The phrase "once saved, always saved" is not found in the Bible. Our salvation is past, present, and future. That implies a continuous relationship and an unfolding process rather than a fixed state. The person who has given himself or herself to Jesus Christ and has truly repented from sin can find repeated assurances of the eternal covenant given to His people by a God who cannot lie. The Bible tells us that the gifts and calling of God are without repentance (see Romans 11:29). The work of Jesus Christ is eternal. It will never be revoked. Apart from the Bible, the greatest assurance any Christian has of eternal security is the day-by-day witness of the Holy Spirit in his life that he is a child of God and the fact that day-by-day he is becoming more like Jesus.
The Bible teaches security in the Holy Spirit and in the things of God. Jesus said, "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand" (John 10:29). So we are secure in the hand of God, constantly making intercession on our behalf; (see Hebrews 7:25) and God has sent angels to watch over us (see Hebrews 1:14). In other words, we are surrounded by tremendous helps. We should constantly remind ourselves that we are secure, that God loves us, and that we belong to Him.
The reason we are saved is not because we are holy or do good works, but because of the blood of Jesus. Salvation comes through faith, and it stays because of faith. So we should have a feeling of security. But, at the same time, there should be a healthy fear of falling. We should not presume on God and say, "I am saved, so I can do anything I want to." Paul condemned people who were teaching that a person could sin boldly so that God's grace could abound (see Romans 6:1-2).
We should walk with reverence, because God is a consuming fire, a very awesome Being (see Hebrews 12:29). I would not counsel anybody to presume on God because of a doctrine of eternal security. Anybody who says, "I believe that once saved, I am always saved, so I am going to go out and commit adultery and steal and lie and cheat and rob," is being very foolish. If somebody really loves God, those things would not be present in his life.
I have walked with God for nearly 19 years, and for the last nine years or so, I have never even thought about the possibility of losing my salvation. It just is not a reality for me at all. The reason is that I live for the Lord. The thought of doing otherwise just does not occur to me. Do I commit acts of sin? Yes. Do I fail God? Yes. Are there things I should do that I do not do? Yes. I need the cleansing forgiveness of the Lord constantly. My concern is that I realize God's purpose for my life and that I do not fall short of what He intends for me. But as far as losing my salvation, it just does not come up for me, nor should it for any sincere Christian.
Christians who backslide often find themselves suffering from an overwhelming sense of guilt. This "feeling" results from turning away from God and His ways, ignoring the guidance of His Holy Spirit, and refusing to submit to the will of God in your life. The Bible says in Jeremiah 2:19, "Your wickedness will punish you; your backsliding will rebuke you."
The Good News is Jesus Christ! He is the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End (Revelation 22:13)! The redeeming blood He shed upon the cross covers the sin of the born-again believer (Hebrews 7:24-27). The Bible states that if we sin "we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense, Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins," now and forever (1 John 2:1-2).
Your part is to simply go to Him, confess your sins, ask Him for His forgiveness, and then by faith receive it (1 John 1:8-9). Go to anyone you have wronged or resented and ask their forgiveness too (Mark 11:25). Make amends in whatever way you can for any damage your backsliding has caused. You must also forgive anyone who has ever wronged you. Finally, you must forgive yourself.
If you are not baptized with the Holy Spirit, ask and receive (Luke 11:13)! The Holy Spirit gives a Christian the ability to overcome sin and the power to be a Christ-like person. He will guide you, comfort you, teach you spiritual truth, and equip you with the gifts and qualities of God (Acts 1:8, John 14:16, 1 Corinthians 12, Galatians 5:22). Thank God for His Son, for His Spirit, and for taking you back into His loving grace.
Above section by Pat Robertson
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God's Word in reference to "Once Saved Always Saved"
GRACE AND PEACE BE MULTIPLIED TO YOU in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. Peter 1:2
He that endures to the end shall be saved. Matthew 10:22
Here on this page I will give you the Scriptural proof looking at both beliefs of this controversial issue. True, God will never leave us or forsake us IF WE CONTINUE to believe and follow Christ, but one can definitely leave Him if one chooses. He gave us a free will. Even though we have the Holy Spirit who convicts us of sin, one can still rebel against God and and lose the Holy Spirit and stay lost. SO BEWARE, BECAUSE ONE CAN FORFEIT THEIR SALVATION. Don't believe it when people say that you are eternally secure. They preach a license to sin, and that is not what the gospel is about. God's word will give you the truth, and if you abide in the truth, He will set you free from the bondage of sin (John 8:31-36). Even though Jesus' death is sacrifice for our sins, we cannot continue to willfully sin. If we do sin again, God's word says that one is DEAD and LOST (Luke 15:24). If "Once Saved, Always Saved" was true then we could all go out and get drunk all the time, and beat each other up, and not care about what we did. Let me share with you THE TRUTH OF GOD'S WORD.
Remember that if we do sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous. I John 2:1
And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. I John 2:3
I will start with a few examples from the Old Testament to prove this FACT. First, we will see what the Lord said to Moses. Then we will see what David was warning his son, Solomon. Then we will see what David wrote in the Psalms. Next we will go to the gospels to see what our Lord Jesus Christ had to say about this Then we will continue in the New Testament in the order that the verses appear. After that, I have added correct interpretations of Scriptures that people misunderstand. Some people use these Scriptures to try to say that we now have eternal security no matter what we do. I will clearly show you that is not what God means. Surely, God does not contradict Himself.
OLD TESTAMENT PROOF
Exodus 32:33 - And the Lord said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book. ~Note: Someone has to first be in the book before Christ can blot them out of the book. So someone can't say that they were never real born again Christians to begin with; and just because this is in the Old Testament, it doesn't mean that it doesn't still stand. These next verses in the book of Revelation are very similar.
