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What To Do When The Bible Seems To Contradict Itself
DOES THE BIBLE TEACH THAT ONCE YOU ARE SAVED YOU ARE ALWAYS SAVED?
If you have been a Christian for any length of time, then I am confident that you have come to hear some controversial topics of discussion concerning God’s word, such as "ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED", sometimes abbreviated as OSAS.
In general, the assumption has or is made that only one view point can be right while the other viewpoint is obviously wrong. Now this assumption may be true in some instances, perhaps even in most cases, but I believe in this following study of a controversial doctrine of "ETERNAL SECURITY" among Christians that there is some error mixed with some truth on BOTH sides. So my objective in this study of God's word is to expose the error and keep the truth on both sides. Like the old adage, “Don't throw out the baby with the bath water”.
Now in order to find the truth we need to look at both sides of the controversy in depth and examine ALL the scriptures that relate to each view point, and weigh the evidence of scripture ALONE, while laying aside our opinions and traditions of men. In other words it may be needful for you, the reader, to “UNLEARN” some things you have been taught in the past. I know that this is what I had to do.
Let’s begin by reading Proverbs 18:12,13 which says,
"Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility. He that answers a matter BEFORE he hears it, it is folly and shame unto him."
Sometimes pride in our hearts rises up and says, “Oh I have heard this before” and by doing this we are not open to receive teaching.
The Bible tells us in II Timothy 4:3,4
"For the time will come when they will not endure SOUND DOCTRINE; but after their own lusts shall heap to themselves teachers, having
itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the TRUTH, and shall be turned unto fables."
We need to be like the men of Berea as described in Acts 17:11
"These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they RECEIVED the word with all READINESS of mind, and SEARCHED the scriptures DAILY, whether those things were so."
Then the next verse begins by saying therefore many of them BELIEVED. I strongly urge you to search the word of God to prove to yourself that what I have written here in this study is the TRUTH of God's word, the WHOLE word of God. It is your God given duty to look up each scripture I use in this study to make absolutely sure that they not taken out of context. What I mean by “context” is that you read several verses before and after each scripture I use in this study so that the meaning of the verse is clear, and the true meaning properly understood. Again, please consider the WHOLE MATTER as Proverbs instructs us, before you draw a conclusion.
The topic that is under discussion in this study is to find the TRUTH between that of the doctrine of Eternal Security, also known as Once Saved Always Saved, and the doctrine that states a believer must endure unto the end in order to be saved. In other words, salvation is conditional, and one can therefore lose their salvation.
As with many controversial topics, if one focuses primarily on only one side and avoids the arguments of the other side, they will not be open to receive the TRUTH. Therefore, I will do my best to fully present as many scriptures that I am aware of from both sides, being as impartial as I can. I will begin this study with the scriptures and arguments of Eternal Security as I have come to understand them from reading many differefent sources that teach once saved always saved. And then, we will weigh both sides in the light of ALL the scriptures, that is to say, the WHOLE word of God.
The Eternal Security or Once Saved Always Saved doctrine states the following and, then gives the scripture or scriptures to support their point of view: (the following 20 statements of belief and their supporting scriptures are take from the eternal security and once saved always saved teachings)
1. Salvation is a gift from God. And God would not give us salvation and then take it away.
John 3:16,
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his onlybegotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Ephesians 2:8,
"For by grace are you saved through faith; and that NOT of yourselves, it is a GIFT of God."
2. Salvation is through believing. So once you accept Jesus as your Saviour, then you are forever saved.
Romans 10:9,
"For if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be SAVED."
John 3:36,
"He that believes on the son HAS everlasting life..."
3. Salvation is a free gift, salvation is though faith or believing, we cannot earn our salvation through good works, salvation is by grace.
God’s grace is his unmerited favor toward us. In other words we do not deserve salvation but God gave it to us freely while we were yet sinners. And since we cannot earn our salvation, then it is certain that we cannot keep it by good works.
Romans 5:8
“But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Titus 3:5
“Not of works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us…”
4. We have already been given eternal life. Therefore we are eternally saved.
I John 5:13
“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal life,…”
John 5:24
“Verily, verily, (or truly, truly) I say unto you, He that believes my word, and believes on him that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life.”
5. No one or anything can separate us from the Father. Therefore our salvation is eternally
secure.
John 10:29
“ My Father which gave them me, is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”
Romans 8:38
“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.”
6. We are children of God. And God will not disinherit us. Once you become a child of God
you cannot cease being his child anymore than you can cease being a child of your natural
human parents.
I John 3:2
“Now are we the Sons of God…”
Romans 8:15
“For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba, Father.”
7. We are born again at the time we are save. And you cannot be unborn and be born again
over and over.
John 3:3
“Jesus answered and said unto him, verily, verily, (again truly, truly) Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
1 Peter 1:23
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides forever.”
8. Salvation is an event in time. Therefore being saved cannot be an ongoing process of good
works and enduring unto the end.
Hebrews 3:15
“While it is said Today if you will hear his voice,…”
9. Jesus will in no way cast us out, therefore we cannot lose our salvation.
John 6:37
“… him that comes to me I will in no wise cast out.”
10. It is God’s will that all who believe should not be lost.
John 6:39
“And this is the Fathers will which has sent me, that of all which he has given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which sees the Son and believes on him, may have everlasting life, and I will raise him up the last day.”
11. We are complete in Jesus Christ. Therefore we need nothing more in order to be saved.
The sacrifice Jesus made for us was once and for all, thereby being complete, so to add
good works in order to keep our salvation is to say that his sacrifice was not complete or
good enough to save us.
Colossians 2:10
“ And you are complete in him which is the head of all principality and power.”
Hebrews 8:12
“…by his own blood he entered once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”
12. We are perfected forever, once and for all.
Hebrews 10:10,14
“By which you are sanctified through the offering of the blood of Jesus Christ once and for all…For by one offering he has perfected forever them that are sanctified.”
13. We are kept by the power of God and therefore cannot lose our salvation.
1 Peter 1:5
“Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
14. We are saved to the uttermost. In other words nothing is left out, we are totally and
completely saved.
Hebrews 7:25
“Wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him…”
15.We are sealed until the day of redemption, so it is not possible to lose our salvation.
Ephesians 4:30
“ And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God whereby, you are sealed unto the day of redemption.”
Ephesians 1:13
“…after that you believed, you were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.”
16. What about those that sin? Will they be lost? The answer is no. They will suffer loss, but
they themselves will be saved.
1 Corinthians 3:11,15
“ For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ, Now if any man build upon the foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest, for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every mans work of what sort it is. If any mans work he has built thereupon, he shall receive a reward, If any mans work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved: yet so as by fire.”
17. We become the body of Christ when we are saved. And Jesus will not reject his own body.
Ephesians 5:
“For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.”
1 Corinthians 12:18
“Now you are the body of Christ and members in particular.”
18. What if we commit an awful sin? Will we lose our salvation. Again the answer is NO.
1 Corinthians 5:1,5
“It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife…To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”
19. Those who seem to have fallen away or turned from God were never truly saved and
therefore did not lose their salvation, because they were never really truly saved.
1 John 2:19
“They went out from us, but they were not of us: for if they had been of us; they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not of us.”
20. What happens if we no longer believe? Will we lose our salvation? Will Jesus deny us?
The Bible tells us NO. Our salvation is so secure that even if we believe not after we are
saved he will not, and cannot deny us, because we are a part of him (the body of Christ).
2 Timothy 2:12
“If we believe not: yet he abides faithful: he cannot deny himself”
SUMMARY OF ETERNAL SECURITY DOCTRINE
OR
ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED TEACHING
CLOSING STATEMENT:
As you can plainly see from these verses of scripture that the Bible teaches that once you accept Jesus as your personal Saviour, then you already have eternal life and can in no way ever lose your salvation. Therefore once you are saved, then you are always saved. So in other words your salvation is eternally secure and cannot ever be lost.
