SPELLING EDITED F-2. Is ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED BIBLICAL? What To Do When The Bible Seems To Contradict Itself. SAVED, THEN YOU ARE ALWAYS SAVED? DOES THE BIBLE TEACH THAT ONCE YOU ARE 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 O.S.A.S. In general, the assumption has or is made that only one viewpoint 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 this controversial doctrine sometimes referred to as the doctrine of “ETERNAL SECURITY” that is taught among some Christians, that there is some error mixed with some truth on BOTH sides of this controversial teaching. So my objective in this study of God's word, as is, with every Bible study that I do here at AMatterOfTruth.com, as always, is to expose the error and keep that which is the truth from both sides of this controversy seeing that both sides of this controversy use scripture to support what they are teaching. Like the old adage, “Don't throw out the baby with the bathwater”.Now in order to find the truth of ANY controversial subject among Christians, we need to take a CLOSER in-depth look at BOTH SIDES of the controversy and examine ALL the scriptures that relate to each viewpoint, and weigh ALL 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. And finding the TRUTH can only be done by using the WHOLE word of Almighty God and NOT by taking verses OUT of the CONTEXT.
Let’s begin this in-depth study in God's word by reading Proverbs 18:12,13 which says. “Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honor 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. I can assure you that you have NOT read a study on this subject as IN-DEPTH as this study so I implore you to hear the WHOLE matter BEFORE you judge for yourself what is the truth of the whole word of Almighty God. I say the WHOLE word of God, because almost any verse taken out of context and viewed alone, apart from the rest of God's word, may seem to be saving something that it is not truly saying when it is correctly interpreted in the LIGHT of ALL of God's word. The Bible tells us in 2 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.” The church has been divided into so many different DENOMINATIONS that at times some Christians will not dare be open to even LISTEN to what other church denominations are teaching. This is sad indeed that some church denominations have become so closed-minded to other church denominations that they have made the claim that their church denomination ALONE has the truth. I do indeed understand the position of the leaders of these church denominations, who do not want their flock to be led into error, but by ISOLATING themselves from all other church denominations they have CAUSED their own denomination to go into error on some point and or points of doctrine. 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 are 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 that the true meaning is properly understood. In some cases, the actual CONTEXT can cover several chapters of a book in the Bible. Also, any conclusion or interpretation that is drawn or concluded must AGREE with the REST of God's word and NOT CONTRADICT any other portion of God's word. So again, please consider the WHOLE MATTER as Proverbs 18:12,13 instructs us before you draw a final conclusion. Now the particular 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 by our OBEDIENCE to keep God's commandments as taught in the NEW Testament. In other words, the receiving of the END of our salvation, which is our receiving the PROMISE of ETERNAL LIFE in the world to come is conditional, and any one of us can become DECEIVED by the deceitfulness of sin: to NOT ever REPENT of our sin, and then to DIE while living in a state of sin and therefore lose our salvation and NOT inherit ETERNAL LIFE in the world to come. As with many controversial topics, if one focuses primarily on ONLY one side and avoids the arguments of the other side by trying to reason them away, then one will not be open to receive the TRUTH of the whole word of God. For you see, even when they HEAR the evidence on the other side, they are NOT truly LISTENING because all they have on their mind is a rebuttal with a verse of Scripture from their side of the argument that most likely they are merely REPEATING what they were TAUGHT by their DENOMINATION. In other words, they are not truly searching to know the TRUTH of the whole word of God, but rather they are merely searching for ways to better defend what they have been taught to believe by their church denomination. Therefore, I will do my best to fully present as many scriptures that I myself have been made 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 different sources that teach once saved always saved. And then, we will weigh both sides in the light of ALL of the Scriptures, that is to say, the WHOLE word of God. Please keep in mind that when reading ONLY ONE SIDE of any controversial church doctrine that ONE side can be very convincing. And SOUND BIBLICAL teaching cannot be accomplished without hearing ALL sides of the controversy in order to correctly interpret the verses in question by keeping them in the LIGHT of the WHOLE word of God.
The Eternal Security or Once Saved Always Saved doctrine states the following arguments and, then gives the following Scripture or verses of Scriptures to support their point of view. Please note that these following 20 statements of belief, as well as their 20 supporting arguments or line of reasoning, are included along with Scriptures that are used to try and support their point of view, are taken directly from the eternal security, and once saved always saved teachings. Argument #1.
Salvation is a gift from God. And God would not give us salvation and then take it away, otherwise, it would not be a gift. John 3:16. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten 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.” Argument #2.
Salvation is through believing. So once you BELIEVE and accept Jesus as your Savior, then you are forever saved, and therefore you can never lose your salvation no matter what. 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...”
Argument #3.
Salvation is a free gift, salvation is through 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…”
Argument # 4.
We have already been given eternal life. Therefore we are eternally saved, otherwise, it would NOT be called ETERNAL life, nor would it be called a GIFT.
1 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.”
Argument #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.”
Argument #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 any more than you can cease being a child of your natural human parents.
1 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.”
Argument #7.
We are born again at the time we are saved, which is when we accept Jesus as our savior. 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.”
Argument #8.
Salvation is a single event in time that takes place when you accept Jesus as your savior. 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,…”
Argument # 9.
Jesus will in no way cast us out; therefore we cannot ever lose our salvation no matter what.
John 6:37.
“… him that comes to me I will in no wise cast out.”
Argument #10.
It is God’s WILL that all who believe should not be lost.
John 6:39.
“And this is the Father's 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.”
Argument #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.”
Argument #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.”
Argument #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.”
Argument #14.
We are saved to the uttermost. In other words, nothing is left out, we are totally and completely saved the moment we accept Jesus as our savior.
Hebrews 7:25.
“Wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him…”
Argument #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.”
Argument #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 builds 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 man's work 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.”
Argument #17.
We become the body of Christ when we 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.”
Argument #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 a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”
Argument #19.
Those who seem to have fallen away or turned from God were never truly saved and therefore they 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.”
Argument #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, as in, we are members of his body. And Jesus would never deny his own body.
