In response to a question I was asked. Who created OSAS.

[Eternally Grateful]

I wanted to share a thought. Yesterday as I was leaving. I was asked a question, Who created OSAS? My answer was God. Sadly I was in a hurry (I was already 5 minutes past the time I should have left) and did not give it more thought. But then on my way home. I was thinking. The word OSAS is not in the bible. So how can we say God created it. Also. I was asked to prove it in the bible.. How can I when the word or acronym (which is what it really is) is not in scripture.

So this morning, something woke me up at 2: 30 AM. And I got to thinking about this. Wanted to share my thoughts.

While the Acronym OSAS may not be in scripture. The word Trinity is not either, Yet we can show that there is evidence the trinity is true. When I look back on my many years in Christian chat rooms. I think of the many times I have heard the term OSAS. When I think about why the word was used, I saw that most of the time the term was used, It was used as a derogatory anti-Calvin term. or that the term gives people a license to sin.

The term may be related to the P in Tulip. Which states a saint will persevere. Well this is a flawed statement, It is in response to Armenian thought we must persevere till the end. The problem is it depends on self. For a doctrine that rejects all aspects of free will or works, it resorts to an argument that we will work to keep ourself in the faith. This is not what scripture teaches.

Any way, this is beside the point. We are not arguing Calvin theology, if anyone wishes to open a thread. I will gladly show how every point of TULIP is flawed.

I personally do not open threads or talk about a belief in OSAS.. nor does it really even make sense. I know one guy in one chatroom that every other thread he started was an OSAS thread (for) and a lot of it was out of anger..which is a second thing I notice about this term. Some of the most heated arguments and hateful words I have ever seen in a Christian room are over this term. I have literally seen people from both sides get so out of hand. Mods have to shut down the threads. And I have seen many of them get banned from that chat room. Why is this? Are we not supposed to be brothers and sisters? Why does it instill such deep emotion and anger is many good people? Is it because of the Arminian/Calvin debate? Is it because it concerns the gospel, and no one likes to be told they are wrong? Why is this? ( I must confess I have also been drawn to anger over this discussion. so I am not trying to blame everyone else. I am guilty as well)

 

[Eternally Grateful]

OSAS is an acronym that stands for the words Once Saved Always Saved. Another way to say it is OJAJ or once a person is justified they are always justified. We could say ORAR Once a person is rescued, they are always in a state of being rescued (the Greek word translated saved literally means to be rescued.)

The word used is SOZO – A quick look in any Greek-english text will show the word means to be saved, to be kept, to deliver, To preserve, to keep alive, to rescue,

The question is. What are we saved from? What about the Good news, is it we are saved from?

The bible states we are dead in trespasses and sins –
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death

Ephesians 2:1
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,

Colossians 2:13
And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh,

This brings us to the point. We must be saved, rescued from the wage of our sin. If we are to have our relationship restored with God, We must be made righteous. Because a Holy God can not be in the presence of God. And God will not allow a person under the wage of sin to enter heaven. If we want a picture of this, all we have to do is look at the day of redemption in the law. Look at what the High Priest had to do before he could even enter the most holy place and be in the presence of God. Think of the amount of Blood that had to be spilt for his own sins, let alone how much for the sin of the people he was trying to mediate for to make atonement their sins! As the law said, without the shedding of blood. There can be no forgiveness.

Hebrews 9:22
And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

So we see the human race has a serious problem when it comes to God. We all have sinned (rom 3: 23), Hence we have all fallen short. (rom 3: 23)

Romans 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Hence we are all in a state of death because of our sin. (Romans 6: 23, Eph 2:1 and Col 2: 13)

So what is the solution? (Please note. Once I have posted the complet verse. I will just mention it after this..)

 

[Eternally Grateful]

the solution

So what is the solution?



Jesus gave us the issue, and the Solution in John 3.

John 3:3
Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

For those who use the KJV. Jesus used the words Verily Verily, When Jesus uses these words. He is telling the person or people he is talking to they need to listen up. Pay attention, For what I have to tell you is of utmost importance.

Unless we are born again (Unless we are made alive, resurrected from this dead state, regenerated, Born a second time) we not only will not enter the kingdom of God we will not even see it.

So now the question remains. How are we born again?

I guess the first thing we should look at it how we are not born again..John gives us this answer also.

John 1:13
who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

• It is not because of family ties. If our parents are saved, it does not mean we are saved.
• It is not because we will it. We can will all we want. We can not save ourselves nothing we do will cause God to forgive us of one sin.. The wage of sin is death, hence as we have already seen, death is the only answer. (shedding of blood)
• Not not of the will of another person. I can not will my children to be saved. They must be born again themselves.
• Our new birth is of God.

We also see. While we have earned the death penalty we all have, the way in which God saves us is a gift..

Finishing the verses above,, sin causes death, but God causes life.

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our
Lord.

Ephesians 2:1
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,

Ephesians 2:5
even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

Colossians 2:13
And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,

So we see, this new birth Jesus said we all must be birthed with, is a gift if God (Rom 6: 23) It is accomplished by Gods grace (Eph 2: 5) and it is based on the fact God has forgiven us all trespasses (sin) (Col 2: 13) and we also see this gift is what scripture calls eternal life (Rom 6: 23)

So we have seen what must happen (we must be born again) we have seen how it happens (It’s a gift if God, given to us by grace (not earned) because he has forgiven us our sins.

