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Once Saved Always Saved? by Lance Hendrix
"And when people escape from the wicked ways of the world by learning about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up with sin and become its slave again, they are worse off than before. It would be better if they had never known the right way to live than to know it and then reject the holy commandments that were given to them. They make these proverbs come true: "A dog returns to its vomit," and "A washed pig returns to the mud."" 2 Peter 2:20-22 NLT

The Once Saved, Always Saved doctrine doesn't seem to completely line up with the full counsel of scripture. In some cases, it is only an excuse for a life of sin and complacency, in other places it is what has been taught by a denomination and the well meaning believer has taken it at face value as Biblical truth. It is a doctrine that seems to alleviate free will after the conversion experience. This passage in 2 Peter 2:20-22 is saying that it is better to be ignorant of Jesus than to know Him and then turn your back on Him. This verse opens the door to saying that there is possibility for someone to turn from their salvation. Turning away from Jesus is such a horrible action that it is compared with a dog returning to his vomit and a pig going back into mud after it has been cleaned. "But those who endure to the end will be saved." Matthew 24:13 NLT Only those who endure to the very end will be saved, those who deliberately choose to turn away from Jesus have no reason to hope for a good future.

"Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD is the one who goes before you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor forsake you."" Deuteronomy 31:8 NLT

It is true that God will never leave believers or forsake believers, but is it possible for believers to leave and forsake Him? "If we endure hardship,we will reign with him.If we deny him,he will deny us." 2 Timothy 2:12 NLT Paul said, if we endure, he could have said with much faith, when we endure, but he chose to use if to leave room for those who will choose to not endure. He goes further to say if we disown Jesus, Jesus will disown us.

"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can't, and life can't. The angels can't, and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39 NLT

We must realize that Jesus is grabbing a hold of us with all that He has and nothing outside of our own choice can separate us from Him. Truly the only one thing that can separate us from Him is if we choose to deliberately choose to follow our own desires. Salvation is encountering God and allowing Him to change your heart, and then daily walking out His commands with a heart of love, becoming more and more like Him. Today, I could quit everything and say forget you God I am living for myself, but tomorrow come back to Him and continue in my salvation, but the thing is why would I want to do that if I have really encountered the living God and understand what He is like. It is foolish. The trouble starts when your life begins to reflect an attitude of, "Forget You God, I am living for myself." That is when you get into patterns which will lead to death and Hell. "Such people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live. They are despicable and disobedient, worthless for doing anything good." Titus 1:16 NLT

We can say we love God all we want and listen to a sermon every week, but when it comes down to it, our actions are the proof that God has changed our hearts. We may not deny Him with our voice, but with the way we live during the week. "And remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to. If you don't obey, you are only fooling yourself." James 1:22 NLT

Why does the once saved always saved not completely line up with scripture?
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Once Saved Always Saved 2 by Lance Hendrix

"Your wealth is rotting away, and your fine clothes are moth-eaten rags. My dear brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back again, you can be sure that the one who brings that person back will save that sinner from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins." James 5:19-20 NLT
Here James is talking to the brothers and sisters in the Church, and tells them that if one of them should wander from Jesus they are considered a sinner, and they should help this person turn back to Jesus.
"However, if righteous people turn to sinful ways and start acting like other sinners, should they be allowed to live? No, of course not! All their previous goodness will be forgotten, and they will die for their sins." Ezekiel 18:24 NLT God is saying to us if a Christian turns from Jesus and starts living like a sinner, then none of the righteous things he has done will be remembered: the times spent alone with God, the prayer for others, the ministry to others, etc., will all be no more. They won't be just like a sinner, they will be a sinner, and they will perish in hell, unless they repent.

"My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if you do sin, there is someone to plead for you before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who pleases God completely." 1 John 2:1 NLT God has given us the challenge and the power to live without sin, we must realize this is a process and that every time we sin we can ask Jesus for forgiveness and trust in His righteousness. As we fully surrender and rely on Him we can trust that we will finish and endure. "For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him." Philippians 2:13 NLT

Jesus did not condemn the woman caught in adultery, but accepted her in her present state of sin, and then He told her to go and leave her life of sin. Jesus will accept us in our present state if we genuinely humble ourselves, but then He expects the love He gives us should compel us to not live a life of sin, to live a life of Godliness. "But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." Romans 5:8 NLT Even in our darkest sin He will be there with forgiveness, so we don't have to be afraid that He will not meet us with mercy, but just like any dad He wants us to grow up to be just like Him. His plan and dream for us is to not abuse His forgiveness, but to live holy in His strength.

"For his Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we are God's children." Romans 8:16 NLT

If you are a Christian, you should know because God lives within you and confirms it in your heart daily. The enemy may lie and you may doubt your salvation, but this scripture is true.

What happens to all the good works a Christian has done if they turn their lives away from Jesus?