2 Timothy 2:12.
“If we believe not: yet he abides faithful: he cannot deny himself” SUMMARY OF ETERNAL SECURITY DOCTRINE ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED TEACHING CLOSING STATEMENT according to the once saved always saved teaching: As you can plainly see from these verses of Scripture that the Bible teaches that once you accept Jesus as your personal Savior, then you already have eternal life and can in no way ever lose your salvation no matter what. Therefore, once you are saved, then you are always saved. So, in other words, your salvation is eternally secure and cannot ever be lost. SECTION TWO WEIGHING THE EVIDENCE FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CONTROVERSY TO DISCERN 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 arguments offered by eternal security believers as their evidence to support what they teach. That is to say, this is all that I myself have found through reading several teachings on the doctrine of eternal security. If by chance I have missed any Scriptures that seem to support the view of eternal security please be assured for a certainty that I did not leave any evidence out intentionally. And if I have missed any arguments please let me know and I will add them to this study in God's word. Now when one considers ONLY all of this evidence of Scripture from this ONE SIDE of this controversy, then one could very easily conclude that the eternal security doctrine or once saved always saved teaching must be the truth. I mean how could it not be the truth with all this evidence from the Bible. BUT, you see my dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ, this is just the evidence from ONLY ONE SIDE of the controversy! What I mean by this is that this is just ONE side of this controversial subject and it is not the WHOLE word of Almighty God. In other words, there are Scriptures and passages of Scripture in the word of truth, the Holy Bible, that CONTRADICT the INTERPRETATIONS of the above 20 arguments used to try and prove the Once Saved Always Saved doctrine. So then, let us now examine CLOSELY all of these SAME scriptures while being LEFT in the CONTEXT of where they are found and compare them alongside other scriptures that oppose the CONCLUSION or the INTERPRETATION by those who teach the doctrine of Eternal Security and Once Saved Always Saved in order that we may discern the truth or the WHOLE word of God. For you see dear child of God it is the TRUTH ALONE of God's word that we should be seeking 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 and the truth shall make you free! Let us begin with a point or argument number 1, and then continue down the list closely examining each and every piece of evidence that is given by the doctrines of eternal security and once saved always saved teachings in the light of the WHOLE word of God. Argument #1. Salvation is a gift of God. And God would not give us a gift and then take it away, otherwise, it would NOT be a GIFT. 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 makes the statement that a gift may be lost or more precisely “stolen” by the enemy by DECEIVING a believer and therefore proves that we are not eternally saved. So the TRUTH of the matter is that God HIMSELF does NOT take back the gift of salvation that he has freely provided for all of mankind, BUT RATHER, some Christians become DECEIVED by the enemy and thereby THEY themselves ALLOW or let their salvation slip away or be stolen from them by the enemy, that old serpent called the Devil, and Satan, which DECEIVES the whole world. Now we will indeed continue to examine this statement or argument #1 from the opposing side of Eternal Security doctrine in the light of the Scriptures throughout this study in God's word, but for now let us move to the next statement, argument number 2 of the Eternal Security side of the controversy. I am holding this argument #1 to the end of this study because there is so much evidence throughout the entire Bible that CONTRADICTS the misguided conclusion that a GIFT cannot and will not ever be taken away, otherwise, it is not a GIFT. I say the end of this study, but in truth, you will read evidence all through this study exposing the ERROR made in the once saved always saved INTERPRETATION of the meaning of God's GIFT of ETERNAL LIFE as opposed to its SOUND BIBLICAL true meaning of God's GIFT of ETERNAL LIFE found only in the LIGHT of the WHOLE word of God. The main point throughout the New Testament is that we have NOT YET actually received our gift of eternal life but rather we have received the HOPE of the PROMISE of receiving eternal life in the world to come. This brings us to statement or argument number 2. Argument #2. Salvation is through faith or believing. So once you BELIEVE and accept Jesus as your personal savior, then you are saved forever and therefore you cannot lose your salvation no matter what. Yes, 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 Greek is “pisteuo” and it means to believe, to put trust, to follow. You see, the word 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 the world to come as a REWARD for our obedience to keep the commandment of God and not to deny Jesus as our savior. In other words, our actual obtaining of eternal life is yet in the future and is the HOPE set before us, looking forward to being attained. Now some eternal security believers argue that our reward of eternal life is not a REWARD, but in Revelation 22:11-15, Jesus tells us that he has his REWARD with him to give to every man ACCORDING to their WORK, which to me speaks of the LAST work that they will be presently engaged in AT the very moment Jesus returns. The coming of Jesus or more precisely our CHANGE from mortal to immortality will be so fast that there will NOT be time to REPENT at the second coming of Jesus and the unjust will be judged unjust and NOT given eternal life, but those who are found to be a good and faithful servant unto the end shall be given their REWARD of eternal life. Revelation 22:11-15. “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. 12. And, behold, I come quickly; and my REWARD is with me, to give every man ACCORDING as his WORK shall be. 13. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 14. Blessed are they that DO his commandments THAT they may have RIGHT to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whore mongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loves and makes a lie.”
Now, look at 1 Thessalonians 3:7,8, which says.
“Therefore BRETHREN, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your FAITH: for NOW we live (Or now we 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 that we have eternal life abiding in us provided that we remain or stand fast in the Lord unto the END.
Look at 1 Timothy 4:16 which says.
“Take heed unto yourself, and unto the doctrine, CONTINUE in them: FOR IN DOING THIS (Speaking of taking HEED to CONTINUE in the doctrine or teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ), 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 is TEACHING us the truth from the error of false teaching. In other words, it is only the doctrines, which are taught from the WHOLE word of God that we are to hide in our hearts. To say this another way, it is the word of TRUTH hidden in our hearts that will keep sin out of our lives and NOT false doctrines of men. The words “take heed” are a warning sign to us. They are warning us that if we do NOT take heed unto the doctrine or the gospel of Jesus Christ to continue in it, and tell others to do the same, then we will face the consequence, which is NOT being saved and ALSO possibly causing others to NOT be saved as well, by following our WRONG example and FALSE teaching. You see dear children of God, ONLY the TRUTH will make us free and the truth cannot make us free unless we CONTINUE in the TRUTH. And once saved always saved doctrine does NOT teach CONTINUING in the truth, but rather the very name of this doctrine of men states that once one accepts Jesus as their savior, then they are home free, so to speak, and they are eternally saved NEVER being able to lose their salvation no matter what they do or do not do. There is NO CONTINUING to do anything in the once saved always saved teaching. This verse goes on to say, for in doing this, or for this reason, a cause and effect type of situation, which is our CONTINUING in the doctrine of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we not only save ourselves but also those who believe us and follow our example of obeying the gospel. The bottom line is that IF we do NOT continue in the faith, then we will NOT reap eternal life in the world to come. In other words, we will lose our salvation, by losing the promise of our reward of eternal life IF SO BE that we do NOT take heed to CONTINUE in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 10: 35,36 says.
