I agree that we should be spending our time encouraging each other in good works. Settling the matter about once saved always saved is not what Jesus will be looking for at the judgment. He will be looking at the life we lived, not our doctrine. Some people think believing in once saved always saved is what prepares them for the coming judgment.
What I'm talking about here is this.
When we make the choice to believe in Jesus, to trust in Him, to receive Him to ourselves, He responds with giving us life. We were not technically alive before this. We were sin-dead corrupt creations, which were destined for the fire.
God makes us alive, alive unto Him. This is the heart of the Gospel. Jesus did not die first and foremost to change our behavior. He died to make alive.
And being alive unto God, now, we can continue on in the old way, relating to God on the basis of Law, and sin, or we can live an entirely new way, relating to God on the basis of being alive in Christ.
And the Bible teaches us that Law provokes sin, increases sin, and this was part of it's purpose. God gave the Law to produce sin in man. Giving a standard of righteousness to be obeyed incites the flesh, which is always hostile to God, and His Law.
So leaving that behind, when we come into Christ, we are not under Law, but under Grace, and therefore, Law is not there stirring up sin within in us.
But if you go back to a Law based relationship with God, you're asking for trouble. Law stirs up sin.
Living in Grace, God's complete forgiveness, this frees you from the motions of sin in your members, when are by the Law. So then the Law Is Not there stirring up sin.
And the strangest thing happens! Those who find this realize that sin totally loses it's power, as we are free and clear to live unto God.
Now, we choose what to believe, and I think Jesus may well have something to say to any of us. God will judge our works. That judgment of works will be one thing for those who are His spirit children, but something else entirely for those who are not.
"settling the matter of once saved always saved"
Settle the matter that you are God's child, that you trust in Him. Become intimate with Him, by spending time with Him, and by not fighting against your circumstances, rather looking for His hand within them. Trusting Him with everything you have, and are, and ever hope to be.
And rest in His promise. For He has promised, I will NEVER leave you nor forsake you.
You seem to find this idea that God, having recreated us His Own born spirit children, having made us one with Himself, you seem to have this difficulty believing He won't some day throw you away, but He's not like that. It's not why He made us to begin with.
God didn't not bring us into this world so that we could somehow prove to Him that we are good enough. He's the One Who is making us good enough, and then the glory is His.
Two commandments He gave to us. Trust Jesus, and Love others.
You know, it's like in Romans 5. What Jesus did is NOT the counterpart to what Adam did. What Jesus did is so much greater.
And what Jesus did in recreating us is so much greater than what is described in the Law. One is not the same as the other, Jesus' righteousness is way beyond the righteousness by Law, which, of course, Paul counts to be manure.
The Law points you to Jesus. And Jesus points you to Himself. Come to me, all who are weary and heavily burdened. Rest is what He promises. Sweet sweet rest, an end to the struggle, but be it to you according to your faith.
Much love!