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Does the Bible ITSELF Teach Once You Are SAVED, then You Are ALWAYS SAVED?
If you have been a Christian for any length of time, then I am confident that you have come to hear some controversial topics of discussion concerning God’s word, such as “ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED”, sometimes abbreviated as 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.
In other words, we need to 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.
To say this another way, 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.
Proverbs 18:13. 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;
2 Timothy 4:4. 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 to search the Scriptures for ourselves to see if what we are being taught agrees with ALL of God’s word.
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 thus, 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.
For you see, 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 are THEIR arguments.
THEY use the following 20 arguments to TRY and support their point of view, are taken directly from the eternal security, and once saved always saved teachings.
We will read all 20 of THEIR arguments first, and then I will explain WHY they are NOT sound Biblical arguments.
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,
1 Corinthians 3:12. Now if any man builds upon the foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
1 Corinthians 3:13. 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 mans work of what sort it is.
1 Corinthians 3:14. 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…
1 Corinthians 5:5. 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 from the ERROR of interpreting the Scriptures!
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 of 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 seems to support the view of eternal security, please be assured for a certainty that I did not leave any of THEIR 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 just this ONE side of this controversial subject 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 then we will 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.
We do this compare Scripture with Scripture in order that we may discern the truth or the WHOLE word of God from the ERROR of taking verses of Scripture OUT of their CONTEXT.
For you see dear children 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 us allow the Scriptures interpret themselves to arrive at the TRUTH of the WHOLE matter and then the God INTENDED 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, God’s gift of eternal life can “stolen” by the enemy BEFORE one actually OBTAINS eternal life in the world to come.
So, the enemy DECEIVING a believer can cause one to DEPART from the true faith.
And therefore, this one point proves that we are not eternally saved UNTIL Jesus returns and we are found to be a good and FAITHFUL servant, according to Matthew 25:21-23 and Luke 13:23-28.
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.
For you see, that old serpent called the Devil, and Satan, DECEIVES the whole world, which includes true born-again Christians.
Otherwise, there would be only ONE church denomination and we would ALL teach the exact same things.
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 ERRORS made in the once saved always saved INTERPRETATION of the meaning of God’s GIFT of ETERNAL LIFE.
Again, errors of interpretation as opposed to the SOUND BIBLICAL God intended true meaning of God’s GIFT of ETERNAL LIFEm which 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, if we are found FAITHFUL unto the end to not depart from the TRUE faith.
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 unto the END.
The end being either when we die physically or when Jesus returns, whichever comes first.
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
Colossians 1:22. in the body of his flesh through death, to present you unblameable and unreprovable in his sight:
Colossians 1:23. 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.
And, to me, that speaks of the LAST work that they will be presently engaged in at the very moment Jesus returns or at the moment a Christians dies.
In other words, according to Ezekiel 3L20, is a Christian dies WHILE living in a state of sin, then they will NOT receive eternal life in the world to come.
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 thus, 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.
Revelation 22:12. And, behold, I come quickly; and my REWARD is with me, to give every man ACCORDING as his WORK shall be.
Revelation 22:13. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Revelation 22:14. Blessed are they that do his commandments (Speaking of the commandments in the NEW Testament under the NEW Covenant) THAT they may have RIGHT to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Revelation 22:15. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whore mongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loves and makes a lie.”
Christians such as the Mormans and the Jehovah’s Witnesses may truly LOVE Almighty God and His Son, Jesus, but the MAKE a LIE by the FALSE doctrines that they teach.
Now, look at 1 Thessalonians 3:7,8 where again we can clearly see that receiving eternal life is CONDITIONAL.
1 Thessalonians 3:7,8.
“Therefore BRETHREN, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your FAITH: for NOW we live (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.
In other words, the CONSEQUENCE of NOT OBEYING the gospel of Jesus is NOT being saved.
And that consequence is ALSO possible after we are initially saved.
And thus, the false doctrine of OSAS could possibly cause others to NOT RECEIVE eternal life in the world to come by their by following a 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 in ORDER to RECEIVE eternal life in the world to come.
But rather, the very name of THEIR 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.
Thus, according to THEM, a true born-again Christian can NEVER being able to lose their salvation no matter what they do or do not do.
Again, according to THEM, 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.
And by DOING this, CONTINUING in the TRUE faith, 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)
Hebrews 10:36. 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 E-18. THE WORK OF THE LAW VERSUS GOOD WORKS?
That study will give you a deeper understanding of the true meaning of not being saved by our OWN works, which we try to do in our OWN strength.
Also, know and understand that the WORKS in Ephesians 2:8,9 has NOTHING whatsoever to do with GOOD works versus unrighteous works,
Rather, the context in Ephesians 2:15 clearly teaches us that we are not saved by the WORKS of the Law of Moses CONTAINED in ORDINANCES which Jesus ABOLISHED on the cross.
Please read the study called F-14. Are We Saved by Grace ALONE?
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.
Hebrews 10:39. 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 Matthew 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.
This verse clearly teaches us that if one does NOT believe and ENDURE unto the END then that person shall NOT be saved.
And therefore, those who do NOT endure unto the end will LOSE their 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 E-23. 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 of 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 N-4. 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.
Hebrews 2:2. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience RECEIVED a just recompense of reward.
Hebrews 2:3. 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, they might 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, ourselves, 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.
“For the GRACE of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, (But HOW does the GRACE of God BRING us salvation?)
Titus 2:12. TEACHING us that, DENYING ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should LIVE soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Titus 2:13. Looking for that blessed HOPE, (Which is the promise of the resurrection and the obtaining of ETERNAL LIFE in the world to come if so be that we become OBEDIENT unto death or the END, to keep the commandments of God.