“Cast not away, therefore, your confidence (That is your faith), which has great recompense of reward (Our end reward is obtaining eternal life). For you have need of patience, that, AFTER you have DONE the WILL of God, you might RECEIVE the promise.” (The promise is that of our actually 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 VERSUS GOOD WORKS?” for a deeper understanding of the true meaning of not being saved by our OWN works, which we try to do in our OWN strength.
Look at Hebrews 10:38,39.
“Now the JUST (Speaking of those who have already accepted Jesus as their savior and have been JUSTIFIED) shall live by FAITH: BUT IF any man draws back, 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 you see, it is only through our continuing to believe that our soul is saved. We live from faith to faith. Therefore, we must not draw back unto perdition or sin, for if we do drawback, then we are in danger of losing our reward of eternal life.
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 the END of our salvation, which is obtaining the promise of ETERNAL LIFE in the world to come. 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 in the world to come.
Jesus said in Mathew 24:12,13.
“And because of iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax (Or 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, which clearly teaches us that if one does NOT believe and ENDURE unto the END then that person shall NOT be saved and therefore LOSE salvation or their reward of eternal life) Let us continue with point number 3. Argument #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. Again, 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 then, let’s continue with the very next verse in this passage of Scripture, that is to say, the CONTEXT of where these verses are found. The very next verse Ephesians 2:10 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 in Jesus Christ 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, we as true born again Christians are to be DOERS of the word and NOT hearers ONLY deceiving your own self. So then, the truth of the matter according to the CONTEXT of Ephesians chapter 2 of, “not being saved by works” is the following. We are not saved by OUR OWN WORKS of righteousness, because we cannot be righteous in our OWN strength without BOASTING or pride. But rather we are SAVED in the true meaning of the Greek word “SOZO”, in that, ALL of our PAST sins are completely washed away by the blood of Jesus to never be remembered against us by God ever again. In other words, when we are initially saved, ALL of our PAST sins are cast into the sea of forgetfulness and it is like we have NEVER SINNED. And thus, we are SAVED, in that, the very moment that we repent of our sins and CONFESS that Jesus, the Son of God who died for our sin, we are PLACED BACK in a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with Almighty God, who has now become our FATHER in heaven. 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 a 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 cause us not to be able to attain salvation and not, in essence, the works or righteousness 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 own self. And James shows us that one of these works of righteousness is feeding the poor or giving to those who have need. The truth of 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, know and understand that it is NOT our OWN strength but rather the GRACE of God working IN us that STRENGTHENS us to OVERCOME sin. It is this BELIEVING of God's promises, in his word, that we are made or we become more than conquerors THROUGH Christ Jesus. Remember the word CHRIST means ANOINTING or the ANOINTED one as well as meaning Messiah. Please read “JESUS THE CHRIST” for a deeper understanding of just exactly what it means to be IN CHRIST. You see dear child of God, 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. However, this does NOT mean that God is going to do these good works FOR you, nor does it mean that God will MAKE or FORCE you to do these good works of righteousness. But rather, YOU must OBEY the leading of the Holy Spirit to become a CO-LABORER WITH God by first BELIEVING that the PROMISES in God’s word to overcome sin are true and that God is always faithful to perform his WORD and then you must use your own will power in CONNECTION WITH your FAITH in God's promises in his word to RESIST the temptation to sin unto the END in order to be saved or “SOZO”, which also mean set free from that temptation to sin. This does not mean that there will never be another temptation to sin, but rather that we are saved from FAITH to FAITH, overcoming one temptation at a time to receive the END of our salvation. Also, please know and understand that 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 of these things that is the gift of God that causes us to be able to attain or obtain eternal life, the END of our salvation, and thereby be saved. Therefore we cannot boast even of our FAITH, for it too, is also a GIFT of God as well. Therefore, it is that we are saved BY GRACE, and it is THROUGH FAITH that we are empowered by the Holy Spirit of God who dwells in us to be able 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, which is clearly laid out for us in Romans WARNING us that the wages or the consequential payment for sin are DEATH speaking of the second death being destroyed in the lake of fire on the Day of Judgment.
I want you to carefully consider Hebrews 2:1-3 which says.
“Therefore we (Speaking of true born again believers) ought to give MORE EARNEST HEED to the things we have heard, lest (Or for FEAR that) at ANY time we (True believers) should LET them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience RECEIVED a just recompense of reward. How shall we (True believers) escape, IF WE NEGLECT so great salvation;...” The clear WARNING to each and every true born again believer is that we ought to give all the more earnest heed to the whole word of God for fear that any one of us, at any time, might LET the things that we have been taught SLIP away from us and therefore turn back to the old lifestyle of living in sin. You see, it is WE who NEGLECT this so great a salvation that God has freely given to us by his grace. And it is NOT Almighty God himself who actually takes his gift of eternal life away from us, but rather, WE, our self, let it SLIP AWAY by OUR OBEYING the deceitfulness of SIN to go back into living a lifestyle of sin So TAKE HEED dear children of God lest YOU at ANY time become DECEIVED by the deceitfulness of sin and YOU LET your REWARD of eternal life SLIP AWAY from you! 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 Savior, sin reigned in our lives and therefore death was abiding in us. And those who do NOT believe are CHOOSING to ALLOW death to be their reward in the END, IF SO BE that they REMAIN in their UNBELIEF. Likewise, even in the same way that sin used to reign in our lives in times past, so now GRACE reigns in us PRODUCING works of righteousness UNTO the receiving of eternal life by Jesus our Lord. But IF we LET sin come back into our lives to reign in our lives as true born again Christians, ALLOWING ourselves to be DECEIVED by the deceitfulness of sin to CONTINUE to live in sin, then we are not letting the GRACE of God REIGN in our life, because the GRACE of God TEACHES us to DENY ungodliness and sin in this PRESENT world.
Please read Titus 2:11-15, which says. 15. These things speak and exhort, and REBUKE with all authority. Let no man despise you.” Now I would like you to please read Romans 6:1-18, which goes on to teach us that we should view sin as being DEAD to us. Romans 6:1-18.
