Once Saved Always Saved

Transcription

1 Once Saved Always Saved (Eternal Security; Perseverance of the Saints) When I was a kid, I changed schools from the very small junior high school where I attended 7 th and 8 th grade to a relatively large public high school. Out of the entire school, only 3 of the kids with whom I had gone to school made the move to the new school. Two were girls who had been in my 7 th grade class, but they had moved to the local public school system before going into the 8 th grade. So, upon entering high school, I knew 1 boy who was more or less in the same boat as I, and 2 girls who were already much too cool for me by then - and, none of them were in any of my classes anyway. So, I wasn t cool. And, I didn t know anybody. Well, one of my classes was high school geometry. In geometry, no one was very cool. As a freshman taking geometry (and algebra, I have no idea why I did it that way), I was one of just a couple of freshmen in the class. And, while I have no idea, oddly enough, how many older boys there were in class, I remember there being a LOT of sophomore, junior, and senior girls. The funny thing was that most in my class had put off geometry for as long as they were allowed. That crazy class was my favorite place to be that year. In fact, it was one my favorite classes throughout high school. Later, I had algebra 2, trigonometry, calculus, a couple of college math classes, but I didn t particularly even like those classes. Some of them I really didn t like. That first geometry class was special. Not just because there were so many girls (I was typically pretty intimidated by the girls anyway and, again, not cool), but because I got geometry. I understood it. Our teacher, Mrs. Ragsdale, knew I got it, and she appreciated that I got it, and she made the class fun. And, I did have several of the girls ask me for help now and then which I enjoyed. If you don t know much about geometry, know this: you don t really need to know much geometry for high school geometry-1. What you should know for the purpose of this discussion is that geometry starts out by learning a bunch of rules. If the rules make sense to you, then everything else will. Some are simple, like, "if a line bisects another line, then each side of the bisecting line will be the same length". That s sort of the definition of the word bisect anyway. But, you build on that rule to learn more complicated things. One of the most famous rules is called Pythagoras' Theorem (A 2 +B 2 =C 2 in a right triangle). C is called the hypotenuse. These rules or theorems, or proofs, or If/Then statements all work together to prove other things. For example, if A 2 +B 2 =C 2 is a true statement, then A 2 must =C 2 -B 2. If one thing is true, then the other must be true as well. If one thing is true, then sometimes it proves another statement. Also, the opposite can be true, if one thing is false, then another statement is false. Because in a right triangle if A 2 +B 2 =C 2 is always a true statement, then, C 2 +A 2 can not equal B 2. ever.

2 So, where am I going with this? What does this have to do with the concept of Once Saved Always Saved? This concept is important for discussion in today s world for at least three different reasons: 1.) It s a false teaching. And, false teaching should be confronted and addressed. 2.) It happens to be a building block upon which many other concepts in today s religious world rest. And, like the if, then statements of geometry, if we can lovingly, but assuredly, show that the teaching is false, it will call into question a number of other concepts that people accept as true. It will hopefully even cause some to re-think certain questions like, Why do I believe what I believe?, and Where should I go for the truth?. 3.) Finally, if the statement Once you re saved you re always saved is false, and we believe that it is false, like a geometry theorem, it implies other rules may exist for what we believe. Meaning, if the first statement is false, then it implies a truth that says the fact that you re saved doesn t mean that you ll always be saved. And, that statement is one worthy of our consideration. I believe this third point to be especially important because after all,our purpose in study together should never be just to talk about how smart we are compared to other people. We could gather together every day and every night to study all the wrong things that people do or say or believe, and it wouldn t mean that we know what the Bible says, that we understand what it means, or that we put it to action correctly in our own lives. So, point number 1: The doctrine of Once Saved Always Saved is a false teaching, and a very common one (also called Eternal Security, Perseverance of the Saints, etc.). Actually, the concept ties in to two entirely different belief systems1.) that grace is free therefore no work is required to be saved and 2.) the idea of predestination, meaning, God has already chosen who will be saved. Although, it has been my experience that most people who espouse the belief don t always understand its importance in their own belief system. Catholics, Lutherans, Protestants, and Calvinists of any kind disagree on many issues, but they all teach a version of Once Saved Always Saved. Familiar names such as Charles Stanley, a well known Baptist preacher former president of the Southern Baptist Convention for 2 terms, and Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, have both taught that once you are saved you will forever be saved. I don t want to spend a lot of time herein on the history of the teaching. I also don t want to spend time speculating as to how it fits in to other people s doctrines or why it s important to them. I don t really believe that most of the people who have been taught this doctrine have been taught the history either. Mostly, they are comforted by the idea, and that s enough for them. So, herein, I would first like to discuss a few passages, easily shared, which essentially show that the Bible contradicts Once Saved Always Saved in hopes that when a genuine heart sees the

