Once Saved Always Saved: True or False

Saved: True or False (2)

Larry E. Johnson / General

Once Saved always Saved / Eternal Life / Matthew 12:22–32

Intro:

Once Saved Always Saved or Perseverance of the Saints(Calvinism)-Once a person has sincerely placed their trust in Christ for the pardon of their sins their salvation is secure and safe.

Apostasy or Falling Away(Jacobos Arminias)-Because mankind has been given a free will to embrace or reject an individuals salvation is conditional on the basis of them continuing to hold onto Christ. An individual can be sincerely saved but lose that gift on the basis of his own lack of faith or unbelief.

What is your position on this very critical doctrine? and can you back that position up scripturally?

Major Religions and Denominations that believe you can lose your salvation:

• Seven Day Adventist

• Jehovah Witness

• Mormon

• Roman Catholics & American Catholics

• Methodist

• Pentecostal

• Apostolic

Statements of belief about Eternal Security:

Jehovah Witness

Can you lose out on salvation?

Yes. Just as a person saved from drowning could fall or jump back into the water, a person who has been saved from sin but fails to keep exercising faith could lose out on salvation. For this reason, the Bible urges Christians who have received salvation “to put up a hard fight for the faith.” (Jude 3) It also warns those who have been saved: “Keep working out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”‌—Philippians 2:‌12 Jehovah's Witness

Roman Catholicism

In Roman Catholic theology, mortal sin, also called cardinal sin, is the gravest of sins, representing a deliberate turning away from God and destroying charity (love) in the heart of the sinner. A mortal sin is defined as a grave action that is committed in full knowledge of its gravity and with the full consent of the sinner’s will. Such a sin removes the sinner from God’s sanctifying grace until it is repented, usually in confession with a priest. A person who dies unrepentant of the commission of mortal sin is believed to descend immediately into hell, where they suffer the separation from God that they chose in life. Although the Roman Catholic Church does not provide an exhaustive list of mortal sins, breaking the Ten Commandments, suicide, induced abortion, masturbation, rape, and divorce are well-known examples. Additionally, some mortal sins are considered so severe that the church punishes them with excommunication. These include apostasy (deliberate renunciation of the faith) and the desecration of the elements of the Eucharist.

Methodist

Free Methodists believe in the Christian’s security, but it is conditional, not absolute. Call it the security of believers. Believers are secure in Christ as they exercise God-given faith. They embrace all the rich promises God gives his children. But they know they must not trifle with the grace of God by returning to a life of sin. Their security is not grounded in an unconditional election made before the world even existed. Their security is in Christ, now by faith.

The Church of God

One of the most potent and destructive heresies to penetrate the Christian community is the teaching that once people are saved, they cannot lose their salvation. This is often called “once in grace, always in grace” or “eternal security.” This false teaching has likely gained prominence because it has such appeal to the fleshly, carnal nature. According to this doctrine, once a person is saved, he cannot lose that salvation regardless of how far back into sin he strays. This supposedly produces that which is impossible, “the sinning Christian.” This doctrine entices the man who wants to gratify the lust of the flesh while maintaining the promise of eternal life. It is often reasoned that if a person can lose eternal life, then it was not genuinely eternal life in the first place. According to this philosophy, if it is eternal, it cannot be cut off; however, they forget that eternal life is a gift from God that can be received, rejected, or returned.

• Those who follow the teaching of Jacobus Arminius put a very strong emphasis on the free will of man

• Those who lean more toward a Calvinistic view of man put more emphasis on God's sovereignty, not man's free will.

• Both groups are very sincere in making sense of some challenging passages in scripture.

Do you think one’s interpretation of this biblical doctrine is vital to understanding Salvation?

• Let’s take a look at the extremes of each of these positions:

Conditional Security:

Those who hold this view without any balance often fall into legalism:

“Legalism exists when people attempt to secure righteousness in God’s sight through good works. Legalists believe that they can earn or merit God’s approval by performing the requirements of the law,” Thomas R. Schreiner said. A legalist believes that their good works and obedience to God affect their salvation. Legalism focuses on God’s laws more than relationship with God. It keeps external laws without a truly submitted heart. Legalism adds human rules to divine laws and treats them as divine....Thomas Schriener NT Scholar.

Logically speaking, if a person is convinced that their good works are the source of their security, they will focus more on the letter of the law than the spirit of the law. This means that the rules and regulations will carry more weight to them than the relational aspects of salvation.

• Examples of Legalism:

• Sabbatarian-Sabbath Keeping is a sign of Salvation; therefore, failure to observe is a sign that you have lost salvation

• Apostolic-One must speak in tongues as proof of salvation

• Catholicism: One must come through a priest to absolve their sins.

