“Once Saved, Always Saved” – Fact or Fallacy?
Before we start I have blogged on this a few times during my
few reads through the Bible and have posts starting in February of 2012
outlining my problems with it. This is a direct quote from one of the BLOGS: “First
I have to say “once saved, always saved” has no Biblical backing that I can
find.” Again this is based on reading the word without digesting it though a
filter of “doctrine”, which often can be proven wrong. For your reference check
out my blog below on the subject:
http://journeythroughbible.tumblr.com/search/once+saved
Now I have started to be mentored by someone who believes
this is not only wrong but akin to the first sin by Adam. Adam bought into Satan’s
lie from Genesis 3:4 & 5, much as people today are buying into the false belief that once you say the prayer your salvation is secure:
4 Then the serpent said to the
woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it
your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
So, a preacher saying that once you accept Jesus and your
salvation is sealed opens up the door for sin to be allowed. Heck we all are
sinners, right? Although we all sinned the Bible points to many righteous men
and many redeemed ones who did sin. Moses, Enoch, David, Noah, Paul and many
more. The key is even if they failed they continued to search for God’s heart
repenting of their transgressions. I know we are all going to make misteaks, and I must say it’s would have me panicked if I died in sin and was not saved. I believe the point is not doing an oops, but rather willfully turning your back from God and as the Satanist say, “do as that wilt”. No we must turn to God and make corrections continually, that is the key. Abide in God and He will abide in us.
So let us look into scripture and see what is really said. Look
at 1st Timothy 1:18 – 20:
18 This charge I commit to you, son
Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by
them you may wage the good warfare, 19 having faith and a good conscience,
which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, 20 of
whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn
not to blaspheme.
These two were delivered to Satan and rejected the true Gospel.
So with that one verse God says we may fall away. Continuing in 1st
Timothy 3:7:
Moreover he must have a good
testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare
of the devil.
Here is a warning to bishops not to blow it or they will “fall
into the snare of the devil.” Can’t be any more straight forward as to one who
is preaching the word of God blowing what is being said. As is 2nd
Peter 2:19 which we are shown that one can go either way:
While they promise them liberty,
they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by
him also he is brought into bondage.
Either it’s bondage or freedom. Freedom is what is found in
heaven and if you parse the 10 Commandments in Exodus 20, the Jewish people
look at number one as being brought from Egypt or set free!! Anyway, freedom is
important to God and He wants us to freely come to Him. On the flip side we can
choose to fall away all the same.
Now back to 1st Timothy 4:1 and we see some
falling away:
Now the Spirit expressly says that
in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving
spirits and doctrines of demons,
How can we be eternally saved and “depart from the faith”?
One can be faithful and turn from God. It says so in the Word. So the word says
we can fall away from faith, because to depart one must be in faith.
Now the main supporting verse for the Once Saved doctrine is
Hebrews 13:5 & 6 which says:
Let your conduct be without
covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said,
“I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
On the surface that is 100% correct and in the Bible, but
notice this is past tense which means it is in the “scriptures” which at the
time was the Old Testament. So where God actually said this was in Deuteronomy
31 where this is not said once but twice (verse 6 and 8) to Moses. But in total
context we see this is conditional to the Jewish people, they MUST remain in
righteousness in order for God to remain with them. Starting in verse 14 you
see God said HE WILL FORSAKE THEM when they turn from Him.
So while if you read it without ample study one cannot deny
the Once Saved Always Saved doctrine. BUT as you read in depth and study we see
the context of this verse. It was written to the Jewish people who knew the
context of the quote and knew how God had forsaken them for casting God aside.
Now the question you have to ask is it ok to preach Once
Saved? Is it ok to know scripture and believe this? People often say to me the
NT is the only one we need to be reading but this is proof WHY it’s important
to learn the context. Only focusing on a portion of the Bible is dangerous and
could lead one down a wrong path.
Today we have so many translations that one can easily find
one they can read. BUT again be warned, most of the newer translations are from
the Alexandria text, which although older than the texts that the KJV was
translated from they come from a region of mystics and Gnostics. So while the
Gospel is basically the same, you miss some very important details outside the
KJV/NKJV. So read what you are comfortable with the first few times but always have a KJV or NKJV at your side when doing detailed study.
I guess MY POINT IS READ YOUR BIBLE DAILY!! Once done, READ
IT AGAIN and eventually once you are comfortable read the NKJV. God’s WORD is
more than a bunch of books but rather inspired text from God himself. Heck
Exodus 20 was written by God’s own hand!! So the best way to learn the Bible is
get a study one and even then understand the notes and references are not “inspired”
text only a human guide. One can see this by the many versions I have linked in
the BLOG.
The key is once you know scripture you can train others and protect yourself from false doctrines. I have not decided fact or fallacy yet, but as you can see I am leaning more one direction than the other.
Now do you have to worry about your salvation? Read and figure it out for yourself, that is the key!! Because while this life on earth may seem like an eternity, eternity really is eternity and it would suck to make an error of Biblical proportions. Listen to both sides, and read in FULL context what is said and decide what is truth. Be warned, truth is not relative like we are being taught today.
I look at this question logically. Lets say you decide you love someone and marry them. All is well but you want to fall back to your old ways and date others. Do you honestly think your new spouse will think that is ok? Would you think it was OK for them to do the same? If you answered YES to both and still consider yourself a Christian then read the Bible more!! If you answered NO, then you can understand God. The difference between a husband and wife is God is more a father. So we can cheat on Him and if we truly repent, he will accept up back, where most spouses will not.