once saved always saved DOCTRINE
A) INTRODUCTION.
B) SATAN IS NO LONGER STILL IN HEAVEN.
C) TO THE BIBLE.
D) EXAMPLES OF THOSE WHO WHERE BIBLICALLY “ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED.”
E) ELECTED OR NOT.
F) THE DOCTRINE OF THE DIVINE DECREES (Which Defined Is “Predestination or Election”).
G) THE CLEAREST EVIDENCE FOR TRUTH.
H) TO YOUR MAIN OBJECTIONS (First - “Foreknow”).
I) ROMANS, CHAPTER 8, VERSE 28.
J) EPHESIANS, CHAPTER 1, VERSE 4.
K) EPHESIANS, CHAPTER 1, VERSE 11.
L) EPHESIANS, CHAPTER 2, VERSES 8-9.
M) SECOND THESSALONIANS, CHAPTER 2, VERSE 13
N) FIRST PETER, CHAPTER 1, VERSE 2.
O) SECOND PETER, CHAPTER 1, VERSE 10.
P) FOR YOU TO CONSIDER.
Q) FINAL THOUGHT.
A) INTRODUCTION
If a Book -- in this case the Bible -- is good enough to support your position (doctrine), then It is good enough to refute your position. The ONE barrier to truth is to believe you already have it without hearing the other side.
B) SATAN IS NO LONGER STILL IN HEAVEN
If “Once Saved Always Saved” were true, then Satan would have never fallen, along with one third (Rev. 12:4) of the angels (Jude 1:6). If “Once Saved Always Saved” were true, then Adam and Eve were not (never) perfect. If “Once Saved Always Saved” were true, then Jesus the Christ was not “tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin,” Hebrews 4:16. If Christ could not have “sinned,” i.e., lost His salvation, then the entire testing of Satan was a useless exercise in fertility.
THE MOST CONVINCING TEXT that should end this Bible Study could be Amos 9:10: “All the sinners of My people shall die by the sword, which say, The evil shall not overtake nor prevent us.” But I’m sure the “OSAS” crowd will come up with some excuse.
The FACT that God asks us to “Choose,” Deuteronomy 30:19; Joshua 24:15; Job 34:4; Psalm 25:12; Proverbs 1:29 & 3:31; etcetera, means He does not force you, or chooses you without you having a “choice,” nor that He does not let you change your mind, proves you are not “Once Saved Always Saved.”
The F-A-C-T that God asks us consistently to “repent” and “overcome,” is evidence that these were or are in a “saved” position; but not “OSAS.” Because if they/you don’t repent and then overcome, Jesus will Come and “remove thy candlestick,” Revelation 2:5.
“When the conflict of life is ended, when the armor is laid off at the feet of Jesus, when the saints of God are glorified, then and then only will it be safe to claim that we are saved, and sinless.” Signs of the Times, May 16, 1895 paragraph 4; 3SM:355.5. But let’s continue on to later discover the arguments.
C) TO THE BIBLE
Consider also: If I am saved at conversion, then I am no longer a FREE MORAL AGENT (to be discussed later), and can no longer CHOOSE to be lost. I am condemned to Heaven, where I will be miserable or happy for the rest of my existence. Either way (Heaven or hell) God is made out to be a Tyrant! The overwhelming following verses clearly teach us that there is no such teaching in God’s Word as “ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED.”
Here is a list of some of the best Bible verses that clearly dispel the “False Doctrine” of “Once Saved Always Saved.”
First Samuel 2:30: “Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before Me for ever [Once Saved but not Always Saved, because]: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from Me; for them that honour Me I will honour, and they that despise Me shall be lightly esteemed [Least you say “lightly esteemed” means they will still be “esteemed,” remember our Lord’s statement about being the “least in Heaven,” meaning they will not be “in Heaven.”].”
First Chronicles 28:9: “And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve Him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek Him, He will be found of thee; but if thou forsake Him, He will cast thee off for ever.”