This is the HOPE that is set before us that we as believers are LOOKING FOR at the return of Jesus.
We as true born again believers are looking forward to our promised blessed HOPE) and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;
Titus 2:14. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of GOOD WORKS. (You see dear children of God, it was FIRST needed for Almighty God to CLEANSE us, to make us a PURE vessel for the Holy Spirit to dwell in.
And God did this by providing his OWN sacrificial LAMB being his Son Jesus to suffer and die on the cross.
And again, the reason that God cleansed us FREELY is so that Almighty God could come and DWELL in us to EMPOWER us to follow the EXAMPLE of his Son Jesus.
In other words, God not only forgave us of all our past sins but God also EMPOWERED us to live our lives without sin in the SAME way that he EMPOWERED His Son Jesus to live without sin, which was THROUGH the SAME eternal Holy Spirit who now DWELLS in us as true born again believers.
So then, BOTH sides speak the truth when they say that we are NOT saved by our OWN good works of righteousness, but only one side sees and understands that only our PAST sins, which are forgiven and that we are given the PROMISE that any future sins will be forgiven us if we REPENT and confess any and all sins a believer commits AFTER they are born again.
Again BOTH sides seem to believe this truth as well, but only one side sees these future sins that a believer may commit as a LOSING of their PROMISE of eternal life in the world to come if so be that they CONTINUE living in sin WITHOUT EVER REPENTING of their sin before they DIE or before Jesus return.
That is the MAJOR difference between these two sides of the controversy)
Titus 2:15. 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?
Romans 6:2. God forbid. How shall we, that are DEAD TO SIN, live any longer therein?
Romans 6:3. Know you not, that so many of us were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Romans 6:4. 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.
Romans 6:5. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Romans 6:6. 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.
Romans 6:7. For he that is dead is FREED from sin.
Romans 6:8. Now if we are dead with Christ; we believe that we shall also live with him:
Romans 6:9. Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dies no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
Romans 6:10. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he lives, he lives unto God.
Romans 6:11. LIKEWISE, reckon you also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:12. Let NOT sin therefore REIGN in your mortal body, that you should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Romans 6:13. 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.
Romans 6:14. For SIN shall NOT have DOMINION over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace (The POWER of God)?
Romans 6:15. What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
Romans 6:16. Know you not, that to whom you YIELD yourselves servants to obey; whether of sin unto death or OBEDIENCE unto righteousness?
Romans 6:17. 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.
Romans 6:18. 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.
And God does this 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 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.
1 John 5:4. For whatsoever is born of God OVERCOMES the world; and THIS is the victory that overcomes the world, EVEN our FAITH.
1 John 5:5. 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.
1 John 3:9. 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.
1 John 3:10. 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.
1 John 3:11. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
1 John 3:12. 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.
1 John 3:13. 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.
1 John 3:14. 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 draw back and get out of abiding and walking in love, then DEATH once again abides in us.
For you see, we do not actually receive the wages of sin, which is DEATH, nor do we actually receive the reward of ETERNAL LIFE until we actually die physically, or until Jesus returns, 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 toCOME 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….
1 John 2:24. 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.
1 John 2:25. 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 1:21 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.
Revelation 22:13. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Revelation 22:14. 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.
Revelation 22:15. 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 Dd-30. Arguments for the Weekly Sabbath Pt 1 and Dd-12. Really, 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;
John 10:28. 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.
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.”
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 are 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.
Also, I want to point out that I believe any believer can and should BECOME fully PERSUADED in his or her OWN heart and mind that they will never be moved from the love of God.
And I exhort believers to meditate and hide God’s word in their hearts so that they will NOT SIN against God and separate THEMSELVES 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 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.
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 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, they 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 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.
Hebrews 2:12.
“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 verse, which is still the SAME CONTEXT, goes on to say.
Hebrews 3:13.“But EXHORT one another DAILY, while it is called TODAY, lest (For fear that) any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Hebrews 3:14.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.
Hebrews 3:15.“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 Ee-12. Is the Doctrine of PURGATORY BIBLICAL?
That study will give you 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.
Rather, it is 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 DECEIVED 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 Bb-1. 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.
Another way to look at these verses is that salvation is obtained for all of mankind, but ONLY those of mankind that are found to be faithful in HIM shall be saved.
And many multiple OTHER verses clearly teach us that we must be found faithful unto the END in order to obtain eternal life in the world to come.
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…
Hebrews 10:14. 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.
Ephesians 5:6
“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.
Romans 1:17. 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.
Romans 1:18. 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,
1 Corinthians 3:12. Now if any man builds upon the foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
1 Corinthians 3:13. 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.
1 Corinthians 3:14. If any man’s work abides which he has built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1 Corinthians 3:15. 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 1 Corinthians 3:6 with some context.
1 Corinthians 3:6-13.
“I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
1 Corinthians 3:7. So then, neither is he that plants anything, neither he that waters; but God that gives the increase.
1 Corinthians 3:8. 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)
1 Corinthians 3:9. For we are laborers together with God: you are God’s husbandry, you are God’s BUILDING.
1 Corinthians 3:10. 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.
1 Corinthians 3:11. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:12. 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)
1 Corinthians 3:13. 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, this is 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.
1 Corinthians 3:14. 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.
1 Corinthians 3:15. 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 thereby 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.
And then, and only 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/
It is then that 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.
Ezekiel 33:8. 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.
Ezekiel 33:9. 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.
Also, we are to treat sin just as seriously as IF we were to cut off our own foot or hand in order to enter into the kingdom of God maimed, because suffering the loss of a hand that is very dear to our flesh is far better than keeping that hand and being cast into outer darkness and into the lake of fire where both you and the hand you love both perish together.