~ Rev. 3:5-6 - "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." ~ Note: What this is saying is that you must overcome darkness, which happens when you follow Christ (John 8:12). They first received the word (Rev. 3:3) and has life, but they didn't hold fast. Like them, because we are the church, we can defile ourselves which would make us no longer have eternal life, but we would be spiritually dead (Rev. 3:1,4). ~ Rev. 22:19 - and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the the things which are written in this book. ~ Note: Clearly this means that God can take your eternal life away, which you now think you have, and TAKE AWAY your part in heaven (the holy city), and from the promises that are in Revelation. All of this means "Once Saved, Always Saved" is WRONG.
You may have heard of Hebrews 13:5, where it has - For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you or forsake you." ~ The writer of Hebrews got that from Deuteronomy 31:6,8 where "He will not leave you nor forsake you" was for Moses and Joshua. It didn't apply to the people they were leading. It doesn't mean that no matter what we do (like being a fornicator, adulterer, or coveter, which are in Hebrews 13:4,5), that God will never leave us. In fact, after this word was given to Moses and Joshua in Deut. 31:6,8, the Lord said this . . .
Deuteronomy 31:6,7 - And the Lord said to Moses, "Behold, you will rest with your fathers; and this people will rise and play the harlot with the gods of the foreigners of the land, where they go to be among them, and they will forsake Me and break My covenant which I have made with them. Then My ANGER shall be aroused against them in that day, AND I WILL FORSAKE THEM, and I will hide My face from them, and they shall be devoured . . ." ~ Note: Here we see God said that He would forsake them because of their sin. So people should not be preaching that God will never leave you nor forsake you no matter what you do, because we just saw the truth of God saying otherwise.
1 Chronicles 28:9 - As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands allthe intent of the thoughts. IF YOU SEEK HIM, He will be found by you, BUT IF YOU FORSAKE HIM, HE WILL CAST YOU OFF FOREVER. ~ Note: David was warning his son not to forsake God or else God would cast him off. God gives us a free will. NO ONE is eternally secure, not even Solomon was. ~ David knew this because of the former king, Saul, who forsook God, and God turned away from him. Some say this does not apply to us because it's not the OT, but the NT also teaches the same thing regarding apostacy. You will see it in a little while here.
Psalm 51:10,11 - Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. DO NOT CAST ME AWAY from Your presence, AND DO NOT TAKE YOUR HOLY SPIRIT FROM ME.
~ Note: David knew eternal security was not true, that's why he prayed this. This Psalm is a prayer of repentance, because David had gone in to Bathsheba and he knew he wasn't right with God. It's about salvation because the next verse inclines that he had no joy of God's salvation. Thw words "renew" and "restore" indicate a loss of. If we don't repent and respond to God correctly, this Psalm implies that God will take the Holy Spirit from us. I don't think God put this in His word just to scare us if it doesn't really happen.
WHAT DID OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST SAY ABOUT THIS in the GOSPELS?
Matthew 24:13 - "But he who endures to the end shall be saved." ~ Note: Part of the meaning of the word "saved", from the Greek word "sozo," is "to deliver from the penalties of the Messianic judgement." The word that Jesus Christ spoke will judge in the last day (John 12:48). That hasn't happened yet, so technically we are not saved from that yet, so technically we are not saved from that yet. This being saved is clearly conditional. We must ENDURE to the end, and then we will be saved.
Matthew 24:28-51 - "But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' (note: you see, Christ was his Master, but he turned evil) and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites (note: the word hypocrites is associated with the enemies of the gospel in the previous chapter, when Christ explains that they will not be saved. So these former servants of Christ will go where the enemies of Christ go). There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
That should settle it right there. Anybody with the knowledge and fear of God should be able to see from that alone ONE CAN FORFEIT THEIR SALVATION. The possibility of falling back into sin is here... I won't stop there though. Let's look at the same story in the gospel according to Luke. After that I have much more SCRIPTURAL PROOF.
Luke 12:45,46 - "But if that servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is ot looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint his portion with the UNBELIEVERS." ~ Note: That's plain and simple. One can be a servant of Christ, start the practice of sin, and not be ready for eternal life when Christ comes back again. This person will go where the unbelievers go. I don't think you need me to tell you where that is. SO WATCH OUT.
THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER
Luke 8:5-8 - Jesus said, "A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and birds of the air devoured it. ome fell on rock, and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold." When HE had said these things He cried, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"
JESUS EXPLAINED THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER
Luke 8:11-15 - "Jesus said, "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved (note: these people don't become believers to begin with after they hear the word of God, but the others next do believe and get born again because they had overcome, but they lose their life in Chirst and fall away because of sin). But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while (note: They wre born-again believers, but they had no root because they were not strong "in Christ." They should have learned theword of God better. But even if they would have had some root, God still could have cut them off because of unbelief, just like you'll see in Romans 11:17-22) and in time of temptation fall away (note: They had been set free from sin, but they didn't resist the temptation of sin when the devil brought it. The Greek word for "fall away" is "aphistemi." It means they "depart, desert, withdraw, fall away," whichever definition you choose to use, from having life in Christ. They no longer have belief which means they "become faithless" because they fell for the temptation of sin.) Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and they are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity (note: Sin destroyed these lives as well. The sin of greed. I will also show you later that you need to bear good fruit.). But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it (note: The Greek word for "keep" is "katecho." It means "hold fast, keep, stay" in regards to "from going away." Clearly this is our personal responsibility to believe the word of God and remain faithful to Him) and bear fruit with patience." ~ Note: The Greek word for "patience" is "hupomone." It more correctly means "enduring, perseverance, the characteristic of a man is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings." To be saved at the end, you must persevere while bearing good fruit. Jesus made it clear that a true believer produces good fruit, and that the human will is involved IN REMAINING A BELIEVER, since He says we must "keep it" and "persevere." Chirst proves here that no one is eternally secure no matter what they do.
TASTLELESS SALT IS WORTHLESS
Luke 14:34,35 - Jesus said, "Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill ("kopria" in the Greek, it means "manure pile"), but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" ~ Note: In the ancient world, salt was often used as a catalyst for burning fuel such as cattle dung. The salt of the time was impure and could lose its strength over time, becoming useless. Jesus' point is that the same is true of a "saltless" disciple. He will be thrown out.
