Once Saved Always Saved: The (Baptist) denomination who largely believes this doctrine was responsible for me coming to know the Lord, therefore, it is with great sorrow that I must speak out against this "doctrine of convenience."

"Once Saved Always Saved" is not scriptural, that does not mean that the denomination is all wrong. They have done a tremendous job of teaching the world about Jesus.

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. However, if you do choose to compare sinful, flawed man with God, then let me assure you that Father God never disowns those of us who are truly HIS but we abandon HIM.

Let me make one point upon which this entire page is predicated: Only a very small percentage of the people who think they are "saved," or "born again" really are anointed by the Holy Spirit or "born of God." I can't say for sure but I believe that fewer than 1 in a hundred, who profess to be "saved," are truly "born of God." It may be that the truly "Born of God" are secure and incapable of losing their status. However, that percentage is very small. In other words, I can agree with OSAS for "those few." However, those few will live a life that will stand the test. I mean TRULY live the doctrine of Jesus. Because they are truly "born of God" and cannot live outside the teachings of Jesus. These few are led in every situation and will not cheat or have any desire to commit sin of any kind. They are truly "New Creatures," in Christ.

To make my point: I may personally (only) know two or three people, at most, that are of that "few" out of many hundreds of people.These "few" do not need to be promised OSAS. These "few" live the doctrine, They know God and they live like it... they think like it, their hearts show it. In contrast; the preachers, who make the OSAS promise, direct the message to the majority of the people who were never truly "saved" to entice them to join "their club" and pay their tithe. They are convinced they can simply choose to receive Jesus and walk down the aisle, utter a simple "Sinner's Prayer" and SHAZAM! They are saved!! These misled people are the people this page is for. For the vast majority who are looking for a "loophole." The walk and the prayer is a good start but it is usually a starting place. For me it took many walks and many prayers and a long time of praying and knocking. Then it came as a gift and there was no mistake about it! I was changed in an instant. But it took years. Maybe it will be much faster for you. Maybe it will happen the first time you pray, confess and ask. Please be sure you understand this before continuing.

That path is very narrow and only those who are truly filled with the Holy Spirit will live this life. This life may deny material wealth of any kind but a life of sacrifice and giving that few can live. "If you have two coats, give one away." (paraphrased as usual) That person will not worship the "Prosperity Jesus" of this world, we worship the true Jesus.

Preachers who preach the wide path to heaven by way of OSAS have to keep you filled with false hope or their congregation would dwindle. Can you imagine how many rich, lying, fake Christians would leave their church if the truth were told them?

If the bible is truth (and I believe it is) then hell will be split wide open by the preachers, pastors and evangelists who mislead these people. Standing room only and a long line awaiting hell for all those who buy into the false promise.

Back to business...

I don't always like to compare the imperfect human with our perfect, Father in heaven, but we will make the comparison in this case.

As a matter of fact, I feel a little bit silly typing the next few paragraphs but because the believers of this doctrine use human behavior in their argument, I will "play that game" according to their methods... bear with me for a few paragraphs.

Example: I can tell you as a father that I never abandoned my children when they did "wrong." I did correct them and spank them as youngsters. Just as Father God "spanks us" when we commit a foul. As a father, I did not give in to their wrong thoughts or their wrongful conduct...... but they may abandon, or separate, from me because I corrected them. You see; it matters not who broke the connection... the connection is broken. If I disinherit them it is not because I quit them. They may have quit me. Just as the Hebrews did when they chose other Gods... What did Father God do? He gave the Kingdom to the Gentile, or any person who asks HIM for the Kingdom and becomes HIS child... and... IF that person lives according to HIS rules (laws). AND... IF THEIR NAME IS WRITTEN IN THE LAMB'S BOOK OF LIFE.

For comparison, let's continue to compare human conduct with the Spiritual; If a father tells his children that there will be no murder, no adultery or any of the other rules he established,, then that is the rule of his household. If you abandon his wishes then you must leave his household... otherwise you will corrupt the other kids in the household and the entire household will fall into corruption. Can you imagine a house that is full of sex-sin, murder, envy, dishonor existing in HIS eternal Kingdom? It won't happen. Suck it up! Keep the rules or get out. We call it "tough love."

Imagine a bunch of kids who believe they can fool around and bend dad's rules anytime and all they have to do is remind "dad" that they made a promise at one time and they will not be held to good conduct after that promise. PHEW!

I do believe that the good and true kids will want to keep the rules. Don't you? In other words HIS true kids have a Spirit that lives in them that makes them keep the rules. No stealing! No cheating! No deceit! No lies! Now that's a good way to spend eternity... with truly good kids. Not kids that will bend the rules and cheat a little. However, even a good and true kid will make a mistake but not willingly and continuously. If they do they may be asked to "get out." If the father lets them continue in this fashion it will ruin the entire household and there will be no good conduct and there will be a lot of hurt. The repeated bending and breaking of the rules will simply destroy the whole household and soon the entire town. Soon wrongful, rotten lifestyle is the "norm." Soon you would not be able to tell the difference between a good family and a rotten family. The results are the same for both households. Failure, jail time, sex-sin, out of wedlock pregnancy, fighting, unhappiness, etc.

OKAY... enough comparison to humans... back to business.

The conversation between the Serpent in the Garden and Eve comes to mind when I think about this teaching. Genesis 3:² And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; ³ but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’” ⁴ Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.

That first recorded lie in the bible tells Eve that she may sin against God and she will not suffer any consequences. Eve believed it then and some people believe the same lie today. Sin is sin. They coat it with analogy that seems to justify it but it is still wrong and dangerous. Be careful.

Let me publish this, one thought at a time. Take your time and understand this. Please.

Jesus died for us. Jesus paid man's "sin debt." That is true.