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2. God forbid. How shall we, that are DEAD TO SIN, live any longer therein? 3. Know you not, that so many of us were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4. 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. 5. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6. 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. 7. For he that is dead is FREED from sin. 8. Now if we are dead with Christ; we believe that we shall also live with him: 9. Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dies no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he lives, he lives unto God. 11. LIKEWISE, reckon you also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12. Let NOT sin therefore REIGN in your mortal body, that you should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13. 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. 14. For SIN shall NOT have DOMINION over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace (The POWER of God)? 15. What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16. Know you not, that to whom you YIELD yourselves servants to obey; whether of sin unto death or OBEDIENCE unto righteousness? 17. 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. 18. Being then MADE FREE from sin, you became the servants of righteousness .”
So we are saved from SIN by having or allowing grace to REIGN or RULE 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 then, 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 anymore. It takes FAITH to believe that it IS indeed POSSIBLE to live free from sin. You see, there is no way that you will ever WALK in the TRUTH of God's word in what HE has already provided for you to rid your life from the bondage of sin unless you FIRST BELIEVE that God has set you FREE from sin and that you can live your life free from sin. That is why the word of God says the JUST, which is all Christians shall live their lives by FAITH, but faith in WHAT? You see, these verses in Romans are speaking of living by faith to OVERCOME sin. Yes, it is true that we have been JUSTIFIED absolutely and completely of all our sins past, present, and future, but there is MORE to LIVING by FAITH than just believing that we have been justified. The Bible teaches us that we live from FAITH to FAITH, which means that we as Christians BY faith overcome temptation from one temptation to the next temptation. We move from faith to faith. Now, this does not mean that we are under the law whereby we attempt to establish our OWN righteousness. But rather it means that we are under grace whereby we have already been given all we need by Almighty God in order to serve God out of a pure heart and not be filled with pride and boasting. For you see, we know without a doubt that we are living righteously before him in HIS strength, NOT in, by or through our OWN strength. We know that we are HIS workmanship and NOT our OWN. Can you see now how that there is error mixed with the truth on BOTH SIDES where one side says salvation comes by grace ALONE and once a person accepts Jesus, then they are forever saved and can never lose their salvation no matter what? And the other side that says we are saved by GRACE ALONE and we are FREE to do whatever we please? Now, this side adds that we will not sin, because it will not PLEASE us to do so. However, those who are following this type of teaching still yet sin even when it does NOT PLEASE them to do so. No true born again Christian WANTS to sin or is PLEASED to sin. Yes, their FLESH is pleased, but the true INNER man HATES sin. I understand the line of REASONING on BOTH sides is the SAME, which is that no one can EARN their salvation by their OWN good works of righteousness. However, BOTH sides go to the extreme, but in opposite directions. The once saved always saved side wrongly concludes that Jesus did it ALL and there is NOTHING that we are to do except RECEIVE God's FREE GIFT of salvation. Then the other side wrongly concludes that we cannot earn or KEEP our salvation by our OWN good works either, therefore we do good works BECAUSE we are saved. Now both sides have a LITTLE truth, but NEITHER side is SOUND BIBLICAL teaching based upon the WHOLE word of God. Please stay with me and you will see what I am teaching you is the TRUTH. Let us continue with statement number 4. Argument # 4. We have been given eternal life. We already possess eternal life. Therefore we are eternally saved and cannot lose our salvation, otherwise, it would NOT be called ETERNAL life.
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 verses 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. 4. For whatsoever is born of God OVERCOMES the world; and THIS is the victory that overcomes the world, EVEN our FAITH. 5. 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. You see, it is the PROMISE or HOPE of obtaining eternal life that ABIDES or remains alive in us as we continue to BELIEVE in the Son of God and his words. Look at I John 3:8-14, 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 Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9. 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. 10. IN THIS (Speaking of NOT committing SIN, 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. 11. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12. 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. 13. Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hates 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. 14. 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 abiding in us, but IF we drawback 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, whichever comes first. Therefore, the determining factor of which one of these two rewards that we shall receive whether it be eternal damnation or whether it be eternal life, is based upon what is PRESENTLY 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 when we die or when Jesus returns and we will be judged only on what we are actively DOING at that moment of time when we die or when Jesus returns. Jesus said if you abide in me and my words abide in you, you shall know the TRUTH, and then 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 the 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, without living righteously before God, without OBEDIENCE to God and his word to keep his commandment, which he promises are not grievous or not burdensome, then there will be NO reward of eternal life. Please do not misunderstand what I am saying. It is not OUR OWN good works, but rather it is God doing the good works dwelling in us as we OBEY what God has commanded us to do through the power of his Holy Spirit. 1 John 2:21,24,25 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…. ...24. 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. 25. And this is the PROMISE he has promised us, even eternal life.”
This is the REASON WHY God's Holy Spirit gives us the WITNESS within us to KNOW that we have eternal life ABIDING in us so that this KNOWLEDGE will prompt us to CONTINUE in the Son and in the Father to INHERIT the PROMISE of eternal life in the world to come. Jude 21 teaches us that we are to keep OURSELVES in the love of God UNTO our receiving the promise of eternal life in the world to come.
“Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ UNTO eternal life.”
John 4:14 says.
“ 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 says.
“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.”
This passage of Scripture along with many others clearly and plainly teaches that without fail we MUST NOT faint and grow weary to be a DOER of the words lest we NOT REAP the FRUIT of our LABOR, which is the PROMISE of ETERNAL LIFE for being OBEDIENT unto death to KEEP the commandments of God. James 1:12 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.”
Remember the very words of Jesus, who teaches us that he will say DEPART from me you WORKERS of iniquity, present tense at the time of his return, you WORKERS of iniquity DEPART from me. Jesus also said in Revelation 2:10.