WEIGHING THE EVIDENCE TO DICERN THE TRUTH
First of all I believe that these 20 statements of faith along with the verses of scripture used to teach the once saved always saved doctrine are all the evidence that there is according to as I have found through reading several teachings on eternal security. If I have missed any scriptures that seem to support the view of eternal security please be assured and for a certainty that I did not leave any evidence out intentionally.
With all of this evidence of scripture one would surely conclude that the eternal security doctrine or once saved always saved teaching has to be the truth. How could it not with all this evidence from the Bible. BUT, you see, this is the evidence from ONLY ONE SIDE!
Now let us examine CLOSELY all of these SAME scriptures in the CONTEXT were they are found and compare them along side other scriptures that seem to oppose them in order that we may discern the truth; for it is the TRUTH ALONE of God's word that we seek and not the doctrines of men, caring NOT who is right or who is wrong. In other words, let us closely examine the doctrine of eternal security or the once saved always saved teaching in the LIGHT of the WHOLE word of God and let the scriptures interpret themselves to arrive at the TRUTH of the matter. The truth shall make you free! Let us begin with point or statement number 1, and then continue down the list closely examining each and every piece of evidence in the light of the WHOLE word of God. 1. Salvation is a gift of God. And God would not give us a gift and then take it away. There seems to be absolutely NO debate or argument against this statement that salvation is a GIFT of God. However the conflict arises when the side that believes that salvation is conditional and can be lost make the statement that a gift may be lost or more precisely “stolen” and therefore proves that we are not eternally saved. The TRUTH of the matter is that God does not HIMSELF take back the gift of salvation that he has freely provided for all of mankind, BUT RATHER we are DECEIVED by the enemy and thereby let our salvation slip away from us. We will examine this statement in the light of the scriptures as we continue this study, but for now let us continue with the next statement. This brings us to statement number 2. 2. Salvation is through faith or believing. So once you accept Jesus as your personal savior, then you are saved forever. We all agree that salvation is a gift of God and that we receive salvation through faith or believing. However, you, the reader, need to know that the word “believe” in the Greek is pisteuo and means to believe, to put trust, follow. You see, the words belief, believe, believed, believest, believeth, and faith are all ACTION words that show continuing action. Therefore our being saved or our salvation only remains intact so long as we CONTINUE TO BELIEVE. Let’s take a close look at the word of God which plainly shows this truth in multiple verses of scripture.
Look at Colossians 1:21-23
“And you that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now has he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you unblameable and unreprovable in his sight: IF YOU CONTINUE in the faith grounded and settled, and be NOT moved away from the HOPE of the gospel, which you have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister.”
Notice the condition which is placed on being reconciled or saved is that, we must CONTINUE BELIEVING and NOT be moved away from our HOPE of eternal life. Also notice that it is the HOPE of eternal life, as in, a promise that is YET to come into being or manifested as yet. In other words, our actual obtaining of eternal life is yet in the future and is the HOPE set before us, looking forward to attain.
Now look at 1 Thessalonians 3:7,8
“Therefore BRETHREN, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your FAITH: for NOW we live (have eternal life abiding in us) IF you STAND FAST in the Lord."
Again, we see the CONDITION of standing fast in our faith in the Lord. This verse also shows that we live or have eternal life abiding in us provided that we remain or stand fast in the Lord.
Look at 1 Timothy 5:16 which says,
“Take heed unto yourself, and unto the doctrine, CONTINUE in them: FOR IN DOING THIS, you shall both SAVE yourself, and them that HEAR you.”
This verse warns us to take heed of ourselves, the LEADING of the Holy Spirit of God TEACHING us truth from error and the doctrine which is taught from the WHOLE word of God that we hide in our heart in order to keep sin out of our lives. The words “take heed” are a warning sign to us. They are warning us that if we do not take heed unto the doctrine to continue in it, and tell others to do the same, then we face a consequence. This verse goes on to say, for in doing this, or for this reason, a cause and effect type of situation, that is CONTINUING in the doctrine, we not only save ourselves but also those that those who believe us. Bottom line is that IF we do NOT continue in the faith, then we will NOT reap eternal life. In others words we will loose our salvation.
Hebrews 10: 35,36 says,
“ Cast not away therefore your confidence (that is your faith), which has great recompence of reward (that is eternal life). For you have need of patience, that, AFTER you have DONE the WILL of God, you might RECEIVE the promise.” (the promise of obtaining eternal life, which is the HOPE that is set before us)
Notice that it is ONLY AFTER we do the will of God that we will RECEIVE the PROMISE of eternal life. And the opposite of this is also true, which is to say, IF we do NOT do the will of God, then we will NOT receive the promise of eternal life. Therefore our salvation is CONDITIONAL in that we are required or obligated to do the WILL of God, which is to keep his commandments and walk in love. Please read the study entitled "THE WORK OF THE LAW VERSES GOOD WORKS?" for a deeper understanding of the true meaning of not being saved by our OWN works.
Look at Hebrews 10:38,39
“Now the just shall live by FAITH: BUT IF any man drawback, my soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that BELIEVE (that is, continue in our faith) to the saving of the soul.”
As long as we believe or continue in faith we shall live. For it is only through our continuing to believe that our soul is saved, (from faith to faith). Therefore we must not draw back unto perdition or sin.
1 Peter 1:9 says it like this,
“Receiving the END of your FAITH, even the salvation of your souls."
We must have faith all the way to the END, IF we are to receive our salvation. You see salvation or being saved does not fully come UNTIL the END of our faith. We must CONTINUE to believe unto the end of our days or till the Lord returns in order to receive eternal life.
Jesus said in Mathew 24:12,13
“And because of iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax (that is grow) cold, BUT he, that shall ENDURE UNTO THE END, the SAME shall be saved.” (in other words ONLY those who believe unto the end, the same shall be saved)
Let us continue with point number 3. 3. Salvation is a free gift, and salvation is through faith or believing alone. We cannot earn our salvation through good works. Therefore it is certain that we cannot maintain or keep our salvation by good works. The scripture used by those who teach eternal security to support their viewpoint is Ephesians 2:8,9 which says, “For by grace are you saved through faith, and that, not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Please note that it is important to keep the verse or verses of scripture in the context of where they are found in order to know their TRUE meaning. So let’s continue with the very next verse in this passage of script, that is to say, the CONTEXT of where these verses are found. The very next verse says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus UNTO GOOD WORKS, which God has ORDAINED (that is established) that we should WALK in them.” In other words we are saved and have become new creatures for the very purpose of doing GOOD WORKS. Also notice that God has ORDAINED (or established) that we should walk in these good works of righteousness; to walk the walk so to speak, and not just talk the talk. In other words, be you doers of the word and not hearers only. So the truth of the matter of, “not being saved by works is this; We are not saved by OUR OWN WORKS of righteousness, because we cannot be righteous in our OWN strength without BOASTING or pride. Please read the study on "WHAT IS THE TRUE MEANING OF GRACE?" For you see, the righteousness we do attain in our OWN strength causes us to be full of pride and if pride is present, then sin is present, for it is pride that causes us to fall. You see, our hearts become haughty and then boasting arises within us when we try and live righteously in our OWN strength. And the word of God teaches us that pride or boasting is sin.
Romans 3:27 says,
“Where is boasting then? It is EXCLUDED. By what law? Of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.”
So you see, it is the pride and boasting in our OWN STRENGTH of doing good works that causes us not to be able to attain salvation and not in essence the works themselves, because the word of God clearly shows that we become a new creature for the very purpose to do good works.
Look at James 2:20
“But will you know, O vain man, that faith WITHOUT works is dead.”
