Once Saved Forever Saved? The bible says you lie!
The doctrine of eternal security goes so far as to say that once a person has been saved, by sincerely saying the sinner’s prayer, he cannot lose his salvation ever. Even if he denies Jesus or continues to commit adultery blatantly or practice sorcery, God is able to keep him by his power of salvation. And those that the Father gives to Jesus, Jesus says nobody can snatch any out of his hands. Really? Let’s look at the bible for examples.
1) Judas
Judas was definitely a believer. Judas was handpicked by Jesus to be one of the 12 apostles. Together with the others, he was anointed with the power and sent out by Jesus twice to preach the gospel of the Kingdom. He was able to perform healing and cast out demons by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The bible clearly says that Judas has been lost, even though he was given to Jesus by the Father
Joh 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled
Does this not clearly show that once a person denies Jesus, he has removed himself out of the will of the Father, and off to hell he goes. A believer can turn into a son of perdition! This is by far the clearest example of a believer, an apostle even going to hell.
2) Hermeneus, Alexander and Philetus
These 3 were very probably teachers and leaders. And they were leading people astray with their words, vain babblings and teachings to the extent of shipwrecking their faith. Let see these few verses :
2Ti 2:17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 2Ti 2:18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. 2Ti 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
1Ti 1:18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; 1Ti 1:19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: 1Ti 1:20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.
Weren’t they believers? They were! And does Paul sound like he is saying they can still be saved despite their erroneous ways and blasphemy? Surely being “delivered unto Satan” can only mean condemnation.
3) Diotrephes
Diotrephes was a believer and a church leader of whom we do not know much, save for what John tells us about him:
3Jn 1:9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. 3Jn 1:10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. 3Jn 1:11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
John urges the other believers not to follow the evil ways of Diotrephes because he that is evil has not seen God. Again, does it look like Diotrephes is going to heaven, unless he turns away from evil?
4) Ananias and Saphira
Luke relates to us the record of this husband and wife couple in Acts 5, where they sold their property and brought the money to the feet of Peter, to support church life. So, they were definitely believers, committed enough to sell their property and give the money for the benefit of believers. However, they did not give truthfully, pretending that they had given all when in fact they had kept back a part of the money. For this sin of deceit, they died at the words of Peter who said they had lied to God.
Shall we argue that they are going to heaven to be with God?
And while on these 2 persons, I cannot resist the opportunity to mention that the false teacher Joseph Prince definitely has not read Acts chapter 5. On page 57 & 58 of his book “Destined to Reign”, he revealed his ignorance of the bible by asking the reader to prove that God had ever punished any New Testament believer who is under grace. Big names often speak nonsense and write nonsense; which is why I always tell people “Stop reading books that explain the bible, read the bible!”
5) Saul
1Sa 11:6 tells us the Spirit of God had came upon Saul. And 1 Samuel 16:14 tell us that the Spirit of God departed from Saul. A person anointed by the Holy Spirit can still lose the anointing and the Spirit leaves him!
Do you think Saul is in heaven after showing himself so disobedient to God?
We can still talk about Adam and Eve, and their son Cain. In the same vein, they were worshippers of the great Creator God. The bible clearly says that death came through Adam. If Adam’s death is purely bodily death, does Jesus need to come to die and live that all may live?
How do the “Once Saved Forever Saved” proponents respond to the above? There are 2 common ways, the most popular of which is:
“Oh, these people were not really saved from the beginning”, and the other is to ignore these scriptures and continue to push to you their “proof verses”.
As I often countered the Jehovah Witnesses who come to my house, “If you can only push your explanation for your proof verses, while you are being unable to explain, or choose to ignore the other scriptural verses that run counter to your proof verses, something is surely wrong! Either your explanation is wrong or the bible is self-contradictory, inconsistent and unreliable!”
Jesus made it very clear when He explained:
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
These people call Jesus “Lord”, meaning they are believers and followers. These people were empowered by the Holy Spirit to perform miracles and signs and wonders. These believers were expecting to be received by Jesus to enter into the Kingdom of God, but were rejected.
So, do you still want to hold on to your belief that you can be a sinful, lying, disobedient, unrepentant follower of Jesus and still enter into his Kingdom?
And did not Jesus say:
Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free
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