“Fear none of those things which you shall 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. Revelation 3:11. “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 to the leading of his Holy Spirit. As you have seen from these verses of Scripture 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 ACTUALLY SHALL RECEIVE our INCORRUPTIBLE glorified bodies that our SALVATION will become ETERNALLY SECURE and the SECOND death has NO POWER over us from that 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.” There is no doubt that the context of this verse is indeed speaking of a Christian KEEPING the commandments of God as a REQUIREMENT for having the RIGHT to obtain our GIFT or REWARD of ETERNAL LIFE. Please read Revelation 22:12-15. “And, behold, I come quickly; and my REWARD IS WITH ME, (Speaking of the reward of eternal life) to give every man ACCORDING AS HIS WORK SHALL BE. 13. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 14. Blessed are THEY that DO his commandments, THAT (Or in order that) THEY (Speaking of ONLY those FAITHFUL Christians who KEEP the commandments of God so that THEY) may have RIGHT to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15. For (Or because) without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whore mongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loves and makes a lie.” (In other words, ALL who do NOT KEEP the commandments of God are NOT given the RIGHT to receive eternal life, because they have not been found WORTHY to enter into the joy of the Lord to receive their PROMISE of the reward of ETERNAL LIFE in the world to come. Now some Christians have taken this passage of Scripture to the EXTREME dogmatically demanding that Christians must keep ALL the LAW of Moses in order to be saved. Please read the study “ARGUMENTS FOR SABBATH KEEPING EXAMINED!” and “ONLY NINE OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS!”) Let us continue with point number 5. Argument #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.”
Again we need to keep Scripture in context to know the true meaning. Let us begin with verse 27.
“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 in which I WILL give to them eternal life who are obedient to FOLLOW me unto the end of their life or until I come again, and then from that point in time on when I return to reward my FAITHFUL servants with the gift of eternal life onward) 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 Father's 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 in the world to come that the second death will not have any power over us, which means that THEN, after we have actually OBTAINED eternal life AT the TIME of the first RESURRECTION which takes place at the SECOND coming of Jesus, we shall never perish. So then, it stands to reason that the promise of “no man being able to pluck us out of the Father’s hand” is ALSO at the coming of our Lord and after, 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 the plain and simple truth of the word of God clearly teaches that one can become DECEIVED to cease following Jesus by their OWN CHOICE and therefore lose their reward of eternal life. This is why Jesus WARNS us that we do NOT ALLOW any man to TAKE our crown of life FROM us through FALSE teaching thereby DECEIVING us. BE NOT DECEIVED dear child of God! 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. Romans 8:38.
“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 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 who are obedient to walk after the Spirit. And also IF we live after the flesh we shall die, but IF we THROUGH the SPIRIT 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, to fight the good fight of faith to resist and overcome sin, 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 is 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 that Paul tells us all of these things 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, Paul became full of faith over time to know and understand 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. And I believe that every Christians should BECOME fully persuaded as well that THEY will become DOERS of the word of God to never fall away from the faith.
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 (God) 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 come to be 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. Can you not see what I am saying? We MUST obey the word of God unto the END before the promise of not being able to be separated from God is manifested in our lives. Sin separates us from God. Paul does NOT mention SIN in all the things that Paul mentioned when he said in all these things he was persuaded shall not separate us from the love of God. But in the CONTEXT of Romans chapter 8, Paul specifically WARNS believers that those who walk or live after the FLESH shall DIE. Paul warns us throughout all his teaching that sin WILL indeed separate us from God. However, I do NOT believe that as soon as a person accepts Jesus as their savior that there is a guarantee of being eternally secure that is automatically imparted to every believer so that no matter what they do after they accept Jesus as their savior they can NEVER lose their salvation no matter what. I fully understand the true BIBLICAL meaning of eternal security, which is that Almighty God has promised that he would NEVER LEAVE NOR FORSAKE us. But this does NOT mean that we are eternally saved the very moment we accept Jesus as our Savior because OTHER parts of God's word clearly and plainly WARNS us that we must ENDURE unto the END in order to receive our promise of reward of eternal life in the world to come. So then, the truth of the matter us that while God will never leave nor forsake us this does not mean that WE shall never be DECEIVED by the deceitfulness of sin to LEAVE and FORSAKE God and thereby LOSE our reward of eternal life and therefore receive the wages of SIN which is eternal destruction in the lake of fire called the second DEATH. Point number or statement number 6. Argument #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 (Speaking of ONLY those of us who are OBEDIENT to the leading of the Holy Spirit as in the present continual sense) 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 Savior you become a child of God and that you cannot be unborn again. They 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. However, we cannot always compare spiritual things with NATURAL things. 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, because I FOLLOWED the ways of the devil. I once OBEYED the INFLUENCE or the LEADING of the devil and at that time in my life, I was a child of the devil. Jesus said speaking to the Jews in John 8:44, but this also applies to anyone who obeys the LUST of the devil. John 8:44.
“You are of your father the devil, and the lust of your father you will do…”
Now go back to 1 John 3:2-10 and look at verse 10 which says.
“IN THIS (In the WORKS we DO) the children of God are manifest (Or the children of God are made to be clearly known BY the WORKS that they do), and the children of the devil:…”
Simply put, the context of this entire passage of Scripture teaches us that those who do not righteousness or good works are the child of the devil, and those that do obey God by doing good works of righteousness are his children and they are known by their WORKS. 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 known as 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 to become once again a child of the devil) unto death or obedience (To Almighty God, the Father) unto righteousness.” So then, IT IS BY obedience to the teachings of Jesus under the New Covenant written in the New Testament that we will be found to be a GOOD and FAITHFUL servant of God in order to be ACCOUNTED WORTHY to ENTER into the kingdom of God and OBTAIN eternal life according to Revelation 22:11-14. Like it or not, in the SPIRITUAL, the reality is that we can indeed cease being an OBEDIENT child of God to become LIKENED TO 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 to be obedient to God's word, the WHOLE word of God. When we REPENT of our SIN, then we immediately are restored to being a child of Almighty God our Father. And we will remain a child of God so long as we remain OBEDIENT to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Now whether we LITERALLY become unborn again each and every time we sin and reborn does indeed LIKEN a true born again Christian who lives in sin as being a CHILD and SERVANT of the devil. And if so be that a true born again Christian should DIE while they are LIVING IN a lifestyle of SIN at the time that they DIE, then that soul who SINS shall be judged as a sinner. And, therefore, that Christian who dies while living in sin shall receive the reward of their sin which is DEATH, speaking of the SECOND death, being cast into the lake of fire to be eternally destroyed never to rise again. This is what the WHOLE word of God clearly and plainly teaches us. Plain and simple, here again, is the TRUTH of the matter, IF we cease to be OBEDIENT to God and his word, then we become DISOBEDIENT children and thereby as a result of our DISOBEDIENCE we are under God’s wrath so long as we remain disobedient children. The Bible likens a DISOBEDIENT child of God to be a child of the devil. 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. When a truly born-again Christian sins the Holy Spirit will convict them of sin. And it is that CONDEMNATION that we feel which moves us to repent and confess our sins. However, at times, some Christian try to explain away their sins rather than listening to the Holy Spirit repent and confess their sins. And when this happens it is actually the Christians who SEPARATES himself or herself from God’s PROTECTION and allows Satan to oppress them with sickness or some undesired circumstances such as financial troubles or an accident of some kind. Now, some Christians claim that bad things that happen to Christians are the chastisement of God. But that is not what the Bible ITSELF teaches us because those in the world are WITHOUT the chastising of the Lord and we all know that unbelievers experience bad things as well. My point is that God will never leave or forsake us BUT rather it is Christians who leave God when they forsake their OBEDIENCE to God’s word. Therefore, as long as we are REMAINING obedient to God, present tense, then we have eternal life abiding in us. But again, we have just the PROMISE of eternal life abiding in us and any one of us can become deceived to lose HOPE in obtaining eternal life in the world to come. And that is why we must STAND FAST in our faith to ENDURE unto the end to never give up the good FIGHT of faith. For you see we must be found FAITHFUL in the END before we actually obtain or receive our crown of eternal life in the world to come. This is why we are WARNED over and over in God's word to TAKE HEED, to NEGLECT NOT, to be CAREFUL to maintain good works. 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) who 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.
