LET NO MAN DECEIVE YOU! WAKE UP BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!

[mailmandan]

OSAS is a doctrine of men, not written in God's Word.

A license to sin/license for immorality which often gets attached to OSAS by those who strongly oppose it is a doctrine of men, just like salvation by works/works righteousness is also a doctrine of men by those who attach it to NOSAS. I actually prefer the terms "eternal security of the believer" or "preservation of the saints" over OSAS because of the negative connotations that typically get attached to it by those who promote salvation by works/works righteousness.

A study of what Apostle Paul taught in Galatians 5 reveals our staying in Christ involves WALKING BY THE SPIRIT. That means, heeding The Holy Spirit. Paul gives examples of that walk with The Holy Spirit, and the fleshy works by those who do NOT walk by The Spirit.

Galatians 5:16 - I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 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. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Walking in the Spirit does not mean a Christian instantly reaches sinless perfection (1 John 1:8-10) but rather that sin no longer reigns as an unresisted lifestyle or bent of life. In 1 John 3:9, we read - No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

Apostle John in 1 John 1 showed that those in Christ STILL... need to REPENT and ASK CHRIST FORGIVENESS of future sins committed.

In regard to 1 John 1:9, notice that - "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9) is in contrast to - If we say that we have no sin, (present tense) we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us (1 John 1:8) and - If we say that we have not sinned, (past tense) we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:10)

Certain people seem to misunderstand verse 9 to mean that we "must confess each and every sin that we commit as we commit them" (keep a specific inventory of every sin we have ever committed) as an "additional requirement" to "remain cleansed" and "if we forget a sin we are toast!" Who could actually write an exhaustive list of every sin they have ever committed or ever will commit? Sin is not only missing the mark by what we do but also what we fail to do. (James 4:17)

Believers "confess" (Greek - homologeó) speak the same/acknowledge/agree with God's perspective about their sins and have a settled recognition and ongoing acknowledgment that one is a sinner in need of cleansing and forgiveness in contrast with saying that we have no sin or that we have not sinned. (1 John 1:8-10)

In Romans 3:25, Apostle Paul said the sins Lord Jesus remitted on His cross for us is about "sins that are past".

Rom 3:24-26
24 Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

26 To declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
KJV

Romans 3:25 (AMP) - whom God displayed publicly [before the eyes of the world] as a [life-giving] sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation (propitiation) by His blood [to be received] through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness [which demands punishment for sin], because in His forbearance [His deliberate restraint] He passed over the sins previously committed [before Jesus’ crucifixion].

*This sheds light on what is meant by PAST sins. It does not mean that Jesus' death was ONLY for past sins.

Acts 13:39 - and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Further translations of Romans 3:25 read:

ESV - whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

HCSB - God presented Him as a propitiation through faith in His blood, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His restraint God passed over the sins previously committed.

NASB - whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed.

NIV - God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished.

CONTINUED..

 

[mailmandan]

Per Revelation 2 & 3, if Jesus had already forgiven the sins five of the Churches in Asia were guilty of, He would not have told them to REPENT.

In regard to the church in Ephesus in Revelation 2, clearly the Lord wanted the church at Ephesus to repent -- to change their minds regarding their works. "You have left your first love" (verse 4). "Repent and do the first works" (verse 5). Works of love no longer characterized the church as a whole in Ephesus. In verses 2 and 6, we see that the church in Ephesus was not totally displeasing to the Lord, yet hating the deeds of the Nicolaitans and standing up for doctrinal purity still cannot be a substitute for love. So, what did the Lord mean when He spoke of removing the church's lamp stand if the church in Ephesus did not repent? The removal of the lampstand is clearly figurative language. This does not mean that individuals in the church at Ephesus will lose their salvation, but the church can forfeit its place of light bearing and witness. Ephesus (located in modern day Turkey) in which the vast majority of Turkey is Islam. Go figure.

In regard to the church of the Laodiceans. Revelation 3:15 - "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. (this church makes Jesus sick) 17 Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore, be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. We overcome by faith. (1 John 5:4)

Keep in mind that in various churches, it's not hard to find "nominal" Christians mixed in with genuine Christians and Jesus is addressing these churches as a whole. Like the lifeless state of the church in Sardis in Revelation 3:1-4 - "you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead." This church may have had a name of being alive, but they were spiritually lifeless. In other words, the church was filled with unsaved people going through the motions of religion who needed to wake up and repent IN CONTRAST with a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Jesus in white.

Thus the Once Saved, Always Saved (OSAS) doctrine of men is NOT WRITTEN in God's Word. That doctrine is OF THE DEVIL, simply because it leads the believer astray into thinking that as Christians we can never again... commit a sin, and thus have no further need to ever repent to Christ again. That is exactly... how Satan wants us to believe!

Satan wants us to believe in SELF righteousness and SELF preservation which stems from works righteousness.

In John 6:37, Jesus said - All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not 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 Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”

In John 10:27-28, we read - My sheep hear My voice, (not some of them hear His voice and some of them don't hear His voice) and I know them, (not some of them He knows and some of them He doesn't know) and they follow Me. (not some of them follow Him and some of them don't follow Him) And I give them eternal life, (not some of them He gives eternal life and some of them He doesn't give eternal life) and they shall never perish; (not some of them will never perish and some of them will perish) neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. (not some of them will never be snatched out of His hand and some of them will be snatched out of His hand)

In Romans 8:30, we read - Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. *ALL of them. *Notice how Paul uses the past tense for a future event to stress its certainty.

In Ephesians 1:13-14, we read - 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 guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

In Philippians 1:6, we read - 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.

Psalm 37:28 - For the Lord loves justice and does not forsake His saints; They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off. Jude 1:1 - Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James. To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ:

The phrase OSAS can be misleading when it is used to mean that anyone who once prayed the sinner's prayer or made a profession of faith is secure. I believe in preservation of the saints/eternal security of the believer, but I don't believe in eternal presumption.

So, the Biblical conclusion is not merely, “Once presumed to be saved, always saved.” It is this: those whom Christ truly saves, He keeps, and those whom He keeps continue in faith. Their continuance does not purchase salvation. It demonstrates the reality of God’s saving work.

We need to do our best to walk in The Spirit like Apostle Paul taught in Galatians 5, and IF... we mess up in future sin, we need to repent and ask Lord Jesus forgiveness, and then get back to serving Him. This is how it is while we are still in these flesh bodies of sin, as Apostle Paul showed in Romans 7.

If you were standing at the gates of heaven at this very moment and Jesus Christ asked you why He should let you into heaven, what would be your exact answer? Your answer to this question will demonstrate exactly what you have placed your faith in for salvation.