Ezekiel 3:20: “Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness [clearly, here is “a righteous man,” “saved” if you will. If you don’t agree, read on with some of the other Bible verses], 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.”
Ezekiel 18:24 & 26: “[24] 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. [26] When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.”
Ezekiel 33:12-13: “[12] Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression [But But But he was OSAS]: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness [If a wicked man “shall not fall,” that is after being saved, then “a righteous man” who does fall, must by contrast, be lost.]; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth. [13] When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousness shall not be remembered; but [but but he was OSAS] for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.”
Matthew 24:13: “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”
Matthew 25:11-12: “[11] Afterward came also the other virgins [Not harlots, these are Church members in full belief of Christ’s return and full belief in His salvation, else they would not be pleading at His door. To understand why these virgins are not saved is to understand the road to salvation.], saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. [12] 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 believe [so these did come to a belief “on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,” Acts 16:31; please don’t say that these did not have a saving relationship with our Lord -- the text is too plain.], and in time of temptation fall away.”
Romans 11:21-22: “[21] For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest He also spare not thee [who are in a saving relationship at this point]. [22] Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell [this is not talking about non-Church members -- non-believers], severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue [notice also that the relationship with God is based upon continuing in it] in His goodness: otherwise thou [who are in this “saved” status -- notice what will happen] also shalt be cut off.”
First Corinthians 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 should be a castaway [Please don’t tell yourself that Paul was not saved at this point.].”
First Corinthians 10:12: “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”
Galatians 2:17: “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.” Please don’t argue that these were NEVER in a saved position anyway; “while we seek to be justified.” Paul includes himself in his statement, “we.” Do you still want to argue that Paul was NEVER in a saved position?
Galatians 5:4: “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the Law; ye are fallen from grace.” Isn’t it strange that people who say they believe the Bible also say that we cannot fall from grace, when the Bible so plainly says that we can fall from grace?
Philippians 3:18-19: “[18] (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping [ONCE SAVED], that they are the enemies [NOT SAVED] of the cross of Christ.” [19] Whose end is destruction.”
First Timothy 1:19-20: “[19] Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: [20] Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.” The term “put away” means they once had it.
First Timothy 4:1: “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith[meaning they had the faith and were in a saving position], giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.”
Before I give you some more texts it is imperative that we establish some more common sense here. Once again let me reiterate the fact that you cannot “fall from,” “depart from,” or otherwise “turn away” from a place you have not been. You cannot “depart from” Brazil if you have never been there. You cannot “fall from” the Brooklyn Bridge, if you have never been on it. You cannot “draw back,” Hebrews 10:38, from something you have not been affected by.
First Timothy 5:12 & 15: “[12] Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith. . . [How clear is this that they had a saving relationship with God?] [15] For some are already turned aside after Satan.”
Hebrews 3:6 & 12-14: “[6] But Christ as a Son over His Own house; Whose house are we, if [big word] we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” [12] “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the Living God. [13] But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. [14] For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end.”
Hebrews 4:1: “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. [This verse is coinciding with others that we need to continue striving to enter in via the straight gate].”
Hebrews 6:4-6: “[4] For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened [SAVED], and have tasted of the Heavenly Gift [SAVED], and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost [DEFINITELY SAVED], [5] And have tasted the good Word of God, and the powers of the world to come [Why do people still argue that these individuals never had a saving relationship with God? How much clearer can God make it? Read this verse again if this Bible truth is still not clear], [6] If they shall fall away [You CANNOT “fall from” a place you have never been], to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame.” Bottom Line, this is the sin against the Holy Spirit.
Hebrews 10:26: “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth [After what? A saving relationship my friend.], there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.”
Hebrews 12:15: “Looking diligently lest any man fail [margin: fall from] of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled [meaning you were once clean and in that saving relationship; You cannot “defile” something that is already “defiled”].”
Hebrews 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, if we turn away from Him that speaketh from Heaven [Who’s the “we?” Are you now going to say that James was not “saved?”].”
