Eternally Grateful
Well-Known Member
The Bible saysOkay, fair enough. Let's return to the topic.
In my view OSAS fails on the premise "once saved", rather than the conclusion "always saved." The argument against OSAS follows two distinct tracts: 1) OSAS can't be true otherwise Jesus and the apostles wouldn't warn people against falling away. 2) OSAS can't be true because the confirmation of true and genuine faith relies on factors other than verbal affirmation.
Your initial post touches on the second line of argument. And without disagreeing with your view, I would like to point out that arguments against OSAS are not actually arguments against OSAS. But rather, the dispute centers on a different premise: "once believed always saved", which is the topic of your initial post in this thread. I'd say that both argument tracts make this faulty assumption.
Ironically, both sides of the debate take it as given that belief is immediately rewarded with salvation, and the question is whether or not that initial award (promise) of salvation can be rescinded. In my view, the Bible does not actually teach us that belief is immediately rewarded with salvation. The notion that immediate salvation upon belief should not be taken as granted. Such a notion must be proven from scripture and I don't think the premise will bear under the facts.
Some have pointed out, even in this thread, that those who fall away were never saved in the first place. One could argue that salvation always remains a promise and isn't actualized until glorification, but I think the Bible finds a middle ground where glorification becomes the terminus of a life lived in sanctification, and by sanctification I don't mean "doing holy and good things", I mean, "having the right attitude and perspective." Having the proper inwardness is also a gift of salvation, which will find it's goal in glorification.
Instead of "justification by faith alone", our slogan should be "salvation by sanctification." We are not "saved" past tense. We are "being saved" present tense continuous action, and the essence of salvation is what Paul calls "enlightenment." (not the modern definition.) Ephesians 1:1-19
1. we have been saved, (eternal salvation) not by our righteous works, it by Gods mercy this is called justification or positional sanctificarion
2. we are being saved from the power of sin, as we grow in our saved state and work out the salvation in us, god, who perfected us by one sacrifice, continues in sanctification or as paul said, he who began a good work will complete that work until the day of Christ. this is called conditional sanctification or christian growth
3. we will be saved, from all the results of sin and from the ability to even commit sin, this is called glorification it is where the 1st two types of salvation meet, it is where the thing God said he will complete is finished, it is where our justification and sanctificarion meet as one and is complete
the problem is, many want to mix the first two, and claim unless number 2 is met, then number one will fail (salvation can be lost)
in a nutshell, that is the argument,
#1 is by grace through faith alone
#2 is by God working in us and us working to trust in him. Ie, the works paul mentioned in eph 2:10 in which all Christians will do, although many will reach greater levels than others, many may remain babes, but they are not without work,