James also tells us to be doers of the word and NOT hearers only DECEIVING our ownselves.
The truth the whole matter is that we are saved by FAITH, the faith that says, I can do all things through Christ Jesus that gives me the strength to do the will of God. However it is NOT our OWN strength but the GRACE of God working IN us that STRENGHTENS us to OVERCOME sin. It is this BELIEVING of God's word that we are made or become more than conquers THROUGH Christ Jesus. Remember the word CHRIST means ANOINTING of the ANOINTED one as well as Messiah. Please read "JESUS THE CHRIST" for a deeper understanding of just exactly what it means to be IN CHRIST.
You see, it is only through faith that we can consistently and continually do good works and obey God’s word. God desires us to BELIEVE his word. We are made righteous IN HIM. God wants us to be HIS workmanship and not our OWN, because then there would be boasting or pride.
The gift of God spoken of in verse 8 of Ephesians chapter 2 is not ONLY the gift of salvation, but also the gift of grace, as well as the gift of faith. It is ALL THREE that cause us to be able to attain or obtain eternal life and thereby be saved. Therefore we cannot boast even of our FAITH, for it too is a GIFT of God as well.
Therefore we are saved BY GRACE, and it is THROUGH FAITH that we are empowered by the holy Spirit of God to obey God, that is to say, to do the Father’s will. And IF we neglect to obey God, then how shall we escape his judgment.
So carefully consider Hebrews 2:1-3 which says,
“Therefore we ought to give MORE EARNEST HEED to the things we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience RECEIVED a just recompence of reward. How shall we escape, IF we NEGLECT so great salvation;..."
Ask yourself. What did God save me from? Why did God save me, or for what purpose did God save me? In a nutshell the answer is this; Romans 5:21, 6:1-18
“That as sin reigned unto death, even so might GRACE REIGN THROUGH RIGHTEOUSNESS unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”
In other words, before we received Jesus as our Saviour, sin reigned in our lives and therefore death was abiding in us. Likewise, even in the same way that sin used to reign in our lives, so now GRACE reigns in us PRODUCING works of righteousness UNTO the receiving of eternal life by Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:1-18
“ What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are DEAD TO SIN, live any longer therein? Know you not, that so many of us were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, EVEN SO we ALSO should WALK in newness of life.
For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 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. For he that is dead is FREED from sin.
Now if we be dead with Christ; we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he lives, he lives unto God. LIKEWISE reckon you also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let NOT sin therefore REIGN in your mortal body, that you should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Neither yield you your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: BUT YIELD yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For SIN shall NOT have DOMINION over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace (the POWER of God)? What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know you not, that to whom you YIELD yourselves servants to obey; whether of sin unto death, or OBEDIENCE unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that YOU WERE the servants of sin, BUT you have OBEYED from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then MADE FREE from sin, you became the servants of righteousness .”
So we are saved from SIN by grace reigning in our hearts through FAITH or believing in the truth of God's word that we are DEAD to sin and have become new creatures in Christ Jesus our Lord for the purpose that we should live in the righteousness that Jesus has purchased through his death for us.
So how shall we escape the judgment of God if we neglect to walk in this so great salvation of being freed from sin. so that sin should NOT have any more dominion over us.
You see, it takes FAITH to see the reality that we are NOW NEW CREATURES in Christ Jesus.
It takes FAITH to live righteously.
It takes FAITH to know that we have been delivered from the power of sin and that sin shall not have dominion over us any more.
It takes FAITH to believe that it is POSSIBLE to live free from sin.
You see, there is no way that you will ever rid your life from the bondage of sin unless you FIRST BELIEVE that you can live your life free from sin. That is why the word of God says the just shall live (their lives) by FAITH. We are not under the law whereby we attempt to establish our OWN righteousness, but we are under grace whereby we have been given all we need to serve God out of a pure heart and not be filled with pride and boasting, because we know without a doubt that we are living righteously before him in HIS strength, NOT our OWN strength.
Can you see now how that there is error mixed with the truth on BOTH SIDES?
Let us continue with statement number 4. 4. We have been given eternal life. We already possess eternal life. Therefore we are eternally saved and cannot lose our salvation. The Once Saved Always Saved doctrine uses I John 5:13 to support their viewpoint which says,
“ These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God.”
Ask yourself what are the "THESE THINGS" that John wrote unto us in order that we may know that we have eternal life? Again keeping the verse of scripture in context and comparing it with other verses of scripture we will know the truth, the WHOLE truth, and nothing but the truth. Back up to verse 3,4, and 5 of this same chapter of 1 John.
“For this is the love of God that we KEEP his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God OVERCOMES the world; and THIS is the victory that overcomes the world, EVEN our FAITH. Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that BELIEVES that Jesus is the Son of God ? ”
Now if we back up even further we will see the reason why we have this witness or assurance within us that we have everlasting life abiding in us. Look at I John 3:8 which is one of the things John wrote unto us that we may know that we have eternal life.
“He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sins from the beginning. For THIS PURPOSE the the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
Whosoever is born of God does NOT commit sin; for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. IN THIS the children of God are manifest (made known), and the children of the devil: whosoever does not righteousness is not of God neither he that loves not his brother.
For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew him? Because his OWN WORKS were evil and his brother’s righteous.
Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. We know that we have passed from death unto life, BECAUSE we love the brethren. He that loves not his brother ABIDES IN DEATH.
Whosoever hates his brother is a murderer: and you know that no murderer HAS ETERNAL LIFE ABIDING IN HIM.”
So you see, as long as we are abiding and walking in LOVE, then we KNOW we have eternal life in us abiding in us, but IF we draw back and get out of abiding and walking in love, then DEATH once again abides in us.
For you see, we do not actually receive the wages of sin, which is DEATH, nor do we actually receive the reward of ETERNAL LIFE until we actually die physically, or until Jesus returns, which ever comes first.
Therefore the determining factor of which one of the two we receive, eternal damnation or eternal life, is based on what is abiding in our hearts at the time we die physically or when Jesus returns. You see, there is no middle ground. Either we are obeying God's word and walking in love or we are disobeying God and walking after the flesh.
Jesus said if ye abide in me and my words abide in you shall know the TRUTH the TRUTH shall MAKE you FREE. So I ask you, from what shall we be made free? The answer to this question is many things, but one of the things we are made free from is SIN, so that we should no longer serve sin, but rather serve God through righteous works.
And we are able to do this how? The answer is by the law of FAITH For the word of God says that the just or those who shall live justly, that is, to live without sin, shall live this righteous life by the law of faith and not their OWN works of righteousness performed in their OWN strength in which there is boasting.
Hebrews 11:6 says,
“But without FAITH it is IMPOSSIBLE to please him: for he that comes to God must BELIEVE that he is, and that he is the rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
The truth is we only have eternal life ABIDING in us IF SO BE that we OBEY the TRUTH. We must endure unto the END as Jesus said, and then, and ONLY then shall we be saved and obtain eternal life. The word of God clearly teaches that actual POSSESSING of eternal life does not come UNTIL Jesus returns and the dead in Christ are raised.
1 Timothy 6:19 says,
“Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the TIME TO COME that they may LAY HOLD on eternal life.”
Then we read in Titus 1:2
“IN HOPE of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, PROMISED before the world began.”
And again in Titus 3:7,8
“That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the HOPE of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that you AFFIRM CONSTANTLY that they which have believed in God might be careful to MAINTAIN GOOD WORKS.”
Now the reason being that we must take heed and be careful to MAINTAIN good works is because without good works, that is to say living righteously before God, there will be NO reward of eternal life. Please do not misunderstand what I am saying. It is not OUR OWN good works, but God doing the good works that God has commanded us to do through the power of the Holy Spirit.