James 5:19-20: “[19] Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth [This means they were once in it and that they are now going to be converted back to it. Check out the context of this verse again], and one convert him; [20] Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death [Notice that this person, though Once “Saved,” and turned away “from the truth,” was going to die / “death,” in their sins], and shall hide a multitude of sins [Notice again that these “sins” could not have been hidden unless the person was reconverted back to salvation, going from being in a “death” position].”
Second Peter 2:20-22: “[20] 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 [These verses are just to plain and clear. If you still do not see this you are fighting against your own reasoning powers.], the latter end is worse with them than the beginning [because they turned from the truth they once possessed. In other words, they knew better]. [21] For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness [because now they are even more accountable, and, clearly they were “saved,” for they had “escaped,” but again became “entangled”], than, after they have known it, to turn from the Holy Commandment delivered unto them. [22] 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 [in other words, they return to their sinful life of before and are lost forever].”
Second Peter 3:17: “Ye therefore, beloved [or “brethren,” or “saved” individuals], seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.”
Revelation 2:4-5: “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen [How clear is this? Here our Lord asks us to “remember” where we were and the relationship that we once had with Him.], 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.” Please repent from this foolish belief and come back to the Lord with Spiritual eyes on, to want to “agonize, diligent, effort, endure, labor, laborers, overcome, pray, stand, strive, watch, wrestle,” in order to stay in a saving relationship with our Lord.
Revelation 3:5: “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels.”
Note: If your name cannot be taken out of the Book of Life because you are Once Saved Always Saved, why would Jesus say this? The same is true of Exodus 32:33. See my Bible Study: “BOOK OF LIFE, THE.”
Revelation 3:11: “Behold, I Come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.”
Other verses that make sense once the proper Biblical concept is grasped: Joshua 24:20; First Samuel 16:14; Psalm 51:11; Matthew 10:22; 24:13; Luke 12:42-46; First Corinthians 15:2; Colossians 1:23; Second Timothy 4:10 (see Php. 1:24); Hebrews 2:1-3; 12:15; Second Peter 1:9-10; First John 2:24; Revelation 2:26; 3:1-3.
D) EXAMPLES OF THOSE WHO WHERE BIBLICALLY “ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED”
We learn of a certain disciple from Paul in Second Timothy 4:10: “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.” He could not have “forsaken” Paul unless is was a partner with Paul.
Those who teach the doctrine of the Divine Decrees insist that when once a person receives the gift of the Holy Spirit, he is “Once Saved Always Saved.” The absolute standout account as given in the Bible to dispute this false claim is the account of king Saul, when he turns from his righteousness.
Before we get to him, consider Psalm 51:11: “take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.” David would not say this if he could not lose Him once he has Him. Echoed in verse 12: “Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation.”
Speaking of King Saul. “[6] And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man. [7] And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee. [9] And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day. [10] And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.” First Samuel 10:6-7 & 9-10. Also, we read of him in First Samuel 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.
“And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” First Samuel 15:22. “And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel?” First Samuel 16:1. “But the Spirit of the LORD departed [WHAT DID WHAT?] from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.” First Samuel 16:14. “[13] 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; [14] And enquired not of the LORD: therefore He slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.” First Chronicles 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.
We learn of the judge Samson, when the Spirit of God dwelt within him to accomplish many works against God’s enemies, the Philistines, in Judges 13:25; 14:6 & 19; 15:14. Then when the Spirit of God left him in Judges 16:20. Notice, only when you are doing the will of God are you in a “saved” position.
In a futuristic sense, Revelation 2:5 states, “remove thy candlestick” = They are in a salvational condition, but God will change that if they do not “repent.” And in Revelation 3:11 it states, “that no man take thy crown” = This would indicate that God has a “certain number” designated for the redeemed. It also indicates that these people were in a saved condition and were going to receive a “crown,” but they are susceptible to losing it to another. But I know your argument. They are “Once Saved Always Saved” so they do not give up their “crown.” However, God is not One to state an untruth.
