ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=145 BGCOLOR="#3366CC" TEXT="#080000" background="083ff483.gif"> <div> <A HREF="mailto: heislord@teacher.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto: heislord@teacher.com"><U><IMG SRC="1c578780.gif" border=0 width="120" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div> Any Questions?  Just E-Mail Me.</div> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="084ff483.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#6666FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>HE IS LORD Ministries</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#663399" FACE="Times New Roman" >    </FONT> |    <B> </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HE IS LORD Ministries"><U><B>home</B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BIBLE STUDIES AVAILABLE"><U>BIBLE STUDIES AVAILABLE</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id73.htm" 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Dictionary (ed. Sept. 1976)</U>.  Those who teach that a one-time decision makes a person's salvation eternally secure often reason that individuals who "fall away" were never really saved in the first place.  However, if they were NOT really saved, what did they "fall away/depart from?"  You <B>CANNOT</B> "fall" from a height where you have never stood, nor is it possible to "depart from" Africa if you have never been there.  The same Greek word "aphistemi," that is translated "fall away" in Luke 8:13, is translated "depart" in 1Ti. 4:1.  According to Jesus' parable in Luke chapter 8 and the warning of the apostle Paul to Timothy, believers <B>CAN</B> "fall away/depart from" salvation.  "Aphistemi" is also used in 2Ti. 2:19 to describe "depart from iniquity."  Yet, we do not hear of anyone reasoning that a one-time thief who became a Christian and has victory through Christ, should <B>NOT</B> "depart from [this] iniquity."  Along the same lines, it is impossible when a “dog is turned to his own vomit again,” 2Pe. 2:22, to do so, unless he had at first left that lifestyle, and for “the sow that was washed to [return to] her wallowing in the mire,” 2Pe. 2:22, unless it also had left that lifestyle.</div> <bR> <div> The Biblical fact that we <B><U>DO</U></B> have a <B><U>CHOICE</U></B>, and <B><U>ARE</U></B> responsible moral agents, is certain from the following verses:  "I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing:  therefore choose life," Deu. 30:19; "Choose you this day whom you will serve," Jos. 24:15;  "How long halt ye between two opinions," 1Ki. 18:21; "refuse the evil, and choose the good,"  Isa. 7:15;  "Choose the things that please Me," Isa. 56:4;  "No man can serve two masters," Mat. 6:24; Luke 16:13;  "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey," Rom. 6:16.  And literally hundreds of other common sense verses like Luke 13:24:  `Strive to enter in at the strait gate," and: 1Ki. 18:21; Eze. 18:32; 33:11.  In God's Word, nothing is ever said about God <B><U>CHOOSING</U></B> any one to be lost, only about Jesus dying for ALL (see 1Ti. 2:4 and 2Pe. 3:9).  That we do have something to do in this great drama is clearly seen in these following verses:  "work out you own salvation with fear and trembling" Phi. 2:12;  "Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?  Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him:  but I will maintain mine own ways before Him."  Job 13:14-15;  "My soul is continually in my hand:"  Psa. 119:109;  "they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith [Who] the Lord God."  Eze. 14:14.  If God had the choice all would be saved.  Since this is not the case, it is understood that God pleads with man to <B><U>choose</U></B> life (see Isa. 1:18).  Do these Bible words of God pleading with us sound like "Once Saved Always Saved" words: agonize, diligent, effort, endure, labor, laborers, overcome, pray, strive, watch, wrestle?</div> <bR> <div> If I am saved at conversion, then I am no longer a <B><U>free moral agent</U></B> (to be discussed latter), and can no longer <B><U>CHOOSE</U></B> to be lost.  The following verses clearly teach us that there is no such teaching in God's word as "<B><U>ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED</U></B>." Eze. 3:20:  "Again, When a righteous man doth <I><B>turn from his righteousness</B></I>, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die:  because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered;  but his blood will I require at thine hand."  Eze. 18:24,26:  "When a righteous man <I><B>turneth away from his righteousness</B></I>, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them;  for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die."  Eze. 33:12-13:  "Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, <I><B>The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression</B></I>:  as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness;  <I><B>neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth</B></I>.  When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live;  if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered;  but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it."  Mat. 25:11-12:  "Afterward came also the other <I><B>virgins</B></I> [not harlots, these are church members in full belief of Christ's return and salvation], saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But He answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not."  Luke 8:13:  "They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while <I><B>believe</B></I> [on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved," Acts 16:31], and in time of temptation fall away."  Rom. 11:21-22:  "For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.  Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God:  on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, <I><B>if thou continue</B></I> in His goodness:  otherwise thou also shalt be cut off."  1Co. 9:27:  "But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself <I><B>should be a castaway</B></I>."  1Co. 10:12:  "Wherefore let <I><B>him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall</B></I>."  1Ti. 4:1:  "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall <I><B>depart from the faith</B></I>, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils."  1Ti. 5:12,15:  "Having damnation, because they have <I><B>cast off their first faith</B></I>… For some are already turned aside after Satan."  Heb. 3:6,12-14:  "But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, <I><B>if</B></I> we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.  Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in <I><B>departing from the living God</B></I>.  But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; <I><B>lest any of you be hardened</B></I> through the deceitfulness of sin.  For we are made partakers of Christ, <I><B>if we hold</B></I> the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end."  Heb. 4:1:  "Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to <I><B>come short of it</B></I>."  Heb. 6:4-6:  "For it is impossible for those who were <I><B>once enlightened</B></I>, and have <I><B>tasted of the heavenly gift</B></I>, and were <I><B>made partakers of the Holy Ghost</B></I>, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall <I><B>fall away</B></I>, to renew them again unto repentance;  seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame.  Heb. 10:26:  "For if we sin wilfully <I><B>after that we have received the knowledge of the truth</B></I>, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins."  Heb. 12:15:  "Looking diligently lest any man fail of [margin:  <I><B>fall from</B></I>] the grace of God;  lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled."  Heb. 12:25:  "See that ye refuse not him that speaketh.  For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, <I><B>if we turn away</B></I> from him that speaketh from heaven."  Jam. 5:19-20:  "Brethren, if any of you do <I><B>err from the truth</B></I>, and one convert him;  Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall <I><B>save a soul</B></I> from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins."  2Pe. 2:20-22:  "For if after they have <I><B>escaped the pollutions of the world</B></I> through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are <I><B>again entangled therein</B></I>, <I><B>and overcome</B></I>, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, <I><B>after they have known it</B></I>, to <I><B>turn</B></I> from the holy commandment delivered unto them.  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, <I><B>The dog is turned to his own vomit again</B></I>;  and t<I><B>he sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire</B></I>."  2Pe. 3:17:  "Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, <I><B>fall from</B></I> your own stedfastness."  Rev. 2:4-5:  "Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast <I><B>left thy first love</B></I>.  Remember therefore from whence <I><B>thou art fallen</B></I>, and repent, and do the first works;  or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will <I><B>remove thy candlestick</B></I> out of his place, except thou repent."  See also:  Jos. 24:20; 1Sa. 16:14; Psa. 51:11; Mat. 10:22; 24:13; Luke 12:42-46; 1Co. 15:2; Col. 1:23; 2Ti. 4:10 (see Phi. 24); Heb. 2:1-3; 12:15; 2Pe. 1:9-10; 1Jo. 2:24; Rev. 2:26; 3:1-3; 3:11.</div> <bR> <div> At this point I would like to illustrate our true position in life.  If "Once Saved Always Saved" were a true doctrine, than Adam and Eve would have never fallen.  But the scriptures record that Adam and Eve sinned, and the law of nature was changed to "thorns and thistles" Gen. 3:18.  No method or equipment has ever been produced that is capable of reversing "The Law of Thorns and Thistles."  No matter what preparation of the soil is made;  how the chemicals are arranged;  the quality of seeds planted;  if the farmer neglects his field of labor it will soon revert back to "The Law of Thorns and Thistles" and become a wasteland.  This simple law of nature should be an object lesson for everyone who has eyes of discernment.  Like the farmer, no one can escape the law that naturally turns the human heart back to it's wilderness of sin even after a period of cultivation.  We all have a natural bent toward sinning which unaided, by the continual power of God, we cannot resist.  It is a simple fact that there is no spiritual experience on earth revolutionary enough to exempt us from "The Law of Thorns and Thistles."  The moment we let down our guard and neglect our spiritual life, that very moment the jungle begins regaining ground seeking to swallow up the tiny areas that have been cleared by the power of God's Spirit.  "The Law of Thorns and Thistles" is ever present.  The neglected heart will be overrun with worldly thought;  the neglected life will become moral chaos;  the neglected church will "become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird," Rev. 18:2.  We need to be constantly weeding the gardens of our minds.  This "Weeding of Thorns and Thistles" is the personal work of a life time, a work that once begun must continue until the original law of Eden has been reestablished and our earth (minds) been renewed by our Creator.</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Examples of those who where "ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED."</B></I>  We learn of a certain disciple from Paul in 2Ti. 4:10:  "For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica;  Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia."  And then there is King Saul.  "And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.  And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee;  <I><B>for God is with thee</B></I>.  And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, <I><B>God gave him another heart</B></I>:  and all those signs came to pass that day.  And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him;  <I><B>and the Spirit of God came upon him</B></I>, and he prophesied among them."  1Sa. 10:6-7, 9-10.  Also we read of him in 1Sa. 11:6:  "And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly."  This is none other than a righteous anger inspired by God.  But then Saul turns from his righteousness.  "And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in <I><B>obeying the voice of the LORD</B></I>?  Behold, <B>to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams</B>."  1Sa. 15:22.  "And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, <I><B>seeing I have rejected him</B></I> from reigning over Israel?"  1Sa. 16:1.  "But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him."  1Sa. 16:14.  "So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it;  And enquired not of the LORD:  therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse."  1Ch. 10:13-14.  In these last verses we can clearly see that there are sins that even though a man may have been right with the Lord, God will not pardon him from.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="mailto: heislord@teacher.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto: heislord@teacher.com"><U><IMG SRC="2cb785a0.gif" border=0 width="120" height="90" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>OBJECTIONS</B></I></div> <bR> <div> "<B><U>Foreknow</U></B>" in the Greek is "proginosko," meaning:  "to know beforehand."  This word occurs elsewhere in the New Testament in Acts 26:5; Rom. 11:2; 1 Pet. 1:20; 2 Pet. 3:17.  God foreknows because He is omniscient:  That is, He knows all things. Of Him the Scriptures affirm:  "All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do," Heb. 4:13; "declaring the end from the beginning,"  Isa. 46:10;  "Known unto God are all His works from the beginning," Acts 15:18.  Nothing short of absolute knowledge would satisfy our fundamental concept of God's perfection.  Because He knows the future, He is never taken by surprise.  Predictive prophecy is the supreme evidence of His foreknowledge.  The forecasted events do not take place because they are foreseen; they are foreseen because they will take place.  In this, God does not violate your own will just because He is omniscient.  Because I know you to be a generous person, does not mean I have forced you to GIVE!  Simply put, since God knows what you will do before you do it, that does not mean He made you do it.</div> <bR> <div> "<B>[C]alled according to His purpose</B>" <B>Rom. 8:28</B>.  Antinomians' use of this verse to promote the idea that God predestined most men to die, is a false understanding of God's Word.  "Purpose" in the Greek is "prothesis," meaning basically: "a proposition," "a setting forth of something in the sight of others."  In Rom. 3:25 the verb from which this term is derived, "protithems," is used to describe God's act in "setting forth" His Son.  When applied to the mind, the term means a "plan," or a "purpose."  God's purpose to save man is realized through the proper exercise of man's freedom of <B>CHOICE</B>.  However, remember that God died for <B>ALL</B> (1Jo. 2:2) humanity.  Your <B>CHOICE</B> to die does not make that God's purpose.</div> <bR> <div> <B>John 6:37-39</B>:  "All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.  For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me.  And this is the Father's will which hath sent Me, that of all which he hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day."  What this verse does NOT teach is that Jesus will continue to hold individuals hostage who choose to stop coming to Him.  The key is found in verse 38.  As Jesus was found to be doing not His own will, but the will of His Father - by His own CHOICE by the way - so we must summit our wills and ways buy our choice, to his will.  And when this is the case, then Christ will have lost none of those (verse 39) which have responded to the love of the Father, and they will be raised "at the last day."</div> <bR> <div> <B>Rom. 8:29-30</B>, <B>Eph. 1:4,5,11</B> and <B>Acts 13:48</B> are used to promote the doctrine that certain ones are "elected" to be saved and others to be lost, and that nothing the individual can do will affect the result, because it has been <B>CHOSEN</B> for us by God. "Predestinate" in the Greek is "proorizo," meaning:  "to mark beforehand."  The word is translated "determined before" in Acts 4:28, and "ordained" in 1Co. 2:7.  God predestined <B>ALL</B> to be saved, 1Ti. 2:6. God never had any other purpose than eternal life for the members of the human family.  For God "will have <B>all men to be saved</B>, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth," 1Ti. 2:4.  And God is "not willing that <B>any </B>should perish, but that <B>all should come to repentance</B>," 2Pe. 3:9.  Note the word ALL. How much clearer can God's Word be?  Do these verses (or any others) teach that God <B>CHOOSES</B> some to die?  Jesus died on the cross for <B>ALL</B>;  There would be no need for His death if the <B>CHOICE</B> of salvation had been made for us.  Salvation is not forced upon anyone against their will. If we <B>CHOOSE</B> to oppose and resist God's purpose, we shall be lost.  <U>Divine foreknowledge and Divine predestination in no way exclude human liberty</U>.  