ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED: WRONG

Various faith groups within the Christian church have taught conflicting views whether a saved person can subsequently lose his salvation.

Some do agree with John Calvin, that "once saved, a person is always saved." As soon as one is saved, he is secure in the knowledge that he will attain heaven after death, no matter what he does during the rest of his life. Can this be true? Just believe in Jesus Christ and you are saved forever.

Others believe with John Wesley, that one can be saved one day and lose one's salvation later in life, either through an improper thought or deed. Thus, a person's salvation status is not determined until he actually dies.

Still others believe, with the Amish, that salvation is attained through living properly according to strict rules, and that one's salvation status is not determined until one dies.

John Calvin - 10 July, 1509 - 27 May, 1564

John Wesley - June 28, 1703 - March 2, 1791

Jacob Ammann led "The Amish" founded in Europe in 1693

Which of the three views is correct? John Calvin, John Wesley or the Amish
We can see from the parable of the sower quoted by Jesus.

PARABLE OF THE SOWER
Matt 13:3-23, Mark 4:1-20
Matt 13:20-21 man falls away

Mark 13:13
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end shall be saved.

Look again at the second half of that sentence. Jesus is saying that to be saved you must stand firm until you die. Conversely he is therefore saying that those who do not stand firm will not be saved!

I sincerely believe the ‘once saved always saved’ concept to be wrong. The implication that once someone becomes a ‘real’ Christian, he is saved and that he can’t backslide or commit a sin which would rob him of that inheritance. He is saved because he believes in Jesus and Jesus will not let him down or fall into sin.

TO BE SAVED, ONE HAS TO UNDERGO 6 STEPS

To have faith, one must be willing to listen first, reconsider the facts, repent of one's sins, confess Jesus is Lord, that He died, is resurrected the third day and baptize for the forgiveness of one's sins and continue to lead a blameless life until the Lord returns. Faith is not just one action of believing. It takes some steps.

1. Be willing to hear the message.
2. Believe in faith
3. Repent of your sins.
4. Confess that you believe Jesus rose from the dead.
5. Baptize in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of all sins.
6. Continue in the faith.

Judas Iscariot was one of the chosen apostles by Jesus and he followed Him for about three and a half years. He had the position as treasurer of the group and was respected by his peers. The position he held was respected.

One of the most important criteria for the apostles was that the individual must have been sent by Jesus to proclaim the Gospel. The apostles proclaim the Kingdom of God after receiving the Spirit which empowers and enlightens them. They are also able to transmit power in the performance of miracles and also through the baptism. To transmit power to those who accept is proof of the genuine power of the apostle. It means that the apostle himself has legitimate power to receive the Holy Spirit and transmit it to other human beings.

The Tremendous Power of the Apostles

The supernatural power over unclean spirits and the healing of all kinds of diseases cannot be equalled. Judas Iscariot was one of these apostles who were envied by others. If Judas at this time was not saved, how can he have this supernatural power? In the end of three years, Satan entered into him through the lure of 30 pieces of silver, he was completely enticed by the sight of the love of money and sold Jesus for the sake of the money. Greed overtook him and overwhelmed him completely.

Matthew 10:1; Mark 3:15

And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

Mark 16:15-18

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Not only do they have the power but also of the knowledge of God. They are meant to transform this knowledge and power and then pass it on to other human beings who are not in a position to absorb the Word of God directly.

Did Jesus know that Judas would eventually betray Him? Of course, Jesus knew but He allowed Judas to follow his heart as God allows us free reign over our decisions. Jesus came to save people, not to judge. Judgment would be when Jesus returned to earth the second time to judge the whole world, all those who had died and also the living.

Judas was "one of his disciples" (John 12:4 and Luke 6:13,16).

Judas was once saved, but became unsaved because he did not abide in Jesus Christ until the end.

John 13:8

Jesus washed all His disciples' feet, including Judas Iscariot. Jesus remarked to Peter, "If I wash thee not, thou has no part with me." That means that Judas had been a part of Jesus Christ until he sinned and sold Jesus.

If once is saved always saved, why are Christians tested to show whether they still believe in God? Why waste the time to test so many Christians if they are already forever saved. You then do not have to prove yourself worthy. You are already worthy even though you may have sins on you.

If Jesus will not let him down or fall into sin, that means He has taken man's freedom to choose how his life will be. If that happens, human beings are just pawns or robotic machines not having any will to choose whatsoever.