THE PARABLE of THE LOST SON
Luke 15:13 - Jesus said, "And not many days after, the younger son gathered together, journeyed to a far country an there wasted his possessions with prodigal living." ~ Note: The Greek verb for "wasted" is "diaskorpizo." It means "to scatter abroad, disperse." It means "riotous, dissolutely, profligately." These words mean "immoral, corrupt, extremely wasteful, recklessly extravagent." So the son took his inheritance and squandered it all away living a recklessly extravagant lifestyle. But when he came to his senses (came to himself in 15:17. It doesn't mean that the Holy Spirit convicted him. He had to personally choose what to do), repented, and turned back to his father, he said this...
Luke 15:21 - "And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son." ~ Note: This guy knew he fell into the bondage of sin and was no longer considered worthy to be a child of God, but his father said...
Luke 15:24 - "for this my son WAS DEAD and is ALIVE AGAIN; HE WAS LOST and is found.' And they began to be merry." ~ Note: The Greek word for "dead" is "nekros." Here it means "spiritually dead, destitute of a life that recognizes and is devoted to God because given up to trespasses and sins." The Greek word for "alive again" is "anazao." Here it means "to be restored to a correct life, of one who returns to a better moral state." The words "restored" and "returns" are actions of things that once had it, then didn't have it, then had it again. The words "dead" and "alive again" clearly mean that the son forfeited his salvation but later got it back. And surely you probably know that the words "lost" and "found" are about someone who is or is not going to heaven. Clearly, this parable explains that one can be a child of God, then leave God and start the practice of sin, and become dead and lose their fellowship with God, because God just said that "he was lost." Unless, of course, one comes to their senses, repents, and turns back to God like I did after I backslid and in a way it is portrayed in the parable. Then they will be "alive again." But just because this parable has a happy ending, it doesn't mean that it always turns out this way. The Scriptures here on this page will prove this; but first, another happy ending...
Luke 22:31,22 - And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! (Peter) Indeed, Satam has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat (note: The Greek word for "sift" is "siniazo." Figuratively, it means "by inward agitation to try one's faith to the verge of overthrow." You see, Satan can try to get you to overthrow your faith). But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail (note: I see the Lord implying that it is impossible that our faith could fail. If that were to happen, then our relationship with God would cease); and when you have returned to Me (note: The Greek word for "returned" is "epistrepho." It means "turn again, turn back, come back" in regards "to the love and obedience of God." That's pretty simple to understand), strengthen your brethren." ~ Note: Peter was dangerously close to having his faith failing when he denied that he knew Jesus 3 times. This was when Satan was sifting him. It's a good thing Jesus prayed for him so that he didn't totally abandon Jesus. If Peter was in danger of his faith failing, we also need to be aware of this possibility, so watch out.
THE VINE & THE BRANCHES
John 15:1,2 - Jesus said, "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit HE TAKES AWAY..." ~ Note: This is someone in Christ who gets taken away because they did not bear fruit. The Greek word for "fruit" is "karpos." It means "that which originates or comes from something, an effect, result; or, work, act, deed; or, praises which are presented to G od as a thank offering." Obviously something a servant of God personally needs to have or else God will take that person away. The Greek word "takes away" is "airo." I believe the meaning here is "to take off or away what is attached to anything; to remove." So this Scripture is about God removing someone from being in Christ. So clearly, this is about someone forfeiting their salvation.
John 15:6 - Jesus said, "If anyone does not abide in Me, HE IS CAST OUT as a branch and is withered (note: in order to be cast out, one must first be "IN Christ"); and they gather them and throw them INTO THE FIRE, and they are burned." ~ Note: The Greek word for "abide" is "meno." It also means "remain, continue, endure, not to depart, to continue to be present, to remain as one, not to become another or different." Surely, this is a warning to stay in Christ, which means it's possible to not do so. To be thrown into the fire and burned is clearly about God casting someone to hell where they will be consumed with fire. This will happen to a former branch in Christ. So this is a clear teaching of Jesus that it is necessary for us believers to continue to walk in the sanctification given us at the new birth. We must keep believing and OBEYING HIS WORD (John 15:9,10), or we chose to stop our relationship with Him. That would be some of us not bearing fruit, which stems from not obeying Him, that causes some to be cast out. Fruit is our outward conduct which shows our inward character, which then shows that we serve Christ. One way it can be done is by speaking the truth. For instance, one of the criminals who was crucified with Jesus Christ spoke the truth when he said to the other criminal that Jesus had done no wrong (Luke 23:41). That was his fruit that he bore in addition to calling Jesus, "Lord." One must speak the truth or have the chance of forfeiting their salvation. You will also see this in 1 Timothy 6:20,21.
WHAT DID PAUL, JAMES, PETER, and JOHN SAY ABOUT THIS?
You all should know this already: ALL SCRIPTURE is given by inspiration of God ("theopheustos" in the Greek. It means "God breathed"), and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, THOROUGHLY EQUIPPED FOR EVERY GOOD WORK (2 Tim. 3:16,17). ~ Note: That means God breathed His truth into the hearts and minds of the writers of Scripture, so it's actually God's word no mater who wrote it. The profitable use of it here is to have correct doctrine that equips me with evidence to correct others who believe in "Once Saved, Always Saved."
Romans 11:17-22 - And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, "Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in." Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. DO NOT BE HAUGHTTY, BUT FEAR. For if God did not spare the natural branches, HE MAY NOT SPARE YOU EITHER. Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fail, severity; but toward you, goodness, IF YOU CONTINUE IN HIS GOODNESS. OTHERWISE YOU WILL BE CUT OFF. ~ Note: That, my friend, is conditional grace to us believing Gentiles. God just might cut you off. So I suggest that you CONTINUE in His grace (goodness) that led you to repentance (Romans 2:4), and set you free from the bondage of sin (Romans 6:16-22); or else God just might cut you off from being "in Christ." This passage shows the Christian's responsibility to remain in the Lord's grace bny standing in faith. "You stand by faith" certainly implies willful cooperation with God's grace.