In other words, SIN can be very dear to our FLESH and our FLESH does NOT want to let go, so it is needful for our INNER man to CUT OFF what our FLESH does not want to lose.
Now, look at 2 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.
2 Timothy 2:20. 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.
2 Timothy 2:21. 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.
This is 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 deceived to believe that they can continue to live a homosexual lifestyle 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.
Matthew 7:22. 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?
Matthew 7:23. 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 33:11-13,18.
“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?
Ezekiel 33:12. 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.
Ezekiel 33:13. 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.
Ezekiel 33:18. When the righteous turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he shall even die thereby.”
Just as a person on their deathbed 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.
1 Corinthians 5:1,5.
“It is reported commonly among you that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.
1 Corinthians 5:5. 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.”
Keeping the Scripture in context please look at the next two verses.
1 Corinthians 5:6,7.
“Your glorying is NOT good. Know you not that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? (In other words, do you not know that by tolerating this person's sin you jeopardize yourself and the whole body of believers in your congregation to be drawn into sin as well?)
1 Corinthians 5:7. Purge out, therefore, the old leaven that you may be a NEW lump, as you are unleavened (Unleavened means being without false teaching and sin). For even Christ, our Passover is sacrificed for us.”
When open sin appears in the church we are to not have fellowship with those that are living in sin as if they have done nothing wrong, because their sin will eventually pollute our minds as well.
Therefore, we must put them out of the church and consider them as not being our brethren so that their spirit MAY be saved.
This is one viewpoint and fits the context as well as other Scriptures, but one can readily see also that just because one is turned over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh does not always mean that he or she will without a doubt turn from his or her sin and be saved.
Naturally, it is our hope that they repent and are thus saved, but it is ultimately their choice to make.
This is why the word of God says that they MAY be saved rather than so that they WILL be saved.
Also, notice the condition that someone must turn them over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, and if they are not turned over to Satan, then for a surety they will be lost, thus disproving the “once saved always saved” point of view.
The eternal security doctrine simply does not line up with the WHOLE word of God.
As we have seen every one of the verses used to TRY and prove the Once Saved Always Saved doctrine have been plainly shown that they were taken out of CONTEXT and twisted by adding personal opinions or viewpoints to create a doctrine that is more pleasing and tickles the ear, and clearly is not SOUND Biblical doctrine that is based upon the WHOLE word of God.
The Bible warns us that some shall not endure SOUND doctrine, but rather they would heap to themselves teachers to teach those things that are PLEASING to the ear to hear and the Once Saved Always Saved is just such a doctrine that PLEASES the ears of men. Let us continue.
Statement number 19.
Argument #19.
Those who seem to have fallen away or turned from God were never truly saved and therefore did not lose their salvation, because they were never really truly saved.
1 John 2:19.
“They went out from us, but they were not of us: for if they had been of us; they would no doubt have continued with us. But they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not of us.”
First of all, if one rejects the truth and does not accept Jesus as their savior, then they lose out on receiving salvation if so be that they never accept Jesus at other times in their life and they die without ever accepting Jesus as their savior.
So whether you lose your salvation, or you lose out by not being saved, you still die in your sins and are lost.
I know that this is not exactly an argument against the INTERPRETATION of this verse in question, but when I read this argument it came off to me as if “Oh well these poor deluded people who THOUGHT that they were saved were NOT TRULY saved as if these dear church-going people mean nothing to those who teach this Once Saved Always Saved doctrine.”
Anyway, moving on the early church believed that they were in the last days and one of the signs of the last days was a great falling away from the faith.
Please read 2 Thessalonians 2:3, which says.
“ Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first,…”
Then we read in I Timothy 4:1.
“Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall DEPART from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.”
And 1 Corinthians 11: 19 says.
“For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be manifest among you.”
Malachi 3:18 teaches us.
“Then shall you discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serves God and him that serves him not.”
In a nutshell, it is prophesied that there will be a falling away from the faith, therefore in every generation there will be those who are among us that receive the word of God for a while in their hearts to become TRUE BORN AGAIN Christians, and then when persecution arises, for the word’s sake, then SOME of these true born again Christians will depart from the faith.
It is impossible to DEPART FROM something that one was not truly a part of FIRST. In other words, NON-Christians cannot DEPART FROM being a Christian.
That is to say, ONLY a TRUE Christian can DEPART FROM being a TRUE Christian.
Now I realize that we Christians, who remain, cannot seem to comprehend why anyone would throw away so great a salvation and then because of this reasoning that it does not seem possible that any true Christian would ever depart from their faith.
Thus, some Christians have reasoned within themselves that they who DEPART from the faith must have never really truly believed, because HOW could anyone, who TRULY believes, forsake following the Lord?
However, the truth is that they did once believe but were deceived. In the context of this passage of Scripture, it does not appear that John is teaching doctrine here that they were never truly saved.
But rather, the writer was exhorting those in the faith, who were being SEDUCED to REMAIN steadfast in the faith.
Let us keep this verse in the CONTEXT of where it is found and see what this verse is TRULY teaching us.
Please read 1 John 2:15-29, which clearly teaches us that the apostle John is writing to true born again believers to be not deceived by those who went out from us who are SEDUCING them.
1 John 2:15-29.
“Love NOT the world, neither the things that are in the world. If ANY man loves the world, the love of the Father is NOT in him.
