Am I a Sucker for Giving?

Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard. -- Proverbs 21:13

On a recent trip to Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay, Mari and I encountered a large number of poor people. Before we moved here, we knew that there was wide-spread poverty in the country. Our trip home from the airport confirmed this visually, and our first trip back to Montevideo brought the fact up close and personal.

There were poor people at almost every leg of the walking tour, and after we had lunch, we were approached by several children asking for food. I think we gave something to everyone we encountered.

The natural mind wonders if the beggar is instead a con artist. We've probably all heard stories of beggars who were actually very well off, collecting a good living from begging. Or perhaps we wonder if they are just lazy or that their impoverished condition is their own fault.

This begs several questions: How should a Christian look at this problem? Am I a sucker for giving money or food to beggars? Is there a limit to such a practice?

God's Concern for the Poor

Even a cursory examination of the Law reveals God's concern for the poor and defenseless of this life:

And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field, neither shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. And you shall not glean your vineyard, neither shall you gather [every] grape of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and stranger: I [am] the LORD your God. -- Leviticus 19:9,10

If there be among you a poor man of one of your brethren within any of your gates in your land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your poor brother: -- Deuteronomy 15:7

The thought is carried into the Psalms and Proverbs:

You have seen [it]; for You behold mischief and spite, to requite [it] with your hand: the poor commits himself unto You; You are the helper of the fatherless. -- Psalms 10:14

He that has pity upon the poor lends unto the LORD; and that which he has given will He pay him again. -- Proverbs 19:17

Rob not the poor, because he [is] poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them. -- Proverbs 22:22,23

And also in the New Testament:

For he shall have judgment without mercy, that has shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoices against judgment. -- James 2:13

The Example of Christ

The Lord Jesus did not come as a rich man, but as a carpenter's son from Nazareth -- which by many accounts was a city of little value ("Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" John 1:46). Christ did not spend His time on Earth building up a fortune.

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. -- Philippians 2:6-8

Much of modern Christianity is beguiled by prosperity doctrine, sending money to the man on television so that large churches can be built, salaries can be paid, and all manner of riches bestowed upon the speaker. Superstitious giving is performed with the expectation of receiving the "hundred fold" return. These churches grow large not because they are holy and blessed, but because they are worldly. This is decidedly not the teaching of Scripture:

Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw yourself. -- 1 Timothy 6:5

The words of Peter to Simon the sorcerer should be a solemn warning to all those that teach and follow such worldly doctrine:

Your money perish with you, because you have thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. You have neither part nor lot in this matter: for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. -- Acts 8:20-22

Back to our Lord:

And Jesus says unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air [have] nests; but the Son of man has not where to lay [his] head. -- Matthew 8:20

The example of Christ was not to pursue donations, heap up riches, and make friends with the wealthy, but rather to keep company with publicans and sinners (Matthew 9:1), the sick and the poor.

Well Wishes are Not Enough

It is tempting to avert one's eyes from poverty, hoping that things will get better for the poor. But real faith needs to take action and well-wishing is not enough.

If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be [you] warmed and filled; notwithstanding you give them not those things which are needful to the body; what [does it] profit? -- James 2:15,16

The answer of course, is that well-wishing "profits nothing" both for the poor, and for the believer (James 2:14). If we believe what the Bible says, want to be Christlike, and also put our faith into action -- we will help the poor if we are able.

He that has a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he gives of his bread to the poor. -- Proverbs 22:9

Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely you have received, freely give. -- Matthew 10:8

How Do you Know if Someone is Really in Need?

The natural mind makes us feel we must somehow qualify the need. Who needs the most? Who needs the least? What is this person's income? Why can't they get a job? Or why doesn't their job pay enough? Are they really crippled? Are they really sick? How destitute is this person, really? Is it somehow their fault that they are so poor?

And as [Jesus] passed by, he saw a man which was blind from [his] birth.

And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither has this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. -- John 9:1-3

We are like this because it is our nature and because the sins of avarice, wastefulness, and laziness are pervasive.

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. -- Matthew 24:12

This is why government assistance programs come in to existence: Because it is easier to offload the responsibility of "qualifying need" to a non-descript bureaucracy rather than give in faith. Slowly and surely, government replaces compassion with regulation, replacing God as our source of hope and freedom.

But the answer to this question is: It doesn't matter. It's not my job to examine or criticize the reasons for the need, or to determine whether the person is a liar. The Bible teaches us to be compassionate and generous toward the poor, to lend "hoping for nothing" back (Luke 6:35), that helping the "least of these" in the world is the same as helping the King of Kings Himself (Matthew 25:40,45).

