Post by 2fw8212a on Apr 26, 2019 21:02:08 GMT -5
I see dangers in the Once Saved Always Saved (OSAS) doctrine and I have found some questionable points in it.
As a doctrine, it is presented by many in the way that:
No matter what you do, or choose to do (even your own will?!). You will still be saved.
Here is what I have observed:
#1 It encourages people to sin instead of avoiding it:
Why you would want to sin is already something to worry about. Unless you do not love God.
"We love Him because He first loved us." - 1 John 4:19
Then how would make people feeling safe to sin lead them to life and freedom?!
"While they promise them liberty,
they themselves are slaves of corruption;
for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage." - 2 Peter 2:19
I have seen people saying that even if a person commits suicide they will be saved.
Why would a person who believe in God take their own life?! Wouldn't it be a defeat to darkness?!
"...I am the light of the world.
He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." - John 8:12
Is considering suicide walking in the light?! I do not believe so.
If considering suicide is already flirting with darkness, how much more is committing it.
Is suicide the fruit of someone who is abiding in Him?! I do not believe so, as it is written:
"Abide in Me, and I in you.
As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,
unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me." - John 15:4
Obviously, the fruits produced by those who are abiding in Him are good as a good tree (Christ) cannot bear bad fruit.
"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser." - John 15:1
"A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit." - Matthew 7:18
Then, the only reason for someone to commit suicide is because they are not abiding in Him.
"Whoever abides in Him does not sin.
Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him." - 1 John 3:6
"If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered;
and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned." - John 15:6
Then, what kind of fruit is OSAS really encouraging in people?!
It does not seem good for now, it is better to abide in Christ and His words instead of OSAS.
"...If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:31-32
"Jesus said to him,
I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." - John 14:6
"...Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin." - John 8:34
"Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." - John 8:36
As you can see above, we have true freedom, life, and victory if we truly abide in the words of the Lord Jesus.
#2 Pursuing sanctification is neglected and not encouraged.
I have only seen OSAS advocates talking about the benefits of not worrying when they fall to sin.
But they never, at least I could not see until now, warn about the dangers of sin and the importance of pursuing sanctification by faith in Christ.
"...exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,”
lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." - Hebrews 3:13
Indeed, some of them even condemns those who pursue sanctification by saying or implying that they are not trusting (not having faith) in Christ.
The pursue of sanctification is mentioned and encouraged a lot throughout the New Testament.
"For this is the will of God, your sanctification:
that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you
should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor..." - 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4
Then why some of them see sanctification as a problem in someone's path to salvation intrigues me a lot.
"Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." - Matthew 7:19
"...For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." - Matthew 9:13
"to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light,
and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins
and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me." - Acts 26:18
I even saw someone implying that holy living does not matter to your Christian life as that could be achieved without Christ's sacrifice on the cross.
That is a big, big lie, and I will show to you.
First because the Holy Spirit was only given after Christ was crucified and glorified.
"...this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive;
for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified." - John 7:39
"To grant us that we,
Being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
Might serve Him without fear,
In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life." - Luke 1:74-75
And because it is impossible for an unbeliever to truly desire, let alone to pursue sanctification.
"Because the carnal mind is enmity against God;
for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be." - Romans 8:7
"For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin." - Romans 7:14
Then, the grace of God is required to be manifested in someone's life as without it they would never really desire that.
"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him..." - John 6:44
"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." - John 1:12-13
"And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins..." - Ephesians 2:1
"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age..." - Titus 2:11-12
What people in the flesh can do is to operate on deceit, have an appearance of godliness but denying its power...
which is living in hypocrisy and consequently far from holiness.
"...Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy." - Luke 12:1
"...all their works they do to be seen by men..." - Matthew 23:5
Which means that they only do (act, pretend) when people are watching, behind the scenes they practice all things they condemn.
"Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them..." - Matthew 6:1
"Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do,
but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do." - Matthew 23:3
Another reason is because only God can truly sanctify people, through His Word.
"Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth." - John 17:17
"And you shall keep My statutes, and perform them: I am the Lord who sanctifies you." - Leviticus 20:8
"He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." - 1 John 2:4
"But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on
the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently;
and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great." - Luke 6:49
Another reason is because it is impossible to overcome the flesh without being born of the Spirit.