Argument #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, which shows us that we can be born again AFTER we have already been born again. But again, the natural world is not to be compared at every point to the spiritual world. The Bible teaches us that we are born again spiritually BY the WORD of God and nowhere do I myself find that we cannot be born again spiritually over and over if we need to be because of sin that separates us from God.
1 Peter 1:23 clearly teaches us that we are born again BY the word of God.
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, BY the word of God, which lives and abides forever.”
Again, being born again is a spiritual birth. Jesus said in John 3:6.
“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of Spirit is spirit.”
Now, while it is true that in the flesh or in the NATURAL one cannot be born again after they die PHYSICALLY, this does not prove beyond any shadow of a doubt that this must, without fail, be the case with SPIRITUAL birth as well. The truth of the matter is that we die SPIRITUALLY each and every time we sin. And we are reborn or born again to spiritual LIFE each and every time we REPENT of our sins. Sin brings spiritual death and repentance brings spiritual LIFE. 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.”
Paul is clearly and plainly speaking about spiritual CHILDREN of Almighty God that have been DECEIVED by the deceitfulness of sin to return to living in sin and Paul says to them that he is TRAVAILING in intercessory prayer for them to be BORN AGAIN which is Jesus Christ being FORMED in them AGAIN. 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, then he or she ceases to be an overcomer. And if a true born again Christian ceases to be an overcomer, then he or she will, in turn, be overcome when they are tempted to sin and therefore will lose out on eternal life; unless he or she repents and REMAINS faithful to obey God and his word unto the END. You see dear child of God, 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 then forgives us and in essence, we are once again “born of God” BY the word of God to obey his word to REPENT of our sin and be placed back into a RIGHT relationship with him. Living in sin is NOT a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with Almighty God and his Son Jesus. Statement number 8. Argument #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….” 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 the voice of the Holy Spirit of Almighty God dwelling in us 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 at one SINGLE 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, which is still the SAME 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 steadfast 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 each and every day)
Regardless of how the teachers of the Eternal Security Doctrine meant to use this verse to support their view, there can be no misunderstanding 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 that must, therefore, be rejected. Also, the phrase “while it IS TODAY” speaks to us as salvation being made only to those who are ALIVE, in that they are not dead PHYSICALLY. I say this because some believers like those in the Roman Catholic Church falsely teach that one can say prayers for the DEAD, referring to those who have died PHYSICALLY and that their prayers and the offering of the sacrificial mass for those who have died physically will relieve their suffering in purgatory and eventually free them from purgatory so that they can enter into heaven. Please read the study called “IS THE DOCTRINE OF PURGATORY BIBLICAL?” for sound Biblical teaching clearly showing that this man-made doctrine of purgatory and praying for the dead is NOT taught in the Bible as being based upon the whole word of God. Nonetheless, let us continue with point number 9.
Argument #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, the word “come to me” means a constant state of abiding in God and his Son Jesus. The word of God is clear that anyone of us can be deceived and walk away from God at any time. Again it is not Jesus or God the Father that casts us out or walks away from us, but rather it is OUR disobedience and OUR walking away from God's word by giving in to the temptation to sin that separates us from him. This does not mean that being deceived here and there means that we have fallen away from the faith, but rather that we are in DANGER of falling back into a lifestyle of sin where we may become deceived NOT to repent of our sins. 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 any valid solid evidence of eternal security or ever being able to lose our salvation no matter what. 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 wavering because if we waver 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. Jesus said that if we love him, then we will obey his words and if we love him then we will obey his commandments. So coming to Jesus is a CONTINUAL abiding in him unto the end. Now while it is true that HE will NOT cast us out, this verse nor any other verse is NOT teaching us that WE ourselves will never be able to cast out Jesus from our lives. It is highly unlikely that a true born again Christian, who is continually drawing near unto God, will ever become DECEIVE to DENY Jesus as their savior, but not ALL Christians KEEP a CLOSE relationship with God. 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 to be found living in sin when he comes again or who DIE in a state of living in sin, DEPART from me you who work INIQUITY and have present living in sin in their 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 physically or when he shall come again he has to reject them and cast them out into outer darkness, because he is bound by the word of God. Jesus said that the WORD shall judge us on the last day. So, therefore, this phrase “COMES to him” clearly shows a REMAINING in him. In other words, he that REMAINS in me I will in no wise CAST OUT. Also, you must remember that we do NOT ACTUALLY RECEIVE or OBTAIN ETERNAL LIFE until the world to COME. So then the TRUTH of the matter is we are NOT ACTUALLY GIVEN to Jesus by Almighty God the Father UNTIL we ENDURE unto the END and OVERCOME and actually RECEIVE eternal life. And yes, of course, we all can agree that once we take part in the FIRST RESURRECTION, then the SECOND DEATH has no power over us and THEN we are eternally saved and in no wise will Jesus cast us out. But until that time ANY one of us can be tempted by the adversary the devil and be deceived by the deceitfulness of sin and fall away from God. So do not be DECEIVED!