What if I really am being used or taken advantage of by giving to people in the street? As sinners saved by grace, are we not abusers of the Lord and His Christ? It is "thankworthy" to "endure grief, suffering wrongly" because this is the example of Christ (1 Peter 2:19,21).

God commends His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. -- Romans 5:8

Where Does it Stop?

One might wonder if there is any limit to giving. Should I give until I have nothing left? The short answer is "no".

For if there be first a willing mind, [it is] accepted according to that a man has, [and] not according to that he has not. For [I mean] not that other men be eased, and you burdened: But by an equality, [that] now at this time your abundance [may be a supply] for their want, that their abundance also may be [a supply] for your want: that there may be equality: -- 2 Corinthians 8:12-14

I need a "willing mind" and a "cheerful" heart (2 Corinthians 9:7), but I also need to be able to pay my own bills and help my own family (1 Timothy 5:8). In Uruguay, the exchange rate hovers around 20 pesos to 1 U.S. dollar. A few dollars here and there isn't going to break the bank, and in the case of the children -- a couple of dollars fed five kids.

But I think the question of "where does it stop" generally comes from selfishness rather than a sense of practicality. How much stuff do I need? How much money? What is too lavish or too little in my own life? How can I live a good life and still help others? In this way, the question of helping the poor becomes the thoughtful process for living our own lives in a sensible, .

For Those that Don't Believe

If you don't believe in helping the poor or you haven't become acquainted with the Lord of all our substance (Acts 17:28, James 4:13-15), then I would encourage you to pick up a Bible and see what's inside.

Want to Read More on this Topic?

I suggest following up on the references above, and also have a look at Luke 6:27-36 where the treatment of your "enemies" is discussed and consider that if this is the treatment of enemies, how much better should be treat the poor?

Spiritual Lessons Learned from Moving to a New Country, Part 2: You Can't Take it With You

The Eyes of Man are Never Satisfied

It might be argued that rampant materialism has been the downfall of the U.S. economy. The bankers, in collusion with the government, have made it extraordinarily easy to "own" things on credit -- cars, homes, and even education can be "purchased" on credit. Never mind that the actual cost of ownership is many times the cost of the original item. Consumerism has made us debt slaves, serfs in neo-feudalism.

The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower [is] servant to the lender. -- Proverbs 22:7

The accumulation of "stuff" is judged to make one happy and is the measure of success in society. It's true that many things have intrinsic value in this life because they serve a useful purpose. A hammer, for example, is essential to a carpenter. Other things only have subjective value to the possessor. Books, for example. But I believe it is safe to say that, in general, we spend money on things we don't need and sometimes can't even afford. Why? It's human nature.

Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied. -- Proverbs 27:20

Now, it is good to enjoy the benefits of our work.

[There is] nothing better for a man, [than] that he should eat and drink, and [that] he should make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it [was] from the hand of God. -- Ecclesiastes 2:24

But Solomon says even this is "vanity" (Ecc 2:1). Consumerism for the sake of consuming is the process by which people are drained of both wealth and soul. And for what, exactly? More stuff.

We Will Leave this World with Nothing

During our preparation for the move, we realized just how much stuff we had that was of no value to us whatsoever. When the time came to pack up and leave, there was only a limited number of things we could take on the airplane and the rest had to find another home. The options were give-away, sell, throw-away, or storage -- and we used all four.

The idea that "you can't take it with you" sprang to mind. In this way, the move becomes like dying: We come into this world with nothing, and we will leave this world with nothing.

As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labor, which he may carry away in his hand. -- Ecclesiastes 5:15

Moving has given us a different perspective on material wealth. After literally laboring under the weight of our stuff for many weeks, we are now a lot more careful about the things we add to our household inventory. "Do we really need this?" is now a recurring question. We can have the rest of our personal possessions brought here on a ship, but what will happen to all of that stuff some day? I may die and leave it to someone else,

... wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others. -- Psalms 49:10

but in the end, it will all burn away:

Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat ... -- 2 Peter 3:12

What's the Point of it All?

Mankind has a tendency to believe that things will persist for ever, but both the thought and the fact is incorrect.

Their inward thought [is, that] their houses [shall continue] for ever, [and] their dwelling places to all generations; they call [their] lands after their own names. ... This their way [is] their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah. -- Psalms 49:11,13

I love my guitar. But both it and the music I record will be gone some day. My computer is essential to my work and I get the best one I can afford. But both it and my work will be gone some day. In the new earth, no one will talk about great business transactions or all the things they accumulated. How should we be behave, then? What is the purpose?