The next thing we need to investigate is when does this happen. When are we regenerated, When does this new birth take place?

 

[Eternally Grateful]

when does this take place.

Since we already looked at John 1 and how we are not born again, I will start there.

We must receive his gift. By receiving him. How do we do this. By trusting him (unlike the Calvinist view, God will not force us to take his gift. We must receive it in faith.. or reject it in unbelief)

John 1:12
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

John returns to this in John 3. Where Jesus gave us the wake-up call. Listen to me, you must be born again. When Nicodemus asked him how.

John 3:14
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness

• He used an OT example of the type of Christ. Moses and the bronze serpent
• In this example. The children of Israel rebelled. So God sent snakes. When people were bitten, it was a death sentence, they could not save themselves. They asked for Moses to ask God for help. God gave moses the answer. The Bronze serpent, Raise it on a pole. Whoever in faith looks will be saved, whoever in unbelief does not look will die. Notice they all asked God for help, They asked for God to take the serpents away. But God did not do this. He instead sent them a way to be healed. But some did not believe in Gods provision. So in unbelief they perished.

Numbers 21:8-9
7. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord that He take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.

So how does this relate to us being born again? Jesus said he also must be raised up.

Lets finish Jesus words to Nicodemus.

John 3:14
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so, the son of man must be lifted up.

How does it relate? The same thing God promised them, he promises us today.

John 3:15
that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

So we see, Like those who trusted Moses (and God) in the OT. Whoever trusts in God (whoever receives him (john 1) will not perish, but will be born again – Jesus used the word never perish. It means they will never die, and they will live forever (eternal life) he said it not just once, he said it twice. Its one thing when you say it one time, but when you say it twice. Reader needs to listen!!

But Jesus did not stop here. He lets us know. He did not come to judge but to save (also, Calvinism is not in context here. Because this salvation is offered to all. Just like the serpent was sent to save all) Whoever believes..

John 3:17
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

so we see. who are those who are saved? Who is born again?

 

[Eternally Grateful]

So who are the ones who are saved?

John 3:18
“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Some of your versions say not obey. What is it that they did not obey? They did not believe.

So up to this point I can add another acronym, OBANPLE – “Once Born Again Never Perish and Live Forever”

In other words, Once Saved (born again) Always saved (you will never perish and you will live forever),

So you see, it all fits. But is this the only place Jesus tells us this. What else does he say of those who are born again, or rescued from the penalty of death to those who receive him in Faith?

John the Baptist tells us in John 3, We have everlasting or eternal life. As apposed who do not believe, they are under the wrath of God.

John 3:36
He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

Whoever does not believe remains in a condemned state, they are left dead.

Jesus again in John 4, says whoever believes again has eternal life, not only this, but they shall not come into judgment but have passed from death to life (born again)

john 5: 24 “most assuredly, i say to you, he whoever hears my word and believes in him who sent me who sent me has eternal life and shall not come into judgment but has passed from death to life

Again, in John 6, Jesus says the same words. Whoever believes has this same new birth. And will never perish or they have this life eternal.

John 6: 40 and this is the will of him who sent me, that everyone who sees and believes in him may have everlasting life and i will raise him on the last day
john 6: 47 most assuredly, i say to you, he who believes in me has everlasting life.

But Jesus says more here. He is talking to people who were looking for a handout. And he is telling them to work for food which endures forever. Which Jesus will give them,, This spiritual bread from heaven.

John 6: 27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”

So what is this food. And what do those who eat it get?

It is the bread of life.. Whoever eats it will never hunger or thirst, It is given to those who come to him

john 6: 35 and jesus said to them, “i am the bread of life. he who comes to me shall never hunger and he who believes in me shall never thirst

What else is given to those who come, besides this new birth and promise to never hunger or thirst? – They will never be cast out, They will never be lost, They will be raised on the last day, And they will live forever.

john 6: 37: and the one who comes to me i will by no means cast out 38 for i have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. 39 this is the will of the father who sent me, thatof all he has given me i shall lose nothing, but should raise it up on the last day. 40 and this is the will of him who sent me, that everyone who sees and believes in him may have everlasting life and i will (not might) raise him on the last day


So what do we get if we eat this spiritual food Jesus is offering? They have eternal life, They will not die, They will live forever.

john 6: 47 most assuredly, i say to you, he who believes in me has everlasting life. 48 i am the bread of life. 49 your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 this is the bread which comes down from heaven, that that one may eat of it and not die 51 am the living bread which came down from heaven. if anyone eats this bread he will live forever

what is this food? It is the thing that can clean us, The thing that can wash our sins away, The words given by the spirit.

john 6: 63 it is the spirit who gives life ; the flesh profits nothing. the words that i speak to you are spirit and they are life

But it is not just seen by the words of Jesus. Others made the same claims about this new birth. This forgiveness of sin which is the cause of our new birth. This washing of regeneration.

