Once Saved Always Saved...

The denomination who largely believes this were responsible for me coming to know the Lord, therefore, it is with great sorrow that I must speak out against this doctrine.

"Once Saved Always Saved" is not scriptural, that does not mean that the denomination is all wrong! Their love of Christ and the tremendous job this denomination has done in the spreading of the gospel is a powerful crusade resulting in the salvation of many!

Their belief is based on the theory that once you are the "saved" son or daughter of God, you cannot be disowned. No more than your mortal sons or daughters can ever become non-related to you, their earthly father. Don't compare things of God with our flawed human characteristics.

For more on understanding the definition of 'saved' or 'born-again' www.john33.com/mislead.htm

The denomination that teaches this doctrine feel secure in the thought that they cannot fall. The term "saved" is not used in the way these folks use it ... that is... "Saved" in the sense that you are saved from ever falling from grace or falling away from "kingdom-bound" status. This is why people say you should never discuss religion or politics, it is all a matter of interpretation and individual understanding. My intention is to correct the teaching of a false sense of security... that, "once you perform a ritual or prayer you are guaranteed kingdom-bound status." I suppose many people are afraid they cannot live the doctrine of Jesus, according to the methods Jesus and His Father prescribe as the 'way' to the Kingdom, so they convince themselves that as long as they believe the false doctrine, God will not hold them accountable. It just doesn't work that way! If God's laws of physics are not followed, the caterpillar couldn't make the transformation into a butterfly! If you come to know Christ, you will want to live His doctrine and when you do commit a foul, forgiveness is divine and it is there for the asking.

Time Out.... Let's Examine What My Friend Offers...

My friend wrote the following: "I also do not see where the scriptures teach getting saved over and over."

I don't either, I agree. When the "saved" or "begotten" experience happens, you are now a baby Christian in the "spiritual womb" ready to begin maturing. However, you can be aborted! Does that mean we become "unsaved?" NO! Because we were never "saved" in the literal sense in which it is used. It is a misused and misconstrued term to begin with so don't look for any confirmation one way or the other. I wonder why there is so much misdirection where the terms SAVED and BORN AGAIN are used?

O.K. Back To Business

For instruction purposes I will use the term "saved" and "begotten" alternately.

When you are "begotten" you are endowed with the Holy Spirit... changed in heart and mind, through the Holy Spirit. You can actually feel the difference in your attitude towards God and people. You become a more caring, kinder, loving person. You are a new creature! You have a new spiritual nature. The spirit of God is in you.

If you have not experienced this different attitude concerning your nature, remain deep in prayer and continue dedicated study of the gospel - keep asking for that 'begotten' (saved) experience.

However, because you are 'begotten' of God does not mean you are incapable of falling from grace or not reaching full term of the 'begotten' experience which is the Godly walk into the Kingdom.

Consider the moment of becoming 'begotten' with the moment of conception . Even though you have been conceived, you can be aborted at anytime before being born. Think about this for a time, then continue, be sure you understand.

Let's say you were 'begotten' at age 20. From this point on you are developing as a Christian. At any stage during your period of development you may die. If you were practicing and living the doctrine of Christ at the time of death, you will be born again of the spirit allowing you to enter the Kingdom. Of course, it goes without saying that your heart is right! The point Jesus was making is; "flesh cannot enter." Find this in the 3rd chapter of John. Read it for yourself.

If however, you have fallen away from God and were no longer a confessing, repenting Christian, you will come under judgment. Therefore, the theory, "once saved, always saved" failed. It's simple, you didn't make it to the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus tells us that "if you love me you will obey my father's laws." (paraphrased as usual)

Revelation 3:5 All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine. I don't like to point to one verse to make a point. I like to ask a sincere seeker to read an entire account. A very good one is the book of James. James was Jesus' earthly brother. They had the same mother, Mary. Careful reading of the scriptures will prove my point. If you read the scripture above, Rev 3:5, it is pretty clear that your name can be erased from the Book of Life. This one scripture alone should be proof enough to put your mind at rest... to know that to be "once saved," is not a promise to be "always saved." You can fall from grace, your name can be erased. Even though it was there, written in the Lamb's Book of Life, it can be taken out.

One more scripture... New Living Translation: Ephesians, Chapter 2, vs.8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Think about this... We are saved by HIS grace, not as a reward for good things we have done. However, we are saved so we can DO THE GOOD THINGS HE PLANNED FOR US. Study this until you understand what Paul is telling us. We have to perform! Not just be "saved" and sit back.

To be saved and to not "DO" falls short.

I have known many people who bought into this, "once saved always saved" doctrine. They were promised that all you have to do is utter the "sinner's prayer" and from that time on they were saved... they believed they were guaranteed admittance into the Kingdom of God upon death... I urge you to reconsider... You have to "walk the walk." You have to live the doctrine. It MUST be in your heart and spiritual mind to completely give your being to the service of God. If it is in your heart and mind and it is sincere, it is done! Just as Abraham was totally committed to sacrificing Isaac. It was not required but the commitment was genuine!

Lip service and a few spoken words won't get you there. The prayer is the BEGINNING of your gestation period. On the bright side... if you are truly "begotten" you will be miserable if you don't live the doctrine of Christ. This is not my opinion - this is based upon the written word of God! If you die the physical death and you have become that new creature, in Christ, you are Kingdom bound. It is a heart-felt thing! Not a physical act alone... your heart must be in it. It's okay to say the "sinner's prayer" and ask God to receive you and send HIS Holy Spirit to fill you but that is the first act on the road to the Kingdom. What if you were to die, ten seconds, no, one second after asking God to receive you? You made it! I assume you really meant it in your heart? If you did, you're Kingdom bound! If you didn't mean it and you were just doing lip service? Well what do you think? Would you want to be married to a woman who just "said" the wedding vows and didn't mean a word of it? I wouldn't... Nor does God extend access to HIS Kingdom to the insincere person who gives "lip service." You simply did not achieve that "New Creature" status.

Even though you are 'begotten' you will still sin. That's what forgiveness is all about. If you are sincere and you ask God to forgive you for your sins, He will! Now you must do your part and "REPENT." That means stop! Now you are a repenting, confessing Christian, forgiven by God.

Because of Jesus' sacrifice, there are millions of sons and daughters who are "begotten" ... Jesus said there would be those who will do greater things (here on earth) than He did. Now that's quite a large statement! I can't imagine that but it is scriptural.

Now, do as Jesus did and live the Christ-like life, so you can be "born again of the spirit" JOHN 3.3 "You must be born again of the spirit to enter the Kingdom of Heaven." (paraphrased)

Your Friend,

John