Common Sense Answers on the Eternal Security Doctrine:

2009-01-02T14:08:00.000-08:00

Once Saved Always Saved (OSAS), commonly taught
in the majority of Christian churches,.. will be held up to the
light of_ I Thes. 5:21 (KJV) "Prove all things"_ in the following:

       All verses quoted are KJV, but for an instant reference in the
       English Standard Version, place the cursor on chapter/verse.

Eph.1:13 ..States we are sealed at the time of salvation. .And,
I might add, our name would be entered into the Book of Life
at this same time.

Eph.4:30_Further adds we are "sealed unto the Day of Redemp-
tion." .So, on the day of redemption, since we are sealed our
name will be found in the Book of Life. And if we are sealed
unconditionally, .this means that God cannot take our name
out of the Book of Life. This looks like a strong case for OSAS;
But now lets compare this to the whole counsel of God.

I think it would be fair to say, at this point, that to be sealed
unto the day of redemption, is equal to having our name entered
into the Book of Life, since both of these events take place at
the time of our salvation.

So in light of all of the above, God must have been mistaken
when He told Moses in Exodus 32:33 "...Whosoever sins against
Me, him will I blot out of My book." (emphasis mine)

And in Revelation 3:5 KJV, Jesus infers that He can blot our
name out of the Book of Life. And at the end of the last chapter
in this book, Rev.22:19 KJV (paraphrased) "...if any man shall
[change] the words of this book, God shall take his name out
of the Book of Life.

In view of the above, common sense should tell us that to be seal-
ed unto the day of redemption is "conditional" because He can
take us out of the book of life, at which point we would lose our
salvation. God does not contradict Himself.

Before continuing I will state that in the process of keeping this
post as brief as possible, the above and following verses were
singled out of the context for which they were written, and one
might come to the conclusion that if they backslid they could
never return....However.....

......this is a misconception....But, one needs to get out of this
backslidden state by repenting, you do not want to die in this
state because OSAS is false. John Calvin (1509-1564), was
the first to push this theory, now known as "Calvinism." However,
he got the concept from Martin Luther (1483-1546). I believe
all of these verses are directed to people who have passed from
backslidding into apostasy.

I want to be very clear; backsliding is not apostasy, apostasy is
when one makes a hardened, persistent, willful pratice of sin and
a blatant rejection of the Godhead, the *Holy Spirit in particular:

"...blasphemy against the *Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven
unto men.......neither in this world, or in the world to come" (Matt.12:31). See also: Mark 3:29, and Luke 12:10.

Now to continue with more of God's counsel on this subject:

Eze.18:26_"When a righteous [saved] man turneth away from his
righteousness, and committeth iniquity [sins], and dieth in them
[does not repent before he dies], for the sins he has done he shall
die [spiritual death]."

II Peter 2:20_"...if after they have escaped the sins of the world
through the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, they are again
entangled therein [backslidden], and overcome [apostatized], the
latter end is worse with them than the beginning."

I believe the following verses can also be viewed in the same light
(i.e.state of apostasy), even though these don't differentiate:

II Peter 2:21_"For it had been better for them not to have known
the way of righteousness, than to know it...and turn away..."

Heb.6:4,6_"For it is impossible for those who were once enlight-
ened....and made partakers of the Holly Spirit......" "If they shall
fall away, to renew them again unto repentance..."

Heb.10:26_"For if we sin wilfully after that we have received
the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice
for sins."

If one is to cling to the once-saved-always-saved theory
he must make these texts say something other than what
they clearly say or he must simply reject or ignore them.

Please go to the very brief *link listed below where we present
more Scriptural base for our belief in the possibility of apostasy:

* SALVATION IS CONDITIONAL     (The "IF" Passages)

Eternal Security is it Fact...... or Fiction?

Common Sense Answers on the Eternal Security Doctrine: