sins evidently does not live with a good conscience.

1 Thess. 2:¹⁰Ye are witnesses, and God also, how HOLILY and JUSTLY and UNBLAMEABLY WE BEHAVED OURSELVES among you that believe:¹¹As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,¹²That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory

Acts 23:1 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I HAVE LIVED IN ALL GOOD CONSCIENCE BEFORE GOD UNTIL THIS DAY.

Acts. 24:16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void to offence toward God, and toward men.

2 Cor. 1:¹²For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

2 Tim. 1:3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with PURE CONSCIENCE, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day

KUNG SAUL och Gud som ångrade att han valt honom till Israels Kung

Apr30

Kung Saul är en intressant person med tanke på att Gud faktiskt tyckte att det var en dålig idé att överhuvudtaget sätta en kung över Israel på den här tiden, och när han ändå gick med på folkets önskemål om en kung så ångrade han sedan att han valt just Saul.

Det börjar med Samuels söner som var domare och tyvärr vandrade bort från Gud på sina egna själviska vägar genom att ta mutor och förvränga lagen till sina egna fördelar. Det är möjligt att de inledningsvis klarade av sina uppgifter som rekorderliga domare eftersom det står att de “vek av” från Herrens väg, men helt klart är att de till slut inte lyckades motstå frestelsen att dra nytta av sina maktpositioner. Vissa människor undviker korruption just för att de inte ens har makten att utföra någon form av korruption, men om tillfälle ges så kanske de skulle ta chansen. Samuels söner tog chansen och fortsatte på den vägen när de en gång börjat. Självfallet var det ingenting som Gud såg på med blida ögon, och förmodligen inte heller deras far Samuel när han uppmärksammade oegentligheterna. Samuel hade gett domaruppdragen till sina söner när han själv blev för gammal för att klara det.

1 Sam. 8:1 När Samuel blev gammal satte han sina söner till domare över Israel.²Hans förstfödde hette Joel och hans andre son Abia. De var domare i Beer-Sheba. ³Men hans söner vandrade inte på hans väg utan vek av från den och sökte orätt vinning. De tog mutor och förvrängde lagen.

Folket krävde då en KUNG i stället. Samuel trivdes förmodligen inte alls med situationen gällande hans korrumperade söner men han tyckte ändå av många skäl (som framkommer i 1 Sam. 8: 10-17) att det var en dålig idé att lösa problemet genom att sätta en kung över Israel. Ett alternativ skulle ju kunna vara att försöka få sönerna att ändra sig eller att använda sig av andra domare. Framför allt skulle man kunna be GUD om hjälp. Samuel bad hur som helst till Herren som menade att folket faktiskt förkastade honom (Gud) genom detta önskemål om en kung, och att de ALLTID betett sig på detta avoga sätt. Självfallet är det alltid emot Guds vilja när folk förkastar och överger honom, och saker och ting sker inte alltid på det sättet som Gud önskar. Gud rådde dock Samuel att lyssna på folket i det här fallet, trots att det var ett riktigt uselt förslag som de framfört. Men han ville samtidigt att Samuel noga skulle se till att varna dem för vad slags framtid de hade att förvänta sig med en kung över sig, och det var alls inga sötebrödsdagar som Gud menade att de skulle få – utan den raka motsatsen (1 Sam. 8:10-17.) Det är ett bra exempel på att Gud ibland agerar beroende på hur människorna agerar, men människorna måste ta konsekvenserna för sina egna önskemål och handlingar.

⁴Då samlades alla de äldste i Israel och kom till Samuel i Rama ⁵och sade till honom: “Du är gammal och dina söner vandrar inte på dina vägar. Sätt nu en kung över oss till att styra över oss, så som alla folk har.” ⁶Det var i Samuels ögon ett dåligt förslag när de sade: “Ge oss en kung till att styra över oss.” Och Samuel bad till Herren. ⁷Då sade Herren till Samuel: “Lyssna till folket i allt de säger till dig. Ty det är inte dig de har förkastat, utan det är mig de har förkastat, så att jag inte skall vara kung över dem. ⁸Så har de alltid gjort, från den dag då jag förde dem upp ur Egypten ända till denna dag. De har övergivit mig och tjänat andra gudar och så gör de också mot dig.⁹Men lyssna nu till deras ord. Du skall allvarligt varna dem och förklara för dem vilka rättigheter den kung får som kommer att regera över dem.”