1 Corinthians 9:27 - But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. ~ Note: Paul knew he had to discipline himself or else he would have been disqualified. He's talking about being disqualified to recieve the prize of the imperishable crown (recieved in eternal life) as the 2 previous verses in the Bible explain. Instead of "disqualified," in the KJV it has "castaway." It's usually translated "reprobate." It also means "rejected, not standing the test, not approved, that which does not prove itself such as it ought." Other times the word (the Greek word "adokimos") is used in the NT, it's talking about the lost (2 Corinthians 13:5,6,7 ; 2 Timothy 3:8 ; Titus 1:16). So since Paul was aware of the danger of not being approved and becoming lost, we also need to be careful.
1 Corinthians 10:1-12 - ... I do not want you to be unaware that all of our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, ... and all drink the same spiritual drink. For they drink of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with the most them God was not well pleased, for their bodies was scattered in the wilderness. Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play." Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. THEREFORE LET HIM WHO THINKS HE STANDS TAKE HEED LEST HE FALL.
1 Corinthians 15:1,2 - Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, IF YOU HOLD FAST THAT WORD WHICH I PREACHED TO YOU -- unless you believed in vain. ~ Note: The Greek word for "if" is "el." It's a primary particle of CONDITIONALITY meaning "if, whether." So clearly it makes being saved CONDITIONAL. The Greek word for "in vain" is "eike," and it has the idea of failure. It also means "without a cause, inconsiderably, without success or effort." So obviously our believing in the word of God can fail. We must keep believing the word of God and hold on to that word by letting it be real in our lives.
Galatians 5:4,7 - You have become enstranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law (O.T. law, i.e. circumcision); you have fallen from grace... You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? ~ Note: The Greek word for "enstranged" is "apo." It also means "of any kind of separation of one thing from another by which the union or fellowship of the two is destroyed." The Greek word for "fallen from" is "ekpipto." It also means "to fall from a thing, to lose it, to perish," and "to fall powerless, be without effect" regarding "of the divine promise of salvation." Obviously those who "have fallen from grace" were running well (the race of faith = 2 Timothy 4:7) and obeying the truth at some earlier time, but then they fell from grace.
Philippians 2:12,13 - Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for his good pleasure. ~ Note: The Greek verb for "work out " is "katergazomai." It also means "to perform, accomplish, achieve, to fashion i.e. render one fit for a thing." Either way you look at it, this is somethine we are told to do. While Christ purchased our salvation and offers it to us as a free gift, yet there is a part we must do if the salvation is to be completed in our case. The way "trembling" ("tromos") is used with "fear" ("phobos") here, it means"used to describe the anxiety of one who distrusts his ability completely to meet all requirements, but religiously does his utmost to fulfill his duty." This Scripture is a warning that salvation is never ultimately guaranteed, but must be wored out. If we are guaranteed entry into heaven, then it makes no sense for the need to work out our salvation. The loss of rewards doesn't produce "fear and trembling," for ho bad can heaven be? But this Scripture is not about rewards, because it says "salvation." So hold onto to your salvation through faith and work it out with fear and trembling before our awesome God who is the One energizing us to respond to His grace.
Colossians 1:22,23 - ...to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight -- IF INDEED YOU CONTINUE IN THE FAITH, grounded and steadfast, AND ARE NOT MOVED AWAY from the hope of the gospel... ~ Note: Again, this is conditional, with the phrase here "IF indeed you continue." The Greek word for "continue" is "epinemo." It also means "to stay at or with, to tarry still, still to abide, remain, to persevere." This Scripture implies that one can stop having faith and move away from the truth of God's word. DON'T STOP! Stay strong in the faith. It is our responsibility to abide in Christ.
2 Thessalonians 2:3 - Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day (return of Christ) will not come unless the falling away comes first... ~ Note: The falling away is not the rapture as some people think. The Greek word for "falling away" is "apostasia." It also means "to forsake, defection, apostacy." This is about apostate Christians who rebel, defect, and fall away from God. When troubles comes, when real persecution comes, many believers will grow cold and abondon the faith. Only those who continue until the end will be saved.
1 Timothy 1:5-7 - ... sincere faith, from which some, HAVING STRAYED, HAVE TURNED ASIDE TO IDLE TALK, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm. ~ Note: That clearly says some have strayed from sincere faith. Their faith has become false and they got that way because of their idle talk. EVEN SOME PREACHERS have strayed because they desire to be teachers of the law. So WE NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL if even just what we teach can lead us away from sincere faith. If you're not sure that your doctrine is absolutely, scripturally correct, then it's best to stop trying to teach and read the word of God more so you can learn to teach what is right, because this Scripture explains that someone can stray because of what they teach. The word for "strayed" here, I use the NKJV, is "swerved" in the KJV. The Greek word "astocheo." It also means "err, to deviate from, miss (the mark)." So these people deviated from sincere faith. The Greek word for "turned aside" is "ektrepo." It also means "avoid, turn out of the way, to turn away from, to shun a thing, to avoid meeting or associating with one." This is about people who turn away from abiding in Christ with sincere faith, because of their idle talk. The phrase "idle talk" is "vain jangling" in the KJV. It's from the Greek word "mataiogia." It also means "empty talk." So be careful of the nonsense that you might say, because it can get you to stray from sincere fauth. Come on, brethren, remember, the nonsense that you might say, because it can get you to stray from sincere faith. (Matthew 7:14) So watch what you teach.
1 Timothy 3:6 - not a novice, lest being puffed with pride he FALL INTO THE SAME CONDEMNATION AS THE DEVIL. ~ Note: The Greek word for "novice" is "neophutos." It also means "newly planted, a new convert, neophyte (one who has recently become a Christian)." So what this is saying is that a new convert can become puffed up with pride if they are put into the position of an elder at a church; then that pride makes them fall. The Greek word for "fall" is "empipto." It means "to fall into, to fall among robbers, fall into one's power." So this is action of a real Christian who has been out of the devil's power, but then falls back into it because of puffed up pride. What it is that there is possibility of falling into the condemnation (judgement, damnation) as the devil.