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust does corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust does corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: -- Matthew 6:19,20

For Those that Don't Believe

If you do not believe in "heavenly treasures" and are not acquainted with the Son of God, but you find emptiness in "things" and struggle with the purpose of life, then I would encourage you to pick up the Bible and see what's inside. Start with Psalm 49, then check out Philippians 4:11, Matthew 6:25-34 and all of Ecclesiastes, taking note of the sum-up in chapter 12.

Free KJV Bibles Available Again

After having to suspend operations after our move to Uruguay, I'm happy to announce that the bible give-away service at freekjv.org will resume starting in July. James Tyner stepped up to provide the necessary mailing services for the free bibles and we welcome him to our "team" -- which is now three people instead of two!

The freekjv.org site sees a lot of traffic including those looking to obtain a bunch of bibles at once. Since our operation is supported by the revenue from our family business, I have always said no, and cited the fact that God can and will provide for the needs He wishes to meet.

I have spoken a lot on the need to "let" God lead in giving and charity. He will provide us with what we need to do the work or the work is not to be done, and I was reminded of this when I had to "close" freekjv.org with no expectation of continuation. I was pretty sad to suspend the Free KJV service indefinitely because we have quietly and semi-anonymously given away a bunch of bibles. I was desperate, in fact, to see this service continue, but as time ran out to May 10th, it became obvious that it wasn't going to be possible to keep it going.

So I put up a "we've moved" message along with a "help wanted" in case anyone was willing to take over the shipping portion of the site. I didn't know if I would find any takers, but Mari and I agreed it was the reasonable thing to do. And after a while, a couple of people inquired. It wasn't right away, or "just in time". It was several months. In the mean time, I had to practice what I preach!

I am happy that we will be able to resume the bible give away, but more pleased that in His own time, the Lord provided, and made it possible for the service to continue. And if He hadn't? That would be okay, too. It would have to be okay. As the Head of His Body the Church (Ephesians 1:22, and others), it is His choice, and "forcing it" is not in our best interest. We have no "expectation of continuation" of anything in this life and we can't expect to be blessed just because we think we are doing something "good". David wasn't allowed to build the Temple. Jonah wasn't allowed to ignore the call to preach at Nineveh.

So then [it is] not of him that wills, nor of him that runs, but of God that shows mercy. -- Romans 9:16

It is God Who works in us "to will and to do His good pleasure".

Spiritual Lessons Learned from Moving to a New Country, Part 1: Of Permanance and Stability

Their inward thought [is, that] their houses [shall continue] for ever, [and] their dwelling places to all generations; they call [their] lands after their own names. Nevertheless man [being] in honor abides not: he is like the beasts [that] perish. This their way [is] their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah. -- Psalms 49:11-13

Our research on Uruguay started almost two years ago. We had been looking to move to a new country, we just had no idea where. My business allows me to work from anywhere that broadband Internet is available. We considered the Canadian Bush, the Australian Outback, the Tasmanian island, New Zealand, and various countries in Central and South America. But we felt most at home with the people and culture of Uruguay.

Questions Previously Unasked

When the actual process of moving started in late February of 2010, there were still many mundane things to consider. How do we maintain an address? How do we keep a local phone? And so on. But surprisingly, there were many thought-provoking moments where we were challenged in our faith and world-view. The first was about "leaving home", not only in the sense of leaving the country of our birth, but leaving our house, vehicles and other property.

What is Stability?

We all tend to think of those things around us as permanent and stable. Our parents and friends may live just down the road. The car starts up every morning. We've been living in this house for so many years. Though we know better, these things engender a feeling of permanence. Our lives seem stable because our circumstances don't often change in big ways over short periods of time.

Yet death can steal our loved ones, that car battery can expire, and natural disaster can claim our belongings. Life can change in a heartbeat, in just a few moments, the proverbial twinkling of the eye.

Our own lives are "vapor". We have no assurance of continuance of wealth, good health, or prosperity.

Go to now, you that say, "To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain": Whereas you know not what [shall be] on the morrow. For what [is] your life? It is even a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. -- James 4:13,14

Only God is Permanent

The fact is, there is no true permanence or stability in life. It is merely an illusion. Only God is unchanging and the good things we enjoy in life come from Him:

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. -- James 1:17

Our own mortality and the temporary nature of life is something to be considered from time to time (Ecclesiastes 7:2). The reality of the human condition is to be ever vulnerable to upset and uncertainty.