Samuel läser upp de många och långa varningarna om hur livet med en kung skulle bli och avslutar med “När ni då ropar på hjälp på grund av er kung som ni har valt åt er, då skall Herren inte svara er”. Trots det insisterade folket på att få en kung.

¹⁹Men folket vägrade att lyssna till Samuels ord och sade: “Nej, en kung måste vi ha över oss. ²⁰Också vi vill bli som alla andra folk. Vår kung skall döma oss. Han skall dra ut framför oss och föra våra krig.” ²¹När Samuel hörde allt detta som folket sade, framförde han det till Herren. ²²Då sade Herren till Samuel: “Lyssna till deras ord och sätt en kung över dem.” Och Samuel sade till Israels män: “Gå hem, var och en till sin stad.”

Därför valde Gud en kung åt Israel efter deras egna önskemål, och självfallet valde han en bra kandidat med god kvalitet efter sitt eget hjärta! (Läs mer…)

1 Sam. 9:1 I Benjamin levde en man som hette Kish, son till Abiel, son till Seror, son till Bekorat, son till Afia, son till en benjaminit. Han var en mäktig man. ²Han hade en son som hette Saul, en ståtlig ung man. Ingen bland Israels barn var vackrare än han. Han var huvudet högre än allt folket.

Gud såg till att Saul fick ett möte med profeten Samuel, och han lovade att Saul skulle bli den man som räddade Israel från filistéernas hand.

1 Sam. 9:¹⁵Dagen innan Saul kom, hade Herren uppenbarat för Samuel och sagt: ¹⁶“I morgon vid den här tiden skall jag sända till dig en man från Benjamins land, och honom skall du smörja till furste för mitt folk Israel. Han skall rädda mitt folk från fili steernas hand. Ty jag har sett till mitt folk, eftersom deras rop har kommit till mig.“¹⁷När Samuel fick se Saul, sade Herren till honom: “Se, där är den man som jag talade till dig om: Han skall styra mitt folk.”

1 Sam. 10:10 Samuel tog sin oljeflaska och göt olja på Sauls huvud, kysste honom och sade: “Se, Herren har smort dig till furste över sin arvedel.

Samuel profeterade över Saul och berättade att Herrens Ande skulle falla över honom, vilket är just vad som skedde.

1 Sam. 10: ⁶Herrens Ande skall komma över dig, och du skall profetera med dem och bli förvandlad till en annan människa. ⁷När du ser att dessa tecken inträffar, gör då vad du finner lämpligt att göra, ty Gud är med dig. ⁸Och du skall gå före mig till Gilgal. Se, jag skall komma ner till dig för att offra brännoffer och gemenskapsoffer. Du skall vänta i sju dagar, till dess jag kommer till dig och meddelar vad du skall göra.”⁹När Saul vände sig om för att gå ifrån Samuel, förvandlade Gud hans hjärta. Alla dessa tecken inträffade samma dag. ¹⁰När de kom till Gibea kom en skara profeter emot honom. Då föll Guds Ande över honom, och han profeterade mitt ibland dem.

Gud gav dem en kung som så här långt var lydig och gudfruktig, men Gud ville fortfarande att det skulle vara känt att folket faktiskt förkastat Gud.

1 Sam. 10:¹⁷Samuel kallade samman folket till Herren i Mispa. ¹⁸Han sade till Israels barn: “Så säger Herren, Israels Gud: Jag förde Israel upp ur Egypten, och jag befriade er från egyptierna och från alla andra kungadömen som förtryckte er.¹⁹Men i dag har ni förkastat er Gud, som räddade er ur alla era olyckor och svårigheter, och ni har sagt till honom: Sätt en kung över oss. Så träd nu fram inför Herren efter era stammar och era släkter.”—²⁴Samuel sade till allt folket: “Här ser ni den som Herren har utvalt. Det finns ingen som han bland allt folket.” Då jublade alla och ropade: “Leve konungen!”