Nowhere in the Word of God does it suggest that God has predestinated certain men to be saved and certain others to be lost, regardless of their own <B>CHOICE</B>.</div> <bR> <div> God has "<B>chosen us</B>" <B>Eph. 1:4</B>, as He <B>CHOSE</B> Israel before creation.  Paul is here expressing a similar thought concerning the church, or spiritual Israel.  It is a general election (John 3:16), not an individual election which is meant here.  Notice also in this verse that God wants us to "be holy and without blame before Him."  God's standard of righteousness is not something man can trifle with.  The conclusion of the matter is, we must <B>CHOOSE</B> to serve God and live, or <B>CHOOSE</B> to disobey God and die.  Why does He continually ask us to be righteous if He was already forcing us to be?</div> <bR> <div> <B>Eph. 2:8-9</B> - I have no quarrel with the Biblical FACT that we are saved by grace.  The question is "when" are we ultimately saved?  Consider these verses in their time setting of <B><U>UNCERTAIN TENSE</U></B>:  Isa. 45;22; Jer. 4:14;  Luke 8:12; John 3:17; 5:34; Rom. 10:1; 1Co. 15:2; 1Ti. 2:15; 4:16;  <B><U>PRESENT TENSE</U></B> (remembering that these verses ignore the Biblical <B>FACT</B> that you can then loose this present salvation):  Psa. 106:8; Isa. 12:2; 63:9; Luke 7:50; 18:42; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 16:31; Rom. 10:9,13; Eph. 2:5,8; Tit. 2:11; 3:5;  FUTURE TENSE:  Psa. 80:3,7,19; Pro. 28:18; Isa. 30:15; 45:17; 64:5; Jer. 17:14; 23:6; 33:16; Mark 16:16; Luke 13:23; John 10:9; Acts 15:11; Rom. 5:9; 9:27; 11:26; 1Co. 3:15; 1Ti. 2:15; 1Pe. 4:18; Rev. 21:24-27:  Or when we are really saved in the <B><U>UNCERTAIN, PRESENT, FUTURE, IN HEAVEN TENSE</U></B>:  Isa. 25:9 - "And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God, we have waited for Him, and He will save us,"  (Still waiting for that day).  Mat. 10:22; 24:13; Mark 13:13 - "he that endureth until the end shall be saved."  (Not the end yet).  Luke 21:28 - "for your redemption draweth nigh."  (Not redeemed yet).  Rom. 8:23 - "even we ourselves groan within ourselves waiting for the adoption."  (Still not adopted).  Rom. 8:24 - "For we are saved by hope:  but hope that is seen is not hope:  for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?"  (Still hoping).  1Co. 5:5 - "may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." ("may be" = Maybe).</div> <bR> <div> In looking into <B>2 Peter 1:10</B>, we read that the only way to "make your calling and election sure," is to "do these things," so that "ye shall never fall," while you are keeping God's will.  "Come now, and <B>let us reason together</B>," Isa. 1:18.  "Put Me in remembrance:  <B>let us plead together</B>."  These are not the words of a God who <B>forces</B> the will of man. God "cannot accept an homage that is not willingly and intelligently given," <U>Steps to Christ</U>, p. 27.</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>CONSIDER:</B></I>  There is nothing so offensive to God or so dangerous to the human soul as pride and self-sufficiency.  Of all sins, it is the most hopeless, the most incurable.  Never can we safely put confidence in self or feel this side of heaven, that we are secure against temptation.  Those who accept the Savior, however sincere their conversion should never be taught to say or to feel that they are saved.  "Those who accept Christ, and in their first confidence say I am saved, are in danger of trusting to themselves.  They lose sight of their own weakness and their constant need of divine strength.  They are unprepared for Satan's devices, and under temptation many fall into the very depths of sin.  We are admonished, `Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall' 1Co. 10:12.  Our only safety is in constant distrust of self, and dependence on Christ."  <U>Christ's Object Lessons</U>, p. 155.  "We are never to rest in a satisfied condition, and cease to make advancement saying, `I am saved.'  When this idea is entertained, the motives for watchfulness, for prayer, for earnest endeavor to press onward to higher attainments, cease to exist.  No sanctified tongue will be found uttering these words till Christ shall come, and we enter in through the gates into the city of God.  Then, with the utmost propriety, we may give glory to God and to the Lamb for eternal deliverance...  As long as man is full of weakness - for of himself he cannot save his soul - he should never dare to say `I am saved'... We should raise no human standard whereby to measure character.  We have seen enough of what men call perfection here below.  God's holy law is the only thing by which we can determine whether we are keeping His way or not.  If we are disobedient, our characters are out of harmony with God's moral rule of government, and it is stating a falsehood to say, `I am saved.'  No one is saved who is a transgressor of the law of God, which is the foundation of His government in heaven and in earth."  <U>Selected Messages, Book 1</U>, p. 314-315.</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Final thought</B></I>.  While it is true that people who choose to be in a savable relationship with the Lord may sin, they are instantly grieved and led to repentance [1Jo. 1:9] "by the Spirit of God," as promised in Rom. 8:14-15:  "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear;  but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."  By daily continuing to walk with Christ, one can have the <I><B>assurance of salvation</B></I>.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="mailto: heislord@teacher.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto: heislord@teacher.com"><U><IMG SRC="1f850320.gif" border=0 width="80" height="50" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>