Usenet group: alt.fan.jesus-christ From a thread titled "Eternal Security":

Speaker 1: "The main question here seems to be: Are we saved by faith or by works? . . . I've been taught that salvation comes through faith, and good works are only an illustration of that faith . . . Yet the authors of some of the postings say that one whose life does not pour forth good works was not truly saved (or at least thatıs what I understand them to be saying). No one is perfect in following the Lord, so no one can be doing good all the time. Where do you draw the line between one whose good works are 'enough' and one whose good works are not?"

Speaker 2: "Amen!"

Speaker 3: "You make an interesting point on works. Your works would never be good enough . . . That's why Christ died. Either his death was a big enough sacrifice or it wasn't. Once Christ chose, he decided to finish the good work in you."

Speaker 4: "Can anyone show me a verse that says that we can lose our salvation for any reason?"

Speaker 5: "Hebrews 6 discusses this . . . However, if you are actually concerned about such a thing, I urge you to remember the overwhelming thrust of the Biblical text insists that there is no way we can ever be separated from God's love. One verse should not cause you stress!"

Speaker 6: "You believe that something you do (or don't do) makes you worthy of salvation. The gift of grace is free, we can't do anything to deserve that gift. God gave us his Son as a sacrifice because he loved us so much. All he asks is that we believe. You can go on making yourself miserable thinking you are saved-lost-saved-lost-saved and lost again. I take comfort in my belief that God's plan of salvation is PERFECT, I am not!! I don't have to be. Thanks for listening!"

Speaker 7: "The whole idea of forgiveness has changed since the time of the VERY early church. After the persecution ended, the policy of penance took on greater prominence. The point is that there is still an argument about the ability to lose one's salvation. I think that if God only gives us one shot, then we'd better get ourselves some asbestos long-johns. Does God's love have limits? Can God's grace run out? How far is too far? Sorry to answer questions with questions, but I hope this is food for thought."