Gud gav via Samuel folket ett VAL att lyda honom(Gud) eller inte, och berättade vilka konsekvenserna skulle bli beroende på vilket väg de valde:

1 Sam. 11:¹²Men när ni såg Nahas, ammoniternas kung, komma emot er, sade ni till mig: Nej, en kung måste regera över oss. Och ändå är det Herren, er Gud, som är er konung.¹³Se, här är nu den kung som ni har valt, som ni bad om. Se, Herren har satt en kung över er. ¹⁴Om ni fruktar Herren och tjänar honom och hör hans röst och inte är upproriska mot Herrens befallning, då skall både ni och den kung som regerar över er följa Herren, er Gud. ¹⁵Men om ni inte hör Herrens röst utan är upproriska mot Herrens befallning, då skall Herrens hand vara mot er liksom mot era fäder.

1 Sam. 11:²⁴Se bara till att ni fruktar Herren och tjänar honom troget av hela ert hjärta. Ty se, han har gjort stora ting med er. ²⁵Men om ni gör det som är ont, skall både ni och er kung förgås.”

Lydnad är bättre än offer, men tyvärr valde Saul det sistnämnda. Saul valdes som kung eftersom Gud ville ha en man till den uppgiften efter sitt hjärta. Ändå valde Saul till slut att gå sin egen väg.

1 Sam. 13:¹³Samuel sade: “Du har handlat dåraktigt. Du har inte hållit det bud Herren, din Gud, har gett dig. Om du hade gjort det, skulle Herren ha befäst ditt kungadöme över Israel för all framtid. ¹⁴Men nu skall ditt kungadöme inte bestå. Herren har sökt sig en man EFTER SITT HJÄRTA, och honom har han utsett till furste över sitt folk. Men du har inte hållit vad Herren befallt dig.“

Gud ångrade till slut att han överhuvudtaget valt Saul som kung, eftersom Saul blivit motsträvig och upprorisk.

1 Sam. 15:¹⁰Då kom Herrens ord till Samuel: ¹¹“Jag ångrar att jag har gjort Saul till kung, ty han har vänt sig från mig och inte utfört mina befallningar.” Det bedrövade Samuel och han ropade till Herren hela den natten.

1 Sam. 15:¹⁸Herren sände i väg dig och sade: Gå och förgör dessa syndare, amalekiterna, och strid mot dem, till dess du har gjort slut på dem. ¹⁹Varför har du då inte hört Herrens röst utan kastat dig över bytet och gjort det som är ont i Herrens ögon?”— ²¹Men folket tog av bytet får och nötboskap, det bästa av det som skulle ges till spillo, för att offra det åt Herren, din Gud, i Gilgal.” ²²Då sade Samuel: “Har Herren samma glädje i brännoffer och slaktoffer som att man hör Herrens röst? Se, lydnad är bättre än offer och hörsamhet bättre än det feta av baggar. ²³Ty upproriskhet är trolldomssynd och trots är synd och avguderi. Eftersom du har förkastat Herrens ord, har han också förkastat dig, så att du inte längre får vara kung.”²⁴Saul sade till Samuel: “Jag har syndat genom att inte lyda Herrens befallning och dina ord. Jag fruktade för folket och lyssnade till dem. ²⁵Men förlåt mig nu min synd och vänd tillbaka med mig, så att jag får tillbe Herren.”²⁶Samuel sade till Saul: “Jag vill inte vända tillbaka med dig, för du har förkastat Herrens ord, och Herren har också förkastat dig, så att du inte längre kan vara kung över Israel.”

Gud kan absolut ändra sina beslut (varför skulle vi annars be om vi inte kunde påverka), men sen finns det löften och beslut som Gud aldrig ångrar eller ruckar på, och han ändrar aldrig sin karaktär eller gudom. Gud håller sig till sina villkor om han valt att sätta några, och har han bestämt sig för en plan så håller han sig till den.

²⁸Samuel sade till honom: ” Herren har i dag ryckt Israels kungarike från dig och gett det åt en annan, som är bättre än du.²⁹Och den Härlige i Israel ljuger inte och ångrar sig inte. Ty han är inte en människa, så att han skulle kunna ångra sig.”

