Once saved always saved? Part 2
Some hard facts against once-saved theology
I would like to point out some hard facts in the Word of God which cannot be overlooked.
Fact: a person can be “in Jesus’ mouth” and be spit out for being lukewarm.
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth… As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Revelation 3:15-16,19
Fact: a person can be written in the book of life, and then blotted out.
He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Revelation 3:5
Fact: any man who loveth not as Jesus commanded of us, does not have eternal life.
We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
1 John 3:14-15
Fact: if you see a brother in Christ stray from the truth, then to bring him again to repentance will save his soul from hell.
Brethren [speaking to Christians], if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him [bring him back to repentance]; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
James 5:19-20
Fact: salvation comes through the forgiveness of our sins.
To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins.
Luke 1:77
Fact: sin, if left unpaid, carries the death penalty.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:23
Fact: we can prevent God from forgiving our sins, by not forgiving others.
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Matthew 6:14-15
Fact: not all who refer to Jesus as Lord will enter heaven, but those who do the will of the Father.
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 7:21
Fact: those who do not live a righteous life will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6:3-10
Notice that this passage was speaking to believers who “will judge angels” and not to non-believers. Paul is making it very clear that the unrighteous will not enter the kingdom of God.
Fact: a person can be “in the vine (Jesus)” and then taken away or cast forth.
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman [gardener]. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit… 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.
John 15:1-2,6
In the following passage, Jesus tells of how the physical Jews were cut off, and we were grafted in, but we are continue in His goodness (the love of Christ needs to be present in our lives towards one another) else we be cut off as well:
Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
Romans 11:20-23
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Jude 1:21
Fact: faith that doesn’t result in good works (living a righteous life) is dead and worthless.
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
James 2:17-26
Our faith in Christ is supposed to bear fruit of righteousness in or lives. The problem with religion is trying to earn salvation by works and not faith, whereas we are saved by faith and not works (see Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 4:6, and Galatians 2:16), our faith in Christ if it is genuine, will yield fruits of righteousness in our lives (good works). If we claim to have faith in Christ, but our lives continue in sin, then we are only fooling ourselves and our faith is in vain. The Bible also tells us that those who belong to God do not continue in sin:
We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not [does not continue in sin]; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself [from sin], and that wicked one toucheth him not.
1 John 5:18
Fact: Those who do not walk in the light, have no part in the kingdom of God
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
Ephesians 5:2-11
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:19-23
Fact: Jesus will tell those who work iniquity to depart from Him
…depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Matthew 7:23
Fact: Apparently, only those who overcome and endure will be saved and not blotted out
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mark 13:13
Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
Matthew 24:12-13
Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen [look back at where you used to be in your relationship with me], and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent… He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
Revelation 2:4-5,7
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Revelation 2:11
He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Revelation 3:5
Fact: Christ and His work on the cross is of no effect to us, if we are seeking to be justified by the law
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
Galatians 5:1-4
Fact: If we continue in sin, there remains no further sacrifice for our sin
If we come to Christ, yet continue to live in sin, then there remains no sacrifice for our sins. Once-saved, always-saved theory tells us that once we’re saved, that we’re safe no matter what we do, regardless if we continue to live a sinful lifestyle or even turn from God completely.
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
Hebrews 10:26-29
For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
2 Peter 2:20-22
Now this isn’t saying that a person who backslides cannot come back to his senses and repent of his sins and turn back to the Lord, as Jesus promises us that nobody who comes to Him will be rejected (see John 6:37). Christians can and will make mistakes at times, and when that happens, we have Jesus as our high priest to forgive of our sins (see 1 John 2:1), but what the above passage in Hebrews is talking about is where we continue to live in our sins and do not turn from them. In such a case, we’re not serious about our relationship with God and do not respect what Christ has done for us, therefore, what other means do we have to be saved? None! There is no other sacrifice that will save us if we choose to continue in our sin!
Fact: If you cannot stop sinning, then it would be better to cut off your hand than to go to hell
And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched.
Mark 9:43
That’s how serious that our sins are! Jesus is saying that if you cannot stop sinning, and it’s your hand that causes to sin, then cut it off… because it’s better to enter heaven with one arm, then hell with two. The once-saved always-saved theology does not admit to this grade of seriousness when it comes to our sins. I’ve seen people who just won’t stop sinning, and yet they feel that they are safe because once their saved, their fine. That may not be the fruit in some folks’ lives, but it certainly true in the lives of millions who are convinced that they are saved but continue to live in sin.
Disclaimer: now before you do anything such a cut your hand off, you might want to consider the fact that there’s likely spiritual/demonic bondage present in your life that needs to be dealt with. They will put enormous pressure on a person to lead them down a life of sin. It is pointless to ruin a part of your body when you could have been liberated from the bondage in the first place, had you sought proper help and deliverance.
Fact: Followers of Christ are warned that sin brings forth death
In the book of James, believers are warned against falling into temptation, resulting in death. This was not written to non-believers, but to followers of Christ:
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren.
James 1:12-16
Fact: Believers are warned that if they obey sin, that it will result in death
Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Romans 6:16
Fact: Believers can be defiled, and those who die in a defiled state do not enter heaven
The following passages were written to believers:
Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.
Hebrews 12:15
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
2 Corinthians 6:17
For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Ephesians 5:5
And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Revelations 21:27
Fact: We are only Jesus’ friends when we do what He asks of us
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
John 15:14
Just for the sake of completeness, what does He ask of us?
Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Matthew 22:36-40
Fact: Being a child of God will bring forth fruits of righteousness in our lives
In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
1 John 3:10
Fact: Somebody can escape the pollution of the world through Christ, then become worse off than before!
For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
2 Peter 2:20
Fact: Many will try, but only a few will make it
Wait a minute, I thought that all we had to do was say the sinners prayer, and believe in our hearts, and that was it? What is so hard about that? Apparently, those who continue to work iniquity, aren’t going to make it.
Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able… But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.
Luke 13:24,27
At first, some may interpret verse 24 as referring to those who do not seek to enter heaven through Jesus Christ (new age, other gods, etc.), but if we read on to verse 27, apparently Jesus is speaking of those who’s faith doesn’t yield obedience, which springs up fruit of righteousness in their lives.
This is a multi-part teaching
- OSAS Part 1
– Introduction
– The OSAS arguments considered - OSAS Part 2
– Some hard facts against once-saved theology - OSAS Part 3
– Jesus’ own words on the matter
– Be a doer of the Word, not just a hearer!
– Obedience is the fruit of faith - OSAS Part 4
– Those who don’t love others have no eternal life
– We are expected to bear fruit
– Forgiveness of sins & salvation
– You need to be forgiven of your sins!
– The road to life is strait and narrow - OSAS Part 5
– Being sure of your salvation
– Fear of losing salvation
– Walk according to the Spirit, not the flesh
– The grace of God
– “But once-saved gives security & confidence!”
– Some closing thoughts