1 John 3:21,24,25 says,
“I have not written unto you because you know NOT the truth, but because you KNOW it, and that no lie is of the truth…. Let that therefore ABIDE in you, which you have heard from the beginning. IF that which you heard from the beginning SHALL REMAIN IN YOU, you also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the PROMISE he has promised us, even eternal life.”
Jude 21
“Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ UNTO eternal life.”
John 4:14
“ But whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst, but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well SPRINGING UP INTO everlasting life.”
Romans 6:22
“ But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, you have fruit unto holiness, and the END everlasting life.”
Galatians 6: 7-9 says,
“BE NOT DECEIVED; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that also shall he reap. For he that sows of the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit SHALL of the Spirit REAP everlasting life. And let us NOT BE WEARY IN WELL DOING: for IN DUE SEASON we shall reap IF WE FAINT NOT.”
James1:12 says it like this,
“Blessed is the man that ENDURES temptation: for when he is tried, he SHALL receive the crown of life, which the Lord has PROMISED to them that love him.”
Jesus said in Revelation 2:10
“Fear none of those things which you shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried, and you shall have tribulation ten days; be you FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH, and I WILL give you a crown of life.”
IF SO BE that you are FAITHFUL unto death. Then in Revelation 3:11 Jesus warns us to hold fast so that we do not lose our crown of life.
“Behold I come quickly: HOLD FAST which you have, that no man TAKE your crown.”
You see, we will receive eternal life, IF and ONLY IF we are found faithful unto the END by being obedient to God's word and his Holy Spirit. As you have seen from these verses of scripture that the word of God clearly teaches that we do not actually possess or obtain eternal life to the point that we can never lose it, until Jesus comes again, and we are found to be those good and faithful servants.It is ONLY then at the resurrection of the RIGHTEOUS dead IN CHRIST and those FAITHFUL believers who are alive and remain unto the COMING of Jesus when we RECEIVE our INCORRUPTABLE glorified bodies that our SALVATION is ETERNALLY SECURE and the SECOND death has NO POWER over us from this point on.
Look at Revelation 22:12 which says,
“And, behold, I come quickly; and my REWARD IS WITH ME, to give every man ACCORDING AS HIS WORK SHALL BE.”
Let us continue with point number 5. 5. No one or anything can separate us from the Father, therefore our salvation is eternally secure. John 10:29
“My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Fathers hand.”
Again we need to keep scripture in context to know the true meaning. Let us begin with verse 26.
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they FOLLOW ME; And I WILL give unto them eternal life; and (THEN at this time that I WILL give to them eternal life) they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.”
Notice that in this verse of scripture that there is a threefold promise. First we are promised eternal life. Second we are promised that we should never perish and thirdly we are promised that no man will be able to pluck us out of our Fathers hand. These promises are, as I said before, CONDITIONAL. Clearly from the light of ALL the word of God it is ONLY those who hear his voice and FOLLOW HIM that shall receive these promises. We have already learned that eternal life is not obtained or received UNTIL the second coming of Jesus.
The Bible tells us that once we receive our immortal bodies that the second death will not have any power over us, which means that THEN, after we have OBTAINED eternal life AT the TIME of the RESURRECTION wich takes place at the SECOND coming of Jesus, we shall never perish. So it stands to reason that the promise of “no man being able to plucked us out of the Father’s hand” is ALSO at the coming of our Lord, because it is mentioned third or lastly in this threefold promise. Either way the promise is conditional and does not guarantee to us eternal security in that we can never lose our salvation, because plain and simple the word of God clearly teaches that one can cease following Jesus and therefore lose their reward of eternal life.
Romans 8:38 is also used to try and show that we cannot be separated from God by those that teach the Eternal Security Doctrine, or “Once Saved Always Saved” viewpoint.
“For I am persuaded, that neither death, 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.”
In the previous chapter Paul is teaching us that there is a warring in the flesh against the spirit, the new creation. Paul says, that which we don’t want to do, we seem to do and that which we want to do, we don’t always do.
However, Paul goes on to say there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are IN Christ Jesus, who walk NOT after the flesh, BUT after the Spirit. And also IF we live after the flesh we shall die, but IF we THROUGH the SPIRIT we do mortify the deeds of the body, THEN and ONLY THEN we shall live. Paul then says, I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Then after expounding on how we long to be clothed with this glory he says, What shall we then say to these things? (What these things? All the things that he just finished saying, the things you just read). Paul continues with, If God be for us, who can be against us? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Romans 8:37
"Nay in all these things we are more than CONQUERORS through him that loved us."
I want you to notice Paul’s tells us all this to show us how he came to this place to boldly proclaim these words of FAITH “For I am PERSUADED…” You see, the just shall live by FAITH. Paul became fully persuaded, that is to say full of faith, that through the Holy Spirit he would be able to mortify the deeds of his body and that nothing could separate him from God. We see this same kind of being FULLY PERSUADED in Abraham.
Look at Romans 4:19-21
“And being not weak in FAITH,…he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was STRONG IN FAITH giving glory to God; And being FULLY PERSUADED that, what he had promised, he (God) was able to perform.”
You see it is ONLY by being fully persuaded, that is to say, by FAITH that we are more than conquerors or overcomers in all these things THROUGH him that loved us. It is only then that nothing shall separate us from the love of God. You see, if we don't resist the devil when he comes to tempt us, then the devil will not flee from us. You see, what I am saying, we have to obey the word of God before the promise of not being able to be separated from God is manifested in our lives. Sin separates us from God.
Point number or statement number 6. 6. We are children of God. We cannot cease from being his child, therefore once we are saved and become his child we are always his child and thus always saved. 1 John 3:2
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”
Now don’t stop here, but read the next verse. Remember we must keep the verses we are studying in the context from where they are found.
1 John 3:3
“And every man that has this HOPE in him PURIFIES HIMSELF, EVEN AS HE IS PURE.” Being a child of God is conditional.
Look at Romans 8:14
“For as many as are LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD, they are the sons of God.”
We are only children of God as long as we are obedient to the LEADING of the Holy Spirit and the word of God.
Those that teach eternal security maintain that once you accept Jesus as your Saviour you become a child of God and that you cannot be unborn again. The argue that in the natural one may be a good child at times or a bad child at times, and when one is bad he or she does not cease being a child. I was at one time without God and at that time in my life the word of God says that I was the child of the devil. Jesus said in John 8:44
“ You are of you father the devil, and the lust of your father you will do…”
Now go back to I John 3:2-10 and look at verse 10 which says,
“IN THIS (in the WORKS we DO) the children of God are manifest (made to be clearly known), and the children of the devil:…”
Simply put, the context of this entire passage of scripture teaches that those who do not righteousness or good works are the child of the devil, and those that do obey God are his children. In other words those who sin are known by their fruit as being a child of the devil. And those who obey God and walk in love are God's children. Compare scripture with scripture in the light of the WHOLE word of God.
Look at Romans 6:16
“ Know you not, that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, HIS SERVANTS YOU ARE to whom you obey; whether of sin (obedience to the devil) unto death, or obedience (to Almighy God, the Father) unto righteousness.” (so that then we will be found to be that GOOD and FAITHFUL servant of God in order to be ACCOUNT WORTHY to ENTER into the kingdom od God and OBTAIN eternal life)
Like it or not we can cease being a child of God and become the child of the devil by our disobedience to God's word. You see, in reality we are only children of God so long as we are OBEDIENT to follow the leading and teaching of the Spirit of God and obedient to God's word, the WHOLE word of God.
Plain and simple, here is the TRUTH of the matter, IF we cease to OBEY God we become DISOBEDIENT children and thereby are under God’s wrath so long as we remain disobedient. It is only through repentance and asking God’s forgiveness that we are restored by God’s grace through faith in believing that we are forgiven. And true repentance means that we turn from our disobedience and walk in obedience to God.