³⁵Samuel ville inte mer se Saul, så länge han levde, ty Samuel sörjde över Saul. Och Herren ångrade att han hade gjort Saul till kung över Israel.

Kung Saul hade först Herrens Ande, men nu fick han – pga sin hårda attityd – en ond ande från Gud. (Eller Gud tillät en ond ande att plåga Saul, vilket utmynnar i samma sak.)

1 Sam. 16:1 16 Herren sade till Samuel: “Hur länge tänker du sörja över Saul? Jag har ju förkastat honom, så att han inte kan vara kung över Israel. Fyll ditt horn med olja och ge dig av. Jag skall sända dig till betlehemiten Isai, ty en av hans söner har jag utsett åt mig till kung.”—¹⁴Men Herrens Ande vek från Saul och en ond ande från Herren plågade honom. ¹⁵Sauls tjänare sade till honom: “Eftersom en ond ande från Gud plågar dig, ¹⁶borde du, vår herre, säga till dina tjänare som står inför dig att de söker upp en man som är skicklig att spela harpa. När den onde anden från Gud kommer över dig, skall han spela och så skall det bli bättre med dig.”

Om nu någon vill försöka påstå att det var Samuel som påstod att Gud ångrat sig vad gäller Saul och inte Gud själv, så fungerar inte den teorin eftersom vi kan dels se Guds egna ord om saken här ovan, och dessutom talade Samuel alltid Herrens ord när han profeterade:

1 Sam. 3:¹⁹Och Samuel växte upp, och Herren var med honom och han lät ingenting av allt vad han sagt falla till marken. ²⁰Hela Israel, från Dan ända till Beer-Sheba, förstod att Samuel var betrodd att vara en Herrens profet. ²¹Och Herren fortsatte att visa sig i Silo, ty Herren uppenbarade sig för Samuel i Silo genom Herrens ord.

Andra intressanta verser som visar Guds förhoppningar och grusade planer, liksom människor som måste ta konsekvenserna för sina egna dåliga val.

Hes. 22:⁴Genom det blod du har utgjutit har du dragit på dig skuld, och genom de avgudar du har gjort har du orenat dig. Så har du påskyndat dina dagars slut och nu kommit till slutet av dina år. Därför skall jag låta dig bli till hån för hednafolken och till åtlöje för alla länder.—⁶Se, var och en av furstarna i Israel har använt sin makt för att utgjuta blod.—-⁷Hos dig föraktar man sin far och mor, och mot främlingen utövar man våld. Den faderlöse och änkan förtrycker man. ⁸Mina heliga ting föraktar du, och mina sabbater vanhelgar du. ⁹Falska angivare finns hos dig, villiga att utgjuta blod. På bergen håller man offermåltider, och man bedriver skamliga ting hos dig. — ¹¹Man bedriver avskyvärda ting med sin nästas hustru, och man orenar sin sonhustru. Andra kränker sin syster, sin fars dotter.¹²För mutor är man hos dig beredd att utgjuta blod. Du ockrar och tar oskälig ränta och plundrar din nästa med våld, och du glömmer mig, säger Herren, Herren.¹³Men se, jag slår ihop mina händer i vrede över den orätta vinning du håller på med och över de blodsdåd som sker hos dig.—²⁶Prästerna kränker min lag och vanhelgar mina heliga ting. De skiljer inte mellan heligt och oheligt och undervisar inte om skillnaden mellan rent och orent. De blundar för mina sabbater, och så blir jag vanhelgad mitt ibland dem.— ²⁸De profeter de har tjänar dem som vitkalkare. De skådar åt dem falska profetsyner och spår åt dem lögnaktiga spådomar. De säger: Så säger Herren,Herren, fastän Herren inte har talat.—³⁰JAG SÖKTE bland dem efter någon som skulle bygga en mur och ställa sig i gapet inför mig till försvar för landet så att jag inte skulle fördärva det. MEN JAG FANN INGEN. ³¹Därför utgjuter jag min vrede över dem och gör slut på dem med min förbittrings eld. Deras gärningar skall jag låta komma över deras huvuden, säger Herren, Herren.”

