Bible Questions Answered:
The teaching of some is a doctrine of “Once Saved, Always Saved.”
This posting is an addendum to the blog of Hebrews 6:1-6, if you haven't read it, use this hyper-link to read it first..... Hebrews 6:1-6
At the start a word must be said concerning the subject of God's grace.
What is it?
A very fine acrostic for the word grace is as follows.
God's
Riches
At
Christ's
Expense.
Everything we as Christians enjoy from salvation to the joys of eternity, come at Christ's expense.
Yes, this certainly includes the precious gift of God's mercy, without which we would be lost.
The fact is, Christian or not, we sin every day!
Don't think so?
If that's you, you are very sadly mistaken, and have “not,” had a true experience with the living God.
Matthew 17:1-6 KJV
1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
2 And was transfigured before them: and His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light.
3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with Him.
4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him.
6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
Lamentations 3:22 KJV
It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassion's fail not.
“Pastor, I'm sorry, but I am sanctified, I don't sin!”
Well, if that's you, sorry, but of course that is totally incorrect, and it is because the Word of God says so.
No one will be fully set apart from sin, until we are all in the presence of the living Saviour!
I John 3:2 KJV
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth 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.
And seeing how this event has not happened yet, neither has the sanctification spoken of.
Sin, yes, we all fall under sin every day, and we do so in one of three ways.
By sins of:
Commission: Things we shouldn't do, that we do any way..
Omission: Things we should do, but we don't.
Ignorance: We sin, we slight God, and we aren't even aware of it. In our fallen nature, sin comes naturally.
This is all mentioned so that we may fully understand that when a Christian makes a mistake, God doesn't throw him away, or write him off. No, by His everlasting grace, He waits for such an one to confess their short comings and repent of them, forsaking them, God forgives, this is called the Grace of Gd.
In this fashion, where a Christian does their best to live for God, but is still human, and comes by mistakes in his life, there is a very real sense, that God Keeps Them!
When a person, waits upon the Lord, He has promised to strengthen them!
Isaiah 40:31 KJV
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Thee all important distinguishing fact is, is a person, truly living for the Lord, loving and serving Him. And if that is the case, he will beyond all doubt be Kept of the Lord!
Isaiah 26:3 KJV
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
But, may a person who at one time has accepted the Lord, from him turn away, and sadly come to a place of no longer being a son? Yes.
God certainly is not a fool.
I heard a pastor say on T.V. Thee other day, "and as a rule, I refuse to listen to so called religious T.V," say the following...”If you've accepted the Lord some time in your life, why you can sin all you want, and you'll never be lost, you'll have less rewards maybe, but you will never be lost.”
God help the person who would teach such a gross error.
Homily:
That would be akin to telling a citizen of our country, “go abroad have the time of your life and if you happen to get in a fight and kill someone, that's OK, come home you'll always be accepted!.”
No, that's not right, we have extradition laws, and you will reap what you have sown.
Some Scriptural Examples:
Judges 16:15-21 NLT
15 Then Delilah pouted, “How can you tell me, ‘I love you,’ when you don’t share your secrets with me? You’ve made fun of me three times now, and you still haven’t told me what makes you so strong!”
16 She tormented him with her nagging day after day until he was sick to death of it.
17 Finally, Samson shared his secret with her. “My hair has never been cut,” he confessed, “for I was dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as anyone else.”
18 Delilah realized he had finally told her the truth, so she sent for the Philistine rulers. “Come back one more time,” she said, “for he has finally told me his secret.” So the Philistine rulers returned with the money in their hands.
19 Delilah lulled Samson to sleep with his head in her lap, and then she called in a man to shave off the seven locks of his hair. In this way she began to bring him down, and his strength left him.
20 Then she cried out, “Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!” When he woke up, he thought, “I will do as before and shake myself free.” But he didn’t realize the LORD had left him.