Therefore as long as we are obedient to God we have eternal life abiding in us, but just the PROMISE of eternal life. For you see we must be found FAITHFUL in the END before we actually obtain or receive our crown of eternal life. Like it or not God is PROVING us to see if we are worthy of eternal life. God wants to prove that if we are faithful to continually trust in his word that we will overcome the enemy on every side. He has given us all we need to live godly in this present world in order that we may attain eternal life.
Always remember that it is HE (God the Father) that is working in us through his Holy Spirit. We are HIS workmanship and NOT our OWN. All we have to do is believe and obey. And the first step to obeying God and living our lives free from sin is to believe that we can obey God's commandments and live without sin.
Statement or point number 7. 7. We are born again at the same time that we are saved. And you cannot be born again and again over and over.
I pretty well cover this argument in point number 6 about us being servants of who we obey, but here is a scripture that states that we can be born again after we are initially born again.
1 Peter 1:23
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides forever.”
Being born again is spiritual birth. Jesus said in John 3:6
“That which is born of flesh is flesh; and that which is born of Spirit is spirit.”
Now while it is true that in the flesh one cannot be born again, this does not prove that this is the case with spiritual birth. God’s ways are not our ways. Paul says in Galatians 4:19
“My little children, of whom I travail IN BIRTH AGAIN until Christ be formed in you.”
We are told in verse 9 that these were believers and Paul is travailing in prayer that Christ be formed in them AGAIN.
“But now, after that you have known God, or rather known of God, how turn you again to the weak and beggarly elements…”
Being born again means to be born of water and of the Spirit. And whosoever is born of God overcomes the world. So when one ceases to be led of the Spirit of God he or she ceases to be an overcomer, and if one ceases to be an overcomer he or she will in turn be overcome and therefore will lose out on eternal life; unless he or she repents.
Each time we are deceived and fall into sin we in essence are “ spiritually unborn” and become the child of the devil as the scripture plainly states. And when we ask forgiveness and repent of our sin God forgives us and in essence we are once again “born of God”
Statement number 8. 8. Salvation is an event in time. Therefore being saved cannot be an on going process of good works and enduring unto the end. Hebrews 3:15
“While it is said Today if you will hear his voice….”
I am sorry but I am not following the reasoning on how this verse of scripture proves that once we are saved we are always saved. However on the other hand if we hear his voice on a daily basis each and every day, moment by moment, and obey his voice we shall surely not go astray. But to hear and obey his voice that one time when we accept Jesus as our savior does not prove we are eternally saved and can never lose our salvation. Again if you look at verse 12 of this same chapter in Hebrews, the CONTEXT of where the verse in question is found that is USED to try and PROVE that one can NEVER DEPART from the living God, says,
“Take heed, BRETHREN, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in DEPARTING from the living God.”
You see this passage of scripture is speaking to those who are already believers. The next verses, still the SMAE CONTEXT, goes on to say,
“But exhort one another DAILY, while it is called Today, lest (for fear that) any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ IF we HOLD the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the END.”
Then, he says in verse 15, the verse in question,
“While it is Today if you will hear his voice...” (which is obviously speaking of each and every day as we hear the voice of the Holy Spirit)
Regardless of how the teachers of the Eternal Security Doctrine meant to use this verse to support their view there can be no mis-understanding that there is a CONDITION to the promise of being made a partaker of Christ and that condition is holding fast the beginning of our faith unto the END.
And if this condition is not met, then we will not be made partakers with Christ and receive eternal life. Thus the “Once Saved Always Saved” teaching is in error and henceforth is a false teaching or doctrine of the devil.
Nonetheless let us continue with point number 9. 9. Jesus will in no way cast us out, therefore we cannot lose our salvation.
John 6: 37
“ All that the Father gives me shall come to me; and him that comes to me I will in no wise cast out.”
One of the meanings of the word “come” is to be present, in other words a constant state of abiding. The word of God is clear that we can be deceived and walk away. It is not Jesus or God the Father that casts us out; it is our disobedience by walking away from God's word by giving into the temptation to sin that separates us from him.
Also another way to interpret this verse is to say that Jesus will not “REJECT” or “TURN AWAY” anyone that comes to him. So this verse does not provide us with valid evidence of eternal security. If we come to God to ask for wisdom the Bible tells us in the first chapter of James that God gives generously, BUT we must ask in FAITH not waivering, because if we waiver we won’t receive anything from God. In other words we must REMAIN in faith if we are to receive anything from God.
Think it through for YOURSELF. What does it mean to COME to Jesus? When we COME to Jesus we ask for forgiveness of sin. We THEN have to BY FAITH, believe that he FORGIVES us of our sin and CONTINUE to BELIEVE that he has forgiven us of our sins. Then we are to FOLLOW in the STEPS of Jesus who DID NO SIN.
Remember scripture cannot be broken. Jesus PLAINLY said that MANY of YOU shall GROW COLD because SIN shall abound and many shall be DECEIVED and be OVERCOME by the deceitfulness of sin. Therefore Jesus will say to THOSE who are living in sin when he comes again or who DIE in a state of sin, DEPART from me you who work INIQUITY and have SIN in your life. In other words, Jesus will CAST them OUT into outer darkness who ONCE CAME to him and he RECEIVED, but BECAUSE iniquity or SIN was found in them when they died or when he shall come again he has to reject them and cast them out into outer darkness.
So therefore this phase "COMES to him" clearly shows a REMAINING in him. In other words, he that REMAINS in me I will in no wise CAST OUT.
Statement number 10.
10. It is God’s will that all who believe should not be lost.
John 6:39
“And this is the Fathers will which has sent me, that all of which he has given me I should lose nothing, but should raise up the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which sees the Son and believes on him, may have everlasting life, and I will raise him up the last day”
It is also God’s will that no man should perish, but rather that every man should come to the knowledge of truth and be saved (II Peter 3:9). However we all know perfectly well that this is not going to be the case, because of other verses of scripture like narrow is the way and few therein that find it.
You see, NOT every man is going to come to the knowledge of truth and accept God’s gift of salvation. So the fact that being God’s “WILL” for us to be saved does not guarantee us eternal security. Jesus said that the love of many would grow cold and that ONLY he that endures unto the END will be saved. (Matthew 24:13,14).
Also notice this verse say MAY HAVE eternal life which is CONDITIONAL upon BELIEVING on Jesus. Which Jesus tells us IF we believe on him then we will KEEP his words. Again salvation is found to be CONDITIONAL time and time again, verse after verse. So therefore it is made quite clear that who can LOSE their salvation, so be NOT DECEIVED.
Statement number 11.
11. We are complete in Jesus Christ. Therefore we need nothing more in order to be saved. The sacrifice Jesus made for us was once and for all, and thereby complete. So to add good works in order to keep our salvation is to say that his sacrifice was not complete and therefore not good enough to save us.
Hebrews 8:12
“…by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”
Colossians 2:10
“And you are complete in him which is head of all principality and power.”
First of all, it is Jesus who entered ONCE into the holy place with his blood to obtain redemption for us and this SACRIFICE would be a ONCE and for all time ETERNAL sacrifice for our edemption. In other words, God's people no longer have to keep offering sacrifices to God for the forgiveness of sin. The SACRIFICE of Jesus is ETERNAL and will never have to be offered again for our redemption. This verse does not say or imply that we come ONCE to Jesus and then we have therefore OBTAINED ETERNAL redemption which we can NEVER lose. This INTERPRETATION CONTRADICTS the WHOLE word of God and therefore is in ERROR.
The key phrase here in this next verse is “IN HIM”. We must REMAIN "IN HIM" for us to be complete. And one must remember those that teach that salvation is conditional are not ADDING ANYTHING to the gospel of Jesus Christ; they are merely repeating what God has already told all of us in his word. It is up to us to RIGHTLY DIVIDE the word of truth.
