Evolution of Doctrine Once Saved, Always Saved
OSAS Overview Can someone who has been saved lose their salvation? Evolution of Doctrine Once Saved, Always Saved
OSAS Overview Verses for: Ephesians 1:13-14 Philippians 1:6 John 10:27-30 John 6:37-47 Evolution of Doctrine Once Saved, Always Saved
OSAS Overview Verses for: Hebrews 10:26-31 John 15:1-5 II Timothy 2:11-13 Colossians 1:22-23 (..if..) Evolution of Doctrine Once Saved, Always Saved
But I believe that even those, who have been persuaded... to observe the legal dispensation along with their confession of God in Christ, shall probably be saved. And I hold, further, that such as have confessed and known this man to be Christ, yet who have gone back from some cause to the legal dispensation, and have denied that this man is Christ, and have not repented before death, shall by no means be saved. Further, I hold that those of the seed of Abraham who live according to the law, and do not believe in this Christ before death, shall likewise not be saved... Justin Martyr, Dialogue Of Justin (A.D. 100-165) Evolution of Doctrine Once Saved, Always Saved
But what if a bishop, if a deacon, if a widow, if a virgin, if a doctor, if even a martyr, have fallen from the rule (of faith), will heresies on that account appear to possess the truth? Do we prove the faith by the persons, or the persons by the faith? No one is wise, no one is faithful, no one excels in dignity, but the Christian; and no one is a Christian but he who perseveres even to the end. -Tertullian, The Prescription Against Heretics (150-220) Evolution of Doctrine Once Saved, Always Saved
But the world returned unto sin; in which point baptism would ill be compared to the deluge. And so it is destined to fire; just as the man too is, who after baptism renews his sins: so that this also ought to be accepted as a sign for our admonition. -Tertullian, On Repentance (150-220) Evolution of Doctrine Once Saved, Always Saved
Whoever is separated from the Church and is joined to an adulteress, is separated from the promises of the Church; nor can he who forsakes the Church of Christ attain to the rewards of Christ. He is a stranger; he is profane; he is an enemy. He can no longer have God for his Father, who has not the Church for his mother. -Cyprian, Treatises of Cyprian. Treaties (258) Evolution of Doctrine Once Saved, Always Saved
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Converted in 387 Major contributions to Original Sin, Predestination & OSAS donum perseverantiae or Gift of Perseverance or Final Grace (Mt 10:22) Opposed Pelagius Crystalized his theology
"I assert...that the perseverance by which we persevere in Christ even to the end is the gift of God."
The grace of God "which both begins a man's faith and which enables it to persevere unto the end is not given in respect of our merits, but is given according to His own most secret and at the same time most righteous, wise, and beneficent will; since those whom He predestinated, them He also called, with that calling of which it is said, 'The gifts and calling of God are without repentance.' "
1. Death came from sin, not man's physical nature. 2. Infants must be baptized to be cleansed from original sin. 3. Justifying grace covers past sins and helps avoid future sins. 4. The grace of Christ imparts strength and will to act out God's commandments. 5. No good works can come without God's grace. 6. We confess we are sinners because it is true, not from humility. 7. The saints ask for forgiveness for their own sins. 8. The saints also confess to be sinners because they are. 9. Children dying without baptism are excluded from both the Kingdom of heaven and eternal life.
British born ascetic moralist Rome in 380 Appalled by moral laxity and blamed AH s divine grace teaching Known by Augustine as a saintly man Opposed original sin (Dt. 24:16), predestination and OSAS Grace = God declaring law Man was not mortally wounded by Adam Man is able to live moral life Celestus Excommunicated in 418
He instead said that "This grace we for our part do not, as you suppose, allow to consist merely in the law, but also in the help of God. God helps us by His teaching and revelation, whilst He opens the eyes of our heart; whilst He points out to us the future, that we may not be absorbed in the present; whilst He discovers to us the snares of the devil; whilst He enlightens us with the manifold and ineffable gift of heavenly grace."
In a letter to the Pope defending himself he stated that "This free will is in all good works always assisted by divine help," and in an accompanying confession of faith, "Free-will we do so own, as to say that we always stand in need of God s help,"
However, he affirmed that "We do also abhor the blasphemy of those who say that any impossible thing is commanded to man by God; or that the commandments of God cannot be performed by any one man" (which the pope approved of upon receiving the letter), whereas Augustine famously stated "non possum non peccare" ("I cannot not sin").
British born ascetic moralist Rome in 380 Appalled by moral laxity and blamed AH s divine grace teaching Known by Augustine as a saintly man Opposed original sin (Dt. 24:16), predestination and OSAS Grace = God declaring law Man was not mortally wounded by Adam Man is able to live moral life Celestus Excommunicated in 418
Mediaeval Times Augustine as an exaggeration Limited human responsibility and morality Mortal Sin (12th Century) Exceptions - Mary, Apostles and Saints Evolution of Doctrine Once Saved, Always Saved
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"Verse 4, "Ye are fallen from grace." That means you are no longer in the kingdom or condition of grace. When a person on board ship falls into the sea and is drowned it makes no difference from which end or side of the ship he falls into the water. Those who fall from grace perish no matter how they go about it.... The words, "Ye are fallen from grace," must not be taken lightly. They are important. To fall from grace means to lose the atonement, the forgiveness of sins, the righteousness, liberty, and life which Jesus has merited for us by His death and resurrection. To lose the grace of God means to gain the wrath and judgment of God, death, the bondage of the devil, and everlasting condemnation." (Martin Luther, Commentary on Galatians, 5:4). Evolution of Doctrine Once Saved, Always Saved
Even if he would, he could not lose his salvation, however much he sinned, unless he refused to believe. For no sin can condemn him save unbelief alone. All other sins, so long as the faith in God s promise made in baptism returns or remains, are immediately blotted out through that same faith, or rather through the truth of God, because he cannot deny himself if you confess him and faithfully cling to him in his promise. But as for contrition, confession of sins, and satisfaction,along with all those carefully devised exercises of men: if you rely on them and neglect this truth of God, they will suddenly fail you and leave you more wretched than before. For whatever is clone without faith in God s truth is vanity of vanities and vexation of spirit Martin Luther on Eccles. 1:2 Evolution of Doctrine Once Saved, Always Saved
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Crystallized Reformed Theology T otal Depravity (Original Sin) U nconditional Election (Predestination) L imited Atonement I rresistible Grace P erseverance of the Saints (OSAS) Evolution of Doctrine Once Saved, Always Saved
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Five Articles of Remonstrance 1. Election was conditional on foreseen faith 2. Christ's atonement was unlimited in extent 3. Total depravity 4. Prevenient (starts with/by) and resistible grace 5. The possibility of apostasy. Split in Protestant Churches Evolution of Doctrine Once Saved, Always Saved
Evolution of Doctrine Once Saved, Always Saved