Hes. 18:¹⁴Men om han får en son som ser alla de synder hans far begår, och fast han ser dem inte handlar på samma sätt: — ¹⁷han förgriper sig inte på den behövande, ockrar inte och tar inte oskälig ränta utan lever efter mina föreskrifter och vandrar efter mina stadgar – då skall han inte dö genom sin fars missgärning utan skall förvisso få leva. ¹⁸Hans far däremot, som begick våldsgärningar och rövade från sin broder och gjorde sådant bland sina släktingar som inte var gott, se, han skall dö i sin missgärning.¹⁹Men ni frågar: “Varför skall inte sonen bära på sin fars missgärning?” Sonen har gjort det som är rätt och rättfärdigt. Han har hållit alla mina stadgar och följt dem, och därför skall han förvisso få leva. ²⁰Den som syndar skall dö. En son skall inte bära sin fars missgärning, och en far skall inte bära sin sons missgärning. Den rättfärdiges rättfärdighet skall vara hans egen, och den ogudaktiges ogudaktighet skall vara hans egen.

Biblical examples of individuals who lost their salvation

Sep27

Satan’s favorite teaching: “once saved always saved”

We don’t get ultimately “saved” until we have completed all of our days on earth and entered into the kingdom of God, but we can still express ourselves as being “saved” when we are presently “spiritually alive”.

Either Christians can lose their salvation, or they have a license to sin. Remember Satan’s lie in the garden of Eden when he successfully made Eve believe that she could afford to sin (disobey God) and still not die. HE LIED! The opposite is true – sinning will make true believers (just like Eve) be separated from God and lose their salvation. Not necessarily for eternity since we have the opportunity to repent, but if we spend our days sinning and “repenting” we have not truly repented. Unfortunately you will hear the false tune of Satan in many churches today when pastors teach that you can never lose your salvation once you have been born again. Be careful with such churches and websites that side with Satan’s false teaching of “once saved always saved”, because this false teaching could very well tempt weak Christians to be comfortable in their sins while believing they have a fire insurance. We cannot fool God and we cannot serve two masters and still be saved. Remember always the lie:

Gen. 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die

Do read the rest of my articles about the erroneous teaching of “once saved always saved” and the urgent need to live righteous lives. If you run into a website which teach you that you do not have to be righteous in order to be saved, and that it is enough to “feel sorry” and pretend that God does not see your sins but only the blood of Jesus, then you know you are in the wrong place.

1 John 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that DOETH RIGHTEOUSNESS IS RIGHTEOUS, even as he is righteous.

EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE IN THE BIBLE WHO LOST THEIR SALVATION

If Christians sin they might repent immediately, but they might also repent after a while (days, or years) or they might never repent. What if they die while living in the midst of adultery and lies? A Christian who serves two masters (mixes holiness and sin) is not saved. The cross we have to carry is not light as a feather. Some of those who lost their salvation (below) repented and returned back to God.

1) KING SOLOMON

Many wonderful promises were made to Solomon, but he ruined it.

1 Chr. 22:⁹Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days.¹⁰He shall build an house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.

1 Chr. 28:⁹And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.

1 King. 11:1 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites:²Of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.³And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.⁴For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.⁵For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.⁶And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father.⁷Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.⁸And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.⁹And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,¹⁰And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the Lord commanded.¹¹Wherefore the Lord said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.

Solomon aspired to kill Jeroboam, but Jeroboam fled to King Shishak in Egypt and stayed there until Solomon died. Seems to be a wise choice to stay away from someone who wants to kill you.

1 King. 11:⁴⁰Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. And Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.

There are many verses which tell us about all the wicked acts he did as an old man, but there are no verses that suggest that he ever repented. One would think that such an important piece of information as his repentance would be recorded somewhere if that is what he did. Even if he did repent, it still wouldn’t change the fact that he went from being righteous to being unrighteous. Had he died during his time in wickedness, he would have been spiritually lost for ever.

2) KING SAUL

It started out good for Saul, but eventually he ended up as God’s enemy. Here is the story in some Bible verses in chronological order.