E) ELECTED OR NOT
Your objections and verses you may use for being “elected” or “predestined” are listed and discussed below.
“There is an election of individuals and a people, the only election found in the Word of God, where man is elected to be saved. Many have looked at the end, thinking they were surely elected to have Heavenly bliss; but this is not the election the Bible reveals. Man is elected to work out his own salvation with fear and trembling {Php. 2:12}. He is elected to put on the armor, [Eph. Ch. 6 & 1Th. 5:8] to fight the good fight of faith [1Ti. 6:12]. He is elected to use the means God has placed within his reach to war against every unholy lust, while Satan is playing the game of life for his soul. He is elected to watch unto prayer {1Pe. 4:7}, to search the Scriptures {John 5:39}, and to avoid entering into temptation [Mat. 6:13]. He is elected to have faith continually. He is elected to be obedient to every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God {Mat. 4:4}, that he may be, not a hearer only, but a doer of the Word {Jam. 1:23}. This is Bible election.” TM:453.
If we must do these things and many more admonitions, does this sound like “Once Saved Always Saved” while you are still here on earth?
F) THE DOCTRINE OF THE DIVINE DECREES (Which Defined Is “Predestination or Election”)
If “Predestination” (or “Election”) is Biblically (or non-Biblically) true, then there is no sense (Non-Sense) in even having this discussion (or Bible Study in any form; or any discussion of any sort), since you have no choice in the matter. However, since I am still writing this, and you are still reading it, let’s come to the conclusion that this Doctrine is simply not valid.
The doctrine of the “Divine Decrees” is also known as “Predestination” or “Election.” “The decree, as a sovereign choice of God, as to who may receive this grace is the basis of election.” “Zondervan Pictorial Dictionary,” (ed. Sept. 1976). Those who teach that a one-time decision makes a person’s salvation eternally secure often reason that individuals who, “fall away” (in an attempt to explain away Bible verses with this particular expression in them), explain that, “They were never really saved in the first place.” However, if they were NOT really saved, what did they “fall away/depart from?” You CANNOT “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 First Timothy 4:1.
According to Jesus’ parable in Luke, Chapter 8, and the warning of the Apostle Paul to Timothy, believers CAN “fallaway/depart from” salvation. “Aphistemi” is also used in Second Timothy 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 NOT “depart from [this] iniquity.” Along the same lines, it is impossible when a “dog is turned to his own vomit again,” Second Peter 2:22, for that “dog” to do so unless he had at first left that lifestyle. Also, the same is true for “the sow that was washed to [returned to] her wallowing in the mire,” Second Peter 2:22.
In reality, the Doctrine of “Predestination” began with the doctrine of “Original Sin.” Here is how that transpired. Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430 A.D.) is usually credited by historians and theologians alike as the architect of the Doctrine of “Original Sin,” which is the theory that, because of Adam’s sin, every human being is a condemned sinner at birth (no freedom of choice; see Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology, page 244). It was later adopted by John Calvin(John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book III, Chapters xxi & xxii), and as such, both Calvin and Augustine promoted the “Doctrine of Involuntary Sin,” which, by logical contrast, since opposites are almost always generally true, came about, the “Doctrine of Involuntary Salvation.”
G) THE CLEAREST EVIDENCE FOR TRUTH
To be sure, the CLEAREST evidence of “Once Saved Always Saved” being a false doctrine is the fact that Satan and his angels were once in a saved position (see Jude 1:6), but they are no longer saved now (and the silly argument often used by “Once Saved Always Saved” advocates who often state that such and such a person was not really saved anyway, even though they showed evidences of the Holy Spirit being in their lives; now fails and FALLS). And since we are looking into the Book of Jude, let’s look at 1:24, where it states, “Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling,” which would mean you have to “fall” from something in order to “fall” at all, i.e., from the grace of salvation.
Getting back to “such and such a person was not really saved anyway; or in the first place.” Meaning, they were NEVER once endowed with the Holy Spirit. The Israelite king Saul was once endowed with the “Spirit of God,” First Samuel 10:10-12. Yet according to First Chronicles 10:13: “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 hada familiar spirit, to enquire of it.” Let us not than say that Saul will be in Heaven ANYWAY.