1 John 2: 16. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is NOT of the Father but is of the world.
1 John 2: 17. And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that DOES the WILL of God abides forever.
1 John 2: 18. Little children, it is the last time: and as you have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
1 John 2:19. THEY (Speaking of the ANTICHRISTS) went out from us, but THEY (Speaking of the ANTICHRISTS that went out from among our congregation) were not of us; for if THEY had been of us, THEY would no doubt have continued with us: (In other words, if THEY, speaking of those who were among the congregation and who heard our preaching and obviously did NOT believe what we taught them, otherwise they would have remained in our fellowship with us) but THEY, (Speaking of the ANTICHRISTS who did NOT believe the true gospel which we preach) went out (Or these antichrists left our congregation to come to your congregation) that THEY (Speaking of the antichrists who left our congregation, because they did not believe the true gospel which we preached to them) might be made manifest (Or be made known) that THEY (Speaking of those who left our congregation to come to your congregation) were not ALL of us (Meaning that there may be some true believers among these antichrists that are being seduced by them to follow them rather than the true gospel)
1 John 2:20. But you (speaking to this other congregation of true born again believers) have an unction from the Holy One, and you know all things. (In other words, YOU have the Holy Spirit and know how to discern truth from error)
1 John 2: 21. 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.
1 John 2: 22. Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is an antichrist that denies the Father and the Son.
1 John 2: 23. Whosoever denies the Son, the same has not the Father: (But) he that acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
1 John 2: 24. Let that (Speaking of the TRUTH of the gospel) therefore abide in you, which you have heard from the beginning. If that which you have heard from the beginning shall REMAIN in you, you also shall CONTINUE in the Son, and in the Father.
1 John 2: 25. And this is the PROMISE that he has PROMISED us, even eternal life. (In other words, if the TRUTH REMAINS in us, then we shall CONTINUE in the Son and the Father and REMAIN faithful unto the END.
And thus, we shall receive the PROMISE in the world to come which God has PROMISED us for enduring unto the END.
For you see, Jesus said in THIS world we have blessings and in the world to COME receive eternal life)
1 John 2: 26. These things have I written unto you CONCERNING them that SEDUCE you.
1 John 2: 27. But the anointing which you have received of him ABIDES in you, and you need not that any man teaches you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is the truth, and is no lie, and even as it has taught you, you shall ABIDE in him. (BUT again I know that YOU have the Holy Spirit dwelling in you so you do not really need me to tell you that SOME of those who came from our congregation are FALSE teachers.
And even though they SAY that they came out FROM us they are NOT true believers and they are coming to your congregation to try and SEDUCE you so be NOT DECEIVED by these antichrist false teachers)
1 John 2: 28. And now, little children, ABIDE in him; that (Or in order that), when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
1 John 2: 29. If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone that DOES righteousness is born of him.”
I want you to notice how much emphasis the apostle John put on ABIDING in Jesus Christ and REMAINING in him. Jesus told us in John 15:1-14 that if we ABIDE in him we should bear much fruit.
But if we did NOT abide in him then we could do nothing of ourselves and would then be cut off and cast into the FIRE to be burned.
John 15:1-14.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
John 15:2. EVERY branch in me (Jesus is clearly speaking of TRUE BORN AGAIN Christians who are in HIM) that bears NOT fruit he takes away (In other words EVERY true born again believer in Jesus Christ who does NOT bear fruit is TAKEN AWAY and BURNED in the FIRE): and every branch that bears fruit, he purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
John 15:3. Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. (In other words, you are now truly born again Christians because you believed the word that I spoke unto you, so, therefore)
John 15:4. ABIDE (Or REMAIN) in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it ABIDE in the vine; no more can you, except you ABIDE in me.
John 15:5. I am the vine, you are the branches: He that ABIDES in me, and I in him, the SAME brings forth much fruit: (We are saved to bear GOOD FRUIT and if we do NOT bear GOOD fruit, then we will be cut off and cast into the fire to be destroyed.
This is what this parable of Jesus is teaching us) for without me you can do nothing.
John 15:6. If a man ABIDE NOT in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. (WHY? Why are those true born again Christians who do not REMAIN close to God cast into the lake of fire?
It is BECAUSE we are only able to do GOOD WORKS by ABIDING in Jesus Christ. Over and over the Bible warns us that we shall receive a promise of reward of eternal life ONLY if we OVERCOME the enemy by KEEPING the commandments of God and doing good works which we were created to do.
We are a NEW CREATION in Jesus Christ!)
John 15:7. If you ABIDE in me, and my words ABIDE in you, you shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
John 15:8. Herein is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; so shall you be my disciples.
John 15:9. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you: CONTINUE you in my LOVE.
John 15:10. Ifyou KEEP my commandments, you shall ABIDE in my love; even as I have KEPT my Father’s commandments, and ABIDE in his love. (In other words, we show that we love God by our WORKS of KEEPING his commandments. Jesus gave us an EXAMPLE to FOLLOW, which was living his life without sin)
John 15:11. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might REMAIN in you, and that your joy might be full. (If the JOY or the promise of eternal life and forever being in God’s presence that is set before us does NOT REMAIN in us and we do not PURGE unrighteousness from our lives, then our joy will NOT be full on the Day of Judgment when Jesus says to the UNFAITHFUL Christians to DEPART from him because of their iniquities or WORKS of unrighteousness)
John 15:12. This is my commandment, That you love one another, as I have loved you.
John 15: 13. Greater love has no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:14. You are my friends if you do whatsoever I command you.”
Now I want you to read the REST of the CONTEXT of 1 John 2:19 that those who teach the false doctrine of once saved always saved try and use to prove that no true born again believer can ever lose his or her salvation.
Please read 1 John 3:1-24, which teaches that if we do NOT ABIDE in LOVE then we do NOT have ETERNAL LIFE ABIDING in us.