1 Timothy 3:7 - Moreover he (the bishop, overseer, elder) must have a good testimony among those who are outside (the people who are lost), LEST HE FALL INTO REPOROACH INTO THE SNARE OF THE DEVIL. ~ Note: The Greek word for "must" is "dei." It also means "it is necessary, there is need of, a necessity in reference to what is required to obtain some end." So the overseer, elder better have a good testimony of how the Lord Jesus Christ set him free from sin, or else the lost sinners could have him fall into the devil's trap. ~ Hey, I've seen both of these last 2 verses happen in a church that I used to belong to, so I know that this happens. Now I don't know if they will repent and turn back to God in sincere faith or not, but I did see them fall away. So the overseer, elder better be strong in the Lord and confess His awesome delivering power to everybody, and not be puffed up with pride, or else he could fall.
1 Timothy 4:1 - Now THE SPIRIT EXPRESSLY SAYS that in latter times SOME WILL DEPART FROM THE FAITH, given heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. ~ Note: Paul sounds like he's really trying to get the point across by stating: "the Spirit expressly say." With this kind of language, we better pay attention. It clearly says that some will depart from the faith. The Greek word for "depart" is "aphistemi." It also means "to desert, to fall away, become faithless, to withdraw oneself from." Either way that you look at it they stop having the faith. SO BE CAREFUL of deceiving spirits and KEEP THE FAITH.
1 Timothy 5:12 - HAVING CONDEMNATION because they have CAST OFF THEIR FIRST FAITH,
~ Note: The Greek word for "cast off" is "atheteo." It alsoe means despise, reject, bring to nothing, to do away with, to set aside, diregard, nullify, make void." These people probably think it is no big deal but they are spiritually dead wrong. Clearly, their faith is no good anymore, and they will be condemned at the last day. ~ I suggest that you study the word of God hard to make sure that your life lines up with his word. I still do it often, and I will continue to do so. I love reading the Bible and love being taught the ways of God.
1 Timothy 5:15 - For some have already TURNED ASIDE AFTER SATAN. ~ Note: Wow, Paul didn't water-it-down there. It doesn't take much scriptural knowledge to understand that.
1 Timothy 6:10 - FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY is a rootof all kinds of evil ("the root of all evil" in the KJV. The Greek word for "root is "rhiza." It means "that which like a root springs from a root, a sprout, shoot, offspring." So evil doesn't come from the love of money, it's the other way around, for which SOME HAVE STRAYED FROM THE FAITH in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. ~ Note: Be careful, one can stray from the faith. The word "strayed" in the KJV is "erred." The Greek word is "apopianeo." It also means "seduce.\, to lead away from the truth to error." Surely, the love of money can seduce a person and make them lose faith that they once had. The Greek word for "from" is "apo." It also means "out of, off, of separation, of departing, of fleeing, of any kind of seperation of one thing from another by which the union of fellowship of the two is destroyed." Clearly, this is strong proof that someone can forfeit their salvation. ~ Money in and of itself is not a problem, but the love of money that makes one greedy is.
1 Timothy 6:20,21 - O Timothy! Guard what was commited to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradicitions of what is falsely called knowledge-- by professing it SOME HAVE STRAYED concerning the faith. ~ Note: Again, we see that which a person says can make them stray from the faith. The word Guard" is "keep" in the KJV. The Greek word is "phulasso." It also means "observe, beware, to guard person (or thing) that he may remain safe, to keep from being snatched away (I will explain John 10:29 later), preserve safe and unimpaired, to guard from being lost or perishing." Clearly, this is something we have to do. The Lord doesn't do it for us. When we are told to do something, it implies the possibility of us not doing it. The Greek word for "knowledge" is "gnosis." It also means "science, knowledge signifies in general intelligence, understanding, the general knowledge of Christian religion, the deeper more perfect and enlarged knowledge of this religion esp. of things lawful and unlawful for Christians, moral wisdom such as seen in right living." So the "OSAS" false doctrine, which opposes the knowledge of God's word, definitely fits into being against this category and some "have strayed concerning the faith" because of that alone. You already saw what "strayed" means.
2 Timothy 2:17,18 - And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaues and Philetus are of this sort, WHO HAVE STRAYED concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; AND THEY OVERTHROW THE FAITH OF SOME. ~ Note: That's why this is a BIG DEAL to teach correct doctrine because the false doctrine spreads and makes others to not know the truth and have their faith be overthrown. The Greek word for "overthrow" is "anstrepo." It also means "overturn, destroy, subvert." Clearly this Scripture is that what people say and teach can destroy the faith of others. This is NOT any other thing that can seperate us from the love of God. It is still the personal fault of the one who allows their faith to be overthrown. Then when that happens, Scripture implies here that they are in sin, so it's still that person's personal sin that causes the forfeit of salvation. I write this because of what the very next verse says.
2 Timothy 2:19 - Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and "Let everyone who names the name of Christ (the Lord) depart from iniquity. ~ You see, sin is the issue. A Christian who perseveres STAYS set free from sin (STAYS departed from iniquity). This Scripture here is the basis of Christianity. But the OSAS doctrine says that you are always saved no mater what. But no place in Scripture does it imply that. You will see me give correct interpretations of OSAS Scriptures in a little while.
2 Timothy 3:14,15 - But YOU MUST CONTINUE in the things which you have learned and been assured of... the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. ~ Note: The Greek word for "continue" is "meno." It also means "abide, remain, endure, not to depart." So this is saying not to depart from what we were taught from God's word that makes us know how to be saved. Salvation ain't as easy as knowing your ABC's, like I've seen some people preach. A= admit you're a sinner, B=believe in Jesus, C=confess... Well it ain't tat easy. In Matthew 7:14, Jesus said, "... DIFFICULT is the way." The Greek for "diffcult" is "thlibo". "It also means "narrow, press hard upon, a compessed way, contracted." That is not easy. (See Salvation.)