Viewpoint number 12. 12. We are perfected forever, once and for all.
Hebrews 10:10,14
“ By which you are sanctified through the offering of the blood of Jesus Christ once and for all… For by one offering he has perfected forever them that are sanctified.”
The key phase here is "...them that are SANCTIFIED". The word "sanctify" means to set apart, to make holy. God has called us or set us apart to be holy even as he is holy. And he does this through the washing of the water by the word or through his word.
Read Ephesians 5:26
“ That he might SANCTIFY and cleanse it (the church or true believers) with the washing of water by the word.”
We as Christian must OBEY the leading of the Holy Spirit, for if we are disobedient, then we are in danger of losing our salvation and suffering the wrath of God. If we read the entire context of this verse I just quoted and back up to verse 6 you will see that our salvation is with the CONDITION that we are OBEDIENT to God's word.
“LET NO MAN DECEIVE YOU with vain words: for because of these things comes the wrath of God upon the children of DISOBEDIENCE.”
Ephesians 6:1 says,
“ Be you therefore FOLLOWERS of God as dear children.”
If we cease following God we become disobedient children, and as disobedient children we are in danger of God’s wrath if we do not repent and ask forgiveness of our disobedience. Therefore we can be deceived and lose our salvation. Henceforth we are only perfected, if and ONLY if, we REMAIN in Christ Jesus and his word REMAINS in us.
Statement number 13. 13. We are kept by the power of God and therefore cannot lose our salvation.
1 Peter 1:5
“Who are kept by the power of God through FAITH unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
Notice HOW we are kept ? BY the power of God. And HOW does the power of God KEEP us ? It is through FAITH, our CONTINUING to believ Gof UNTO the END of the age WHEN salvaltion shall be REVEALED or given to us. So again we are not ACTUALLY saved UNTIL we OBTAIN salvation in the last time of days at the second coming of Jesus.
We are saved through FAITH. As I have already stated faith is a continual action. We must REMAIN steadfast and UNWAVERING in our faith. James tells is James 1:6-8 that a man that wavers in faith should not expect anything of God and that this man is unstable in all his ways. Again we can clearly see that our salvation is not fully manifested in us UNTIL the last days when Jesus returns in all his glory. Look at the phase UNTO SALVATION ready to be revealed in the last time.
Statement number 14.
14. We are saved to the uttermost. In other words nothing is left out. We are totally and completely saved.
Hebrews 7:25
“Wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him,…”
Again we have to keep the scripture in context. The rest of this verse says,
“…seeing that he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
This passage of scripture is talking about Jesus being our high priest forever and how in the old covenant there was a need for that people to bring their sins to the high priest and he would make a sin offering in their behalf. Now we have Jesus as our high priest who is able to save us to the uttermost, but here is the condition. Notice the phrase “THAT COME TO GOD”.
The word of God clearly states that he is faithful and just to forgive our sins, however it is only on the condition that we “come to God” first and CONFESS our sins and ASK FORGIVENESS. You see, if we do not COME to God seeking forgiveness, then we will not be forgiven. Therefore our salvation is not eternally secure in that it is automatic and we do not have to do anything after we once accept Jesus as our personal Saviour. Salvation as some teach is not “Once Saved Always Saved”.
We must remain faithful and obedient to God's word and if we sin, we must come to God and ask for forgiveness and repent of our sin, and believe or have faith that he is faithful and just to forgive us. Again and again, over and over, scripture after scripture we find that our salvation is CONDTIONAL.
Statement number 15.
15. We are sealed until the day of redemption, so it is not possible to lose our salvation.
Ephesians 4:30
“ And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption.”
One of the meanings of the word “seal” is identity. We as Christians are identified by the Holy Spirit.
Look at Acts 10:44 which says,
“While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
The Holy Spirit identified to the disciples that these Gentiles were saved or ACCEPTED by God, because they all received the Holy Spirit.
Also look at 1 Corinthians 9:2
“ If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are in the Lord.”
The fact Paul had discipled these believers identified his apostleship to them. One could say it was a witness on the inside of Paul that assured him, it identified to Paul that he was on the right tract so to speak. Now this witness of the Holy Spirit that we have within us no doubt brings us assurance or identifies to us that we are his children, however we ALSO are warned in Ephesians 4:30 NOT to GRIEVE the Holy Spirit, which indicates that we are able and can grieve the Holy Spirit.
It is only through faith and obedience of the Holy Spirit that we maintain this griefless fellowship with the Holy Spirit. And by obeying and NOT grieving the Holy Spirit it is thereby HOW we are sealed and IDENTIFIES to us and others that we are the children of God. This is HOW we KNOW the children of God and the children od the devil by who we OBEY.
So once again we see that our salvation requires action on our part. Salvation is conditional. Salvation is not automatic, requiring us to do nothing to maintain it. We must not grieve the Holy Spirit by disobeying God's word.
Statement number 16. 16. What about those that sin? Will they be lost? The answer is no. They will suffer loss, but they themselves will be saved.
1 Corinthians 3:11-15
“For other foundation can no man lay that is laid, which is Jesus Christ, Now if any man build upon the foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he has built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”
Again it is only by keeping the verse in question in the context of where it is found that we can discern its true meaning. Let’s begin with verse 6.
“I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that plants any thing, neither he that waters; but God that gives the increase. Now he that plants and he that waters are one: and every man shall RECEIVE his OWN REWARD according to his own LABOUR (work).
For we are laborers together with God: you are God’s husbandry, you are God’s BUILDING. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another builds thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work (labour) shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire (trial); and the fire shall try every man’s work (labour) of what sort it is.
If any man’s work ABIDES (remains) which he has BUILT thereupon, he shall RECEIVE A REWARD. If any man’s work (labour) be burned (lost), he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; you so as by fire (trial).”
This entire passage of scripture is talking about witnessing, preaching the gospel, telling people about Jesus, in other words BUILDING the kingdom. We, the church, are referred to as God’s BUILDING. The foundation is Jesus Christ and we as Christian add our “two cents worth”, so to speak, whereby building on this foundation through preaching the gospel in order to bring people to the knowledge of the truth.
Some of us plant the seeds of God’s word and others come along and water these seeds, but ultimately God gives the increase. Then this person comes to the knowledge of truth and believes, thereby becoming a new creature in Christ Jesus and lives his life going through temptations and trials just like the rest of us.
Now if their faith does not fail and they ABIDE or remain in Christ faithful unto the end, then we who had part in plating and watering shall receive a reward. However, if they fall away from the faith and do not endure the temptations and trials, but are NOT found faithful unto the end and thus lose their reward of eternal life, then we who labored (worked) to help bring them to God by the foolishness of preaching shall suffer loss.
However, it does not affect our own salvation if someone rejects the truth, and turns from God. We will still be saved, yet we still must endure temptations and trials and endure unto the end. And if we are found faithful we will receive our reward of eternal life, but we shall suffer the loss of whatever reward we were going to receive had the person we planted or watered the word of God would have remained faithful, and ALSO received eternal life.
You see, our WORKS here in this CONTEXT are thos who BELIEVE upon Jesus because of our WORK of PREACHIMG and teaching the gospel. If our WORK of bring those into the kingdom of God through our witnessing and THESE works are tried and remain faithful we shall receive a reward. But if THESE works which we have brought into the kingdom who when THEY are tried and do not remain faithful, then THESE works, THEY who did not remain faithful shall be LOST, be we ourselved shall still be saved IF when we are tried we remain faithful.
Now I have not discerned what that loss or reward will be, but Ezekiel 33:89 sheds some light.
“So you O son of man, I have set you a watchman unto the house of Isreal; therefore you shall hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.
When I say unto the wiched, O wicked man, you shall surely die; if you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity (sin); but his blood will I REQUIRE at you hand.
