(daniel_1012;10324)
The question "Once saved, always saved?" to me, as I think on it, though I never noticed it before, is a bit of an oxymoron when one understands who God is, and what His character is like. Once saved, always saved? Well yes, I suppose we are always saved. Unless one thinks God's hands are weak; unless His boat has holes; or unless God, who is sovereign in will, would throw children back who He chose to save. Unless those things are true... yes, once saved, always saved.Does God ever go back on His promises? No, He cannot. I feel I can be pretty matter-of-fact in saying that God keeps His promises. Even people who don't know God will often understand that as part one of His must-be characteristics. When I was saved... God promised me salvation inspite of my sin. I do not know what He promised you (I say this... kiddingly, He makes the same promise), but when I was saved, it was not because I was perfect, sinless, or even totally aware of how God was saving me.Now, if He gave you a promise, will He go back on that promise? I think not. Even when we are unfaithful, He remains faithful. And, Jesus said that the faith of a mustard seed will move a mountain. How much faith will He require from us to save a soul? Jesus' analogy, of course, was not a mathmatical equation that can be measured to scale to other things. Jesus was saying that it takes little to no faith, if one would just believe in what God calls them to do, then God will move a mountain even with a faith that is near nothing. Now, after the mountain is moved into the sea... If my faith, after God has moved the mountain, fails, does that faith work in reverse? Does the mountain come back out of the sea? Does the mountain go back from where it came? I think not. The mountain has been moved.I am under strong convincing that once saved... once saved, period. It is God who saves, and Our Father, I say this reverently, is no Indian giver. Neither was my salvation based on my own works; therefore, when my works run out, why should my salvation? When my works go the opposite direction, why should my salvation? A God, remember, who while we were yet sinners, died for us... and gave Himself for us... should He make such a great sacrifice that our sin, even blaintantly willful, could overpower it?
You do not have to always quote scripture when speaking to us we understand scripture well enough to understand your reasoning If we want scripture to support somthing we will ask for it. I am pleased to see you are using your mind to reason with what scripture has taught you. If this were the only thing we were talking here was the mind of God your reasoning would hold true. But we are talking the mind/hearts of men here not God. If a man be saved in his youth then in his old age pledge his allegence to Satan is he saved? Is Judas saved saved? this is not God chaning his mind but men.Luke 12:8"I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. Luke 12:9 9 But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God. Luke 13:3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. luke 13:4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? luke 13:5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish." Now I ask you if you turn away after being saved and do not repent are you still saved?Mark 13:13 All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm notice it is he who stands firm not he who was once saved.Mark 9:43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. Mark 9:45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. Mark9:47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, Notice it does not say if you sin or turn away do not worry about it Once saved always savedMark9:49Everyone will be salted with fire. Mark9:50 "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other."If you are Saved(salted) and you turn away(lose your saltiness)The thing is I am aware of no scripture that say's once saved always saved and as you can see there are many that tend to say otherwise. So I ask how you can believe what men have said when Gods word says otherwise?