Redemption is not pointed toward going to Heaven. Redemption is release from Satan and union with God.

To be saved is to be saved from sin, from Satan, from spiritual and (when the Lord returns) physical death.

The arguments concerning "once saved always saved," or "can I continue to sin and still be saved," are meaningless. They are based on a false definition of salvation.

To ask if once I am saved will I always be saved must be reduced to specifics if we are to answer the question. Do we mean once we are saved from hatred we always are saved from hatred? The answer is yes, if we continue to walk in the Presence of God; no, if we return to our sinful behavior and permit the spirit of hatred and malice to once again enslave us.

Can I continue to sin and still be saved? This is an illogical question. It is to ask, can I continue in chains and still be delivered? Can I remain sick and still be healed?

If we are asking, "Can I continue in sin and still go to Paradise when I die?" the Scripture answers in several places that if we continue to sin we will die spiritually. We will lose the eternal life that was given to us. Can we be spiritually dead and still enter the spiritual Paradise when we die? Can we reap corruption and still enter the spiritual Paradise? Can we be cut out of the Vine and still enter the spiritual Paradise? Only the Lord Jesus knows the answer to these questions.

We cannot determine whether or not salvation is by faith alone until we think in terms of the scriptural usage of terms.

We have defined righteousness as that which pleases God and is accepted of Him. We have said that the new covenant includes both legal (imputed) righteousness and actual righteousness of behavior. We have stated further that the bulk of the passages of the New Testament emphasize actual righteousness of behavior.

Unrighteousness is behavior that is unacceptable to God.

Eternal life was shown to be the Life of God in Christ given to us as we continue in a state of righteousness before the Lord.

Spiritual death is the absence of the Presence of God.

Grace includes much more than forgiveness. Grace should be viewed as the Presence of God in Christ that has entered the world in order to deliver people from the bondages of sin and death. Grace is the Divine enablement that stands ready to receive and transform whoever will receive it.

Lack of grace is lack of the enabling Presence and Virtue of God in Christ.

Faith is our grasp upon the Character of God. Whoever comes to God must believe that God exists and that He will reward every individual who seeks Him fervently with a pure heart. Faith is our willingness to live in humble dependence on God.

Lack of faith is an unwillingness to trust God in every aspect of personality and behavior.

Salvation is deliverance from Satan and entrance into the image and Person of God.

To be lost is to be cut off from the Presence of God, to not be sharing in the program of deliverance from sin.

To be continued.