1 Sam. 9:¹⁵Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,¹⁶To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.

1 Sam. 11:⁶And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.⁷And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.

1 Sam. 13:¹³And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the Lord have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.¹⁴But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.

1 Sam. 15:¹¹It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the Lord all night.

1 Sam. 16:14 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.

1 Sam. 18: ⁸And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?⁹And Saul eyed David from that day and forward

1 Sam. 22:¹⁸And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.¹⁹And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.

So Saul was a murderer, and when Saul only had one day to live Samuel confirmed that the Lord has departed from him and became his enemy.

1 Sam. 28:¹⁶Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the Lord is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?

3) KING DAVID

2 Sam. 12:9 Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is EVIL in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You KILLED him with the sword of the Ammonites. 10 Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.

1 Kings 15:5 Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, SAVE ONLY in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.

King David lived under the Old Testament, but murderers were considered evil also during this time. What did Ezekiel say about righteous people (much like David) who chose to sin? They would DIE for it (spiritually)! The Bible means what it says.

Ezek 18:²⁰The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.²¹But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.²²All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.²³Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?²⁴But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die. ²⁵Yet ye say, The way of the LORD is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?²⁶When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.²⁷Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.²⁸Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

Luckily King David REPENTED and restored his salvation. However, it took him about a year – the entire duration of Bathsheba’s pregnancy. Can unrepentant murderers enter the Kingdom of God? Not a chance. Heaven is not a place full of unrepentant sinners.

1 John 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that NO MURDERER HATH ETERNAL LIFE ABIDING IN HIM

Read more in blog article here

4) THE APOSTLE PETER

Peter assured Jesus that he (Peter) would never fall away but Jesus responded that he would deny him three times. If we deny Jesus, he will deny us. Unless we repent of course. Jesus was not lying to Peter when he said “whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven”. Peter DID deny him.

Matt. 10:³²Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.³³But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.—³⁸And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

Matt. 26:³¹Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.*) ³²But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.³³Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.³⁴Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

*) Zakaria 13:⁷Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.

Matt. 26:⁶⁹Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.⁷⁰But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.⁷¹And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.⁷²And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.⁷³And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.⁷⁴Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.⁷⁵And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

5) JUDAS ISCARIOT

Judas was a disciple and also a chosen apostle of Jesus, and in order to get such a position there are certain qualifications that one needs to reach. (Matt. 12:49-50, Luke 14:26-27.)

Jesus informed his twelve disciples (including Judas) what kind of power he had given them prior to sending them out to spread the gospel. Among other things they would be able to heal the sick and cast out unclean spirits. It’s not possible to cast out unclean spirits if you are a child of Satan yourself, since he doesn’t cast out demons from his own premises. If Judas hanged around with the other eleven disciples without performing any miracles, then SURELY the other guys would have NOTICED this at some point. But they didn’t seem to suspect that he was not like them at all, because later when Jesus explained that one of them would betray him, they just looked at each other and had no clue about who it might be (Joh 13:22). They had not seen any signs of Judas’ hostility.

Matt 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.—⁴Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.⁵These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:—⁸Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.—¹⁶Behold, I send you forth as SHEEP in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. —¹⁹But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.²⁰For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.—²²And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.—²⁵It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?—⁴⁰He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

We can also read that also Judas had a ministry and apostleship, but that he fell away from them.

Acts 1:²⁴And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,²⁵That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.

Judas was a friend who Jesus trusted.

Ps. 41:⁸An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more.⁹Yea, mine own familiar FRIEND, IN WHO I TRUSTED, which did eat of my BREAD, hath lifted up his heel against me.

Matt. 26: ⁵⁰And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus and took him.

He was promised a throne in heaven together with the other apostles.

Matt. 19:²⁸And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

His life ended in misery and it would have been better had he not been born. Of course, if Judas was predestined to betray Jesus, then he should have received a MEDAL instead of hell. What Judas did was nothing but wicked.

Luke 22:²And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.³Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.⁴And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.

Matt 26:²⁴The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.

