Wolfgang wrote:
2 Corinthians 1:21,22 was quoted above as a supporting verse that a Christian can feel that his salvation is secure.
Wolfgang, when I talk about assurance of salvation, my meaning of assurance is not the same as yours. Assurance is a promise. Not a confidence or
feeling of certainty. Assurance of salvation is literally the promise of salvation. The promise from God that once He has saved someone, that person is eternally secure. Just because a believer may or may not have a feeling of assurance, is not relevant. The believer has the
promise of salvation from God.
Wolfgang wrote:
If someone thinks that the Holy Spirit mentioned in that verse is given by God to whoever wants it, unconditionally, well, what are you going to do about Acts 5:32 which says: " ...... The Holy Spirit, which God gave to those who OBEY Him ......" (New Simplified Bible)? Delete the verse? Claim it is
irrelevant? Claim the Bible does not mean what it says?
Wolfgang, obeying God for salvation is as simple as this:
John 6:29:
29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”
Wolfgang wrote:
Further evidence that receiving the Holy Spirit is well, I hate to say it among you guys, fairly conditional is Acts 2:38 which says: "REPENT, and ...... be baptized .....
Wolfgang, first, I believe you are using the incorrect definition of "repent". The meaning of repent here is "a change of mind". Specifically, a change of mind about who Jesus Christ is, and what he has done regarding your salvation.
Secondly, you are assuming that "baptized" in all contexts is referring to water baptism. When one repents, by changing his mind on who Jesus Christ is, and places his faith in Christ for salvation, then one is baptized by God with the power of the Holy Spirit. Water baptism is not the baptism that saves.
Thirdly, the context of Acts 2 is a specific instance of the Holy Spirit being given to those specific people for a purpose.
Wolfgang wrote:
It really does look like something needs to be repented of just to get the Holy Spirit in the first place, before you can start feeling assured of salvation. If you disagree with me, so be it. I am only quoting Scriptures.
It's convenient that you summed up your argument in this one sentence that shows your misunderstandings of the meaning of repent, and your misunderstanding that assurance is a feeling, not the correct meaning in this context, which is "promise".