Unconditional Security:

Those who hold to unbiblical views of Unconditional Security often fall into antinomianism:

anti(Against)-Nomos(Law): is a modern form of the ancient heresy of Antinomianism. It asserts that once a person makes a decision for Christ or prays to receive Jesus as Savior, it is not necessary to embrace Him as Lord. There are no requirements of law that bind the Christian." Although we are not under the ceremonial or civic laws of Moses, we are still under the Moral Laws. 9 of the 10 commandments were repeated in the NT. Only the Sabbath was omitted in the NT.....RC Sproul

The Antinomians - They are people who boast of having a saving interest in Christ and say they are pardoned and forgiven, while at the same time, they live in willful sin and open breach of God's commandments. I dare say that such people are miserably deceived....JC Ryle

• I no longer have to confess or deal with sin because grace has covered me.

• Antinomianism is essentially the teaching that is undergirding progressive Christianity. As we learn more and more about life, we must conform to Christianity to fit the cultural narrative. God is love is the mantra. And a loving God would not cast anyone out based on that person's lifestyle choices.

This issue is vitally important because the incorrect interpretative conclusion of this doctrine deconstructs Christ's finished work on the Cross. No matter how sincere your conclusion is, you must be careful not to damage the Gospel.

Scriptural Data that seems to support Conditional Security:

Exodus 32:31–33 CSB

31 So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Oh, these people have committed a grave sin; they have made a god of gold for themselves. 32 Now if you would only forgive their sin. But if not, please erase me from the book you have written.” 33 The Lord replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will erase from my book.

(33) The text seems to imply that names could be erased from the final judgment books.

Matthew 10:22 CSB

22 You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

(22) “The one who endures to the end will be saved.” The enduring is assumed to be the responsibility of the professing believer.

1 Corinthians 15:1–2 CSB

1 Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel I preached to you, which you received, on which you have taken your stand 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold to the message I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

(2) The gospel is saving “IF” you hold to the message......(IF) is a conditional conjunction.

Philippians 2:12 CSB

12 Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

(12) “Work Out” you salvation. This seems to be the responsibility of the believers as well

2 Peter 2:20–21 CSB

20 For if, having escaped the world’s impurity through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in these things and defeated, the last state is worse for them than the first. 21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy command delivered to them.

(20-21) This one right here is messy!!!

Please tell me what you think, Saints!!!?????

Revelation 3:4–5 CSB

4 But you have a few people in Sardis who have not defiled their clothes, and they will walk with me in white, because they are worthy. 5 “In the same way, the one who conquers will be dressed in white clothes, and I will never erase his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name before my Father and before his angels.

(5) Here, Jesus is talking about never “blotting” a name out of the book if they endure.

Problem Passages of Hebrews:

Hebrews 2:1–4 CSB

1 For this reason, we must pay attention all the more to what we have heard, so that we will not drift away. 2 For if the message spoken through angels was legally binding and every transgression and disobedience received a just punishment, 3 how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation had its beginning when it was spoken of by the Lord, and it was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4 At the same time, God also testified by signs and wonders, various miracles, and distributions of gifts from the Holy Spirit according to his will.

What’s the warning in the passage?

(1) Drift away

Hebrews 3:7–12 CSB

7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, 9 where your ancestors tested me, tried me, and saw my works 10 for forty years. Therefore I was provoked to anger with that generation and said, “They always go astray in their hearts, and they have not known my ways.” 11 So I swore in my anger, “They will not enter my rest.” 12 Watch out, brothers and sisters, so that there won’t be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.

What’s the warning in this passage?

• (8) “do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion on the day of testing in the wilderness”

• (12) “Watch out, brothers and sisters, so that there won’t be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart”

Hebrews 6:4–6 CSB

4 For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, who shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who tasted God’s good word and the powers of the coming age, 6 and who have fallen away. This is because, to their own harm, they are recrucifying the Son of God and holding him up to contempt.

What’s the warning in this passage?

(4-6) “once enlightened”, tasted the heavenly gift, shared in the HS, tasted the word of God, and still fall away it is impossible for them to be restored.

• Saints this text right here is vicious!! This is a strong warning right here!!! an on the surface it seems to be describing a Christian who had a great start, but check out!!!

Hebrews 10:26–29 CSB

26 For if we deliberately go on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire about to consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who disregarded the law of Moses died without mercy, based on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment do you think one will deserve who has trampled on the Son of God, who has regarded as profane the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?

What’s the warning in this text?

(26) Willful sin leads to terrifying expectation of judgement. Saints the writer of Hebrews seems to be describing Christian who ascribe to an antimonial lifestyle.

Hebrews 12:14–16 CSB

14 Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness—without it no one will see the Lord. 15 Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and defiling many. 16 And make sure that there isn’t any immoral or irreverent person like Esau, who sold his birthright in exchange for a single meal.

What’s the warning?