6) DEMAS

We can know a person by his fruit, and Paul would of course have selected a coworker who showed lots of it. Paul instructed Timothy and Titus how to go about when appointing elders (by making sure the selected persons were truly qualified and had a high level of morality), so we can only expect that Paul obeyed his own instructions. In Acts 15:37 we can for instance read about when Paul rejected John Mark as a coworker due to his past. Demas started out as a coworker to Paul but forsook him later on.

2 Tim 4:¹⁰For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

To live in the world means to live in sin:

1 John 2:¹⁵Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.¹⁶For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.¹⁷And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever

James 4:⁴Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

7) SIMON, the sorcerer

Acts 8:¹²But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.¹³Then SIMON HIMSELF BELIEVED ALSO: and when he was BAPTIZED, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.¹⁴Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John

The information above, which Luke writes down for us in Acts, is that Simon BELIEVED and GOT BAPTIZED. That will absolutely make the reader understand Simon was SAVED. Or else Luke would have totally confused us with his information about Simon.

Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

But how did the story end? Peter tells him that he is on the way to perdition and that he needs to repent so that God PERHAPS will forgive him for his wicked acts. Peter tells Simon that his heart is NOT RIGHT, and of course that means he couldn’t have been “saved” (spiritually alive) during this particular time.

Acts 8:²⁰But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.²¹Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.²²Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.²³For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.²⁴Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.

8) HYMENAEUS AND PHILETOS + other christians in danger

1 Tim 1:18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;¹⁹Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made SHIPWRECK:²⁰Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

2 Tim 2:¹⁶But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.¹⁷And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;¹⁸Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and OVERTHROW THE FAITH OF SOME.¹⁹Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

9) CERTAIN DISCIPLES

John. 6:⁶⁶From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

10) YOUNG CHRISTIAN WIDOWS

1 Tim 5:¹¹But the younger widows refuse: for when they have BEGUN TO WAX WANTON AGAINST CHRIST, they will marry;¹²Having damnation, because THEY HAVE CAST OFF THEIR FIRST FAITH.¹³And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.¹⁴I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.¹⁵For some are already TURNED ASIDE AFTER SATAN

11) BELIEVERS WHO LOVED MONEY TOO MUCH

1 Tim. 6:¹⁰For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, THEY HAVE ERRED FROM THE FAITH, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.¹¹But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

James 5:20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

Proverbs 30:⁸Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:⁹Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

12) WEAK CHRISTIANS – when it comes to eating meat

1 Cor. 8:⁹But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.¹⁰For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;¹¹And through thy knowledge SHALL THE WEAK BROTHER PERISH, for whom Christ died?¹²But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.¹³Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

13) BISHOPS WHO ARE NOVICES

1 Tim 3:²A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;—⁶Not a novice, LEST being lifted up with pride HE FALL INTO THE CONDEMNATION OF THE DEVIL.⁷Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; LEST HE FALL INTO REPROACH AND THE SNARE OF THE DEVIL.

14) CHRISTIAN GALATIANS AND HEBREWS

Gal 1:⁶I marvel that ye are so soon REMOVED from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:⁷Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

Hebr. 6:⁴For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,⁵And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,⁶[If ]they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. (The word IF is not in the original text.).

15) SANCTIFIED CHRISTIANS WHO SIN WILFULLY, DESPISE THE SON OF GOD

Hebr 10:²⁶For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,²⁷But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.²⁸He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:²⁹Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

16) THE PRODIGAL SON

Salomo och Saul – hur de gick från rättfärdiga till orättfärdiga

Jun15

SALOMO

1 Krön 22:9Men se, åt dig skall födas en son; han skall bliva en fridsäll man, och jag skall låta honom få fred med alla sina fiender runt omkring; ty Salomo skall han heta, och frid och ro skall jag låta vila över Israel i hans dagar.10Han skall bygga ett hus åt mitt namn; han skall vara min son, och jag skall vara hans fader. Och jag skall befästa hans konungatron över Israel för evig tid.