Statement number 10.
Argument #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 (2 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. I say ALL, but in truth, there are Christians who FALSELY teach that ALL of mankind will EVENTUALLY be saved. For a deeper understanding that this doctrine of UNIVERSALISM is not sound Biblical teaching please read the study called “IS UNIVERSALISM A SOUND BIBLICAL TEACHING?”. Now to my knowledge those who teach Once Saved Always Saved do not teach the false doctrine of universalism, but there are indeed some Christians who do. BE NOT DECEIVED by FALSE teachings! You see the truth of the matter according to the WHOLE word of God is that NOT every man is going to come to the knowledge of truth and accept God’s gift of provision to receive 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. See Matthew 24:13,14. Also notice this verse says MAY HAVE eternal life which is CONDITIONAL upon BELIEVING on Jesus, which Jesus tells us that IF we believe on him then we will KEEP his words. Then we shall receive eternal life in the world to come. Again salvation is found to be CONDITIONAL time and time again, verse after verse, throughout the word of God. Therefore it is made quite clear by the whole of God's word that any one of us can LOSE their salvation, so be NOT DECEIVED!
Statement number 11.
Argument #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 the ONCE and for all time ETERNAL sacrifice for our redemption. 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, but rather they are merely being OBEDIENT to PREACH and TEACH the FULL Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is to be a DOER of the word and NOT just a hearer only whereby they DECEIVE their OWN selves. It is up to us to RIGHTLY DIVIDE the word of truth by the leading of the Holy Spirit. And yet another way to interpret this verse is to ask the question of WHAT are we redeemed FROM. A great part of the New Testament clearly teaches us that we are saved from the BONDAGE of sin and that sin shall NOT have DOMINION over us anymore once and for all time. And we are COMPLETE in him meaning that God has already given to us ALL that we need to OVERCOME once and for all time sin in our lives. But we must BELIEVE this word of truth before we shall ever be able to reap this promise of God's word. The ONLY interpretation that CONTRADICTS other parts of God's word in the Once Saved Always Save conclusion of what this verse must, without fail, mean according to their teachings which again do NOT AGREE with the WHOLE word of God. Viewpoint number 12.
Argument #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… ...14. For by one offering he has perfected forever them that are sanctified.”
The key phrase 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 as a sanctification PROCESS throughout our entire life being conformed into the image of his dear Son Jesus. Each and every time we REPENT of our sins we are made PERFECT in the EYES of God. Now our fellow man may not see us as being perfect, but man is NOT our judge.
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 Christians must OBEY the leading of the Holy Spirit, for if we are disobedient children to the gospel, 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 for our disobedience. Therefore, we can be deceived and lose our salvation if we were to die while living in disobedience to God and his word. Henceforth we are only perfected, if and ONLY if, we REMAIN in Christ Jesus and his word REMAINS in us. Statement number 13.
Argument #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 believe God UNTO the END of the age WHEN salvation shall be REVEALED or given to us. So again we are not ACTUALLY eternally saved UNTIL we OBTAIN salvation in the last time or that last day of the church age, which is AT the second coming of Jesus. Also, notice that it says we are KEPT in this process of salvation or UNTO salvation by the power of God through FAITH. As I have already stated faith is a continual action. We must REMAIN steadfast and UNWAVERING in our faith. James tells in 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 phrase UNTO SALVATION ready to BE revealed in the last time. Can you not see my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, that the completion of our salvation is yet FUTURE? The phrase “ready TO BE revealed in the LAST TIME” is clearly showing us that our SALVATION is NOT ACTUALLY RECEIVED, until the LAST TIME, or that LAST DAY when we shall be raised from the dead and GIVEN ETERNAL LIFE. Also the POWER of God, we are told elsewhere in the Bible, is the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ. Please read Romans 1:16-18. “For I am not ashamed of the GOSPEL of Christ: for IT (Speaking of the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ) is the POWER of God UNTO salvation to everyone that BELIEVES (Meaning a CONTINUAL BELIEVING unto the END); to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17. For therein (Speaking of the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ the POWER of God to save only those who BELIEVE) is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 18. For (or BECAUSE or for this REASON the just shall live by faith because) the WRATH of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;”
Statement number 14.
Argument #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 lives 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 on 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 Savior. 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 CONDITIONAL.
Statement number 15.
Argument #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 or to identify. We as Christians are identified by the Holy Spirit as being known by God as belonging to Him.
Look at Acts 10:44 which says.
“While Peter yet spoke 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 am 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 to disciple 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 track 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 grief free fellowship with the Holy Spirit. And by obeying and NOT grieving the Holy Spirit 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 of the devil by whom 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. Remember that ANY interpretation or conclusion that one concludes that a verse means MUST NOT contradict ANY other part of God's word. Can you not see my dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ, that the INTERPRETATION of Ephesians 4:30 by those who teach Once Saved Always Saved, who conclude that this word seal means forever saved, does NOT AGREE with the WHOLE word of God, so, therefore, it must be rejected as FALSE teaching. Can you not see that there would be absolutely NO warning as to NOT GRIEVE the Holy Spirit if it were impossible to break this seal of the Holy Spirit and be found a UNFAITHFUL servant on the Day of Judgment? This WARNING for us as Christians to NOT GRIEVE the Holy Spirit is NOT an idle word in God's word. Statement number 16.