Nevertheless, if you warn the wicked of his way to turn from it: if he does not turn from his way, He shall die in his iniquity (sin); but you have delivered your soul.”
I would have to say that the loss we suffer will be that we won’t get a reward for the people we lead to Christ who do not remain faithful unto the end. NONETHELESS we ourselves shall still be SAVED, IF when we are tried we shall remain faithful unto the END.
Because Jesus HIMSELF plainly states that he the ENDURES unto the END the SAME shall be SAVED. Therfore NO ONE is ACTUALLY saved until the SECOND coming of Jesus.
Statement number 17.
17. We become the body of Christ when are saved. And Jesus will not reject his own body.
Ephesians 5:30
“For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.”
1 Corinthians 12:18
“ Now you are the body of Christ and members in particular.”
Let us go back a few verse in Ephesians chapter 5 to verses 25 through 27.
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the CHURCH, and gave himself for it. That he might SANCTIFY and CLEANSE it (the church) WITH THE WASHING OF WATER BY THE WORD. That he might present it (the church) to himself a glorious church not having spot or wrinkle. Or any such thing; but that it should be HOLY and WITHOUT BLEMISH.”
You see, we are saved or redeemed from sin so that we are freed to do good works. And if we sin and die in our iniquities, then we shall be lost and not receive eternal life.
Jesus himself said in Mark 9:43
“And if hand hand offend you, cut it off: it is better for you to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into fire that never shall be quenched.”
Now look at II Timothy 2:19-21
“Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The Lord knows them that are his. And let every one that names the name of Christ DEPART FROM INIQUITY. BUT in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonor.
If a man PURGE himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified and meet for the masters use and prepared unto every good work.”
In a great house (the body of Christ) are vessels of gold and silver (Christians who are living without sin) and vessels of wood and earth ( those Christians who have been deceived and have brought dishonor to the Lord by choosing the pleasure of sin over remaining faithful) If Jesus tells us to cut off members of our body (those Christians who are choosing to live in sin) and we are told by the word of God to purge ourselves from those vessels that bring dishonor to God’s house ( the church), then Jesus would surely cut us off from his body if we choose a lifestyle of sin and die in ours sins without repentance. Jesus said in Matthew 7:21,22
“ Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER which is in heaven. Many shall say to me in that day Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name cast out devils? And in your name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: DEPART from me, YOU THAT WORK INIQUITY (commit SIN).”
You see you can live a righteous life all your life and then be deceived and turn to a life of iniquity or sin and if you die in this state of sin it will be like the Lord never knew you. And he will say to you to depart, BECAUSE of your iniquity.
Look at Ezekiel 33:11-
“Say unto them, As I live says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked TURN from his way and LIVE; turn you from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
Therefore, you son of man, say unto the children of your people, The RIGHTEOUSNESS of the RIGHTEOUS shall NOT DELIVER him in the DAY OF HIS TRANGRESSION: as for the wickedness of the wicked he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turns from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he SINS.
When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and COMMITS INIQUITY, all his righteousness shall not be remembered, BUT for his INIQUITY that he has committed he shall die for it….When the righteous turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he shall even die thereby.”
Statement number 18. 18. What if we commit an awful sin? Will we lose our salvation then? Again the answer is NO.
1 Corinthians 5: 1,5
“It is reported commonly among you that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife… To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”
Keeping the scripture in context look at the next two verses which say,
“Your glorying is not good. Know you not that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.”
When open sin appears in the church we are to not have fellowship with those that are living in sin, because their sin will eventually pollute our minds as well. Therefore we must put them out of the church and consider them as not being our brethren so that their spirit may be saved. This is one viewpoint and fits the context as well as other scriptures, but one can readily see also that just because one is turned over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh does not always mean that he or she will without a doubt turn from his or her sin and be saved. Naturally it is our hope that they repent and are thus saved, but it is ultimately their choice to make.
Also notice the condition that someone must turn them over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, and if they are not turned over to Satan, then for a surety they will be lost, thus disproving the “once saved always saved” point of view. The eternal security doctrine simply does not line up with the WHOLE word of God. As we have seen every one of the verses used to TRY and prove the Once Saved Always Saved doctrine have been plainly shown that they were taken out of CONTEXT and twisted by adding personal opinions or viewpoints to create a doctrine that is more pleasing and tickles the ear, and clearly not SOUND DOCTRINE. None the less let us continue.
Statement number 19. 19. Those who seem to have fallen away or turned from God were never truly saved and therefore did not lose their salvation, because they were never really truly saved.
1 John 2:19
“They went out from us, but they were not of us: for if they had been of us; they would no doubt have continued with us. But they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not of us.”
First of all if one rejects the truth and does not accept Jesus as their savior, then they lose out on salvation, if so be that they never accept him and die without accepting him. So whether you lose your salvation, or you lose out by not being saved, you still die in your sins and are lost. The early church believed that they were in the last days and one of the signs of the last days was a great falling away from the faith. II Thessalonians 2:3
“ Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first,…” I Timothy 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.”
1 Corinthians 11: 19
“For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be manifest among you.”
Malachi 3:18
“Then shall you discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serves God and him that serves him not.”
In a nut shell it is prophesied that there will be a falling away from the faith, therefore in every generation there will be those who are among us that receive the word of God for awhile in their hearts, and then when persecution arises for the words sake then they will depart from the faith. And we who remain can’t seem to comprehend why anyone would throw away so great a salvation and reason within ourselves that they must have never really truly believed, because HOW could anyone who TRULY believes forsake following the Lord?
However, the truth is that they did once believe but were deceived. In the context of this passage of scripture it does not appear that John is teaching a doctrine here that they were never truly saved, but rather consoling those who remained faithful and did not go out from the fellowship by reasoning that they must not have truly been saved or surely they would have remained. Nonetheless in light of all the scripture the word of God clearly teaches that we can in fact truly have accepted Jesus as our Saviour and be deceived and turn from God and depart from the faith and thereby lose our reward of eternal life.
BE NOT DECEIVED!
Statement number 20. 20. What happens if we no longer believe? Will we lose our salvation? Will Jesus deny us? The Bible assure us that the answer is NO. Our salvation is SO SECURE that EVEN if we BELIEVE NOT after we are saved he will not deny us, because we are part of him ( the body of Christ)
II Timothy 2:12
“If we believe not: yet he abides faithful: he cannot deny himself”
First of all each and every scripture used by those that teach eternal security when read alone or collectively SEEM, at first reading, to be quite persuasive to show that once a person accepts Jesus as their savior, then they can never lose their salvation.
However, as we have seen in this study that if these same verses of scripture are KEPT in their context where they are found, then they are proven beyond any shadow of a doubt to mean something entirely different than what those that teach eternal security and once saved always saved try to FORCE them to mean. So once again let us KEEP II Timothy 2:12 in the context of where it is found. Let’s begin with verse number 7 and read through verse number 26, whereby verse 13, the verse in question is right in the middle.
“CONSIDER WHAT I SAY; and the Lord give YOU UNDERSTANDING in all things. Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. It is a faithful saying: For IF we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: IF we suffer, we shall also reign with him: IF WE DENY HIM, HE WILL ALSO DENY US: If we believe not, yet he abides faithful: he cannot deny himself." Let's pause here for a moment and ask yourself, “If I believe not (WHAT?)” In other word's what is it that we believe not? Well obviously what you were just told in the previous verses. You see God’s word is truth whether you believe it or not.
So as verse 13 , the verse in question, says IF WE BELIEVE NOT (believe not what?) verse 12, that "If we DENY the Lord he will ALSO DENY us". Scripture cannot be broken. God said what he meant and God means what he says. It is impossible for God to lie. Therefore Jesus, no matter how much he loves you and does not want you to be lost he CANNOT or WILL NOT BREAK his word and deny himself by going against what he has said in verse 12, "If we DENY him he will ALSO DENY us", and I paraphrase the verse in question, "Even if we believe NOT that he will deny us if we deny him, he must remain faithful, to his own word and he cannot deny himself.”