 

[Eternally Grateful]

Others made the same claim

1. It is a completed action. Not based on our works. But according to his purpose and grace which is in Christ.

2 tim 1: 9 who has saved us (a completed action) and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works , but according to his own purpose and grace which was given to us in christ jesus before time began

2. It is by Grace, God not only has saved us and made us alive, But he has at this moment seated us in high places. We have been saved by Grace, However, it is not done by works.

eph 2: 4 but god, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses,made us alive together with christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together , and made us sit together in heavenly places 7 that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us in christ jesus. 8 for by grace you have been saved (a completed action) through faith , (as many as have recieved) and that not of yourselves ; it is the gift of god, 9 not of works lest anyone should boast

3. It is received after we hear these words. And trust God. And it is given with the seal of the spirit himself. And it is guaranteed, because it is his work. Not our own

eph 1: 13 in him you also trusted , after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also ,having believed you were sealed with the holy spirit of promise 14 who is the gaurantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of his glory.

4. It was given by example. The faith of Abraham (gen 15) who was imputed the righteousness of God because of his faith. And it will be given to us also who have this Faith that saves.

rom 4: 23 now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, 24 but also for us, it shall be imputed to us who believe in him who raised up jesus our lord from the dead , 25 who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification

5. As we have already established it is given by Grace it can not be earned. Paul reiterates this fact. If it can be earned, it is not of Grace

rom 11: 6 and if by grace, than it is no longer of works, ; otherwise grace is no longer grace.but if it is of works, then it is no longer of grace. otherwise work is no longer work

6. It is done not because we have done enough good works, (or not done enough bad works) but based on Gods mercy. The final regeneration or new birth is established to be accomplished by the Holy Spirit. Not through our good deeds.

titus 3: 4 but when the kindness and the love of god our savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness (good deeds) which we have done , but according to his mercy he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the holy spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our savior,

finally I want to end with this, this eternal life God gives us, can we know we have it? Is this not what our faith is based off of? Is this not what keeps us living and moving forward and getting through all the trial and tribulation?

Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

1. What is our faith in? Can God lie?

Titus 1: 2 in hope of eternal life which God who can not lie promised before time began

2. It is based on Justification. Which gives us our hope.

Titus 3:7
that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

3. It is based on his promise

1 John 2:25
And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.

4. It is based on the testimony that God has given it to us

1 John 5:11
And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

5. And we can know we have it. which is the basis for us keeping the faith in Christ. Given to those who already have faith,,

1 John 5:13
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

Why? Because Knowledge is power. And the word is our power.

 

[Eternally Grateful]

in conclusion;

So in the end. The argument is not really about OSAS. It is about the promises of God. It is about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is about the fact we are

• All dead in trespasses and sins (the wage of sin is death Rom 6: 23)
• Unable to save ourselves (it is By Grace, not by works of righteousness we have done (eph 2: 8-9, 2 Tim 1:9, Titus 3:5, Rom 11:6)
• Everyone must be born again (john 3: 3) which is a gift of God (rom 6: 23) Based on Gods mercy not our righteous deeds (titus 3: 5)
• To be born again, adopted as Gods children, we must receive him in faith (john 1:12, John 3: 15-16, We must eat the bread from heaven (john 6) we must receive it through faith (eph 2: 8-9)
• This new life brings with it a new creation and many promises
• we are a new creation based on his workmanship (eph 2: 10)

Ephesians 2:10
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

• old things are passed away all things have become new because of this new creation (2 Cor 5: 17)

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

• We are already seated in the heavenly places and been blessed with every spiritual blessing (eph 1: 3)

Ephesians 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

• We are seated in heavenly places (eph 2; 6)
• We will never perish, never die (john 3, John 6 and many others)
• We will live forever (eternal life) (John 3, John 5, John 6 and many others)
• We can rest out hope. That while we are in the process of being sanctified, He has perfected us forever (Heb 10: 14)
• Hebrews 10:14
• For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
• We can be confident, that he who began a good work in us will not stop this work., he will complete it (phil 1: 6)

Philippians 1:6
being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

So in a nutshell. This is what MOST of us believe, We believe this gospel. Based on the work of God. Based on the promise of God. Not because he is worthy but because he is good.

Now there are some who stray from the truth and try to make use of this to Mock God and Grace and make it appear they can say some sinners prayer and they are saved and can do whatever they want. (ie, it gives people a license to sin)

But this is refuted in the scripture (James 2, Jude, Romans 6: 1)

There are some who argue the point just to defeat another doctrinal belief. But the essence of their foundation is based on a false foundation which is flawed (Calvinism)

But when you see people defending something called OSAS. Know they may not defending Calvinism. (you must listen to them to know. ask questions this will help) They are defending the promise of God. That the moment A person is born again, saved, justified, made alive in Christ, redeemed by the blood, that this salvation, justification, redemption made by the atonement and propitiation of God is eternal, Based on on us, but based on God.

I love the new song.. God saves us, not because we are worthy, but because he is good.

The lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world..

Either Jesus paid our sin debt in full on the cross. Or we are doomed for all eternity. Because those sins can never be forgiven. Without the shedding of blood. There can be no remission of those sins