3 contradiction, they might understand that if one thing they ve been taught is wrong, many others might be too. And,therefore, just maybe, they d like to see for themselves what else the Bible says. If you don t have your Bible with you, the passages are linked to the NKJV online (I m not affiliated with the host of that site, so I m recommending the link only for the purposes of reading what the Bible says). I Thessalonians 3:1-8 (especially vs. 5): If the doctrine of Once Saved Always Saved were true if, once the Thessalonians in chapter 3 had been saved how could Paul and Silas work ever have been in vain? How could saving someone from hell ever be in vain unless they returned to the path they were following previous to being saved? 2 Peter 2: I d suggest reading verses 1-3 for the context, and then jump down to verses If Once Saved Always Saved were true, how could someone escape the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (the definition of being saved), and then be again entangled and overcome in those same defilements and be worse off than they were in the beginning? How could they have, in verse 21 known the way of righteousness and then turn from that way like, in verse 22, a sow, after washing, coming back to wallow in the mire? Colossians1:21-23: Why would Paul speak in verses 22 about being reconciled in Christ s death in order to present the saved before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach, and then say in verse 23 if indeed you continue in the faith and not moved away from the hope of the gospel? The if signifies that there is an alternative. Hebrews3:12-14: That falls away? Also, vs. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end. Galatians5:3-5: Fallen from grace? That means they had grace (vs. 7 says they were running well). They were under the grace. Then, they fell out of it. I don t think it implies that they can t, again, be reconciled. But, how can you not be receiving God s grace and still go to heaven? Ephesians 2:8 says that it is by his grace we have been saved through faith. Finally, Revelation 3:4-5: Think back to geometry. Doesn t the statement is verse 5 imply that he who does not overcome will not be clothed in white garments and will have his name erased from the book of life and will not have his named confessed before God? Clearly, the Bible does not agree with the doctrine of Once Saved Always Saved if someone s salvation can be in vain (I Thess 3:5), if it s possible for someone to fail to continue in the faith (Colossians 1:23), if someone can fall away or possibly not be a partaker in Christ if they don t hold fast to the end (Heb 3:12-14), if they can fall from grace (Galatians 5:3-5) and if it s possible to have a name erased from the book of life (Revelation 3:4-5). Once Saved Always Saved is clearly contradicted in scripture, and those who teach it are teaching in error.

4 Point 2: That brings me to my second point a small point, but important. Thinking of geometry, if this doctrine is a rule upon which many other concepts in today s religious world rest, and if we can lovingly, but assuredly, show that the teaching is false, then we will be calling into question a number of other concepts that people in the world accept as true. It may even cause them to re-think certain questions like, Why do I believe what I believe?, and Where should I go for the truth?. After all, if Once Saved Always Saved is Scripturally inaccurate, then what would make you no longer saved? Could it be that our actions (our works) might affect our salvation? Wait, maybe I always understood that baptism wasn t necessary for salvation because it s a work, does that mean that it s possible that baptism IS necessary for salvation (Acts 2:37-38; I Pet 3:21)? Once a statement is found to be clearly false, many other statements may be called into question. Point 3 The falseness of the first statement (Once Saved Always Saved) necessitates a truth that says the fact that you re saved doesn t mean that you ll always be saved. That statement is one worthy of our consideration. How does that thought affect our lives? How do we make sure that we remain saved that we don t lose our salvation? What do I need to be doing? What do we need to do together to help assure our mutual salvation? God provides for the opportunity of our salvation, but he has given us some responsibilities. I Corinthians 9:27: Paul says that he disciplines his body and makes it his slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. Most of the next chapter, chapter 10 is a warning, saying in verse 12, Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. Everyone is subject to temptation. No one is beyond making the same mistakes. II Corinthians 13:5: Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! I Corinthians 11:28 (of partaking in the Lord s Supper): But a man must examine himself 2 Peter 3:17-18: Be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but GROW in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. How do we become adequate and ready for good works? Scripture! II Tim 3:16-17 says that All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that we may be adequate (ideal, complete), equipped for every good work. Philippians 1:9-11 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to

5 be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. What do we need to do for each other? Hebrews 10:24 "and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds. What do I need to be doing what do we need to be doing together to ensure our salvation to help each other ensure our mutual salvation? Let s remember 1 Corinthians 10:12: everyone is subject to temptation. No one is beyond making mistakes. We all need to GROW in grace and knowledge. Fortunately, we know that when we fall, Christ is there to help pick us up again. That we can choose to change our ways and enter into his grace again. I hope some of these things have been beneficial to you the study has certainly been beneficial to me. Matt Carter 2010