Jesus also said in Matthew 10:33
“But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also DENY before my Father which is in heaven.”
Again verse 13 is saying it does not matter if you believe this or not (that which was just spoken in verse 12) Jesus cannot deny himself by going against what he has already spoken. There is no way that this verse is saying that if we do not believe in Jesus anymore that it does not matter because Jesus cannot deny himself and INTERPRETING that "cannot deny HIMSELF" means that Jesus cannoy deny his BODY, which is the church and therefore NO MATTER what you believe after you ONCE have accepted Jesus as your savior, then he CANNOT deny you and you are FOREVER and ETERNALLY SAVED. This interpretation is twisting the scriptures to conform to an already proven false doctrine.
Don't be deceived. The Eternal Security Doctrine is a misinterpretation of God's word.
Don't be deceived, we can deny the Lord by openly speaking out with our mouths, and we can also DENY the Lord by our lifestyle, the way we live. You shall know the tree by the fruit it bears.
Look at Titus 1:16
“They PROFESS that they know God; BUT IN WORKS they DENY HIM, being abominable and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”
Let's continue now with the fourteenth verse of second Timothy. “Of these things PUT THEM IN REMEMBRANCE, CHARGING them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers”. I believe the Bible teaches eternal security in this one sense, that if we meet certain CONDITIONS God is able to KEEP us from falling, but this is NOT what the eternal security or once saved always saved doctrine teaches in any form, therefore we as true believers must denounce any association with this doctrine so as not to subvert or lead others to go astray.
This passive teaching of “ Let's not make any waves or let's agree to disagree” says to those who are “babes in Christ” that is does not matter what you believe so long as you believe in God. The devils believe in God and we know their destiny. So does the truth matter. Ask yourself do I truly desire to know the truth of God's word. Again I strongly urge you to prove for yourself that what I have shared with you in this study is the absolute truth of God's word.
“STUDY to shew yourselves approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, RIGHTLY DIVIDING the word of truth.
“But SHUN profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness” Now you personally may not view the doctrine of eternal security as a license to sin so to speak, but others who do not know your heart may read this false doctrine and say to their self, “well so and so believes in once saved always saved, so it must be true, so no matter what I do I will never lose my salvation, so it will be alright if I commit this sin, after all I am saved by grace.”
Can you see how our association or passive view with this ungodly doctrine can lead some to more ungodliness. We are to shun these vain babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.
“And their word will eat as does a canker: of whom Hymenasus and Philetus;” “Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrown the faith of some.” Throughout the entire church age there have been those that have erred from the truth and have fabricated false doctrines and thereby have deceive some to follow their teachings which ultimately led them away from Christ. Now they may be sincere and truly believe that they are teaching the truth, but the are being deceived. It is our obligation who know the truth to instruct those that oppose themselves that they may ACKNOWLEDGE the TRUTH and recover themselves from the snare of the devil. “Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, the Lord knows them that are his. And, Let every one that names the name of Christ DEPART from INIQUITY.” “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and of earth; some to honour, and some to dishonor.” "If any man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” We need to purge ourselves from any and all false doctrine. “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” “But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they gender strifes.” “ And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient.” “In meekness instructing those that OPPOSE THEMSELVES, if God peradventure will give them repentance to the ACKNOWLEDGING OF THE TRUTH;” “ And that they may RECOVER THEMSELVES out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” The truth that I alluded to in the beginning of this study that there is error mixed with truth on BOTH sides is this: Salvation is in fact CONDITIONAL, however we also can have the full assurance that God is for us, that God is able to keep us from falling, that we can be fully persuaded that nothing will be able to separate us from God, that God will protect us, heal us, deliver us, strengthen us, forgive us, or whatever we need at the time, but as with all God’s promises there are CONDITIONS that we must meet before we receive them. Primarily this condition is FAITH. We must believe. With man it is not possible, but WITH GOD all things are possible to him that BELIEVES. The error on the side of those that teach that salvation is conditional leave the impression that WE are the ones that have to keep the commandments of God, and give absolutely no instruction on how we are to accomplish this seeming impossible task. When in reality it is God, though the person of the Holy Spirit that is actually doing the works, in the SAME way that Jesus did the WORKS that he did was the Holy Spirit IN him that ACTUALLY did the WORKS and NOT Jesus himself. The Bible also teaches that Jesus DEPENDED upon the eternal Holy Spirit of Almighty God to live his lfe WITHOUT SIN. And by doing so left us the EXAMPLE of living OUR lives WITHOUT SIN THROUGH CHRIST, which is the ANOINTING of Almighty God, the Holy Spirit that dwells IN US. It is no longer I that lives, but Christ (the anointing) in me that lives. This is how Jesus lived without sin as our example to follow. For you see, if it were WE doing the good works, then there would be boasting. Salvation is kind of like this; when we are saved we are given a ticket so to speak that is redeemable for eternal life, when we die or when Jesus comes again. This ticket or salvation that we are given when we accept Jesus as our saviour has our name on it and our reward of eternal life is held in reserve for us in heaven.
Now in order to redeem this ticket for eternal life we must have this ticket (hope or faith in receiving eternal life) in our possession when we die, or when Jesus returns. So our responsibility is not LOSE this ticket, that is give up our hope in God and in his word. Disobedience and sin causes us to lose our ticket.
Now if the ticket is lost, it can be found or recovered again by repenting of this disobedience or sin that we committed by asking God to forgive us.
If we meet this CONDITION and BELIEVE the word of God that tells us that he is faithful and just to forgive us IF we ask, then we will be forgiven and God will lead us to find our ticket.
Now, according to the knowledge that I have of the word of God there is no limit to how many times one can lose their ticket, but as for me I desire to know more on how to hang on to my ticket so that I may never lose it, rather than how close I can walk the line of sin and still be saved. As long as you seek to find the ticket if it is lost, this proves the sincerity of your heart and God looks upon the heart.
So never give up, no matter how much the enemy tries to keep you from finding your ticket, never stop looking. DON'T BE DECEIVED when the enemy tells you have crossed the line too far and God will not forgive you this time. He is faithful to forgive you if you ask.
However, you must have your ticket in your possession when you die or when Jesus comes back, so if you are in sin, repent and believe in his forgiveness. There are no exceptions and no excuse will be accepted. We must be free from sin, when we die or Jesus returns, and he is coming QUICKLY, in a TWINKLING of na eye, so there will be NOT time to REPENT.
Now as for me I am going to guard my ticket (salvation) carefully, so as not to ever lose it again, for no one knows as yet when Jesus is coming again or when they may die. If you want to know how not to lose your salvation, I will share with you what I have learned.
Please refer to my study on "HOW TO LIVE YOUR LIFE FREE FROM SIN" . We, the church, as a whole have been deceived into believing that we are only human, and as humans we are sinners saved by grace, but yet forever destined to be sinners, so just get used to it, for no man has ever lived a sinless life except for Jesus.
But my Bible tells me the Jesus is the captain of my salvation. Now the captain of a team leads his team to victory. He roots them on and says we can do this. He gives them a game plan. He is right there with us in the fight, he does not leave us to fight alone. Are you getting the picture yet? So in one sense our salvation is secure in that we can use our FAITH to secure the promises of God. For instance we can pray a prayer of the keeping of our souls so that God would help us never to fall and the stand on the scripture that says I am persuaded that you are able to keep that which I have committed unto you against that day using our FAITH based upon God’s word. Keep on studying God’s word, search the scriptures daily, stay in fellowship with the Father and work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God working in you. We are HIS workmanship. Yours in Christ Jesus
Always and forever,
Mark
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