2 Timothy 4:3,4 - For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. ~ Note: This is what has happened to some of the people who believe in "once Saved, Always Saved." The Greek word for "endure" is "anechomai." It also means "suffer, bear with, to holdup, to sustain." Yeah, my doctrine may be tight, but it is right. The Greek word for "sound" in "sound doctrine" is "hugiaino." It also means "of Christians whose are free from any mixtureof error." So bear with the correct doctrine of Scripture and not man-made doctrine that's full of errors. The Greek word for "itching" in "itching ears" is "knetho." It means "desirous of hearing something pleasant." Hearing that you are "OSAS" is pleasant, but it is NOT the truth.
Hebrews 2:1-3 - Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, LEST WE DRIFT AWAY. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, HOW SHALL WE ESCAPE if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord...? ~ Note: The Greek word for "the more earnest" is "perissoteros." It also means "more abundantly, more exceedingly, more in a greater degree." So you better be real sure that you believe and obey God's word. The Greek word for "heed" is "prosecho." It also means "beware, to turn the mind to, give attention to, to apply oneself to, to devote thought and effort to." This is pretty serious. The word of God better be real in your life by you being a doer of the word and not a hearer only. The word for "drift away" in the KJV is "slip." The Greek word is "pararrhueo." It also means "lest the salvation which these things heard shows us how to obtain - slip away from us." Surely proves "OSAS" IS WRONG. The KJV adds "recompence of" in front of "reward." The Greek word is "misthapodosia." It also means "payment of wages due." The wages of sin is death. Here I see the word means more like punishment instead of reward. If the people who heard the message delivered through angels (Deuteronomy 33:2; Acts 7:53; Galatians 3:19) were justly punished when they disobeyed the law, how can believers expect to escape punishment when thye neglect the even greater message delivered through the Son of God? That's what the question is Scripture means. I don't see this question given not knowing the answer. I see it given to make us think about it. Sin is the man issue of the message. Jesus Christ literally sets a person free from the bondage of sin. If we don't stay that way, then we don't stay saved.
Hebrews 3:12,13 - BEWARE, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in DEPARTING FROM the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. ~ Note: This flats out says that us brethren have to beware of departing from God. The Greek word for "exhort" is "parakaleo." It also means "beseech, comfort, to call to one's side, to admonish, to encourage, strengthen, to instruct, teach." That's what I'm trying to do with my web pages, to get you to not depart from God. If I don't, the word of God here implies that you might become unreasonably determined to have your own way with sin. The Greek word for "hardened" is "ekleruno." It also means "to become obstinate or stubborn." The word "obstinate" means "unreasonably determined to have one's own way, not yielding to reason or plea, stubborn." So don't do that, but listen to me urge you to believe and obey God's word.
Hebrews 3:14 - For we have been partakers of Christ IF WE HOLD the beginning of our confidence STEADFAST TO THE END. ~ Note: That also is conditional security of being "in Christ." If we hold steadfast to the end implies that one can possibly not do it, and fall. You may be confident in Christ now, but the word IF is a big word. It means that you could not have that partaking of Christ at the end. So be careful and HOLD ON. The Greek word "confidence" is "hupostasis." It also means "that which has foundation, is firm, that which has actual existence, the substantial quality - nature of a person or thing, the steadfastness of mind, firm trust, assurance." So are you sure that you have actual existence of abiding in Christ and that you are set free from the bondage of sin? If you are not sure, then you have no firm trust nor assurance. If you are sure, then keep abiding in Christ in Christ steadfast to the end.
Hebrews 3:18 - 4:1 - And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, LET US FEAR LEST ANY OF YOU SEEM TO HAVE COME SHORT OF IT. ~Note: The Greek word for "rest" is "katapausis." It also means "the heavenly blessedness in which God dwells, and of which He has promised to make persevering believers in Christ partakers after the toils and trials of life on earth are ended." So since it still remains for us to enter i, we should fear not getting there, because Scripture in this book, Hebrews, says brethren have the possibility of departing from God and not entering this rest. The Greek word for "come short" is "hustereo." It also means "lack, be behind, be in want, fail, be destitute, to come late or too tardily, to be left behind in the race and so fail to reach the goal, to fall short of the end, fail to become a partaker, fall back from, to suffer want, to be devoid of, to lack in excellence or worth." So clearly, this shows the possibility of not being good enough.
Hebrews 4:11 - Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, LEST ANYONE FALL according to the same example of disobedience. ~ Note: The Greek word for "be diligent" is "spouadzo." In the KJV it's "labour." It also means "to exert ones self, endeavor." This is making sure that you keep your salvation. Don't give me that "we're saved by grace, not by works," because this is not work of working the OT Law. The Greek word for "fall" is "pipto." It also means "to fall under judgement, came under condemnation, to fall out, fall from i.e. shall perish or be lost, to fail of participating in, miss a share in." So exert yourself to obey God, because there's a possibility to miss out and perish. This is talking about being diligent by obedience to the word of God because of what the verses after it state.
Hebrews 4:12,13 - For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirt, ... and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. ~ Note: The Greek word for "discerner" is "kritikos." It also means "relating to judging, fit for judging, skilled in judging." The Greek word for "intents" is "ennoia." It also means "mind, the act of thinking, consideration, mediation, a thought." So even our thoughts are judged by God's word. The Greek word for "heart" is "kardia." It also means "The center and seat of spiritual life, the soul or mind." This explains why heart is often used for soul or spirit. The Greek for "eyes" is "ophthalmos." It also means "the eyes of the mind, the faculty of knowing." You see, God knows our thoughts and He judges them by His word; so we better not have a corrupt mind, but believe and obey god's word with it.