1 John 3:1-24.
“Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the SONS of God: therefore the world knows us not because it knew him not.
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.
1 John 3:3. And every man that HAS this HOPE in him PURIFIES himself, even as he is pure.
1 John 3:4. Whosoever commits sin transgresses the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
1 John 3:5. And you know that he was manifested to take away our sins, and in him is no sin.
1 John 3:6. Whosoever ABIDES in him sins NOT: whosoever sins has not seen him, neither known him.
1 John 3:7. Little children, let no man DECEIVE you: he that DOES righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
1 John 3:8. 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.
1 John 3:9. 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.
1 John 3:10. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever does NOT righteousness is NOT of God, neither he that loves NOT his brother.
1 John 3:11. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should LOVE one another.
1 John 3:12. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
1 John 3: 13. Marvel not, my BRETHREN, if the world hates you.
1 John 3:14. We know that we have passed from death unto life BECAUSE we LOVE the brethren. He that loves NOT his brother ABIDES in DEATH.
1 John 3:15. Whosoever hates his brother is a murderer: and you know that no murderer has eternal life ABIDING in him. (In other words, a TRUE BORN AGAIN Christian, who ALLOWS hatred to OVERCOME him or her to REMAIN in them does NOT have eternal life ABIDING in them at the TIME they are LIVING in SIN, any sin including HATING another brother or sister in the Lord.
Some may be thinking that they can hate those in the world so long as they do not hate a fellow brother or sister in the Lord, but Jesus said that we are to LOVE even our ENEMIES and those who despitefully use us. So we are to walk in LOVE toward all mankind)
1 John 3:16. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
1 John 3:17. But whoso has this world's good, and sees his brother have a need and shuts up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwells the love of God in him?
1 John 3:18. My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in DEED and in truth.
1 John 3:19. And hereby we know that we are OF the truth, and shall ASSURE our hearts before him.
1 John 3:20. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart and knows all things.
1 John 3:21. Beloved, if our heart condemns us not, then have we confidence toward God.
1 John 3:22. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we KEEP his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
1 John 3:23. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and LOVE one another, as he gave us commandment.
1 John 3:24. And he that KEEPS his commandments DWELLS (Or ABIDES) in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he ABIDES in us, by the Spirit which he has given us.”
Then if you go on to read the next chapter you will learn that the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirits that we are the sons of God and that we have eternal life ABIDING in us.
THEN BECAUSE of this WITNESS within us, assuring us that we KNOW that we are saved, then this witness within us spurs us on to CONTINUE BELIEVING.
Please read 1 John 5:13, which says.
“These things have I written unto YOU that BELIEVE on the name of the Son of God (In other words John is writing to true born again believer who have already accepted Jesus as their savior); that YOU may KNOW that you have eternal life, AND that (Or so that) YOU may BELIEVE (Or so that this witness within you may cause to CONTINUE to believe and REMAIN steadfast in your FAITH) on the name of the Son of God.”
In other words, the Holy Spirit bears witness with our hearts ASSURING us by the WITNESS of the Holy Spirit within us that we are truly saved and that we have the assurance of the promise of eternal life abiding in us.
And God gives us this WITNESS in our hearts so that or in order that we will CONTINUE on BELIEVING in Jesus Christ and LOVING the brethren unto the end.
But anyone of us can HARDEN our own hearts by the DECEIVABLENESS of SIN.
So then, in the light of all the Scriptures in the word of God that clearly teaches us that we who have in fact have truly accepted Jesus as our Savior can be DECEIVED and turn from God and depart from the faith.
And thereby, Christians can and some do lose our reward of eternal life.
This TRUTH of being able to be DECEIVED makes in blatantly clear to us that the once saved always saved doctrine is NOT a SOUND Biblical teaching.
BE NOT DECEIVED!
Statement number 20.
Argument #20.
What happens if we no longer believe? Will we lose our salvation? Will Jesus deny us?
The Bible assures us that the answer is no. Our salvation is so SECURE that EVEN if we BELIEVE NOT after we are saved he will not deny us, because we are part of him, the body of Christ.
2 Timothy 2:13.
“If we believe not: yet he abides faithful: he cannot deny himself”
First of all each and every Scripture used by those that teach eternal security when read alone or collectively viewing them APART from the rest of God’s word may, at first reading, be quite persuasive to some for they SEEM to show that once a person accepts Jesus as their savior, then they can never lose their salvation.
However, as we have seen in this study that if these same verses of Scripture are KEPT in their context where they are found, then they are proven beyond any shadow of a doubt to mean something entirely different than what those who teach eternal security and once saved always saved try to INTERPRET and even FORCE them to mean.
So once again let us KEEP 2 Timothy 2:13 in the CONTEXT of where it is found. Let’s begin with verse number 7 and read through verse number 26, whereby verse 13, the verse in question, is right in the middle.
I will quote this passage of Scripture in sections because I feel the need to thoroughly explain some verses in detail.
2 Timothy 2:7-26.
“CONSIDER WHAT I SAY; and the Lord give YOU UNDERSTANDING in all things.
2 Timothy 2:8. Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
2 Timothy 2:9. Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evildoer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
2 Timothy 2:10. Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sake, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
2 Timothy 2:1. It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
2 Timothy 2:12. If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we DENY HIM, he WILL ALSO DENY us:
2 Timothy 2:13. If we believe not, YET he ABIDES faithful (Meaning that Jesus MEANS what he said and therefore Jesus must remain FAITHFUL to do what he said. If we DENY him, then he will ALSO surely DENY us whether we choose to BELIEVE this truth or NOT!): he cannot deny himself.”
