The Believer's Conditional Security
Eternal Security
CHRISTIAN - SALVATION
The question of ETERNAL SECURITY has not always been an issue. From the time of Christ until the Reformation in the 16th Century, it had never been considered a possibility that a Christian could not lose his salvation.
Any diligent study of this subject must include some content on John Wycliffe. The Morningstar of the Reformation: One Pope issued five bulls against John Wycliffe for heresy, the Catholic Church in England tried him three times, and two Popes summoned him to Rome, but Wycliffe was never imprisoned nor ever went to Rome.
The Wycliffe English translation of the Bible was made from a Latin language, hand-written manuscript of a translation a thousand years old and before any verse numbers had been assigned.
Where did once saved always saved come from?
Even though John Wycliffe died peacefully at home in bed on New Year's Eve, 1384, the Roman Catholic Church exhumed his body 44 years later, burned his bones, and scattered the ashes in a nearby river. John Wycliffe never suggested that a Christian could not be lost.
As the Reformation spread across Europe, in 1536 John Calvin formulated his famous, "Institutes on Christian Religion" which remains the foundation for "reformed" theology. This is the genesis of the concept of "Once Saved, Always Saved".
As with every doctrine of our church, we take the Bible, God's written revelation to man, as our only source and guide. Our teaching must be determined by the Bible.
Based on that principle, let's see what God says about our salvation;
BIBLE VERSES
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.
Revelation 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
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.
John 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
2 Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
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, and in time of temptation fall away.
1 Corinthians 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
Romans 6:1-3
1 WHAT shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Fall From Grace Meaning
THE CHRISTIAN MAY;
1. "Fall from grace" - Galatians 5:1-4, 13
2. "Be led away with error" - 2 Peter 3:17
3. "Err from the truth" - James 5:19-20
4. "Weak brother may perish" - 1 Corinthians 8:11
5. "Fall into condemnation" - James 5:12
6. "Be moved away from the hope" - Colossians 1:21-23
7. "Deny the Lord who bought them" - 2 Peter 2:1
8. "Depart from the living God" - Hebrews 3:12
9. "Can be a castaway" - 1 Corinthians 9:27
10. "Can become accursed children" - 2 Peter 2:14
Consider these truths;
- If God has already elected those who are going to heaven, then why evangelize, seek to be saved, or even follow God's path?
- If God predestined everything, then there is no use in praying for your friends or family.
- If God predestined everything, then God created sin.
- If man is totally incapable of good, then man cannot truly be remorseful or repentant.
- If man is totally incapable of good, then man cannot be faulted for his sins.
- Christ died for everyone, not just the elect.
- "Once-saved-always-saved" is a lie from the darkest pit of Hell!
- Some OSAS (Once Saved Always Saved) proponents who believe in Free Will believe one cannot be lost. This would imply that one had free will before conversion, and lost free will after conversion.
- OSAS proponents will say, "Well, if he backslides, he was never truly saved".
1 Corinthians 9:27
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.
Wednesday Evening Bible Study - Assistant Pastor: William Dale Brewer 12-27-2023
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