Why ‘Once Saved, Always Saved’  Is a False Doctrine	
#L513	The First-Century Gospel Church / Philadelphia	Sun AM 10-27-02

	Because of the vital importance of salvation, and because we must ‘be careful,’ and to ‘be on guard’ against false teaching, the subject of erroneous doctrine (prevalent today), will be addressed in this lesson.
	As the message ‘It’s Your Choice’ [#L507, 10/13/02] reminded us, ‘Because God loves His creation, we were given a choice, and that choice includes whether we will turn to Him, or turn away from Him.  Our power to choose, can never be rescinded.
	Satan loves to cause confusion, and does so through false doctrine.  It seems that the majority of religious teachers today, embrace an unconditional salvation doctrine.  That is why we must be very careful of what literature is read, what opinions we accept, and who we listen to on the subject of Eternal Life.
	The doctrine, ‘Once saved, always saved,’ is a delusion, a lie, and straight from the devil.  He convinced Adam and Eve that their choice to disobey, would not affect their relationship with God.
	Jesus told us, "Watch out that no one deceives you,” (Matthew 24:4).  And "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees," (16:6).  We have to ‘watch out’ and ‘be careful’ because, “They come to 
you in sheep's clothing,” (Matthew 7:15).  The outside looks okay, but the inside doctrine is false.
	The Apostle Paul warned us (1 Timothy 4:16), “Watch your life and doctrine closely.  Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”
	With all the warnings, we had better take heed to what God is saying to us through His Word.  And He says (Hebrews 2:1), “We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.”
	The doctrine of ‘Once saved, always saved’ is the same lie the Serpent told Eve when he said, "You will not surely die," (Genesis 3:4), when God had just warned her, “You will surely die" (if you disobey My Word).
	Those who accept OSAS doctrine will say, ‘once you are saved, God holds you, so you can never be lost.’  The doctrine can have many names and labels, but it is the same lie.
	Much of the confusion results from the common belief with all Christians that a believer’s salvation is based on the perfect work of Christ on the cross.  That is basic to the true Gospel message, but OSAS doctrine mixes in a lie saying, once a person makes an initial statement of faith in Christ, they can never fall from grace, and never be lost, regardless of their choices or decisions.
	Once Satan has a person accept the delusion that they can never be lost, he can lead them into sin, (and sometimes very serious sins), which eventually (if not repented of), will lead to the Lake of Fire.
	Satan is a very dangerous, wicked, and powerful enemy who is out to destroy forever, anyone foolish enough to allow him.  “Be very careful...how you live...“ (Ephesians 5:15)...“not as unwise but as wise... because the days are evil,” (vs 16).
	To accept the Lord Jesus into our heart, and to remain in God’s will (by a deliberate choice to obey His Word), is everyone’s privilege, and it will lead to their salvation.  “Sanctify them by the truth;” (Jesus prayed), “your word is truth.”
	OSAS teachers often quote John 10:28, where Jesus said, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.”  They fail to quote the previous verse, however (27), which sheds light on verse 28, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”  
	If we listen to the words of Christ, and follow Him in faith, no one could take us away from Him.  But if we choose not to listen to His words, and choose not to follow Him in faith, we take ourselves out of His hand...no one has to snatch us.  Jesus said, “Remain in me, and I will remain in you,” (John 15:4).
	Satan is out to deceive, defeat, and destroy anyone who will listen to him...that is why Jesus told us to, "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to,” (Luke 13:24 NIV).
	There is much false doctrine, and many ‘other gospels,’ being given by radio and television ministries today.  Who we listen to, and what message we accept as a correct interpretation of God’s Word, will always be our responsibility and our choice.
	The Apostle Paul predicted that the day would come, (and it has come), when people would not accept correct doctrine, and he warned Timothy about this...“Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage‑‑with great patience and careful instruction.  For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine.  Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths,” (2 Timothy 4:2-4).
	There are many millions today who ‘will not put up with sound doctrine,’ but instead, try to find some teaching that is what they want to hear.  Satan always approaches us in disguise, and one such disguise is a doctrine called ‘once saved, always saved,’ but it can go by other aliases, such as, ‘eternal security,’ ‘unconditional salvation, ‘perseverance of the saints,’ etc.  They all teach the same doctrine, however, that ‘after you make a one-time profession of faith, you are eternally saved.’