"...Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become
as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 18:3
"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." - John 3:5
"That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." - John 3:6
And if you are in the flesh, you still are being governed by its evil desires.
"But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God
dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His." - Romans 8:9
Now, why there are so many doctrines that want to keep people trapped in the flesh?!
Because that way they are not born of the Spirit, they cannot walk in the Spirit, and they cannot glorify God.
And without the Spirit indwelling in them, they cannot be saved.
"Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit
the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption." - 1 Corinthians 15:50
"...the works of the flesh are evident, which are:
adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred,
contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past,
that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." - Galatians 5:19-21
"But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you..." - Romans 8:9
"...this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive..." - John 7:39
"But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you,
He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies
through His Spirit who dwells in you." - Romans 8:11
"...Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His." - Romans 8:9
"Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’" - John 3:7
"And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,
in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the
prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,
among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling
the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others." - Ephesians 2:1-3
Then, the only danger in sanctification - if there is any - is for Satan and the flesh (that will be overcome by the power of the Spirit).
"For if you live according to the flesh you will die;
but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." - Romans 8:13
Beware of people who says or implies - in any way - that you are risking your salvation by pursuing repentance of sins and sanctification.
"Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind.
And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch." - Matthew 15:14
They are not working for God.
"He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad." - Matthew 12:30
"For this is the will of God, your sanctification:
that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you
should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor..." - 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4
"Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." - Matthew 7:21
"Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit." - 1 Thessalonians 4:8
"And Jesus answered and said to them: Take heed that no one deceives you." - Matthew 24:4
"Strive to enter through the narrow gate,
for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able." - Luke 13:24
"And this is the condemnation,
that the light has come into the world,
and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." - John 3:19
And you?! What will you choose?! To believe in OSAS, doctrines of men, or in the pure and true words of the Lord Jesus Christ?
"Nor is there salvation in any other,
for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." - Acts 4:12
"Because narrow is the gate and difficult is
the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." - Matthew 7:14
"Then Jesus said to them again,
Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep." - John 10:7
"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing.
The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life." - John 6:63
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes
in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment,
but has passed from death into life." - John 5:24
Blessings to you in Jesus' name!
As a doctrine, it is presented by many in the way that:
No matter what you do, or choose to do (even your own will?!). You will still be saved.
Here is what I have observed:
#1 It encourages people to sin instead of avoiding it:
Why you would want to sin is already something to worry about. Unless you do not love God.
"We love Him because He first loved us." - 1 John 4:19
Then how would make people feeling safe to sin lead them to life and freedom?!
"While they promise them liberty,
they themselves are slaves of corruption;
for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage." - 2 Peter 2:19
I have seen people saying that even if a person commits suicide they will be saved.
Why would a person who believe in God take their own life?! Wouldn't it be a defeat to darkness?!
"...I am the light of the world.
He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." - John 8:12
Is considering suicide walking in the light?! I do not believe so.
If considering suicide is already flirting with darkness, how much more is committing it.
Is suicide the fruit of someone who is abiding in Him?! I do not believe so, as it is written:
"Abide in Me, and I in you.
As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,
unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me." - John 15:4
Obviously, the fruits produced by those who are abiding in Him are good as a good tree (Christ) cannot bear bad fruit.
"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser." - John 15:1
"A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit." - Matthew 7:18
Then, the only reason for someone to commit suicide is because they are not abiding in Him.
"Whoever abides in Him does not sin.
Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him." - 1 John 3:6
"If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered;
and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned." - John 15:6
Then, what kind of fruit is OSAS really encouraging in people?!
It does not seem good for now, it is better to abide in Christ and His words instead of OSAS.
"...If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:31-32
"Jesus said to him,
I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." - John 14:6
"...Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin." - John 8:34
"Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." - John 8:36
As you can see above, we have true freedom, life, and victory if we truly abide in the words of the Lord Jesus.
#2 Pursuing sanctification is neglected and not encouraged.
I have only seen OSAS advocates talking about the benefits of not worrying when they fall to sin.
But they never, at least I could not see until now, warn about the dangers of sin and the importance of pursuing sanctification by faith in Christ.