21 So the Philistines captured him and gouged out his eyes. They took him to Gaza, where he was bound with bronze chains and forced to grind grain in the prison.
Samson had been a judge of Israel for twenty years, and yes the Lord had been “with,” him!
God had blessed him with great bravery, and physical strength.
But Samson made some moral mistakes, mistakes that led him away from the Lord!
How do we know this? We know it because the Word of God tells us so!
Judges 16:20 KJV
Then she cried out, “Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!” When he woke up, he thought, “I will do as before and shake myself free.” But he didn’t realize the LORD had left him.
Moral mistakes, coupled with his broken vow (Numbers 6:1-8) to the Lord, meant only one thing, the Lord was no longer with Samson. (For to have "left him," certainly declares, that at one time He had been with him!)
Will the living Good, forsake those who turn against Him, Yes, if they have determined in their hearts too do so!
Thank God, that wasn't the end of Samson's story, for in prison, grinding grain, as a brute beast, Samson's thoughts turned again to the Lord, in his last hours he cried out to the Lord for strength one more time, and God heard him.
Scripture: (A favorite verse used by “once saved always saved,” people.)
John 10:28 KJV
27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.
This verse is so wonderfully true! But what is it saying?
It is saying, that no man, or angel or any other thing is capable of taking a child of God, from the hand of God!
Romans 8:35-39 KJV
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 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.
But, please let us look at this verse closely (John 10:28 KJV).
This verse “says-nothing,” about the individual himself, if he or she wishes to be away from God!
How could anyone ever use this verse to prove “once saved always saved?”
Everyone certainly knows that no one can take a Christian away from God!
But, can a Christian himself/ herself live a life (by their own constant choices) take themselves away from God? Yes!
Friends, we are talking about can a person “know,” the Lord, and then one day walk away and be lost?
And the Biblical answer time and time again is yes!
“Once save always saved,” theology (falsely called), does this promote common sense or spirituality?
Never, for one can become a Christian and live like the devil, and will still make it it.
False teaching! False teaching and the Word of God says so!
Our God keeps those who stay “in Christ,” no man can take them out of His hand, but if a Christian himself, herself decides to go back to the world, as did Lot's wife, only separation from God and destruction await!
Scripture:
II Peter 2:20-22 KJV
20 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.
21 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.
22 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.
II Peter 2:20-22 NLT
20 And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before.
21 It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life.
22 They prove the truth of this proverb: “A dog returns to its vomit.” And another says, “A washed pig returns to the mud.”
Let us take the words of Peter step-by-step.
II Peter 2:20 KJV
For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ...”
Who are these people, peter? Why they are Christians of course! It is the Christian who has escaped “the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ...”
Would anyone like to deny that? Of course not!
II Peter 2:20 KJV
“... they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
Peter tell us...
Christian people who become “entangled therein, and overcome, the later end is worse with them than the beginning.”
Christian people, as Lot's wife, who have “looked back,” because their desires were still in the world.
Who came to the place of knowing the Lord “hav(ing) escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ...”and yet turned back from the Lord.
“Once saved always saved,” people would be the first to tell us that any one who goes into sin, was never saved in the first place, but they had better take that up with the Apostle Peter!
II Peter 2:21,22 KJV
21 It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life.
Did you hear that verse? These people KNEW THE WAY, THEY KNEW THE LORD!
But they didn't want to pay the ultimate price of living for the Lord!
But they didn't want to make the Saviour the Lord of their life!
22 They prove the truth of this proverb: “A dog returns to its vomit.” And another says, “A washed pig returns to the mud.”
“Once saved (NOT ALWAYS SAVED!)”
Not, if a Christian won't live a holy life separated to the Lord!
How much more plain could the word of Peter be?
Scripture:
Hebrews 2:1-3 KJV
1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip*.
2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
3 How shall we escape, if we neglect* so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
*Slip-Greek-Pararrhueo-(Par-ar-hroo-eh-o): To flow by, i.e. carelessly pass (miss): let slip.
