Romans 11:17-22 - And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, "Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in." Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. ~ Note: That, my friend, is conditional. I suggest that you continue in His goodness that led you to repentance (Rom. 2:4), and set you free from the bondage of sin (Rom.6:16-22); or else God just might cut you off from being in Christ. This passage shows the Christian's responsibility to remain in the Lord's goodness by standing by faith. You stand by faith certainly implies willful cooperation with God.
1 Corinthians 3:16,17 - Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. ~ Note: The word temple is a metaphor. It means the spiritual temple consisting of the saints of all ages joined together by and in Christ. So ourselves are the temple with the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. To defile the temple means to lead away from the state of holiness in which you ought to abide. Then God will destroy you and you will perish. Some people want to think the word temple here is only about a church building. But the truth is that the word temple refers to the individual believer just like in 1 Corinthians 6:19. God does not destroy and to make perish a church building. The word states God will destroy him, not it. What, you think God is going to make the building catch on fire and burn it down to destroy it? No way is this about a building. It is about each of our own individual spiritual lives that God can make perish.
1 Corinthians 9:27 - But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. ~ Note: Paul was talking about being disqualified to receive the prize of the imperishable crown (received in eternal life) as the 2 previous verses in the Bible explain. Instead of disqualified in the NKJV, the KJV has castaway. It also means reprobate, rejected, not standing the test, not approved, that which does not prove itself such as it ought. Other times the word (the Greek word adokimos) is used in the NT, it's talking about the lost (2 Cor. 13:5-7 , 2 Tim. 3:8 , Titus 1:16). So since Paul was aware of the danger of not being approved and becoming lost, we also should be careful. Paul was being careful by when he disciplined himself and brought his body into subjection. That means he made himself to be a slave subject to stern and rigid discipline.
1 Corinthians 10:1-12 - ... I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea... and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play." Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. ~ Note: The word for fall also means to fall under judgment, come under condemnation, to fall out, to fall from i.e. perish or be lost, to fall from a state of uprightness, come to an end, disappear, cease. That's definitely a loss of salvation.
1 Corinthians 11:31,32 - For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. ~ Note: To judge ourselves also means to be at variance with one's self, hesitate, doubt. So think about it and be careful of what you do. The word for chastened also means to punish in order to correct by the afflictions of evils and calamities. So if life seems a misery and you're going through extreme misfortune that brought great loss and sorrow, then it might be God at work causing that so you don't lose your salvation. The word for condemned also means to be given judgment against, damned. Surely that means God corrects and punishes us so that we don't go to hell with the lost people. The word world here also means the ungodly multitude, the whole mass of men alienated from God, and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ. So that proves this passage of Scripture applies only to saved people and not the lost people as well. God does this for our betterment so that we don't become lost.
If hard times make you depressed knowing the previous Scripture should give some relief because we know its for the good. Here's some more good news: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God - 2 Cor. 1:3,4. Comforts also means to encourage, strengthen. The word tribulation here also means oppression, affliction, distress, burden. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ - 2 Cor. 1:5. Sufferings also means misfortune, calamity, evil, affliction. So that's just like what the chastening of the Lord is in 1 Cor. 11:32. Consolation also means exhortation, admonition, encouragement, comfort or refreshment. So be of good cheer because God will comfort us even though life may be tough. ~ Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation - 2 Cor. 1:6,7.
1 Corinthians 15:1,2 - Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you -- unless you believed in vain. ~ Note: The word for if is a primary particle of CONDITIONALITY meaning if, whether. So clearly it makes being saved CONDITIONAL. The phrase hold fast also means retain from going away, to keep secure, keep firm possession of. The word for in vain has the idea of failure. It also means without a cause, inconsiderably, without success or effort. So obviously our believing in the word of God can fail. We must keep believing the word of God and hold on to that word by letting it be real in our lives.
Galatians 5:4,7 - You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law (the O.T. law); you have fallen from grace... You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? ~ Note: The KJV has Christ is become of no effect unto you. The Greek words are apo and katargeo. Apo also means of any kind of separation of one thing from another by which the union or fellowship of the two is destroyed. Katargeo also means destroy, loose, to cause a person or thing to have no further efficiency, to cause to cease, put an end to, do away with, annul, abolish. The word for fallen from also means to fall from a thing, to lose it, to perish, and to fall powerless, be without effect regarding of the divine promise of salvation. Obviously those who have fallen from grace were running well (the race of faith, 2 Tim. 4:7) and obeying the truth at some earlier time, but then they fell from grace.
Philippians 2:12,13 - Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. ~ Note: The verb for work out also means to perform, accomplish, achieve, to fashion i.e. render one fit for a thing. Either way you look at it, this is something that we are told to do. While Christ purchased our salvation and offers it to us as a free gift, there still is a part that we must do if salvation is to be completed in our case. The way trembling (tromos) is used with fear (phobos) here, it means used to describe the anxiety of one who distrusts his ability completely to meet all requirements, but religously does his utmost to fulfill his duty. This Scripture is a warning that salvation is never ultimately guaranteed, but must be worked out. If we are guaranteed entry into heaven, then it makes no sense for the need to work out our salvation. The loss of rewards doesn't produce fear and trembling, for how bad can heaven be? But this Scripture is not about rewards, because it says salvation. So hold on to your salvation through faith and work it out with fear and tremblng before our awesome God who is the One energizing us to respond to His grace.
Colossians 1:22,23 - ...to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight -- if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel... ~ Note: This is conditional with the phrase IF indeed you continue. The word for continue also means to stay at or with, to tarry still, still to abide, remain, to persevere. This Scripture implies that one can stop having faith and move away from the truth of God's word. Don't stop! Stay strong in the faith. It is our responsibility to remain abiding in Christ.
1 Thessalonians 3:5 - For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain. ~ Note: The word for endure is forbear in the KJV. It also means to cover over with silence, to keep secret, to hide, conceal (of the errors and faults of others). So Paul couldn't keep quiet any longer. He had to ask them about their faith. The word for tempter and tempted also means to try or test one's faith, virtue, character, by enticement to sin. I know God is not playing games with us by putting this in His word if it can never really happen. I also know through experience, and because it is right there in His word.
1 Thessalonians 3:8 - For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord. ~ Note: Surely the word if makes this conditional. The word for stand fast also means to stand firm, to persevere, to persist, to keep one's standing. This is definitely our responsibility to be firm and persevere in the Lord.
2 Thessalonians 2:3 - Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day (the return of Christ) will not come unless the falling away comes first... ~ Note: The falling away is not a so-called Pre-Trib rapture as some people think. The word for falling away also means to forsake, defection, apostasy. This is about apostate Christians who rebel, defect, and fall away from God. In the tribulation, when more severe persecution comes, many believers will grow cold and abandon the faith. Only those who continue until their end will be saved.