The Biblical fact that we DO have a CHOICE, and ARE responsible moral agents, is certain from the following verses: “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life,” Deuteronomy 30:19; “Choose you this day whom you will serve,” Joshua 24:15; “How long halt ye between two opinions,” First Kings 18:21; “refuse the evil, and choose the good,” Isaiah 7:15; “Choose the things that please Me,” Isaiah 56:4; “No man can serve two masters,” Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13; “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey,” Romans 6:16. And literally hundreds of other common-sense verses like Luke 13:24: “Strive to enter in at the strait gate,” and First Kings 18:21; Isaiah 55:6-7; Ezekiel 18:32; 33:11; Mark 8:34; Luke 10:42; Revelation 3:20. In God’s Word, nothing is ever said about God CHOOSING any one to be lost, only about Jesus dying for ALL (Choosing to have everyone to be saved, but not forcing anyone; see also 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” Philippians 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:” Psalm 119:109; “they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith [Who] the Lord God.” Ezekiel 14:14. And many more.
If God had the choice, ALL would be saved. Since this is not the case (exampled by the clear teaching of “second death” in the Book of Revelation), it is understood that God pleads with man to CHOOSE life (see Isa. 1:18). Do these Biblical Words of God pleading with us sound like “Once Saved Always Saved” words: “agonize, always abounding, cease, choose, diligent, keep, effort, endure, hold fast, labor, overcome, pray, remain, stand, stedfast, strive, turn, unmoveabe, walk, war, watch, work out, wrestle?”
H) TO YOUR MAIN OBJECTIONS (First - “Foreknow”)
“Foreknow” in the Greek is “proginosko,” meaning: “to know beforehand.” This word occurs in the New Testamentin Acts 26:5; Romans 11:2; First Peter 1:20; Second Peter 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,” Hebrews 4:13; “declaring the end from the beginning,” Isaiah 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. However, the forecasted events do not take place because they are foreseen; they are foreseen by our All-Knowing God, and will take place simply because He sees the future; NOT because He makes the future.
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! It does mean that because I know you to be faithful, I can trust you to give when a need arises. So also, it is how God knew that Job would be faithful and Pharaoh stubborn.
Simply put, since God knows what you will do before you do it, that does not mean He made you do it, or will force you to do it. Let us look at it another way. Just because a friend tells you he’s going to give a rose to his girlfriend tomorrow, that does not mean that you knew beforehand the forecasted event. You did not cause your friend to give her the rose the next day. In other words, just because you (rather God) have knowledge and foresight to a future event, does not mean you (rather God) will cause that event.
Looking at John 6:37-39: “[37] All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out. [38] For I came down from Heaven, not to do Mine Own will, but the Will of Him that sent Me. [39] 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 individual’s 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 our ways by our own 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.”
I) ROMANS, CHAPTER 8, VERSE 28
“[C]alled according to His purpose” Romans 8:28. Antinomians’ used this verse to promote the idea that God predestined most men to die. This 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 Romans 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 to have a “purpose.” God’s purpose to save man is realized through the proper exercise of man’s freedom of CHOICE. However, remember that God died for ALL (1Jo. 2:2) humanity. Your CHOICE to die does not make that God’s purpose.
Romans 8:29-30, Ephesians 1:4 & 5 & 11; First Thessalonians 1:4 and Acts 13:48 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 CHOSEN 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 First Corinthians 2:7.
Remember however, that God predestined ALL to be saved, First Timothy 2:6. God never had any other purpose than eternal life for the members of the human family. For God, “will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth,” First Timothy 2:4. Also, God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance,” Second Peter 3:9. Note the word ALL.