In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also has set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him. -- Ecclesiastes 7:14

For man also knows not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so [are] the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them. -- Ecclesiastes 9:12

Yet we have only to do those things which we know to do. As Elizabeth Elliot says, "do the next thing".

In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening withhold not your hand: for you know not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both [shall be] alike good. -- Ecclesiastes 11:6

Learning to Live with "Infirmity"

Leaving what we've always known made us truly feel the infirmity of our limited understanding. It made us more dependent upon the Lord and less dependent upon ourselves and those things we have thus far trusted in for so long. It made it possible to glory in our own weaknesses, and let the power of Christ rest upon us (2 Corinthians 12:9).

For Those that Don't Believe

Whether or not you believe in a Creator, all people must own to the fact that life is temporary in nature. If the thought of death is uncomfortable for you and you feel the weight of sin and weakness, then I would encourage you to pick up the Bible and see what's inside. Start with Romans!

Want to Read More On This Topic?

I would suggest starting with Psalm 49.

What Happened to March? Well, We're Moving

March is long gone, and April too, and still I haven't posted! Well, we're moving. To South America. Yes, that's right. We leave on May 10th for Uruguay. I will be continuing with the work that I do now -- I already work from home, so as long as I have Internet access, I'm good to go.

Why you might ask? Well, there are a lot of personal reasons; temperate, sub-tropical climate, access to fresh food, walks on the beach, and more. But I know this wouldn't be possible without the Lord providing the way, so I know we are going for a reason.

We are excited to make the move, but there has been a LOT to do over the last 8 weeks, and it has been enough just to keep up with work as well as packing. I have a number of articles waiting in the wings, so once things get back to normal, I will be happy to post again from a new country and new adventure.

Where Have I Been?

Josh, a reader of my blog, "called me out" today regarding the status of my posts. Well, I've been very busy with work and there are lots of other news items here that aren't quite ready for the public. I have made a few changes here:

• faithis.org is a brand new site.
• freekjv.org has undergone some minor changes, mainly the removal of books -- more on that later.
• I've also been preparing ahead on the articles for howtoenjoythebible.com.
• There are some new projects underway as well as old ones that still need to be finished. Maybe I should work on the old ones before the new ones, eh?
• And I have a couple of unfinished posts waiting to be published.
  

At any rate, I hope to get back to posting soon.

Enternal Security

Also known as “Once Saved, Always Saved” or “Can You Lose Your Salvation”

The idea that one can lose his or her salvation is rooted in the notion that we obtain salvation for ourselves by a conscious choice or act. It makes salvation something that man does instead of something that Christ has *done*.

On the cross He declared “it is finished”. What is finished? The seed-plot of the New Testament:

And she shall bring forth a son, and you shall call His name JESUS [meaning Jehovah Saves]: for He shall save His people from their sins. -- Matthew 1:21

What is Salvation?

It is the rescue of helpless and ruined creatures by a merciful and gracious God:

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. -- Romans 5:6

How does it occur? Through God’s grace in providing a sacrifice that could put an end to sacrifices:

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins. -- 1 John 4:10

Faith is the channel through which this grace flows:

For by grace are you saved through [Greek dia: meaning the “channel of an act”] faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: -- Ephesians 2:8

Both grace and faith are the gifts of God. Why?

Not of works, lest any man should boast. -- Ephesians 2:9

Because God is glorified by helping the helpless “that no flesh should glory in His presence” (1 Corinthians 1:29)

So it is the work of Christ and the Word of God that cannot lie (Titus 1:2) upon which our hope is based and not upon our own will, works, or strength.

Defending the Work of Christ

Grace means “unmerited favor”, and true believers in Christ will own that they are unworthy of salvation.

This [is] a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. -- 1 Timothy 1:15

If salvation depended upon us in the first place, then perhaps we could lose it. But “salvation is of the Lord” (Jonah 2:9). Why a given person is made to believe while another goes on in unbelief is a mystery to us. The reason is concealed in the mind of Him Who “works all things after the counsel of His own will” (Ephesians 1:11). But once saved, is there anything that can separate us from His love?

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? -- Romans 8:35

The answer, thankfully, is “no”:

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. -- Romans 8:38,39

Why? Because we are a “new creature”, “sealed” until our final redemption:

Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. -- 2 Corinthians 5:17

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption. -- Ephesians 4:30

Objections to Eternal Security

Most objections to the idea that one cannot “lose” salvation are based upon the notion that it promotes immorality and suppresses good works among believers. The argument is this: That if one has no threat of losing salvation, there is no incentive to “be good” or to do good works.

