Godrulz,
We see that in the dispensation previous to Paul’s that they did not have the eternal security that we have in this Dispensation of Grace.
John 8:31,32 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
They didn’t abide in Him, and we see the results. In John 8:40-44. They actually turn against Him even though they believed shortly before.
They had to continue to abide in Christ to be saved. John 8:40-44: But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. 41 Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father - God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. 43 Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do.
Believing Christ was very important, but they had to continue to believe and also have works, which I will show you in due time.
John 14:21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
If the believers, even His disciples, do not abide in Christ, they are cast out and ultimately cast into the lake of fire.
That is what it says in John 15:1-6. This is after Judas has left, in John 13:30. It is just Jesus and the eleven. John 15:1-6 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
Under the Circumcision gospel they had to believe, do good works and abide in Christ in order to be saved. John does not have as much of the conditions as the synoptic gospels, but there is enough to see that abiding in Him is mandatory for salvation.
When we look in the synoptic gospels, we see much more of the conditionality of salvation under circumcision. We also see a lot more in the circumcision epistles, starting with Hebrews through Revelation.
When we search Paul’s epistles, we only see security of the believer.
In Christ,
Bob