The "sin debt" was for the sin we were born under... The fall in the garden... Whatever it was... HE paid that debt in full.

That sin we are born under - - - that debt is paid in full but you do not have a license to continue to sin. If you continue in sin and your heart becomes unrepentant, you are running up the debt. Hebrews 10:26 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.

If you willingly continue in sin and you do not repent or have not repented from a sinful lifestyle, you are in sin.

You may be forgiven of these sins by asking forgiveness as long as it is in your heart to truly repent. However, it is foolish to feel that God is obligated to forgive sin. A reckless sinner is on thin ice and eternity is a long time. I know of some pretty foul sinners who live according to the OSAS doctrine and I would not want my children to run with them for one night... I would not believe that God wants HIS children to endure eternity with them. I am not being cruel when I call them "foul" because I have done business with those who used this "loophole" and it was "foul." I want no business dealings with them! "Been there, done that"

"Repent" means to quit! Stop! If you willingly continue to repeat the same sins, your heart will grow cold and you will eventually lose that "repenting" willingness to live clean and free of sin.

I have seen it happen, you've seen it too... We commit a sin and it becomes easier to commit the same sin again and again until finally we don't even recognize it as sin.

Our hearts grow cold and it does not hurt our conscience to repeat the sin.

The more you repeat the sin the easier it becomes to repeat the sin.

Soon we are just going through the motions of asking forgiveness. It becomes "lip service." Then you are hell bound... unless the bible is a lie.

Those who believe this doctrine believe that Jesus paid for all your future sins. They believe that you cannot fall from grace, regardless of how willfully you allow yourself to sin. In other words, they say, you can live like a devil yet live with God, just as long as you made a promise at some point, when you said you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Some refer to this act as the "Sinners Prayer." They call this "magical" act as being saved. Think about it, they say you can live like the devil but live with God. NOT SO! Each and every day you must choose whom you will serve.

If you are truly "begotten" you will choose to serve Jesus and HIS Father, God. You're now in the Spiritual womb and on your way to the Kingdom. Hang in there! You might fall short at times but that's just a temporary thing because you will ask forgiveness, repent and continue in your walk, growing, becoming more like Christ.

The only way I can believe: As long as we are in this flesh, we may be in the process of being saved, however, we are not truly saved until we are in the arms of Jesus in our "born again," resurrected bodies. There is no scripture that promises you what their doctrine promises you. They must twist and spin the scriptures to make the scriptures say what they promise you. Do not trust your eternity to the twisting of God's word.

Let me say more; The term "saved" is not used in scripture, 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. 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! God's laws of physics must be followed. If God's laws of physics are not followed, the caterpillar couldn't make the transformation into a butterfly!

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

When you come to know Christ, you will want to live His doctrine... when you do commit a foul, forgiveness is divine and it is there for the asking... if you sincerely ask forgiveness and repent of the transgression.

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, 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? Do you think Satan may have something to do with the deception or confusion? I do.

Time out for a brief thought: This topic is considered a "doctrine," a man-made doctrine.

Let me continue...

For instruction purposes I will use the term "saved," "born again" 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. At least that is the way I interpret the scripture and am led to understand, according to the scriptures and my understanding. Of course, it goes without saying that your heart must be true! HE looks on the heart and if you were truly trying, I believe we are OK. We are human and we may fail, but we take it seriously. I have seen the opposite. In many cases I have seen people shrug it off and take the easy path because they rationalize that they were saved and "grace" will cover for their sin. Regretfully, I have seen this many times. Bending "Daddy's" rules. Folks - - that won't get the job done! You have to try hard!

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.

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.

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.

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.

In other words, a walk down the aisle and repeating the Sinners Prayer is an act or ritual that you perform. The scripture above tells you we are saved by HIS grace and not something you can take credit for, (such as the walk down the aisle and the prayer). If the "walk down the aisle" and the prayer would save you, then you could take credit for it... and you can read the scripture above that it is not an act you can take credit for.

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 people who were liars, thieves and purely rotten yet they were convinced that since they had been "saved" they were going to make the Kingdom. I knew of one such person who would pray over the list of prospects that were potential buyers of his company's products. Even though he and his sales department lied and were horrible examples of Christians. It stunk! PHEW ~ ~ ~ Remember what Jesus warned... "You will know them by the fruit they bear." "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit......." I think that says it all.. if you are truly HIS, you will bear good fruit. If you bear bad fruit, you are a "bad tree" and Jesus tells us that person is bad. Therefore, a simple ritual of saying the Sinner's Prayer and continuing in a sinful lifestyle does not make you a Christian. You gotta walk the walk! If you fail.. and you will.. you will confess and repent.. not keep on in your same old sins. Repentance means STOP! However if you stop sinning for fear of punishment and not because you love Christ and want to serve HIM, you may need to stay deep in prayer until you are truly changed.

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? I believe you made it! HE said if you call upon HIS name... I assume you really meant it in your heart? If you did, I believe you are 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.

I try to help clear up obvious flaws in false doctrine and I am not the judge. All of these things I write are assuming you are a sincere, seeker of salvation and not just trying to cover all bases

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." By the way - To be "born again" is upon your resurrection. Few people understand this. www.john33.com/bornagain.htm

Your Friend,

John

P.S. before you close the page, be sure to consider Hebrews, 10:26... You may see how serious this false doctrine is.
²⁶ For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ²⁷ but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. ²⁸ Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. ²⁹ Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?

See what Jesus' half-brother said about the deceptionwww.john33.com/jude

ALSO: Check out this link... Here's a great link that will take you to a series of pages dealing with this topic.
www.associatedcontent.com/article/60472/once_saved_always_saved_what_does_the.html?cat=34

Another great link: http://www.bebaptized.org/Oncesaved.htm