*Neglect-Greek-Ameleo-(Am-el-eh-o): Make light of, neglect, be negligent, not regard.
Who is the Apostle speaking to? Why Christians of course.
Hebrews 2:1 KJV
Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip*.
Slip, yes Christians if not careful, if not living a life of holiness before the Lord, can wonder away from the Lord!
And if a Christian does not live a life of righteousness, pleasing to the Lord, then what?
Hebrews 2:2,3 KJV
2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
The Watchers (Angels) of old, did just that “watched,” the affairs of men and judged them.
Genesis 19:13 KJV (Angels talking to Lot)
For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it.
Luke 17:29 KJV
But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
3 How shall we escape, if we neglect* so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
How shall any Christian escape, if we neglect (neglect, or pay no regard for -see above definition.) so great salvation:
The answer, why we will “not,” escape God's judgment, if we will not obey, nor live by the commandments our God has given us!
Scripture:
Hebrews 10:26-31 KJV
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29 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?
30 For we know Him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto Me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge His people.
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Hebrews 10:26-31 NLT
26 Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins.
27 There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume His enemies.
28 For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
29 Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us.
30 For we know the one who said, “I will take revenge. I will pay them back." He also said, “The LORD will judge His own people.”
31 It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the Living God.
And yet one more scripture. Who is the Apostle speaking to? Again, Christian people!
Hebrews 10:26 KJV
“ Dear friends...”
What, can Christian people, return to sin, after having come to the Lord? Yes!
Hebrews 10:26 KJV
Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins.
The key word here is “deliberate.”
A person, a Christian may become a backslider, but by God's grace (as has already be alluded to), be restored, when repentant.
And yet there may be a Christian, who though he has known the truth, and received the Saviour, through his or her “deliberate,” continuous actions, fall away from God grace, and into judgment.
Adam Clarke:
Verse 26. "For if we sin wilfully" - If we deliberately, for fear of persecution or from any other motive, renounce the profession of the Gospel and the Author of that Gospel, after having received the knowledge of the truth so as to be convinced that Jesus is the promised Messiah, and that he had sprinkled our hearts from an evil conscience; for such there remaineth no sacrifice for sins;
for as the Jewish sacrifices are abolished, as appears by the declaration of God himself in the fortieth Psalm, and Jesus being now the only sacrifice which God will accept, those who reject Him have none other; therefore their case must be utterly without remedy. This is the meaning of the apostle, and the case is that of a deliberate apostate - one who has utterly rejected Jesus Christ and His atonement, and renounced the whole Gospel system. It has nothing to do with backsliders in our common use of that term. A man may be overtaken in a fault, or he may deliberately go into sin, and yet neither renounce the Gospel, nor deny the Lord that bought him.
His case is dreary and dangerous, but it is not hopeless; no case is hopeless but that of the deliberate apostate, who rejects the whole Gospel system, after having been saved by grace, or convinced of the truth of the Gospel. To him there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin; for there was but the ONE, Jesus, and this he has utterly rejected.
We have seen many speak, time and time again, simply and truthfully.
What is the end of this matter?
Christian, are you listening?
John 15:1-8 KJV (Jesus)
1 I am the true Vine, and my Father is the Husbandman.
2 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.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the Vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me.
5 I am the Vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.
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.
7 If ye abide in Me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples.
“Branch in Me, Abide in Me,” appears some six times in these few verses, you think the Lord is trying to tell us something here? He is telling us that some branches, “don't,” abide (stay) in the Vine.
Anyone who confesses Christ, must “live of the gospel.”
I Corinthians 9:14 KJV
Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
We must “abide in the Vine.”
Christian people, must “not,” play with sin, and see just how much they can get away with!
Remember well the story of Samson...
Judges 16:20 KJV
But he didn’t realize the LORD had left him.
Selah
Salvation Prayer