Hebrews 6:4-6 - For its is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. ~ Note: The Greek word for "enlightened" is "photizo." It also means "imbued (permeated) with saving knowledge." The Greek word for "tasted" is "geuomai." It also means "partook of, enjoyed, experienced." The Greek word for "if" here is "kai." It does NOT mean "if." It means "and, also, then." The NASB has the correct translation here: "and then have fallen away." The "if" is not justifiable. It makes it look like that if you ever fall away then you can never get back. That is not true. "and then have fallen away" means that they ARE and STILL fallen away. The Greek word for "fall away" is "parapipto." It means "to deviate from the right path, turn aside, wander, to error, to fall away from the tru faith." This Scripture clearly indicates that a person may become a partaker of the Holy Spirit, obviously a Christian, and yet fall away and be lost.
Hebrews 10:26 - If WE SIN willfully (as opposed to sins committed inconsiderably, and from ignorance or from weakness) AFTER we have received the knowledge of the truth, THERE NO LONGER REMAINS a sacrfice for sins. ~ Note: Some people try to be wise and come up to me with, "Oh, but this is only about head knowledge and not heart knowledge." But that makes no sense, because the phrase "there no longer remains" means they did once have the sacrifice for sins. So this IS about former Christians who formerly had a good heart. This next Scripture also proves it, because it shows the person WAS sanctified by the blood of Jesus Christ. But it implies a worse punishment because of falling back into sin.
Hebrews 10:29 - Of how much WORSE PUNISHMENT, do you suppose, will he thought worthy who was trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified (note: this person was saved, see, he had been sanctified) a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? ~ Note: I think I can answer that by saying a MUCH WORSE PUNISHMENT for the backslider who does not repent. You will see that in a few more verses here. The Greek word for "thought worthy" is "axioo." It also means "deserving." The Greek word for "trample... underfoot" is "katapeo." It also means "to treat with rudeness and insult, to spurn, treat with insulting neglect." So don't insult and neglect Christ, who set you free from the bondage of sin, by willfully sinning again; or else you will deserve to have a worse punishment.
Hebrews 10:38 - "Now the just shall live by faith; BUT IF ANYONE DRAWS BACK, My soul has no pleasure in him." ~ Note: Be careful, one can draw back from faith. God won't be pleased with those who do. Here the word "if" means "if". The Greek word "draw back" is "hupstello." It also means "to withdraw one's self, of those who from timidity hesitate to avow what they believe." So be strong and continue to tell people what you believe.
YOU CAN SELL YOUR BIRTHRIGHT
Hebrews 12:15-17 - looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; lest there be any fornicator or any profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterwards, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears. ~ Note: Here we see 2 cases of how a Christian can fall short of the grace of God. "Looking carefully" also means "beware." So beware, because you can suffer want of and fail to be a partaker of God's grace. 1st, the writer of Hebrews got the "root of bitterness" from Deuteronomy 29:18-20.
Deuteronomy 29:18-20 - So that there may not be among you man or woman or family or tribe, whose heart turns away today from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations, and that there may not be among you a root bearing bitterness or wormwood; and so it may not happen when he hears the word of this curse, that he blesses himself in his heart, saying, 'I shall have peace, even though I follow the dictates of my heart' -- as though the drunkard could be included with the sober. The Lord would not spare him, for then the anger of the Lord and His jealousy would burn against that man, and every curse that is written in this book would settle on him, and the Lord would blot out his name from under heaven. ~ Note: Here we see the root of bitterness (root bearing bitterness) is the willful turning away from God which might make one think it's ok to be a "drunkard." The consequence of that is at the end there in verse 20.
Another way we see here in Hebrews 12:16,17 of the coming apostate is to be like Esau when he "sold his birthright." Salvation is compared to a birthright because we become born-again into God's family. If we sell our birthright like Esau did, just like itw as for him, it will be impossible for us to recover if we stay in that state. Esa couldn't change his father's mind. Esau lost his inheritance, which included God's gracious promises, by despising it and caring more about the pleasure of food over it (Genesis 25:32-34). We must care more about the eternal inheritance in the life to come, more than we care about the pleasures of this life now, or else we can fall short of the grace of God (Hebrews 12:15) and God will blot us out. ~ Hebrews was written for Christian brethren ~ But even though Esau couldn't change his father's mind about the blessing, it's only impossible for us to recover if we don't repent while we have the chance. The next verse shows that we can get turned back to God.
James 5:19-20 - Brethren, if anyone among you WANDERS from the truth, AND SOMEONE TURNS HIM BACK, let him know that he who TURNS A SINNER FROM THE ERROR OF HIS WAY WILL SAVE HIS SOUL FROM DEATH and cover a multitude of sins. ~ Note: If the backslider does not get corrected, his soul will perish with spiritual death. That is not everlasting life. The word "wanders" also means "to sever or fall away from the truth, to be lead astray into sin." Again, the word "from" also means "of departing, of fleeing, of any kind of separation of one thing from another by which the union or fellowship of the two is destroyed." Clearly, this is about brethren who are no longer saved. The word "turns" also means "to cause to return, to bring back to the love and obedience of God." That's part of what I'm trying to do with this web page. The word "save" also means "to preserve one who is in danger of destruction." The word "death" also means "with the implied idea of future misery in hell, the misery of the soul arising from sin, which begins on earth but lasts and increases after the death of the body in hell."
1 Peter 1:9 - receiving the end of your faith -- the salvation of your souls. ~ Note: Peter, beforehand, was talking about ENDURING through the trials of life and having your GENUINE FAITH glorified God at the end. WE MUST PERSEVERE through whatever comes our way, all the way until the end, THEN WE WILL BE SAVED.
2 Peter 1:10 - Therefore, brethren, BE EVEN MORE DILIGENT TO MAKE YOUR CALL AND ELECTION SURE, FOR IF YOU DO these things you will never stumble. ~ Note: Again, "diligent" also means "indeavor, labor, to exert oneself." The word "do" also means "to act rightly, do well, to carry out, to execute, to perform." Come on, man, just do it; so you won't do this. > The word "stumble" is "fall" ine the KJV. It also means "to err, make a mistake, to sin, to fall into misery, become wretched." So be firm in the faith, and make sure that you are born again and set free from the bondage of sin.