Let us pause here before we finish looking at 2 Timothy 2:14-26 because I want to bring out several points on verse 13, the verse in question so that we can learn its TRUE meaning.
Jesus and the Father are bound by the word of God to do what God has said in his word that he would do. It is impossible for God to LIE.
Therefore, God the Father must PERFORM his WORD even when it grieves him to do so. Jesus and his Father CANNOT DENY what they have said.
Jesus said the WORDS that I speak THEY shall judge you on the Day of Judgment. The WAGES of sin is DEATH so a Christian who dies while living in sin shall receive the WAGES of SIN.
Jesus CANNOT DENY himself. This is what this verse is saying when left in the CONTEXT of where it is found.
Again, let’s pause here for a moment and ask ourselves, “If I believe not WHAT?” In other words what is it that we believe not?
Well obviously what you were just told in the previous verses. You see God’s word is true whether you believe it or not.
So, in verse 13, the verse in question, says If we BELIEVE NOT (Believe not what? If we believe not verse 12, that states as a fact with no interpretation needed “If we DENY the Lord he WILL ALSO DENY us”.
Scripture cannot be broken. God said what he meant and God meant what he said. It is impossible for God to lie.
Therefore, no matter how much Jesus loves you and does not want you to be lost he CANNOT or WILL NOT BREAK his word or his Father's word and deny himself by going against what he has said in verse 12, “If we DENY him he will ALSO DENY us”.
And again, I paraphrase the verse in question, “Even if we believe NOT that he will deny us, if we deny him, he must remain faithful to his own word and he cannot deny himself.”
Jesus also said in Matthew 10:33.
“But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also DENY before my Father which is in heaven.”
Again, verse 13 is saying it does not matter if you believe this or not, speaking of that which was just spoken in verse 12, Jesus cannot deny himself by going against what he has already spoken.
There is no way that this verse is saying that if we do not believe in Jesus anymore that it does not matter because Jesus cannot deny himself and INTERPRETING the phrase “cannot deny HIMSELF” to mean that Jesus cannot deny his BODY, which is the church and therefore no MATTER what you believe after you ONCE have accepted Jesus as your savior, then he CANNOT deny you so therefore you are FOREVER and ETERNALLY SAVED.
This is a GROSS MISINTERPRETATION of the WHOLE word of Almighty God.
That kind of interpretation is twisting the Scriptures to conform to one’s own preconceived belief and INTERPRETATION of verses taken out of CONTEXT to FALSELY conclude that once a person is saved then they are always saved.
I have clearly shown and proven by much irrefutable evidence from the WHOLE word of God for the doctrine of ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED to be a FALSE doctrine that must be rejected.
Do NOT be DECEIVED! The Eternal Security Doctrine is a misinterpretation and misrepresentation of God’s word of TRUTH.
Do NOT be deceived! For a TRUE BORN AGAIN Christian we can not only be DECEIVED to deny the Lord by openly speaking out with our mouths.
But again, we can also become DECEIVED by the deceitfulness of sin to DENY the Lord by our lifestyle, the way we live by NOT walking after the spirit to obey our FLESH. You shall know the tree by the fruit it bears.
Look at Titus 1:16.
“They PROFESS that they know God; BUT IN WORKS they DENY HIM, being abominable and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”
Let’s continue now with the fourteenth verse of second Timothy chapter 2.
2 Timothy 2:14.
“Of these things PUT THEM in REMEMBRANCE, CHARGING them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers”.
Come on dear children of God, the writer is not talking about putting the WORLD in REMEMBRANCE, but rather Timothy is speaking to TRUE Christians.
Now I myself do INDEED believe that the Bible teaches eternal security in this one sense:
Which is that if we meet certain CONDITIONS God is able to KEEP us from falling.
In other words, Almighty God himself has promised that he will never leave nor forsake us. God is always FOR us and never against us.
So I myself believe that ANY Christian can BECOME FULLY PERSUADED in their OWN heart and mind that THEY themselves will never depart from God and in this way those who PERSEVERE unto the end will never lose their salvation, BECAUSE they themselves will KEEP themselves by the TRUTH to be a DOER of the word and not a hearer only.
But this is NOT what the eternal security or once saved always saved doctrine teaches in any form, therefore we as true believers must denounce any association with this doctrine so as NOT to SUBVERT or lead others to go astray.
This passive teaching of “Let's not make any waves or let's agree to disagree” says to those who are “babes in Christ” that it does not matter what you believe so long as you believe in God.
The devils believe in God and we know their destiny. So, does the truth matter?
The truth absolutely matters to me, otherwise, I would not have bothered to write this study in God’s word to WARN you of this FALSE doctrine of once saved always saved.
Ask yourself the question, “Do I truly desire to know the truth of God’s word?”
Again, I strongly urge you to prove for yourself that what I have shared with you in this study is the absolute truth of God’s word.
Let us continue with 2 Timothy 2:15,16 to learn the true meaning of verse 13.
2 Timothy 2:15,16.
“STUDY to shew yourselves approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, RIGHTLY DIVIDING the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:16. But SHUN profane and vain babbling: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.”
I have personally heard a believer in the once saved always saved FALSE teaching that he could be DRUNK any time he so chooses because he is FOREVER saved and no matter what he does he can never lose his salvation.
This FALSE teaching has SUBVERTED some into the FALSE security that no matter what they do that they cannot possibly ever lose their salvation.
Some who teach once saved always saved, may argue by saying something like, “Well, no TRUE Christian would ever WILLINGLY sin like that so this guy is not really a Christian and has never been truly saved!”
And in truth, I would have to agree with them that no true Christians, who are grounded and rooted in God’s WORD, would never say and do such things as to openly SIN and then SAY that they could NEVER lose their salvation no matter what.
