As your questions are of importance to thousands, we will state them in full. You quote, "shall never perish" (John 10:2828And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:28)); "abide not in me" (John 15:66If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. (John 15:6)); " live after the flesh, ye shall die." You say, " I came to Christ, a lost sinner. I believe that lie died for me, became my Substitute, and, through His sacrifice, I am made whole. I rest on John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24), and also 1 John 5:10-1310He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:10‑13). I believe that the blood of Jesus cleanses me from all sin, because God the Father, who sent the Son, says so. My hope and trust is in His word only. I know I have eternal life the Spirit witnesseth with my spirit that I am born of God." We will now take each of your momentous questions.
" Can a believer, a man born again, live after the flesh, and, consequently, die eternally?" We often create difficulties by adding to scripture. You will notice, you have added the word, "eternally/' "Consequently die eternally." A believer may so fail, so sin, that it is a sin unto death; and if you compare 1 Cor. 11:3030For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. (1 Corinthians 11:30) with 1 John 5:16, 1716If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. 17All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. (1 John 5:16‑17), you will see what is meant there is the death of the body in chastisement. But the scripture you refer to (Rom. 8:1-171There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 12Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:1‑17)) is evidently characteristic—those in Christ, and those in the flesh. Life and holiness characterize those in Christ; sin and death, those that are in the flesh, and walk after the flesh. " They that are after the flesh." " But ye are not in the flesh." Thus it is not a man born of God, but a man in the flesh; if not born again, he walks in the flesh, and the end is death. If, therefore, a man walks in the flesh, he has no right to con-elude he is born of God. We will now put your question again, that is, as you intend it: Can a man truly born of God so walk in the flesh, can he so sin, as to perish eternally?
The scripture answers, No, he cannot so sin, because he is born of God. The man who practices sin is not born of God, but is of the devil Read carefully 1 John 3:8-10; 5:188He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. (1 John 3:8‑10)
18We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. (1 John 5:18). The believer is to reckon himself dead to sin, and no longer in the flesh—not on that ground—but alive to God. It may be said, Rut do we not see such as have made a great profession afterward walk in the flesh, and practice sin? We do, and this proves they never were born of God—they never had any root. (See Matt. 13:2121Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. (Matthew 13:21), &c.) Can an apple-tree evermore grow crabs? It may grow good apples, or poor fruit. And so with us, and so the reward.
" Can he abide not in Christ, and be burned?” It has often been observed, that the theme of John 15—the vine—is fruit-bearing. The Lord does not say, If ye abide not in me, ye shall be cast forth, withered and burnt, &c. If He had, then our final salvation would depend on ourselves, and not on what He has done, and what He is. He says, " If a man abide not in me," &c. He may be an outward disciple, like Judas, and, having no living link with Christ, will ultimately perish.
" Shall never perish." (John 10:2828And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:28).) Here the Lord is speaking of His own very sheep, given to Him of the Father. "My sheep." There can be no mistake about these. "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand."
You ask," Is it not that I shall never perish, if I abide in Him; and that, if I abide not in Him, I shall be lost?" Now this is mixing up two scriptures on quite different subjects—fruit-bearing and eternal life. If we do this, we are perplexed, and in confusion. Let us keep to the plain facts of these words—John 10:27-2927My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. (John 10:27‑29); the eternal life and absolute security of the sheep of Christ, given to Him of the Father. Now what is eternal life? Is it not, at least, the contrast of mortal life? Mortal life is the possibility and liability to die—a life that can cease to be. Eternal life is surely the opposite of all this. It is the life that cannot possibly be liable to cease—it is imperishable. And more, read the blessed words the Spirit used at first to your soul. {1 John 5:10-1310He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:10‑13).) " God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." Therefore, if any man says that it is mere life in us, liable to perish, depending on something we do, that man makes God a liar, and denies what God says—that it is eternal, or imperishable, and is in the Son. This is a character of Christianity peculiar to us, and to deny it is so, is to make God a liar.
We repeat your further words, they are most important inquiries. " I have salvation. Can I take myself out of the life-boat? ‘Shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.' But can I pluck myself out of His hand, and be forever lost? Not that I wish to do so—-God forbid—I want to know more fully my standing, and prove it by scripture." This is the question of the absolute security of the sheep. What does Jesus say? " Shall never perish neither shall any pluck them out of my hand.' How beautifully He illustrates this place of security. Look at Him, and look at His sheep. "He layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing; and when he cometh home.... saying, Rejoice with me." It had wandered as far as it could. He carries it all the way home. Hark! He whispers to you, " shall never perish, none shall pluck thee from my shoulder of infinite strength." Its security does not depend on its clinging to Him, but His love to it, and unfailing power. We will look at your further desire, if the Lord will, in our next: " I want to know fully my standing, and prove it by scripture."