Once Saved Always Saved

“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” (‭‭Heb ‭6:4-6‬)

“OSAS,” as some quote, is another destructive doctrine that has led many into complacency and reprobacy. The Bible speaks very clearly regarding those who do not continue in the word of God/endure till the end. Eternal security is a reality and assurance for the people of God who continue in obedience and holiness. Yet there are various denominations and groups that teach that one is not capable of losing their salvation, no matter the state they find themselves in. This is a lie!

It presents a convenient gospel that requires no true sacrifice and obedience to the Lord. People have been deceived especially as again scriptures have been used outside of their original meaning to support this (and other) doctrines. Scripture states: “But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.” (Eze 18:24). Right here would usher comments about how “the Old Testament doesn’t apply anymore” and other protests against this. However, such arguments disregard that when Jesus and all the apostles preached for the first decade or so, the only scripture that existed was the Old Testament. The first few books of the New Testament were written between 40-50 AD and after, and the entire church didn't have all of Paul's letters or even more than one of the gospel accounts. We cannot neglect the whole of Scripture and the lessons if: “all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim 3:16-17) and if these events from time past were written for our learning (Rom 15:4). Whoever does not continue in righteousness cut themselves off from the vine and is thrown in the fire (Jn 15:6).

It is possible to fall away and thus lose salvation. Hence, the admonitions throughout Scripture that we must heed to. To understand why OSAS is a false doctrine, let us examine the other doctrine that has fostered this idea. Those who hold to OSAS also believe that one is not saved by works but by faith in Christ, according to their interpretation of Eph 2:8. As has been covered in previous articles, no one did anything to earn the grace of God. However, now that grace is here as a teacher, grace demands righteous works (Tit 2:11-14). Jesus has purified His people to do good works and follow His example of righteousness. And so, we will be judged by our works (Rev 22:12), perhaps more so now as those who profess to know Him. “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” (1 Pet 4:17). 

We must acknowledge that God’s word is truth and never in vain. His words never return to Him void but go out to do that which He has sent it out to do (Isaiah 55:11). Consider the examples throughout Scripture for our learning, from the beginning of man’s history with God. God told Adam and Eve to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil for they would surely die (Gen 2:17). They ate (disobeyed) and died with Adam living for 930 years (Gen 5:5). They were in God’s presence and blameless until they disobeyed. In Moses’ time, all the Israelites made it out of Egypt but not all made it out of the wilderness. Hebrews 3 reminds us of those who fell into unbelief by their disobedience to God and as a result, were destroyed in the wilderness. Though they escaped from bondage in Egypt, they fell into sin and thus could not see the land of promise. This serves as a reminder that we are being saved hence the need to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12) and to abide in the Lord and His word/teachings (Jn 15).

Now consider also in Acts 5, Ananias and Sapphira who were struck dead for lying to the Holy Spirit. These were individuals who had just become part of the Church only to have sinned and been cut off. Scripture reminds us that: “And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things” (Acts 5:11) as a result of the consequences of their actions, serving to remind us that our God is indeed a consuming fire (Heb 12:29). Examine the Lord’s words in Revelations to the churches, to the church of Ephesus in particular, we hear: “I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent” (Rev 2:2-5). Even though they as a church seemed to be doing things right, they had forgotten their first love which warranted their candlestick being removed. Jesus admonishes: “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” (Rev 2:6-7). 

Throughout the scriptures, as it is now, the consequence of sin is death. It has never changed and will never change, for the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life (Rom 6:23). Adherents to OSAS quote John 10:28 - 29 to explain why only their belief in Jesus Christ grants them eternal security. “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.” Yet they ignore the previous verse: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:” Anyone following after Christ is in obedience to Him, abiding in Him and bearing fruit. If they continue to do this, they are secure in the Father’s hand and no one can pluck them out. People themselves can leave His hand through their own actions as scripture makes clear: “for it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”(‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭6:4-6‬). How does one explain this in light of OSAS? And this?: “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:26-31)

Eternal security is the assurance for the saints of God. It is however conditional on what we do after professing faith in Christ. Nothing can remove us from the Lord but ourselves and what we do: whether we live in righteousness leading to life or return to sin which leads to death. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” (Gal 6:7-8). Consider this as well: “to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: but unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath” (Rom 2:7-8). God promises to cause all things to work together for the good of them that love Him and are the called according to His purpose (Rom 8:28). To love the Lord is to obey Him (Jn 14:15).

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” 2 Cor 5:10