It’s amazing how the Biblical truth of persevering in faith can be treated as some sort of repudiated “works righteousness” by some within the Once Saved Always Saved camp. Yet, there is not a single place in your Bible where any New Testament writer sets forth the doctrine that a once saved person will always be saved no matter what they do.

The gospel never calls us to a “one time belief. ” Instead, the gospel demands that we surrender our lives and follow Jesus. A faith that we are unwilling to walk out, is invalid and can not save, because God’s grace does not support those who live ungodly. Jesus told his disciples, “whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.”

In Acts 8,Simon the Sorcer believed those things which Philip preached and was baptized, but he wanted to continue in his old life of sorcery, rather than coming out of it.

When Peter and John came from Jerusalem, Peter confronted him because he offered Peter and John money in exchange for empowerment to give people the Holy Ghost.

In response, Peter said: “Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.” (v. 20-23)

OSAS ideology is a mystical doctrine formulated by the minds of men who single out verses that speak of eternal life as being forever. By casting their own mystical interpretation regarding what it means to be saved they lead many astray.

It is a mystical interpretation because salvation is viewed as something that occurs by a “one time experience” without any real commitment to truly follow Jesus.

However, you will not find a single reference in the New Testament which teaches that a person can go on being saved after they  have abandoned God, abandoned their faith, and are willfully living a life of ungodliness.

1 Peter 1 speaks of the godly virtues we are to desire as we grow in the new life we have received in Christ. In verse 9, the apostle says: “he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.”

In contrast, we read the following in the next 2 verses: “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” (v 10-11)

Salvation is not based on a momentary faith, which afterwards, you no longer need to be saved. Saving faith is that which comes through hearing the gospel and brings you into the grace of God, which teaches you to live godly.

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. (Titus 2:11-14)

The grace of God does not teach you that you can continue in sin and have eternal life. The grace of God teaches you to live godly, for if your faith in Christ is genuine, you will want to forsake your old life of sin.

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? (Romans 6:1-3).

Living in willful sin invalidates our faith.