Some people who disagree with my position on “the once saved, always saved” doctrine believe me to be closed minded, heretical but is that the case or is it the other way around or could it be that one needs to study the issue more? Maybe it is just a misunderstanding, confusion on the part of one, or even closed mindedness? I will now present my case with the word of God. The confusion that exists among believers is they will not study for themselves, they tend to take another man’s word for it instead of finding out what God has to say about the issue. That is sad!
Many times we build up a straw man argument and then tear it down to show how right we are but most of those times we only deal with scriptures that we know and the answers that we know. We won’t seem to touch the other scriptures that blows our arguments apart.
There are those who are born-again, washed in the blood of the lamb that get extremely upset if you would dare tell them that a person can reject, deny Jesus Christ after he has received him. We can go back and forth saying, I don’t agree, you are wrong, etc. but it doesn’t get us anywhere. The word will help us to see, to understand.
Is there going to be a “falling away” or is there a “falling from grace”? The word tells me that there is so I choose to believe God’s word rather than man’s word.
II Thess. 2:3
“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;”
Gal. 5:4
“Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.”
The straw man argument used here is:
“And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” Romans 11:6
So the argument goes to show that you are either saved by works or by grace not by both. Since a true Christian KNOWS that works cannot save a person that we would readily agree that it is by grace. This is true but the verse above shows that those who have “fallen from grace” ARE those who NOW think that they will stay saved by the works of the law. A man is entirely saved by the finished work of Christ or he is NOT saved. So if he were truly saved and then later adds the works of the law to make himself a little more secure then he has fallen from grace.
Another argument that is brought out is “cheap grace”, this argument makes those who believe that a person can turn his back on God after he has been saved as accusing those who believe in eternal security are believing in cheap grace. For God to save me by his grace isn’t cheap anyway you look at it. It cost him plenty, the death of his only begotten Son. For a person to believe or preach anything but a free salvation isn’t preaching a biblical salvation. Since most of the arguments against forfeiting your salvation is based on works and I don’t disagree with most of them then I will go directly to the root of the problem and that is unbelief.
By reading Heb. 10:14, I see that he (Jesus/God) has perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Sanctified is being set apart, holy, consecrated unto God. Jesus said, “Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth.” (John 17:17)
God is infinite but He gives man a finite faith. “..the measure of faith.” (Rom. 12:3) The measure of faith is just that, a certain amount of faith that God gives each individual.
And since “...faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17), we grow in the faith walk as we apply the word of God to our lives.
Remember the Jews were broken off because of unbelief and we stand by faith. (Rom. 11:20-23) If the Jews can be broken off because of unbelief, we can be broken off too. The Jews were the natural branches and we were grafted in.
Romans 11:20-23 says,
“20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.”
I received Jesus though faith in his finished work on the cross (ck. Eph. 2:8,9). I am commanded to walk in him in the same way that I received him (through faith). (Check Col. 2:6,7)
Gal. 3:11, “...the just shall live by faith.”
What if they don’t or are not living by faith?
Hebrews 10:38 says,
“Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.”
Romans 1:17
“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”
Rev 3:14-22
“14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”
I have heard that this is not talking about hell nevertheless I don’t want to be spued to the other side of heaven by Jesus.
In the book of Acts, Paul exhorts them to continue in the faith.
What if they don’t?
“Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” -Acts 14:22
Jesus desires to present us- holy, unblamable, and unreprovable in his sight if we continue in the faith.
Ck. Col. 1
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
What if we don’t continue in the faith?
Why would Paul say, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” ?-ck. II Tim 4:7
If the word taught all Christians keep the faith, no matter what, then why did Paul say I have kept the faith if that is an absolute, a sure thing? To keep the faith, that is. If he couldn’t lose, throw it away or whatever else then why is he talking about himself keeping the faith.
I John 1:9
9. ”If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
What if we don’t confess our sins?
1 Tim 6:6 -19 says,
“6. But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
9. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
12. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
13. I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;
14.That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
15. Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
16. Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
17. Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
18. That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
19. Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”
Abraham’s faith in God was counted for righteousness just as David said in Romans.
Romans 4:5-9:
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
Rom. 14:23 shows that “...whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”
II Cor. 1:24 says, “...by faith ye stand.” (Cf.) Heb. 11:6
Gal. 5:5 says, “For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.”
I Peter 1:3-5-9
3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4. To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7. That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
8. Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9. Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
“For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.” (Gal. 5:6)
Faith is what avails (benefits, profits) or works through love.
SOME WHO DEPARTED FROM THE FAITH.
I Tim. 4:1
"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;"
Those who listen to the wrong voices.
I Tim. 5:8
"But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel."
Those who won’t or don’t provide for their own household.
I Tim. 5:11,12
"But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;
"Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith."
Those who live in pleasure against Christ.
I Tim. 6:10
"For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."
The love of money caused some to turn from the faith.
We need to fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life. (Cf. I Tim. 6:12)
Hebrews 3:12—An evil heart of unbelief.
“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.”
Hebrews 12:25—Turning away from the holy one who speaks from heaven.
“See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:”
We are in the Laodicean Church Age, the lukewarm church is the predominate church and the new bible perversions are the major cause of the falling away.
In I Timothy 4:1 we read,
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;”
To depart from the faith shows an apostasy, believers leaving the faith that they came into at the time of their born again experience.
Also in II Timothy 2:12 which says,
“If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:”
The bible shows me in Psa.14:1 that we can deny the Lord with our heart (life) and still confess him with our lips. The fool might not have said with his mouth that there is no God but with his life he was and is continually saying it to an unbelieving world.
Reading Hebrews 11:6,
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
So Christians can argue about losing or not losing your salvation if that is what they want to do but the important thing for every Christian is to be walking in the life of God continually. I don’t want to get spewed out of Jesus’ mouth, nor do I want to deny him or love money more than I love him, or be caught not fighting the good fight of faith, or living in pleasure against Christ. and so many other things. I am born of his Spirit so I desire to please him. He made me a new creature and he works in me and that is some good news. If a Christian is living for Jesus and not playing with the world why would he worry about whether others think he could lose his salvation or not? It wouldn’t make any difference what others thought, you KNOW that you are going to be with him. His Spirit bears witness with your spirit that you are a child of the most high God.
As we saw in Colossians that we are to walk in the same way that we received the Lord Jesus Christ and that is in faith. “ For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Phil. 2:13) So in closing, “ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)