Christians can sin and they often do sin but to believe that a Christian can live any way he or she likes, and still be saved, is dangerous and wrong. Some argue that a ‘real’ Christian would not commit these sins and it is the so called Christians (in name only) who sin and fall from grace. Committed Christians sin for all sorts of reasons and we are only saved by God’s amazing grace. God knows our true hearts! Why then are Christians tested in the furnace of affliction? Why are they tried like for silver or gold?

Take Apostle Peter for example. He was a firm believer in Jesus, but when threatened, he denied Jesus three times before the cock crowed. Peter denied Jesus three times.

Matthew 26:69-75; Mark 14:66-72; John 18:15-18; 25-27.

Peter sinned because he was weak and not because he wanted to sin deliberately. There is a difference to this.

If a Christian sins deliberately and breaks laws for his or her own advantage knowingly, it is quite different from accidentally sinning.

God knows our true intention. We might be able to fool the public that we sinned accidentally, but God knows the real truth. If we deliberately go against the commandments given by Jesus or the laws of the country, then we must suffer the consequences which mean the loss of eternal life.

Matthew 26:60-75.

Peter wept bitterly for denying Jesus Christ thrice. It probably meant that he must have wept, pleaded bitterly and repented to Jesus asking for forgiveness. Jesus already knew beforehand that Peter was going to deny Him thrice. We must be sinless before we can go to heaven.

If we confess our sin we repair our relationship with God and everything is okay. However,if we refuse to repent and confess and continue to sin our relationship will deteriorate. In time we grow cold and our relationship is completely ruined.

A Christian who sins is not different from an unbeliever. The sin marks him as a sinner and sinners are barred from heaven. To believe that once you were saved, will be forever saved is a piped dream and wishful thinking.

Peter's sinning is different from that of Judas Iscariot. Judas deliberately sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. He planned to betray Jesus and even told the Jewish officials how to identify Jesus. Peter, on the other hand denied Jesus Christ due to his own weakness and fear that he would be punished just as Jesus was. Peter repented and was forgiven.

We have to demonstrate our faith by works as Abraham did by obeying God when God asked him to kill his only son Isaac. Abraham believed that God would solve the problem when Isaac asked Abraham where was the lamb to be sacrified. Abraham replied that God would provide. He did not argue with God for giving him a son in his old age and now wanting his life. He obeyed without protesting. His faith in God was constant and did not fluctuate with trials and temptations. God chose us for our belief or faith in Him, but we must be consistent with our faith and not fluctuate as the waves . Our faith must be consistent as members in Jesus Christ.

2 Tim 1:9; Titus 3:5

True! God chose us for believing in Him first. To maintain our belief, we must continue to rely on Him. Remember Abraham was tested and it was his reaction to sacrifice his son Isaac that made God bless Abraham. If Abraham believed, but did not obey the voice of God, to prove himself obedient to His will, God would not have blessed Abraham.

In my last hub, I wrote about Grace who was pregnant in her sixth month and had chicken pox and it threatened the baby she was carrying. She continued praying and after the baby was born, she did baptize into the Lord. Was it work that saved her? No, it was her faith in Christ at the beginning, but she did prove she believed when she received baptism.

PREGNANT WOMAN SEEKS GOD
http://hubpages.com/hub/pregnantwomanseeksgod

James 2:21-22

Was not Abraham our forefather justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

James wrote that faith must be accompanied by works thus nullifying that one is saved by faith only, and not by works. James seemed to differ with Paul on this point. They were both writing to different audience but both stressed ultimately that belief in Christ was of utmost importance. If one argues that Paul was an impostor, then should not James be labelled an impostor as well? They both truly believed in Jesus Christ as their saviour.

The scriptures teach to endure to the end. This is an important concept. Unless you run the race until the end, you cannot win the race.

1. Matthew 24:13; Mark 13:13

• But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

2. John 15:4-6.

• Abide in me, and I in you, As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me. (6) If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

3. Hebrews 6:4-6

• For as touching those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come, and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

4. 2 Peter 2:20-22

• For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, 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, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

5. Hebrews 10:26

• 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 of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

6. Hebrews 12:15-17

• Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; (17) For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

7. Romans 11:22

• Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

8. 1 Corinthians 9:27

• But I keep under my body, and bring it unto subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

9. 1 Corinthians 10:12

• Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

10. 1 Timothy 4:1

• Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

11. 1 Timothy 5:12

• Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.

12. 2 Timothy 4:3,4

• For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; (4) And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

13. Hebrews 3:12-14

• Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. (14) For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end;

14. 1 John 2:24

• Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

15. Philippians 2:12

• Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

16. Romans 6:1,2

• What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
• God forbid.

17. Revelation 2:5,10

• 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. (10) Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give the a crown of life.