oncesaved

[i] Overthrowing the decree of God
[ii] Overthrowing the efficacy of the blood of Christ which was shed specifically to keep the elect of God out of hell and all that leads to it
[iii] Overthrowing the power of the Holy Spirit to preserve Christians from apostasy.

Such a belief does not negate in any way the responsibility of every Christian to heed the warning verses and Calvinists and others who believe in the eternal security of the saints are no less concerned about Hebrews 6 and Hebrews 10 etc., than our Arminian brethren.

Another group, however, are not happy with the "Once saved…always saved" concept are many who do subscribe to the doctrine of the eternal security of the people of God. This may surprise some folk, but there is good reason for the concern. The eternal security doctrine has been abused by some who believe that since they have made a profession of faith, then they will be in Heaven no matter what they do. Did they not receive Christ as their Saviour in a meeting some years ago? Did they not go to the front or sign a card or raise a hand? Did not the "sinner's prayer" seal the issue for all eternity? Are not their sins, then, forever dealt with? Well, if so…what's the problem?

The problem is this. While we are saved and kept by Christ alone (1 Peter 1:5) yet part of the evidence that we are indeed saved is by our good works i.e. holy living. We were not saved in our sins or saved for our sins…but saved from our sins (Matthew 1:21) By grace through faith unto good works (Ephesians 2:8-10) is the order of scriptures. Chosen in Christ to be holy (Ephesians 1:4)…conformed unto the image of His Son (Romans 8:29) is how it is stated elsewhere. If there is no holiness, then no matter what we did some years ago or thought we did will get us into Heaven. We are not saved by holiness (legalism)* but salvation is evidenced by it, just as the tree is evidenced by its fruit. A real Christian (Christ-one) is Christ-like.

Therefore instead of "Once saved…always saved" it might be better if we closed up a rather smug loophole which self deceived professors have exploited and believe instead: "If saved…always saved." This maintains the truth of the eternal security of the people of God while leaving room for that vital examination which is urged upon us by the Apostle Paul himself (2 Corinthians 13:5) Obviously no one is urging an excessive introspection which (having got us to take our eyes of Christ) would plunge us all into despair. But it is profitable to take time to weigh ourselves in the balances of Scriptures and see if we are really manifesting those evidences of the new birth (1 John) If we do and we are…we will rejoice all the more in what Christ has accomplished for us. Far better this, than to wake up in hell and discover that our hope was that of the hypocrite which will perish (Job 8:13)

Helpful words from H.A. Ironside: "People say, “I see you believe in that old Baptist doctrine of ‘once in grace, always in grace.’” Or another says, “I understand you hold that old Presbyterian idea of ‘the final perseverance of the saints.’” I do not know why this should be called either Baptist or Presbyterian, only to the extent that Baptists and Presbyterians agree with the Book, and the Word of God clearly shows that once God takes us up in grace nothing can separate us from the love of Christ so that evidently the expression, “once in grace, always in grace,” is a perfectly correct one. But, on the other hand, I am not so enthusiastic about the other expression, “the perseverance of the saints.” I believe in it; I believe that all saints--all really belonging to God--will persevere to the end, for the Book tells me, “He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved” (Matthew 24:13), and if a man starts out and makes a profession but gives it all up, he will never be saved, because he was never born again to begin with, he was never truly changed by grace divine. On the other hand, the reason he endures to the end is not because of any particular perseverance of his own. What I believe in, and what the Word of God clearly teaches, is the perseverance of the Holy Spirit. When He begins a work, He never gives up until it is completed. That is our confidence." (Eternal Security of the Believer)

THE END