Many sincere religious people believe that once a person has been redeemed by Christ, it is impossible to sin, fall from God’s grace and be lost. However, the Bible does not teach that a believer has total security. The Bible prophesied some would sin and fall away in 1 Timothy 4:1. In fact, there are numerous Bible passages that refute the theory of "once saved, always saved."
God is consistent and emphatic about His expectations and the consequences of not remaining faithful. In Ezekiel 18:24 we read, "But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that a wicked man does, will he live? All his righteous deeds, which he has done, will not be remembered for his treachery, which he has committed, and his sin, which he has committed; for them he will die."
In Hebrews 3:12-14, brethren are exhorted to guard against departing the living God with a heart of unbelief. In verses 15-19, the Hebrew writer continues to emphasize the seriousness of the warning by using the Israelites, who perished in the wilderness because of their unbelief, as an example. As stated in Hebrews 4:1 and 11, we too can have the promise and then fall short of it. Satan is looking to devour the Christian who has become over confident, I Peter 5:8. II John 1: 8-9 tells us, "watch yourselves that you might not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward."
The Bible provides many examples of Christians who fell from grace. In Act 8:5-24, we read of Simon who practiced sorcery in Samaria. In verse 13, Simon believed and was baptized.
Simon wanted to purchase the gift of imparting Holy Spirit in verses 18-20. Paul rebuked Simon for his sin and described him, in verse 23, as being in the "gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity." We can conclude from verse 23 that he was then in a lost condition.
Another example is that of Ananias and Sapphira. In Acts 4:32, we read, "And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul." Ananias and Sapphira were members of the congregation. Acts 5:1-11 describes how Ananias and Sapphira lied to God about the sale of their property and God struck both of them dead for their sin.
Other examples of Christians who fell from Grace include Hymenaeous and Alexander. Paul describes Hymenaeous and Alexander, in I Timothy 1:19-20, as shipwrecked in their faith and he delivered them to Satan for their blasphemy.
Supporters of "once saved always saved" have responded to examples like that of Simon the sorcerer and others with the position that, if they fall away, they weren't saved in the first place. However, Jesus illustrated that it is possible for one to believe temporarily in the parable of the sewer, Luke 8:11-15. Hebrews 6:4 and II Peter 2:20-22 also confirm that Christians, by there own choice, can fall back into a sinful life style and be lost. Jesus said in Luke 9:62, "No one, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."
God loves us very much. In Romans 8:35-39, we read that nothing can separate us from that love. However, Romans 8:35-39 does not teach that we can never be separated from salvation in Christ by our own actions. Not providing for your family in I Timothy 5:8, the love of money in I Timothy 6:10 and false teaching in II Peter 2:1; 3:17 are all examples of how our actions can separate us from Christ.
In Romans 7: 14-25, Paul wrote of the struggle between good and evil within himself. "I find then the principle of evil is present within me, the one who wishes to do good." For this reason, Paul wrote, in I Corinthians 9:27, that he "buffeted his body lest he become disqualified." He wrote in I Corinthians 10:12 to "take head lest ye fall". In Galatians 5:4, Paul told brethren "You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace." If "once saved always saved" were true, there would have been no need for Paul to write two thirds of the New Testament warning Christians about the consequences of sin.
Our Salvation in Christ is not based on one action but the consistent attitudes and actions of our new life. Saving faith is one faith that follows God’s word and brings forth fruit, Luke 8:15. "If we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remained no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries," Hebrews 10:26-27.
God is consistent and emphatic about His expectations and the consequences of not remaining faithful. In Ezekiel 18:24 we read, "But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that a wicked man does, will he live? All his righteous deeds, which he has done, will not be remembered for his treachery, which he has committed, and his sin, which he has committed; for them he will die."
In Hebrews 3:12-14, brethren are exhorted to guard against departing the living God with a heart of unbelief. In verses 15-19, the Hebrew writer continues to emphasize the seriousness of the warning by using the Israelites, who perished in the wilderness because of their unbelief, as an example. As stated in Hebrews 4:1 and 11, we too can have the promise and then fall short of it. Satan is looking to devour the Christian who has become over confident, I Peter 5:8. II John 1: 8-9 tells us, "watch yourselves that you might not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward."
The Bible provides many examples of Christians who fell from grace. In Act 8:5-24, we read of Simon who practiced sorcery in Samaria. In verse 13, Simon believed and was baptized.
Simon wanted to purchase the gift of imparting Holy Spirit in verses 18-20. Paul rebuked Simon for his sin and described him, in verse 23, as being in the "gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity." We can conclude from verse 23 that he was then in a lost condition.
Another example is that of Ananias and Sapphira. In Acts 4:32, we read, "And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul." Ananias and Sapphira were members of the congregation. Acts 5:1-11 describes how Ananias and Sapphira lied to God about the sale of their property and God struck both of them dead for their sin.
Other examples of Christians who fell from Grace include Hymenaeous and Alexander. Paul describes Hymenaeous and Alexander, in I Timothy 1:19-20, as shipwrecked in their faith and he delivered them to Satan for their blasphemy.
Supporters of "once saved always saved" have responded to examples like that of Simon the sorcerer and others with the position that, if they fall away, they weren't saved in the first place. However, Jesus illustrated that it is possible for one to believe temporarily in the parable of the sewer, Luke 8:11-15. Hebrews 6:4 and II Peter 2:20-22 also confirm that Christians, by there own choice, can fall back into a sinful life style and be lost. Jesus said in Luke 9:62, "No one, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."
God loves us very much. In Romans 8:35-39, we read that nothing can separate us from that love. However, Romans 8:35-39 does not teach that we can never be separated from salvation in Christ by our own actions. Not providing for your family in I Timothy 5:8, the love of money in I Timothy 6:10 and false teaching in II Peter 2:1; 3:17 are all examples of how our actions can separate us from Christ.
In Romans 7: 14-25, Paul wrote of the struggle between good and evil within himself. "I find then the principle of evil is present within me, the one who wishes to do good." For this reason, Paul wrote, in I Corinthians 9:27, that he "buffeted his body lest he become disqualified." He wrote in I Corinthians 10:12 to "take head lest ye fall". In Galatians 5:4, Paul told brethren "You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace." If "once saved always saved" were true, there would have been no need for Paul to write two thirds of the New Testament warning Christians about the consequences of sin.
Our Salvation in Christ is not based on one action but the consistent attitudes and actions of our new life. Saving faith is one faith that follows God’s word and brings forth fruit, Luke 8:15. "If we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remained no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries," Hebrews 10:26-27.
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