Comfort Doctrines 3 Is the doctrine Once Saved

Comfort Doctrines (3) Is the doctrine, “Once Saved, Always Saved” scriptural?

“Comfort Doctrine” • A teaching that gives false spiritual comfort to one who does not want to be held accountable for sinful activity. • Genesis 3: 4, “You will not surely die”

“Once Saved, Always Saved” • The belief that once someone is saved by God through the blood of Jesus (i. e. becomes a Christian), it is impossible for him to fall from grace or be lost regardless of what he does or how he lives

“Once Saved, Always Saved” • Also called, “eternal security” and “perseverance of the saints” (Calvinism- TULIP) • Doctrine introduced by John Calvin in 1530 -40 s AD.

“Once Saved, Always Saved” • George Sedoni, August 3, 2009, ““I need to remain focused and absorbed COMPLETELY. Last time I tried this, in January, I chickened out. Lets see how this new approach works. Maybe soon, I will see God and Jesus. At least that is what I was told. . .

“Once Saved, Always Saved” • George Sedoni, August 3, 2009, “…Eternal life does NOT depend on “… works. If it did, we will all be in hell. Christ paid for EVERY sin, so how can I or you be judged BY GOD for a sin when the penalty was ALREADY paid…”

“Once Saved, Always Saved” • George Sedoni, August 3, 2009, “… People judge but that does not matter. I was reading the Bible and The Integrity of God beginning yesterday, because soon I will see them. ”

“Once Saved, Always Saved” • Sam Morris, Baptist preacher “We take the position that a Christian's sins do not damn his soul. The way a Christian lives, what he says, his character, his conduct, or his attitude toward other people have nothing whatsoever to do with the salvation of his soul…

“Once Saved, Always Saved” • Sam Morris, Baptist preacher “That is settled in Christ and Christ alone. . All the prayers a man may pray, all the Bibles he may read, all the churches he may belong to, all the services he may attend, all the sermons he may practice, all the debts he may pay, all the ordinances he may observe, all the laws he may keep, …

“Once Saved, Always Saved” • Sam Morris, Baptist preacher “…all the benevolent acts he may perform will not make his soul one whit safer; and all the sins he may commit from idolatry to murder will not make his soul in any more danger. ”

“Once Saved, Always Saved” • Bill Foster, Baptist preacher "If I killed my wife and mother and debauched a thousand women, I couldn't go to hell -- in fact, I couldn't go to hell if I wanted to. . ”

“Once Saved, Always Saved” • Bill Foster, Baptist preacher “…If on the judgment day, I should find that my loved ones are lost and should lose all desire to be saved, and should beg God to send me to hell with them, He couldn't do it“ (1959)

The Bible and Salvation • Rom. 11: 22, “…If you continue in His goodness” • 1 Cor. 9: 27, “…lest, …I myself should become disqualified. ” • 1 Cor. 15: 1 -2, “…IF you hold fast that word which I preached to you…”

The Bible and Salvation • Gal 5: 4, “…you have fallen from grace” • Col. 1: 21 -23, “…IF indeed you continue in the faith. ” • 1 Tim. 4: 1, “…some will DEPART from the faith…”

The Bible and Salvation • Heb. 3: 12 -14, “…departing from the living God…IF you hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end. ” • Heb. 6: 4 -6, “…IF they fall away to renew them to repentance. ”

The Bible and Salvation • Heb. 10: 26 -27, “For if we sin willfully…there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation…” • James 5: 19 -20, “…someone turns him back. . . will save a soul from death…”

The Bible and Salvation • 2 Pet. 2: 20 -22, “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world…they are again entangled in them…the latter end is worse than the beginning…” • Rev. 2: 10, “…Be faithful until death, and I will give you a crown of life. ”

The Bible and Salvation • Rev. 14: 13, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on…” • Other thoughts: Obedience, faithfulness, apostasy, consequences, conditional statements, etc. ALL demonstrate responsibility to keep serving.

“Proof texts” examined • God’s love and grace save us, Eph. 2: 8 -9, Rom. 8: 31 -39. We cannot save ourselves. • Answer: What these passages teach is absolutely true! But does God’s grace negate our choice to remain faithful?

“Proof texts” examined • 1 John 3: 9 He cannot sin. • Answer: “Cannot” as used in the context indicates one does not have permission to sin. We must “practice righteousness” (1 John 3: 7)

“Proof texts” examined • John 3: 16, 36 Everlasting life • Answer: While heaven is everlasting (so is hell), it does not say you cannot reject it. Faithfulness means you don’t quit.

“Proof texts” examined • John 10: 29, the power of God will keep His sheep from being snatched from His hand… • Answer: God IS all powerful. But does this deny that we can wander away and reject Him? Also note context, vs. 27

“Proof texts” examined • 1 John 2: 19, sometimes used to say of one who quits “he was never saved in the first place” • Answer: The context is dealing with false teachers. Some do have agendas, but not all!

Dangers • It gives false security! • It takes away true accountability and responsibility to obey • It skews one’s perspective of God’s character. • It can lead to ignorance and complacency.

Comfort • God does NOT want you to perish! 2 Pet. 3: 9 • When we do sin, no matter how egregious, He has provided a way back – Acts 8: 22, 1 John 1: 7 -9

Comfort • He chastens and seeks to bring us back – Heb. 12: 5 -11, 10: 23 • We can live in hope, if we serve Him – 1 John 1: 5

Are you striving to be faithful to Him?