(15) Don’t fall short of the grace of God, because of bitterness because when you seek repentance you might not find it.

• Saints I hope you are little confused today especially if you believe in Unconditional Security but never read these verses.

• Next week we will let the scriptural data speak on behalf of Unconditional Security. Then we will weigh both side of the data and come to some conclusion.

• My Hope is that you will Challenge all the areas that you have come to believe based simply on what your mentor, Pastor, or close family member has told you.

Prayer

Once Saved Always Saved

Review from Last Bible Study

Can you lose out on salvation? Yes. Just as a person saved from drowning could fall or jump back into the water, a person who has been saved from sin but fails to keep exercising faith could lose out on salvation. For this reason, the Bible urges Christians who have received salvation “to put up a hard fight for the faith.” (Jude 3) It also warns those who have been saved: “Keep working out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”‌—Philippians 2:‌12......Jehovah Witness

• The Basic Argument is that sure God gift us salvation. Salvation is a gift from God but it our job to maintain, and steward the gift through our continued obedience and perseverance. Failure to do so justifies a retraction of the gift by God.

• This interpretation of the doctrine of Conditional Security paints God to be like a Supernatural Indian Giver:

"To an Indian, the giving of gifts was an extension of this system of trade and a gift was expected to be reciprocated with something of equal value. Europeans, upon encountering this practice, misunderstood it, considering it uncouth and impolite. To them, trade was conducted with money and gifts were freely given with nothing expected in return. So this native practice got a bad reputation among the white colonists of North America and the term eventually became a playground insult."

• Indian Giver is one who gives a gift then takes that gift back when someone does not return the favor

• Conditional Election is taught by several Christian Groups:

• Methodist

• Pentecostal, Church of God and Christ, and Apostolic

• and Several cults or False Religions;

• Jehovah Witness

• Seven Day Adventist

• Roman Catholics

• Unconditional Election is usually taught by

• Northern General Baptist & Southern Baptist

• Presbyterians

• Some Non-denominational

• Charismatics

• Bible Churches

Problem Scriptures for Unconditional Election:

Hebrews 6:4–6CSB

4For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, who shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who tasted God’s good word and the powers of the coming age, 6 and who have fallen away. This is because, to their own harm, they are recrucifying the Son of God and holding him up to contempt.

Hebrews 10:26–29 CSB

26For if we deliberately go on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire about to consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who disregarded the law of Moses died without mercy, based on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment do you think one will deserve who has trampled on the Son of God, who has regarded as profane the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?

• Why is the doctrine critical?

• often intentionally those that believe in Conditional Security end up adding external marker’s to the salvation package, which serves to discredit the finishing work of Christ on the Cross

Scriptural Data in Support of Unconditional Security

What happened at Salvation:

Order of Salutis:

Chosen-Election Ephesians 1:3-4

Ephesians 1:3–4 CSB

3 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.

Call-Romans 10:14-15

Romans 10:14–15 CSB

14 How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.

Regeneration-john 3:3-8

John 3:3–8 CSB

3 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 “How can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. 8 The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

Conversion-James 1:18, 1 Pet 1:23

1 Peter 1:23 CSB

23 because you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God.

James 1:18 CSB

18 By his own choice, he gave us birth by the word of truth so that we would be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Adoption-Romans 8:15

Romans 8:15 CSB

15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!”

Sealing-Eph 1:13

Ephesians 1:13 CSB

13 In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed.

There is one more which we will go over last

Tell me some thing from a logical/philosophical point of view does it may sense that God would reserve all of this because of sin he already knew you would commit when he gave you all of these things in the first place?

Ephesians 2:1–5 CSB

1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins 2 in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. 3 We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, 5 made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!

(1) You were “dead”

• Spiritual Dead means the inability to find or discover God on your own. The Bible also uses the metaphor of blindness. In both cases the person needs outside help to find their way.

• Even in Hell folks will only live with the eternal regret of missed opportunities but they will spend eternity blaming others, and sulking in their own misery.

(4-5) But who is rich in mercy and great love has Made us “ALIVE”

• Spiritual Lift is the ability to ascertain spiritual truth, receive that truth, and apply that truth. When God turns the light on or gives life Salvation is the only thing you see.

• Some have this experience as children, Teens, young adults, Middle aged or Old aged, but one thing that is consistent across board. A person is now open to something that they had been rejecting previously.

› Practical Application

• when a person ascribes to Conditional Security we are left with two conclusion in relationship to “the Ordo Salutis”

1. God does not give all of these gifts until a person proves themself

2. God reverses the affect of all of these gifts(puts you back in darkness, gives you back to the adoption agency, Imputes your sin back to you)

OT Allusion to Eternal Security

Ecclesiastes 8:12 CSB

12 Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, I also know that it will go well with God-fearing people, for they are reverent before him.