2 Peter 2:15,16 - They have FORSAKEN the right way and GONE ASTRAY, following the wa of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteouness; but he was rebuked for his inquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man's voice restrained the madness of the prophet.~Note: Wow, God really means business here. He has even made a dumb donkey speak with a man's voice to correct a person from the erroe og his way. SO WE BETTER LISTEN UP AND PRACTICE RIGHTEOUSNESS. Why? In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God-1 John 3:10.
2 Peter 2:20,21- For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are AGAIN ENTANGLED in them and OVERCOME, the latter end is WORSE for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. ~ Note: This is plain and simple. He who has ears to hear, let him hear. ~ The word "pollution" also means "that which defiles, vices (a evil or wicked action, habit, or charteristic) - the foulness of which contamines one in his intercourse with the ungodly mass of mankind." The word "entangled" also means "involved in." The word "overcome" also means "to be conquered by one, forced to yield to one." Here it means to be conquered by and forced to yield to sin. Then that makes the person a slave of sin again, as the previous verse, 2:19, implies. The word "known" in "known the way the way of righteousness" also means "know well, to become throughtly acquainted with." This is definitely about a former Christian who was set free from sin and then turned from God's commandment to be holy. They will have a worse punishment in hell than if they never got saved to begin with.
2 Peter 3:17,18 - You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, BEWARE LEST YOU FALL from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
~ Note: This clearly proves that "OSAS" IS WRONG. To "fall from" alsoe means "to lose it, to perish, to fall powerless, be without effect of the divine promise of salvation." That happens when one is led away with the error of the wicked. The word "wicked" doesn't have to be someone very evil. It means "one who breaks through the restraint of law and gratifies his lusts." So lustful sin is the issue. The word "grow" in "grow in grace" is "of inward Christian growth." So the grace of God doesn't allow you to gratify your lusts. If you are led away into that, this Scripture implies that you have lost your salvation.
LET TRUTH ABIDE IN YOU
1 John 2:24,25 - Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. IF WHAT YOU HEARD from the beginning ABIDES IN YOU, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that He has promised us -- eternal life. ~ Note: God's love of giving us eternal life is CONDITIONAL. The word IF proves this. We must let the truth KEEP ABIDING IN US. In the KJV, it has: If that which ye have heard from the beginniung shall REMAIN in you, ye shall CONTINUE in the Son and in the Father. ~ You see, getting saved is not a one time deal and it;s over with.
1 John 2:28 - And now little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. ~ Note: John is telling Christians to abide in Chirst. What if they didn't abide? They wouldn't have confidence at the Lord's coming is what it implies. Why wouldn't they if they were once saved, always saved? A: Because OSAS IS WRONG. The word "confidence" also means "free and fearless confidence, cheerful courage, boldness, assurance." You see, if you do the condition of abiding in Christ, you can have assurance of your salvation. But this is NOT eternal security. There is the condition of continuing to remain abiding in Christ. In addition to "remain" and "continue," "abide" also means "not to depart, to last, endure, not to become another or different." I hope that you realize that this is our personal responsibility, and just because you abide in Christ today doesn't mean that you will definitely stay that way. Scripture on this has proven that.
REVELATION
Revelation 2:5 - "Rememeber therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, OR ELSE I will come to you quickly and REMOVE YOUR LAMPSTAND from its place -- unless you repent. ~ Note: The words "or else" also means "otherwise, but if not." Surely, this is a threat from Christ to His church. The word "its" in "remove your lampstand from its place" is "his" in the KJV. I believe this is symbolic of the person of the Holy Spirit. The lampstands contained oil, and the oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. So this is Christ taking away the Holy Spirit from a Christian === loss of salvation.
Revelation 2:10,11 - Christ said, "Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested... Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear to hear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death." ~ Note: Christ tells us to be faithful until death then we will be given the crown of life; and if we overcome the testing we won't be hurt by the second death. If you have an ear to hear, you know that this means that if we don't remain faithful and don't overcome the testing, then we don't get the crown of life and we will be hurt by the second death. Clearly, we have to be faithful all the way until we die. With this Scripture having "what the Spirit says to the churchs," it means that this is for the whole body of Christians everywhere. We must hold onto our faith even unto death, or else we will be hurt by the second death, which is the lake of fire.
Revelation 3:1-5 - "..."I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before My God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. Nevertheless you have a few names in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name form the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels." ~ Note: These people had the name of being Christian thinking they had eternal life, but they had become spiritually dead, but they had the chance to be alive again because He says they were only ready to die. The term "ready to die" is of eternal death. They are subject to eternal misery in hell. They were not living the life of how they first received the word. They had defiled their garments; OR ELSE HE WILL BLOT OUT THEIR NAME FROM THE BOOK OF LIFE. The word "defiled" is "used in the NT of those who have not kept themselves pure from the defilement of sin, who have soiled themselves by fornication and adultery." You see, immoral sex is a big issue with God that makes some believers lose their salvation. You would be wise to heed the word.
Revelation 3:16 - "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth." ~ Note: Christ wants to vomit these believers out of His mouth. Then they would not be "in Christ" anymore. In very vivid terms, the Lord rejects the halfhearted efforts of self-satisfied Christians. If someone has become wealthy an thinks they have need of nothing (Rev. 3:17), they just might get vomitted out. The word "lukewarm" is "of the condition of the soul wretchedly fluctuating between a torpor (a state of being inactive, sluggishness) and a fervour (great warmth of emotion, zeal) of love." If we really love God, we will obey and keep His word (John 14:21,23).
Revelation 22:19 - Christ said, "and id anyon takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. ~ Note: CLEARLY, Christ is saying that He will TAKE AWAY the eternal life that somoene thinks they have, and also their part in heaven (the holy city) will be TAKEN AWAY, and also the final redemption in Revelation will be TAKEN AWAY. They all mean the same thing: "Once Saved, Always Saved" IS WRONG.
"If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?"
1 Peter 4:18
by Patrick Harris
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The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
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