But that is not the point that I am trying to make. Rather, the point is that this FALSE doctrine of Once Saved Always Saved has SEDUCED and DECEIVED this person and many others to FALSELY believe that they are SAVED when in truth they are NOT saved, as in, they are not WALKING in the TRUTH.
They have been wrongly taught that no matter what they do or do not do they can never lose their salvation and THEY understand that false teaching means that they can continue to live in a lifestyle of sin and still receive eternal life in the world to come.
So WHO is God going to REQUIRE THE BLOOD of THOSE who truly believe that they are ETERNALLY SAVED no MATTER WHAT they do?
Now you personally may not view the doctrine of eternal security as a license to sin, so to speak, but others who do not know your heart may read YOUR false doctrine or hear YOU teach or preach this FALSE doctrine of once saved always saved, and say to their self, “well so and so believes in once saved always saved, so it must be true, so no matter what I do I will never lose my salvation.”
Therefore, to THEM, it will be alright in their OWN EYES if they commit sin, saying to themselves, “after all I am saved by grace and NOT by WORKS, therefore, it does NOT matter what I do.”
And then they simply live after their flesh THINKING that they can never lose their salvation by living in sin and never repenting or confessing their lifestyle of living in sin.
Can you see how our association or passive view with this ungodly doctrine can lead some to more ungodliness?
Again, I have personally seen where a street evangelist is preaching the gospel and a person who calls himself a Christian, comes up to this evangelist and starts mocking him saying that we are not saved by works and that he is preaching works-based salvation.
Now the evangelist sees that this guy, who is mocking him, is stone-cold DRUNK on his feet with a bottle of beer in his hand and he can hardly stand up.
So this street preacher begins to teach him the word of TRUTH. But this so-called Christian yells back at the evangelist and tells him that he is a Baptist and that the word of God teaches that once you accept Jesus as your savior, then you are eternally saved and can never lose your salvation no matter what!
This guy was so DRUNK with not only alcohol but also with FALSE teaching of the Once Saved Always Saved teaching that he could not LISTEN to SOUND BIBLICAL teaching of the WHOLE word of God.
Now the TRUTH of the matter is that even though this man PROFESSED to be a Christian, his WORKS said otherwise, but yet he SINCERELY BELIEVED that he could get drunk any time he wanted and it would not matter because he had been FALSELY TAUGHT that once you are saved then you are always saved and can never lose your salvation.
However, the word of TRUTH teaches us that no DRUNKARD shall inherit ETERNAL LIFE.
Therefore, if this so-called Christian who TRULY BELIEVED that he was a Christian and ETERNALLY SAVED would have stepped off that curb that night while he was DRUNK on his feet and was killed by a passing car, then the word of TRUTH teaches us that he would be CAST out into outer darkness and into the lake of FIRE to be destroyed.
Be NOT DECEIVED by these FALSE doctrines of eternal security and once saved always saved!
Let us continue with 2 Timothy 2:17,18 to learn the true meaning of verse 13. We are to shun this kind of vain babbling, for it will increase to more ungodliness.
Think this through for yourself. There is MORE ungodliness in those who sit under the teaching that they can never lose their salvation no matter what they do or do not do than there is among Christians who follow and obey the teaching of walking in holiness.
2 Timothy 2:17,18.
“And THEIR word will eat as does a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
2 Timothy 2:18. Who concerning the TRUTH have ERRED, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrown the faith of some.”
Now, these two verses are speaking of a DIFFERENT error from the truth but the same teaching applies to every false teaching. Especially any teaching to open the door to Satan.
THINK about hearing the word of those who teach eternal security over and over all your Christian life. THINK about how those Christians can easily be seduced by Satan to give into sin compared to those who KNOW that if they sin they are in danger of losing their salvation.
Throughout the entire church age, there have been those that have erred from the truth and have fabricated false doctrines and thereby have deceived some to follow their teachings which ultimately led them away from Christ.
Now they, speaking of false teachers, may be sincere and truly believe that they are teaching the truth, but they are being deceived. And they are deceiving those they teach even though they do not KNOW that they are teaching false doctrine.
It is our obligation who know the truth to instruct those that oppose themselves that they may ACKNOWLEDGE the TRUTH and recover themselves from the snare of the devil.
Let us continue with 2 Timothy 2:19-21.
“Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, the Lord knows them that are his. And, Let every one that names the name of Christ DEPART from INIQUITY.
2 Timothy 2:20. But in a great house, there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and of earth; some to honor, and some to dishonor.
2 Timothy 2:21. If any man, therefore, purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”
We need to purge ourselves from any and all false doctrine. And even more so when false teaching opens the door to living a CASUAL Christian life that has no FEAR of the Lord.
Let us continue with 2 Timothy 2:22-26.
“Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
2 Timothy 2:23. But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they gender strife.
2 Timothy 2:24. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient.
2 Timothy 2:25. In meekness instructing those that OPPOSE THEMSELVES, if God peradventure will give them repentance to the ACKNOWLEDGING OF THE TRUTH;
2 Timothy 2:26. And that they may RECOVER THEMSELVES out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”
The truth that I alluded to at the beginning of this study is that there is error mixed with the truth on BOTH sides and the truth of the matter is this: Salvation, as in, the actual receiving of our hope and promise of ETERNAL LIFE is in fact CONDITIONAL.
However, we also can have the full assurance that God is for us, that God is able to keep us from falling, that we can be fully persuaded that nothing will be able to separate us from God, that God will protect us, heal us, deliver us, strengthen us, forgive us, or whatever we need at the time, but as with all God’s promises there are CONDITIONS that we must meet before we receive them.