How much clearer can God’s Word be? Do these verses (or any others) teach that God CHOOSES some to die? Jesus died on the cross for ALL. There would be no need for His death if the CHOICE of salvation had been made for us already. Salvation is not forced upon anyone against his or her will. If we CHOOSE to oppose and resist God’s purpose, we shall be lost. DIVINE FOREKNOWLEDGE IN NO WAY DETERMINES DIVINE PREDESTINATION OR EXCLUDE HUMAN LIBERTY. Nowhere in the Word of God does it suggest that God has predestined certain men to be saved and certain others to be lost, regardless of their own CHOICE.
J) EPHESIANS, CHAPTER 1, VERSE 4
God has “chosen us” Ephesians 1:4, as He CHOSE 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 that is meant here. However, I agree that he has chosen us before creation. But He chose us through the power of freewill. Let me explain.
Just as Christ was predetermined to die upon the cross before the world began; yet Jesus Himself states (in regards to His Own freewill), “I lay down My life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from Me, but I lay It down of Myself [meaning His Own freewill].” John 10:17-18. Here is a clear illustration, teaching us that God’s foreknowledge about this event, did not force His Son Jesus to be unable to choose the death of the cross. God simply knew the end from the beginning.
Notice also in these verses 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 CHOOSE to serve God and live, or CHOOSE to disobey God and die. Why does He continually ask us to be righteous if He was already forcing us to be?
K) EPHESIANS, CHAPTER 1, VERSE 11
Note that we are only “predestinated” when “we have obtained,” not been given, “an inheritance,” and we DO“according to the purpose. . . all things after the counsel of His [Christ’s] Own will.” The verse reads more clearly if you substitute “them,” for “him,” and “Christ’s” for “His,” i.e., “Being predestinated according to the purpose of THEM who worketh all things after the counsel of CHRIST’S own will.”
L) EPHESIANS, CHAPTER 2, VERSES 8-9
Regarding Ephesians 2:8-9, 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 UNCERTAIN TENSE: Isaiah 45:22; Jeremiah 4:14; Luke 8:12; John 3:17; 5:34; Romans 10:1; First Corinthians 15:2; First Timothy 2:15; 4:16.
PRESENT TENSE (remembering that these verses ignore the Biblical FACT that you can then lose this present salvation): Psalm 106:8; Isaiah 12:2; 63:9; Luke 7:50; 18:42; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 16:31; Romans 10:9, 13; Ephesian 2:5 & 8; Titus 2:11; 3:5.
FUTURE TENSE: Psalm 80:3 & 7 & 19; Proverbs 28:18; Isaiah 30:15; 45:17; 64:5; Jeremiah 17:14; 23:6; 33:16; Mark 16:16; Luke 13:23; John 10:9; Acts 15:11; Romans 5:9; 9:27; 11:26; First Corinthians 3:15; First Timothy 2:15; First Peter 4:18; Revelation 21:24-27.
Or when we are really saved in the UNCERTAIN, PRESENT, FUTURE, IN HEAVEN TENSE:
Isaiah 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).
Matthew 10:22; 24:13; Mark 13:13: “he that endureth until the end shall be saved.” (Noticing that it is not the end yet).
Luke 21:28: “for your redemption draweth nigh.” (And you are not redeemed yet).
Romans 8:23: “even we ourselves groan within ourselves waiting for the adoption.” (Nor are you adopted yet).
Romans 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?” (Plus, we are still hoping).
First Corinthians 5:5: “may be saved in the Day of the Lord Jesus.” (“may be” = Maybe saved on that great and final day).
NOTE: Most verses used by “ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED” promoters have the phrase, “may be,” which is undefinable outcome.
M) SECOND THESSALONIANS, CHAPTER 2, VERSE 13
“Because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation.” Correct. God has “chosen” everyone to be saved. But, only “through sanctification of the Spirit,” that means living a holy life, “and belief of the truth.” Only those who believe and accept “the truth” will be saved.
N) FIRST PETER, CHAPTER 1, VERSE 2
First Peter, Chapter 1, Verse 2 has been used to argue, in that God “Elect[ed] according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. . .”