	Because of these lies, being given out as truth, Jesus warned us (Matthew 24:4), "Watch out that no one deceives you,” and He added Luke 13:24, "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able,” (NKJV).
	OSAS teachers quote many Scripture verses, but they misapply them to support their false doctrine.  For instance, John 3:16 says that whoever believes in God’s Son "shall not perish but have eternal life.”  The actual meaning, however, is found in the YLT, saying, Whoever is, “believing in him” (when the Lord returns) “may not perish.”
	If we stay connected to Christ (by obeying God’s Word), we will ‘continue believing’ in Him unto the salvation of our souls.  God places only one condition on His Word, to ‘believe in His Son’ and continue to do so.  “This is the work of God, that ye may believe in him whom He did send,” (John 6:29 YLT).
	OSAS teachers give a partial truth, as the whole truth, which deceives those who accept it.  They teach that ‘we are saved by grace, not by works.’  This is absolutely correct, because we are told (Ephesians 2:8-9), “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith‑‑and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God‑‑ 
not by works, so that no one can boast.”
	OSAS teachers then say that ‘obedience’ is ‘works,’ even though Hebrews 5:9 clearly says, “Once made perfect, [Christ] became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.”
	The Apostle warned his listeners (Galatians 5:2), that if they insisted on following Jewish customs and rituals, “Christ will be of no value to you at all.”  In verse 4 he said that if they continue in their attempt to be justified by outward religion, (and not by a genuine repentance and heart attitude change through acceptance of Christ as their Lord and Savior), they “have fallen away from grace.”
	Since a Christian can ‘fall’ (from the grace by which they are saved), then they would no longer have the salvation they once had because of grace.  If anyone would fall from grace to where ‘Christ is of no value at all,’ it could only mean no salvation.
	OSAS teachers quote Romans 5:1, saying, “We have been justified through faith,” which is absolutely correct, but they fail to say that we can fall away from faith.  They omit saying that a believer can stop believing, which is to fall away (and wither spiritually).
	OSAS teachers often defend their doctrine by saying, ‘When one is saved, they receive eternal life.  If that life could be lost, it wouldn’t be eternal,’ [unquote].
	As with other aspects of this false doctrine, there is truth mixed with error.  When a person accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, they are promised Eternal Life, but there are conditions to meet in order to retain that promise.
	1 John 3:15 reminds us of the sin of resentment or hatred one can easily have in their heart, (which would nullify the promise of salvation, unless there is a genuine repentance).  It says, “Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.”
	Eternal Life will always be ‘eternal,’ because it, “can never perish, spoil or fade” (1 Peter 1:4), but that doesn’t mean we will always ‘possess’ it.  “Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.”
	In the Parable of the Four Soils, Jesus said, “Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root.  They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away,” (Luke 8:13).
	If we can ‘believe for a while,’ and later ‘cease believing,’ then we can by the choice of our own will, become an ‘unbeliever.’
	Jesus told us clearly where an ‘unbeliever’ stands concerning Eternal Life.  (Revelation 21:8), He said, “The cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the ...immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars‑‑their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur." 
	The truth then is, that we can ‘once be saved, and later be lost,’ by our choice to ‘believe for a while’ but later ‘fall away’ (due to persecution, trials, tests, or temptation).
	Satan constantly masquerades as something (or some teaching) that deceives.  OSAS teaching says that once we accept Christ and are saved, we can never lose that secure position.
	Again there is both truth and error mixed.  1 Peter 1:9 says, “You are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”  That is the truth...’the goal of our faith, is the salvation of our soul.’  But what is not considered is 1 Timothy 1:19, where the Apostle is telling Timothy to ‘hold on to his faith and a good conscience,’ because, “Some [Hymenaeus & Alexander being two mentioned] have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith.”
	If our faith can be destroyed, then we would no longer be heading toward the ‘goal of our faith,’ which is the salvation of our soul.  The Apostle Paul knew that Timothy’s faith could be ‘shipwrecked,’ so he told him what to do to prevent that from happening...
	(1 Timothy 1:18-19 WEY), “This is the charge which I entrust to you, my son Timothy, in accordance with the inspired instructions concerning you which were given me long ago, that being equipped with them as your armour you may be continually fighting the good fight, holding fast to faith and a clear conscience, which some have cast aside and have made shipwreck of their faith.”
	From the Apostle’s admonition then, we know that a Christian has a choice (of their own free will), and they have a responsibility under ‘grace’ that can affect their Eternal Life.