Argument #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, 12. Now if any man builds upon the foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13. 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. 14. If any man’s work abides which he has built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15. 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. 7. So then neither is he that plants anything, neither he that waters; but God that gives the increase. 8. Now he that plants and he that waters are one: and every man shall RECEIVE his OWN REWARD according to his own LABOR (Work speaking of spreading the GOSPEL so that people can be saved and NOT good works of righteousness). 9. For we are laborers together with God: you are God’s husbandry, you are God’s BUILDING. 10. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another builds thereupon. 11. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12. Now if any man BUILD upon this FOUNDATION gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; (Speaking of TWO types of WORKS, which are good faithful Christians who REMAIN unto the END and unfaithful Christians who do NOT endure unto the end.) 13. Every man’s work (Again, speaking of each Christian’s labor or work of bringing people to the Lord) 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 (Again speaking of the labor of preaching the gospel of salvation that a Christian brings to other people, the knowledge of the truth to be saved. That is the work that shall be tried) of what sort it is. 14. If any man’s work ABIDES (Remains) which he has BUILT thereupon, he (Speaking of the FAITHFUL Christian who BUILDS or brings a person to Christ that REMAINS faithful unto the END) shall RECEIVE A REWARD. 15. If any man’s work (Labor, speaking of the people that they have brought to the Lord) be burned (Or lost and who is burned in the lake of fire), he shall suffer loss (Speaking of the WORK or the person who was brought to the Lord by another believer, HE or SHE shall suffer the loss of eternal life): BUT HE himself (Speaking of the laborer who brought this person to the Lord who did NOT remain faithful unto the end) shall be saved; yet 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 Christians add our part by preaching the gospel 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 a part in planting 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 or worked to help bring them to God by the foolishness of preaching shall suffer the loss or the REWARD that we would have received if so be that our WORK would have REMAINED faithful unto the END. But we shall be saved if so be we ourselves are NOT overcome by the fire or trials of temptation that come against us. You see, it does not affect our own salvation if someone that we help bring to the Lord and then THEY reject the truth and turn away from God. We will still be saved, YET we ourselves still must endure temptations and trials and endure unto the end in order to be saved. And IF we are found faithful unto the END, then 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 with the word of God would have remained faithful as well and ALSO received THEIR reward of eternal life by ENDURING unto the END to be saved. You see, our WORKS here in this CONTEXT are those who BELIEVE upon Jesus because of our WORK of PREACHING and teaching the gospel. If our WORK of bringing those into the kingdom of God through our witnessing, or PREACHING of the GOSPEL, and then THESE WORKS, that is to say, these new believers, which we have begotten by the GOSPEL are tried and remain faithful, then we shall receive a reward. But if THESE WORKS, speaking of these new believers, which we have brought into the kingdom of God by the GOSPEL, who when THEY are tried and do not remain faithful, then THESE WORKS, speaking of THEY, these new believers who did not remain faithful shall be LOST and burned in the lake of fire on the Day of judgment, but we ourselves who labored to bring them to the Lord, shall still yet be saved IF when we are tried, we remain faithful unto the END. Now I have not discerned completely as to what that loss of reward will be, but Ezekiel 33:7-9 sheds some light. Ezekiel 33:7-9.
“So you O son of man, I have set you a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. When I say unto the wicked, 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 your 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.”
So then the CONTEXT of 1 Corinthians 3:6-15 clearly teaches us that the loss we suffer will be that we won’t get a reward for the people in which we lead to Christ, who do not remain faithful unto the end. NONETHELESS, we ourselves shall still yet be SAVED IF when we are tried we shall remain faithful unto the END. In other words, we were faithful to WITNESS to them and that is ALL that God REQUIRES for us to do. To say this another way, God does NOT REQUIRE of us the actions of OTHERS, but if our actions or WORKS cause others to be found FAITHFUL unto the END, then we shall receive an ADDITIONAL REWARD for our labor of bringing others into the kingdom of God. However, ONLY those of us who ENDURE unto the END shall be saved in order to receive ANY kind of reward INCLUDING our reward of ETERNAL LIFE in the world to come. Because Jesus HIMSELF plainly states that he that ENDURES unto the END the SAME shall be SAVED. Therefore NO ONE is ACTUALLY saved, as in, NO ONE will receive ETERNAL LIFE until the SECOND coming of Jesus.
Statement number 17.
Argument #17. We become the body of Christ when we 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 verses 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. We must be found faithful without spot or blemish when we die or when Jesus returns in order to receive our reward of eternal life in the world to come.
Jesus himself said in Mark 9:43.
“And if your 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 the fire that never shall be quenched.”
Personally, I do not believe that Jesus is teaching us to LITERALLY cut off our own physical hands, but rather at times there are some members of the body of Christ that cause us to stumble and sin. Therefore, it would be beneficial at times to cut off or separate ourselves from some brothers and sisters in the Lord who are not being a good influence in our lives. Even when we are strong in faith, there are some Christians who are so negative that they drain our faith. So then, rather than being drained and become like them, at times it is best to cut off these members of the body of Christ from yourself so that you can recharge so to speak. Now, look at II Timothy 2:19-21, which says.
“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 (Speaking of the house of God, the household of faith) there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but ALSO of wood and of earth; and some to honor, AND some to dishonor. If a man PURGE himself from THESE (Speaking of Christians purging or cutting themselves off from their fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord who bring DISHONOR the house of God the church then), he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified and meet for the master's use and prepared unto every good work.” In a great house, speaking of the body of Christ, there are vessels of gold and silver who are Christians that are living without sin and ALSO vessels of wood and earth, speaking of those Christians who have been deceived and have brought dishonor to the Lord by choosing the pleasure of sin over remaining faithful to obey the commandments of God. When Jesus tells us to cut off members of our body he is speaking of those Christians who are choosing to live in sin. For you see, we are told by the word of God to purge ourselves from those vessels that bring dishonor to God’s house, the church, as in, the body of believers, because Jesus HIMSELF would surely cut off from his OWN body those members who choose a lifestyle of sin that die in their sins without repentance. A good example of this is a homosexual church denomination that denies the word of truth to claim that homosexuality is not a sin. They have been decieved to believe that they can contunue to live in a hoimosexual lifesytle and still receive eternal life in the world to come.
Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23.
“Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he (Speaking of ONLY he) that DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER which is in heaven. 22. 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? 23. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: DEPART from me, YOU THAT WORK INIQUITY (Or you BELIEVERS who 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 33:11-13 very closely and TAKE HEED to what this very important passage of Scripture teaches us. Ezekiel 33:11-13.
“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? 12. 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 TRANSGRESSION: 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. 13. 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.” Just as a person on their death bed can REPENT of their sins and be forgiven and be saved so it is ALSO with a true born again believer who has been FAITHFUL all their life and then they are DECEIVED by the deceitfulness of sin and fall back into sin and suddenly die while living in sin. Then NONE of their righteousness will be remembered and they shall be judged by their SIN which they have committed as their last act on this earth. Be it known unto you my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, I did not write the Bible, This is the WORD of Almighty God himself WARNING us to repent and walk in RIGHTEOUSNESS lest we PERISH in our sin. Statement number 18.
Argument #18. What if we commit an awful sin? Will we lose our salvation then? Again the answer is NO. |
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