It is true that some believers bear different amounts of fruit:

But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. -- Matthew 13:8

Good works are the result of salvation and were fore-ordained in the same way:

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them. -- Ephesians 2:10

But Christ died for the all the sins of His people; past, present, and future:

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever lives to make intercession for them. -- Hebrews 7:25

Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present [you] faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, -- Jude 1:24

My little children, these things write I unto you, that you sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: -- 1 John 2:1

If we can lose our salvation then we may conclude that the Apostle Paul fell in and out of salvation from Romans 7, where he concludes:

O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. -- Romans 7:24,25

But the possibility of losing our salvation returns us to a “law” wherein we must continually do something in order to be “good”, and this just is not so:

Are you so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh? -- Galatians 3:3

The desire to do “good works” springs from a thankful heart that has been changed by the Holy Ghost. A person that is truly saved wants to do good works.

Verses that "Support" Losing Salvation

We will now look at the passages that supposedly support a temporary salvation.

Hebrews 5, 6

And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 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. -- Hebrews 6:5,6

The letter is written to “Hebrews” and the context shows clearly that the sin referred to here (the falling away) is a return to Judaism. This section begins with the topic of “perfection” (6:1) which is the Greek teleiotes (G5046) meaning means “completeness”.

A careful reading through chapter 7 shows that the living priesthood of Christ has made an end of perpetual sacrifices of the Law:

But this [man], because He continues ever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever lives to make intercession for them. -- Hebrews 7:24,25

Paul is demonstrating to the Jewish reader that Christ as the final High Priest has made an end of the Law of sacrifices:

Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption [for us]. -- Hebrews 9:12

Hebrews 10:26,27

For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. -- Hebrews 10:26,27

This has largely been covered above, but the “sin” here is a return to Judaism.

Galatians 5:4

Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; you are fallen from grace. -- Galatians 5:4

This proves only that we are justified by faith (Galatians 3:11) and not by the Law. A "fall" from grace does not indicate a permanent fall into perdition:

For a just [man] falls seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. -- Proverbs 24:16

Romans 11:19-23

You will say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, [take heed] lest he also spare not you. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in [his] goodness: otherwise you also shall be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. -- Romans 11:19-23

This is a problem indeed, seeing that just a few verses ago, Paul declared the nothing shall separate us from the love of Christ! The key is at the beginning of Romans 9 where Paul begins the topic of Israel’s national “blindness in part” (Romans 11:25). The topics we are about to read regard Israel as a nation.

Then, when in Romans 11:13, Paul says: “I speak to you Gentiles”, it’s clear that the passage in question regards “Gentiles” and “Jews” and not the individual Christian.

Luke 8:13

They on the rock [are they], which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. -- Luke 8:13

The parable of the sower may be interpreted as follows:

1. The first sowing (by the wayside) was that of John the Baptist.
2. The second sowing (upon rock) was by Christ.
3. The third sowing (among thorns) was by Peter, etc., during the Acts period.
4. The last sowing (good ground) was and is by the Holy Ghost.

The “belief” of these sowings are only effectual when the Holy Ghost has plowed hearts of those that "hear".

1 John 3:6

Whosoever abides in Him sins not: whosoever sins has not seen Him, neither known Him. -- 1 John 3:6

In chapter 2 of this same book, we are told that “if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (2:1). The problem of interpretation may lie in the word “abides” which is the Greek meno (G3306) and means “to stay in a given place, state, relation or expectancy”. It is translated: “abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry”.

The question is whether “continuing” in Him means we never sin again. In 1 Timothy 1:15, Paul does not declare that he was the chief among sinners but that he is the chief among sinners. Clearly, we sin as the “old man” struggles against the “new man”. We become free from the bondage of sin while we abide in Christ, but we are not free from sin itself until we receive our resurrection body.

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [Him], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. -- Romans 6:6

Salvation generates a “new creature” (2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 6:15), and we are not saved because of our own merit, but for “His name’s sake”:

I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake. -- 1 John 2:12

Conclusion

The idea of a temporary salvation is rooted firmly in the doctrine of salvation by works; that man chooses to be saved. But, in fact, salvation is provided through the blood of Christ and God’s gift of faith who:

... has saved us, and called [us] with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, -- 2 Timothy 1:9

Introducing HowToEnjoyTheBible.com

I've finished the initial version of howtoenjoythebible.com which is mostly based on a book of the same name by E.W. Bullinger. The first "guide" is available now with a new guide released each month. I also want to keep improving and adding to the site. Suggestions are welcome.