Primarily, this condition is FAITH. We must believe. With man, it is not possible, but WITH GOD all things are possible to him that BELIEVES.
And in the case of receiving the END of our salvation which is receiving our promise of eternal life in the world to come, we MUST be a DOER of the word and not a hearer only whereby we deceive ourselves.
Now, the error on the side of those that teach that salvation is indeed conditional SOME leave the impression that we are the ones that have to keep the commandments of God, as if, in our own strength, and SOME give absolutely no instruction on how we are to accomplish this seemingly impossible task.
In reality or in truth, it is God, through his Holy Spirit that is actually doing the works. You see, in the SAME way, that Jesus did the WORKS that he did, it was the Holy Spirit in him that ACTUALLY did the WORKS and NOT Jesus himself.
The Bible also teaches that Jesus DEPENDED upon the eternal Holy Spirit of Almighty God to live his life WITHOUT SIN. And by doing so left us the EXAMPLE of living OUR lives WITHOUT SIN THROUGH CHRIST, which is the ANOINTING of Almighty God, speaking of the Holy Spirit that dwells in us.
It is no longer I that lives, but Christ speaking of the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in me that lives and REIGNS in me.
This is how Jesus lived without sin as an example to follow.
For you see, if it were we doing the good work, then there would be boasting. And since it is God who is dwelling in us as the one doing these works, then there is no boasting because we are God’s workmanship and not our own.
We merely BELIEVE and OBEY his word through the FAITH that the Bible teaches us that God has already given to every man.
So, even those who do not make the choice to use their gift of faith and believe that does not mean that they are UNABLE to believe.
In SIMPLE terms, salvation is kind of like this; when we are saved we are given a ticket, so to speak, that is redeemable for eternal life, when we die or when Jesus comes again.
This ticket or salvation that we are given when we accept Jesus as our savior has our name on it and our PROMISE of the reward of eternal life is held in reserve for us in heaven.
Now in order to redeem this ticket for eternal life, we must have this ticket of hope or faith or joy set before us in receiving eternal life in the world to come, we must hold fast to it and keep it in our possession when we die, or when Jesus returns.
So then, our responsibility is to not LOSE this ticket, that is to say, the CONDITION we must meet is to NOT give up our hope and FAITH in God and in his word by being a DOER of the word.
To say this another way, disobedience and sin cause us to lose our ticket and the only way to get our ticket back in hand is to REPENT of our sins and CONTINUE to walk after the Spirit and NOT after the flesh.
So once again, if our ticket is lost, it can be found or recovered again by repenting of our disobedience or sin that we committed by asking God to forgive us.
If we meet this CONDITION and BELIEVE the word of God that tells us that he is faithful and just to forgive us if we ask, then we will be forgiven and God will take our ticket from the hand of the enemy and place it back into our hands to keep safe.
Now, according to the knowledge that I have of the word of God there is no limit to how many times one can lose their ticket.
But as for me, I desire to know more on how to hang on to my ticket so that I may never lose it.
And I am fully persuaded by the word of God that as long as a believer desires to come back to God then God is always faithful to forgive them for their sins.
So. never give up fighting the good fight of faith!
Thanks for reading, and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God.
And to me, the truth concerning who Jesus TRULY is, according to the Bible ITSELF, is the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus.
Once Christians, Jews, Muslims, and even atheists understand the REASON that Yahweh CREATED the Son of MAN, Jesus, was to have DOMINION over the work of Yahweh’s hands.
And after you understand that the REASON that Yahweh did that is to STILL His ENEMIES, Satan and the fallen angels.
Then you can understand that God made His human Son to become “a” Lord, “a” King, and “a” God, under and subject to his God and Father in order to JUDGE Satan and the fallen angels.
For a deeper understanding of this WAR that Lucifer and one third of the angels waged against the throne of Almighty God, please read the studies under the subject category called ** Q-0 Why Are We Here? Is God at WAR? **.
More studies are coming in this SHORTER Biblical Unitarian view of who Jesus is according to the WHOLE word of God.
If you have a PARTICULAR verse of Scripture that you would like to know the sound Biblical Unitarian meaning, then please email me at MarkatAMatterOfTruth@Gmail.com and let me know.
For further and more in-depth studies on this subject of Jesus being created to STILL the enemies of Yahweh, please read the studies called D-25. A NEW LOOK at JOHN 1:1, In the BEGINNING!
And also read the study called D-28. The PRE-ADAMIC LUCIFERIAN FLOOD!
At the top of my homepage, there are subjects or categories which contain compiled lists of ** ALL Studies! ** I have written on that particular subject. So, if a link within a study is broken, then click on ** ALL Studies! ** to find the suggested study.
Or you can scroll down to the MORE dropdown menu list to find those studies as well.
Thanks again for reading, and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God.
And to me, the truth concerning who Jesus TRULY is, according to the Bible ITSELF, is the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus.
And again, for ALL of the studies on the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus, please click on the subject heading ** D-0 The BIBLICAL UNITARIAN VIEW of Jesus! **
And for the SUBJECT on the true foundation of the church, please click on the subject heading ** C-0 The TRUE FOUNDATION of the Church! **
This way you can just send ONE link to those who you want to share the TRUE sound Biblical FOUNDATIONAL teachings of the church that Jesus and his Apostles taught in the first century church.
Your brother in our Lord Jesus Christ,
Brother Mark.
My heartfelt prayer is that all Christians RETURN to the TRUE FOUNDATION of the church that is taught by the very Apostles of Jesus in the first century.
So let us all come into the UNITY of the faith and return to what Jesus and his Apostles taught us in SIMPLICITY in the New Testament.
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