1 Kon 11:1Men konung Salomo hade utom Faraos dotter många andra utländska kvinnor som han älskade: moabitiskor, ammonitiskor, edomeiskor, sidoniskor och hetitiskor,2kvinnor av de folk om vilka HERREN hade lagt till Israels barn: »I skolen icke inlåta eder med dem, och de få icke inlåta sig med eder; de skola förvisso eljest förleda edra hjärtan att avfalla till deras gudar.» Till dessa höll sig Salomo och älskade dem. 3Han hade sju hundra furstliga gemåler och tre hundra bihustrur. Dessa kvinnor förledde hans hjärta till avfall. 4Ja, när Salomo blev gammal, förledde kvinnorna hans hjärta att avfalla till andra gudar, så att hans hjärta icke förblev hängivet åt HERREN, hans Gud, såsom hans fader Davids hjärta hade varit. 5Så kom Salomo att följa efter Astarte, sidoniernas gudinna, och Milkom, ammoniternas styggelse. 6Och Salomo gjorde vad ont var i HERRENS ögon och följde icke i allt efter HERREN, såsom hans fader David hade gjort.7Salomo byggde nämligen då en offerhöjd åt Kemos, moabiternas styggelse, på berget öster om Jerusalem, och likaså en åt Molok, Ammons barns styggelse. 8På samma sätt gjorde han för alla sina utländska kvinnor, så att de fingo tända offereld och frambära offer åt sina gudar. 9Och HERREN blev vred på Salomo, därför att hans hjärta hade avfallit från HERREN, Israels Gud, som dock två gånger hade uppenbarat sig för honom,10och som hade givit honom ett särskilt bud angående denna sak, att han icke skulle följa efter andra gudar, ett HERRENS bud som han icke hade hållit.11Därför sade HERREN till Salomo: »Eftersom det är så med dig, och eftersom du icke har hållit det förbund och de stadgar som jag har givit dig, skall jag rycka riket ifrån dig och giva det åt din tjänare.

1 Krön 28:9 Och du, min son Salomo, må lära känna din faders Gud och tjäna honom med hängivet hjärta och med villig själ; ty HERREN rannsakar alla hjärtan och förstår alla uppsåt och tankar. Om du söker honom, så låter han sig finnas av dig, men om du övergiver honom, då förkastar han dig evinnerligen.

Salomo försökte att döda Jeroboam, men Jeroboam flydde till Egypten, till kungen Shishak, och stannade där tills Solomo dog (1 Kon. 11:40). Det verkar onekligen om att Solomo inte omvände sig, och det finns inga verser om att så skulle vara fallet. Även om vi skulle anta att Salomo omvände sig under sin sista timme så ändrar inte detta på det faktum att han tidigare i sitt liv helt klart gick från rättfärdig till orättfärdig och därmed från frälst (på det sätt som människor i GT kan bli frälsta) till ofrälst. Hade Salomo dött under sin tid i synd hade han inte kommit in i Guds rike.

KUNG SAUL

Utvald av Gud att vara ledare över sitt folk. Gud sade:

1 Sam 15:11»Jag ångrar att jag har gjort Saul till konung, ty han har vänt sig bort ifrån mig och icke fullgjort mina befallningar.»

1 Sam 22:18 Då sade konungen till Doeg: »Träd du fram och stöt ned prästerna.» Edoméen Doeg trädde då fram och stötte ned prästerna och dödade på den dagen åttiofem män som buro linne-efod.19Och invånarna i präststaden Nob blevo slagna med svärdsegg, både män och kvinnor, både barn och spenabarn; också fäkreatur, åsnor och får blevo slagna med svärdsegg.

1 Sam. 18:8Då blev Saul mycket vred, ty det talet misshagade honom, och han sade: »Åt David hava de givit tio tusen, och åt mig hava de givit tusen; nu fattas honom allenast konungadömet.»9 Och Saul såg med ont öga på David från den dagen och allt framgent.

Så Saul var alltså en mördare, och när Saul endast hade en dag kvar att leva så sade Samuel till honom:

16Men Samuel svarade: »Varför frågar du mig, då nu HERREN har vikit ifrån dig och blivit din fiende?

Det finns ingen vers om att Saul omvände sig, och han tog till och med sitt liv, vilket inte är Guds vilja. Vår frälsning är avhängigt hur vi lever och vi kan gå miste om Guds rike om vi lever i synd.