The “once saved-always saved” mindset says: if someone falls away from the Lord, then they were never “really saved” because if they were really saved, they would never fall away from the Lord.
Here are a few statements a person would have to believe, in order to have the "once saved, always saved" mindset followed with Scripture verses that "expose" the impossibility of it.
NO ONE COULD EVER DEPART FROM THE FAITH
NO ONE COULD EVER "GET ENTANGLED AGAIN IN THE POLLUTIONS OF THE WORLD"
NO VIRGIN'S LAMP COULD EVER GO OUT AND EVEN IF BETROTHED TO THE LORD, THEY COULD NOT BE LOCKED OUT FROM THE WEDDING OR DECLARED BY THE LORD "I DO NOT KNOW YOU"
NO PROMISING HARVEST COULD EVER BE CHOKED WITH THORNS
NO BRANCH COULD EVER FAIL TO REMAIN IN CHRIST AND BE THROWN AWAY AND BURNED FOR BEING UNFRUITFUL
NO PARDON COULD EVER BE FORFEITED
NO SALT COULD EVER LOSE ITS SAVOR
NO ONE COULD EVER "RECEIVE THE GRACE OF GOD IN VAIN"
NO ONE COULD EVER "BURY HIS TALENTS"
NO ONE COULD EVER "NEGLECT SO GREAT A SALVATION"
NO ONE WOULD EVER "LOOK BACK" AFTER PUTTING HIS HAND TO THE GOSPEL PLOW
NO ONE COULD EVER "GRIEVE THE SPIRIT" UNTIL "HE IS QUENCHED" AND STRIVES NO MORE
NO ONE WOULD "DENY THAT THE LORD BOUGHT THEM”
NO ONE COULD "BRING UPON THEMSELVES SWIFT DESTRUCTION"
NOBODY, OR BODY OF BELIEVERS, "COULD EVER GET SO LUKEWARM THAT JESUS WOULD SPEW THEM OUT OF HIS MOUTH"
NO SHEEP COULD EVER GET LOST, BECAUSE IF HE EVER DID, HE WAS NEVER REALLY FOUND
NO ONE COULD EVER BE BROKEN OFF OR CUT OFF
NO BELIEVER COULD EVER "DRAW BACK"
NO ONE COULD GET "SHIPWRECKED FROM THE FAITH" (BECAUSE THERE MUST HAVE BEEN NO SHIP OF FAITH THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE) -
NO NEED TO WORRY ABOUT ANYONE STEALING ONE'S CROWN, FOR IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE TO LOSE IT
NO ONE COULD FALL FROM THEIR STEADFASTNESS AND BE LED AWAY WITH THE ERROR OF THE WICKED
This lie of Satan has no doubt caused many a soul to go to hell thinking they were covered by the grace of God, no matter how they lived. This is a perfect example of a false doctrine based upon "part of the verses" of the Bible. Unless one considers “all the verses” on “a given matter” and considers “the context” in which they were given, a false doctrine came come forth that can be very harmful. Once saved, always saved is something the enemy worked hard to get it into the church.
Here are a few statements a person would have to believe, in order to have the "once saved, always saved" mindset followed with Scripture verses that "expose" the impossibility of it.
NO ONE COULD EVER DEPART FROM THE FAITH
- 1 Timothy 4:1-3 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
NO ONE COULD EVER "GET ENTANGLED AGAIN IN THE POLLUTIONS OF THE WORLD"
- 2 Peter 2:20-21 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.
NO VIRGIN'S LAMP COULD EVER GO OUT AND EVEN IF BETROTHED TO THE LORD, THEY COULD NOT BE LOCKED OUT FROM THE WEDDING OR DECLARED BY THE LORD "I DO NOT KNOW YOU"
- Matthew 25:8-12 (the parable of the "betrothed" virgins) "And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.' “And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!' But he answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.'”
NO PROMISING HARVEST COULD EVER BE CHOKED WITH THORNS
- Hebrews 6:7-8 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; but if it bears thorns and briars, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.
NO BRANCH COULD EVER FAIL TO REMAIN IN CHRIST AND BE THROWN AWAY AND BURNED FOR BEING UNFRUITFUL
- John 15:4-6 “Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit, unless you remain in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned.”
NO PARDON COULD EVER BE FORFEITED
- Matthew 18:22-35 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.”
“But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!' So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?' And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."
- Revelation 3:5-6 “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
NO SALT COULD EVER LOSE ITS SAVOR
- Matthew 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.”
NO ONE COULD EVER "RECEIVE THE GRACE OF GOD IN VAIN"
- 2 Corinthians 6:1 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
NO ONE COULD EVER "BURY HIS TALENTS"
- Matthew 25:24-30 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.' But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'”
NO ONE COULD EVER "NEGLECT SO GREAT A SALVATION"
- Hebrews 2:1-3 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest “we drift away.” For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him”
NO ONE WOULD EVER "LOOK BACK" AFTER PUTTING HIS HAND TO THE GOSPEL PLOW
- Luke 9:62 But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."
NO ONE COULD EVER "GRIEVE THE SPIRIT" UNTIL "HE IS QUENCHED" AND STRIVES NO MORE
- 1 Thessalonians 5:19 Do not quench the Spirit. (quench means to "extinguish")
NO ONE WOULD "DENY THAT THE LORD BOUGHT THEM”
- 1 Corinthians 7:23-24 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.
NO ONE COULD "BRING UPON THEMSELVES SWIFT DESTRUCTION"
- 2 Peter 2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
NOBODY, OR BODY OF BELIEVERS, "COULD EVER GET SO LUKEWARM THAT JESUS WOULD SPEW THEM OUT OF HIS MOUTH"
- Revelation 3:14-16 “These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”
NO SHEEP COULD EVER GET LOST, BECAUSE IF HE EVER DID, HE WAS NEVER REALLY FOUND
- Matthew 18:12 “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?”
NO ONE COULD EVER BE BROKEN OFF OR CUT OFF
- Romans 11:16-22 For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, "Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in." Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.
NO BELIEVER COULD EVER "DRAW BACK"
- Hebrews 10:38-39 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him." But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
NO ONE COULD GET "SHIPWRECKED FROM THE FAITH" (BECAUSE THERE MUST HAVE BEEN NO SHIP OF FAITH THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE) -
- 1 Timothy 1:18-20 This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
NO NEED TO WORRY ABOUT ANYONE STEALING ONE'S CROWN, FOR IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE TO LOSE IT
- Revelation 3:11 "Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown."
NO ONE COULD FALL FROM THEIR STEADFASTNESS AND BE LED AWAY WITH THE ERROR OF THE WICKED
- 2 Peter 3:17-18 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
This lie of Satan has no doubt caused many a soul to go to hell thinking they were covered by the grace of God, no matter how they lived. This is a perfect example of a false doctrine based upon "part of the verses" of the Bible. Unless one considers “all the verses” on “a given matter” and considers “the context” in which they were given, a false doctrine came come forth that can be very harmful. Once saved, always saved is something the enemy worked hard to get it into the church.
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ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED?
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Copyright © 2015 E. Cockrell. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.