	We cannot throw God’s Word out the window and be careless about God’s will.  We should not think that God will hold us, when we deliberately turn our back on Him.  (Malachi 3:7), “Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD.”
	The true Christian life is one of holding steadfast in the faith.  It is knowing and doing God’s will, (by the power of His Spirit).  Jesus warned us by saying, “He who stands firm to the end will be saved,” (Matthew 10:22).  And Hebrews 3:14, “We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.”
	OSAS doctrine is proven false by many examples in the Bible.  King Saul’s spiritual decline after his refusal to repent and turn back to God, shows the importance of making Scriptural choices.  
	His resentment and jealousy of David (1 Samuel 18) led to more serious sins, including many murder attempts on David’s life, on his own son Jonathan, and then ordering the murder of all the inhabitants in Nob.  And from John 3:15 we know that “No murderer has eternal life.”
	Then the prophet said to the king (1 Samuel 28:16), "Why do you consult me, now that the LORD has turned away from you and become your enemy?”  According to Hebrews 10:27, eternal flames...”will consume the enemies of God.”
	King Saul had the choice to repent and turn back to God, but he chose not to.  With only one day to live (when the prophet spoke those words to him), the king still did not repent, and chose to commit suicide (1 Samuel 31:4).
	It is a sad story of once being saved, and later being lost forever, (because of falling into serious sin).  The king could have escaped the flames of Gehenna (by repenting), but at the time of his death, he was ‘an enemy of God.’
	His choice to end his life by suicide, gives evidence that the king had ‘shipwrecked’ his faith.  And our choices will either give evidence of our faith in Christ, or that we have turned aside and have gone our own way.
	The teaching of ‘once saved, always saved,’ is a delusion from the devil.  The Serpent is saying through that false doctrine, what he said to Eve, ‘You surely don’t have to obey God.  The choices you make, have nothing to do with salvation.’
	That is the lie, and that is why Jesus gave this warning, “For wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat,” (Matthew 7:13 KJS).
	It is everyone’s choice to obey God’s Word, or to reject it, and it is everyone’s choice to accept sound doctrine, or listen to myths. 
	It is absolutely true that, “It is by grace you have been saved,” (Ephesians 2:8), but we must finish the verse, ”through faith‑‑and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God‑‑“.  OSAS teachers say that Eternal Life is a ‘gift,’ and they will also quote Romans 6:23 (NKJV)...”The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord,” which is correct.  It is a gift, and it is only through Christ Jesus.
	They also claim that it is a present tense possession, according to John 6:47, “He who believes has everlasting life,” and 1 John 5:12, “He who has the Son has life,” but they don’t quote other verses, like Titus 3:7, “Having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” 
	Or Mark 10:29-30, where Jesus told us that anything we gave up for the sake of Him and the gospel, would not “fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields‑‑and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.”
	Or Romans 2:7, “To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.”
	Jesus and His Apostles taught that eternal life is a ‘hope,’ ‘in the age to come,’ and only if we ‘persist in the faith.’  To receive salvation, we must continue to believe, and persist in doing God’s will.
	Romans 2:7 is in full agreement with John 5:29, where Jesus taught (in regard to those who would enter His Father’s Kingdom at His return), saying, “Those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.”
	This ‘continuing to believe’ has nothing to do with works, but everything to do with faith.  These many warnings in the Bible should not cause fear, but give us a desire to be more serious about our faith.  We should be ‘serious about the talk we’re talking,’ and the ‘evidence should be in the walk we’re walking,’ *[Joy Williams].
	We are to read God’s Word, so that we are well informed of the sacrifice for our sins Jesus made on Calvary’s cross.  Then we are to live by faith in that finished work of atonement...which freed us from the sins and guilt of the past.
	Our choices must be based on God’s Word, and our faith centered on Christ.  That is ‘continuing in the faith’ and that is what gives evidence we love God with all of our heart, soul, and mind.
	The devil cannot defeat us, and he cannot deceive us, when we are connected to the True Vine, Jesus Christ.  By the ability that only God can give, may we see the vital importance of repenting, and making life choices that prove that repentance, (Acts 26:20).
	The warnings of the Apostle and Jesus keep coming back again and again (Galatians 6:9), “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”  And Matthew 10:22, “He who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
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The First-Century Gospel Church
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PHILADELPHIA PA  19120-2404
FAX: 215 549 6590
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