This Greek word for “Elect,” i.e., “eklektos,” and has reference to the act of selecting individuals. However, without throwing any light on the question as to why it was done. Mark 13:20 has the same concept within its context. BY CONTRAST, Colossians 3:12 clarifies that the “elect” must put on characteristics of God, or else they will NOT remain as “elect” (see also John 15:16).
Peter’s statement does not affirm that the thing which God “foreknew” was the reason of their being chosen. The simple fact, which no one should deny in regard to a correct concept of God, is that there was Foreknowledge in the case and on the part of God. The clear truth is that these people become, yes “become” “elect,” or “chosen,” or whatever word you want to use, “through [the] sanctification of the Spirit,” which one must allow in one’s own life in order for that to take place.
If we go to John 15:2 we read, “Every branch in Me.” That means, only those who are “In Christ.” But to finish, if they “beareth not fruit,” Christ will “taketh away.” That is, they are no longer in a savable position. However, this is not what Christ wants. Finishing the verse, we read that our Lord “purgeth it” in order “that it may bring forth more fruit. In other words, “The branch can maintain its connection with the living vine only on condition that it bear fruit.” RH, September 20, 1881 par. 5. But they are in a saved position while attached to the vine; and to the point, they CAN become unattached to the vine.
Let’s put this all together. If God “chose” some to be lost and some to be saved, then this is the kind of God you serve and not me. Why? Because this doctrine makes our God out to be a TYRANT. This makes Him a god who loves to watch sin, who loves to see people in all kinds of pain. Because this god choses certain ones to be lost. This is not the God of “Love” that I serve. And for those who insist that this is the god they serve, then stop teaching your children right-from-wrong, because they are predestined to do what they are going to do anyway.
O) SECOND PETER, CHAPTER 1, VERSE 10
In looking into Second Peter 1:10, 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. In other words, there are conditions in order to remain in a saved position.
“Come now, and let us reason together,” Isaiah 1:18. “Put Me in remembrance: let us plead together.” Isaiah 43:26. These are not the Words of a God who FORCES the will of man. God “cannot accept an homage that is not willingly and intelligently given,” Steps to Christ, p. 27.
Throughout the Bible, it is in the writings of Paul, that Paul himself supposedly mostly supports the doctrine of “Once Saved Always Saved.” However, if Paul were truly promoting such a state of affairs, he would not have made this statement in Philippians 3:12 that tells us that he had “not” already obtained his ultimate salvation: “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may [DID YOU CATCH THE WORD “may?”] apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” Does Paul however, believe that he was in a savable situation? Absolutely, for if you yourself were in a lifeboat, you would say that you had been saved, but you would also not consider yourself to be upon dry land, which is the ultimate in the salvation process (as an example).
P) FOR YOU TO CONSIDER
Why would our God say to us, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD,” Isaiah 1:18, if you are already saved? Why would He say, “I counsel thee [here our Lord is requesting that you listen to His counsel, not ordering] to buy of Me gold tried in the fire,” Revelation 1:18, if we are already saved?
Please do not argue that they were not in a saved position ever in their experience with God, for they were God’s established Church on earth at this time, but had fallen away. Also, there are so many other reasoning verses that I could list, such as, “Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in Me, that they are gone far from Me,” Jeremiah 2:5 [see also Isa. 5:4; Mic. 6:3].
Let’s face it. The sanctity of free will carries with it some powerful and fearful consequences. The analogy of the athlete used by Paul is very significant. The athletes themselves must discipline themselves. There are many things that may be perfectly all right in their own right, but that would hinder a competitor in the race of faith. There are weights that must be laid aside. It may well be that what is a hindrance to one entrant, is not a hindrance to another. Individuals must learn for themselves what in their case is a weight or an impediment. Anything that distracts athletes from the contest in which they are competing in will quickly put them out of the running.
Q) FINAL THOUGHT
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 Romans 8:14-15: “[14] For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. [15] 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 assurance of salvation. However, the way to salvation is, “Christ in you, the hope of glory,” Colossians 1:27. Again, note the word “hope.”
​