(12) This is true of all of us in this room. Though we fight persistent sin in our life sometimes we fail, and sometimes we fail several times.

If continued sin is the criteria of losing your salvation where does that place us?

Ecclesiastes 3:14 CSB

14 I know that everything God does will last forever; there is no adding to it or taking from it. God works so that people will be in awe of him.

(14) God is a completer of task. When he starts something he finishes.

2 Samuel 12:23 CSB

23 But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I’ll go to him, but he will never return to me.”

(23) David confident in his salvation even after having someone killed to cover a pregnancy. Disclaimer: David repented of his sins in-Psalm 53:

Psalm 97:10 CSB

10 You who love the Lord, hate evil! He protects the lives of his faithful ones; he rescues them from the power of the wicked.

(10) OT promise rescue from the wicked. Ultimately being separated from God.

Genesis 15 CSB

1 After these events, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield; your reward will be very great. 2 But Abram said, “Lord God, what can you give me, since I am childless and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 Abram continued, “Look, you have given me no offspring, so a slave born in my house will be my heir.” 4 Now the word of the Lord came to him: “This one will not be your heir; instead, one who comes from your own body will be your heir.” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “Your offspring will be that numerous.” 6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. 7 He also said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.” 8 But he said, “Lord God, how can I know that I will possess it?” 9 He said to him, “Bring me a three-year-old cow, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10 So he brought all these to him, cut them in half, and laid the pieces opposite each other, but he did not cut the birds in half. 11 Birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. 12 As the sun was setting, a deep sleep came over Abram, and suddenly great terror and darkness descended on him. 13 Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know this for certain: Your offspring will be resident aliens for four hundred years in a land that does not belong to them and will be enslaved and oppressed. 14 However, I will judge the nation they serve, and afterward they will go out with many possessions. 15 But you will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age. 16 In the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.” 17 When the sun had set and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch appeared and passed between the divided animals. 18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “I give this land to your offspring, from the Brook of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates River: 19 the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, 20 Hethites, Perizzites, Rephaim, 21 Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.”

• This is a unilateral covenant. Only one person is responsible for the fulfilling of the covenant.

NT scriptures affirming Unconditional Scriptures

John 3:15–16 CSB

15 so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. 16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

(16) “Have” present verb. Eternal Life is not a future possession it is already a present possession.

John 4:13–14 CSB

13 Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks from this water will get thirsty again. 14 But whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty again. In fact, the water I will give him will become a well of water springing up in him for eternal life.”

(14) New Spiritual Life is proof of your future destination. Eternal Life is not heaven per say it is New life that springs up in you in this present world. Seen by the changes made in your life.

John 5:24 CSB

24 “Truly I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.

(24) Belief in Christ exempts you eternal judgement. This is a promise. Once again if God is promising this then to break this promise would fall on his character not mine.

John 6:39 CSB

39 This is the will of him who sent me: that I should lose none of those he has given me but should raise them up on the last day.

Tell me what you see in this text? Who is ultimately responsible for keeping us in the faith in this text?

John 10:22–30 CSB

22 Then the Festival of Dedication took place in Jerusalem, and it was winter. 23 Jesus was walking in the temple in Solomon’s Colonnade. 24 The Jews surrounded him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” 25 “I did tell you and you don’t believe,” Jesus answered them. “The works that I do in my Father’s name testify about me. 26 But you don’t believe because you are not of my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

What do you see?

Hebrews 7:25 CSB

25 Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he always lives to intercede for them.

(25) In this text it tells us those who are truly saved. He is able to save completely.

and then it tells you why?

Problem Scriptures from Hebrews

Hebrews 6:4–6 CSB

4 For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, who shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who tasted God’s good word and the powers of the coming age, 6 and who have fallen away. This is because, to their own harm, they are recrucifying the Son of God and holding him up to contempt.

this text uses 4 words to describe a certain kind of person

• This is either a person who was saved and lost or;

• A person who has never saved but looked saved

• Enlightened, Tasted the heavenly gift(participation in communion), shared, tasted the Good word of God

• These are very strong visceral words

Do you think it’s possible for someone to logically understand the gospel, observe and see the spirits movement in the lives of the people and the church sometimes in miraculous ways, and still after all that never truly commit to Christ?

OT Example

NT Example

Notice the Hebrew writer use the word “Taste” do yo know it’s possible to “Taste” something but not Eat it.

John 6:47–53 CSB

47 “Truly I tell you, anyone who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven so that anyone may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever. The bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” 52 At that, the Jews argued among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life in yourselves.

Last Ordu of Salutis

Perseverance-Phi 1:6, 1 John 2:19

1 John 2:19 CSB

19 They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. However, they went out so that it might be made clear that none of them belongs to us.

Philippians 1:6 CSB

6 I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.