"...exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,”
lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." - Hebrews 3:13
Indeed, some of them even condemns those who pursue sanctification by saying or implying that they are not trusting (not having faith) in Christ.
The pursue of sanctification is mentioned and encouraged a lot throughout the New Testament.
"For this is the will of God, your sanctification:
that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you
should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor..." - 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4
Then why some of them see sanctification as a problem in someone's path to salvation intrigues me a lot.
"Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." - Matthew 7:19
"...For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." - Matthew 9:13
"to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light,
and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins
and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me." - Acts 26:18
I even saw someone implying that holy living does not matter to your Christian life as that could be achieved without Christ's sacrifice on the cross.
That is a big, big lie, and I will show to you.
First because the Holy Spirit was only given after Christ was crucified and glorified.
"...this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive;
for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified." - John 7:39
"To grant us that we,
Being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
Might serve Him without fear,
In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life." - Luke 1:74-75
And because it is impossible for an unbeliever to truly desire, let alone to pursue sanctification.
"Because the carnal mind is enmity against God;
for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be." - Romans 8:7
"For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin." - Romans 7:14
Then, the grace of God is required to be manifested in someone's life as without it they would never really desire that.
"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him..." - John 6:44
"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." - John 1:12-13
"And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins..." - Ephesians 2:1
"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age..." - Titus 2:11-12
What people in the flesh can do is to operate on deceit, have an appearance of godliness but denying its power...
which is living in hypocrisy and consequently far from holiness.
"...Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy." - Luke 12:1
"...all their works they do to be seen by men..." - Matthew 23:5
Which means that they only do (act, pretend) when people are watching, behind the scenes they practice all things they condemn.
"Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them..." - Matthew 6:1
"Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do,
but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do." - Matthew 23:3
Another reason is because only God can truly sanctify people, through His Word.
"Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth." - John 17:17
"And you shall keep My statutes, and perform them: I am the Lord who sanctifies you." - Leviticus 20:8
"He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." - 1 John 2:4
"But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on
the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently;
and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great." - Luke 6:49
Another reason is because it is impossible to overcome the flesh without being born of the Spirit.
"...Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become
as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 18:3
"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." - John 3:5
"That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." - John 3:6
And if you are in the flesh, you still are being governed by its evil desires.
"But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God
dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His." - Romans 8:9
Now, why there are so many doctrines that want to keep people trapped in the flesh?!
Because that way they are not born of the Spirit, they cannot walk in the Spirit, and they cannot glorify God.
And without the Spirit indwelling in them, they cannot be saved.
"Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit
the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption." - 1 Corinthians 15:50
"...the works of the flesh are evident, which are:
adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred,
contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past,
that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." - Galatians 5:19-21
"But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you..." - Romans 8:9
"...this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive..." - John 7:39
"But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you,
He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies
through His Spirit who dwells in you." - Romans 8:11
"...Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His." - Romans 8:9
"Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’" - John 3:7
"And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,
in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the
prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,
among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling
the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others." - Ephesians 2:1-3
Then, the only danger in sanctification - if there is any - is for Satan and the flesh (that will be overcome by the power of the Spirit).
"For if you live according to the flesh you will die;
but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." - Romans 8:13
Beware of people who says or implies - in any way - that you are risking your salvation by pursuing repentance of sins and sanctification.
"Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind.
And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch." - Matthew 15:14
They are not working for God.
"He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad." - Matthew 12:30
"For this is the will of God, your sanctification:
that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you
should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor..." - 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4
"Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." - Matthew 7:21
"Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit." - 1 Thessalonians 4:8
"And Jesus answered and said to them: Take heed that no one deceives you." - Matthew 24:4
"Strive to enter through the narrow gate,
for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able." - Luke 13:24
"And this is the condemnation,
that the light has come into the world,
and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." - John 3:19
And you?! What will you choose?! To believe in OSAS, doctrines of men, or in the pure and true words of the Lord Jesus Christ?
"Nor is there salvation in any other,
for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." - Acts 4:12
"Because narrow is the gate and difficult is
the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." - Matthew 7:14
"Then Jesus said to them again,
Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep." - John 10:7
"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing.
The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life." - John 6:63
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes
in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment,
but has passed from death into life." - John 5:24
Blessings to you in Jesus' name!