Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. ~ Jude 1:3-6 

Among the many texts which disprove free grace theology are the words above from the book of Jude. According to free grace theology, a person will be saved if they have a moment of belief in Jesus Christ as Savior, even if they become a practicing atheist afterwards.

Free grace theology is not the grace taught in the Bible. According to the New Testament, God’s grace justifies through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, and in the New Testament there are 2 parts to redemption: (1) what we are redeemed from, and (2) what we are redeemed unto.

For example, Paul tells us that Jesus gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar (special bought) people, zealous of good works. ~ Titus 2:14 

Notice that we were redeemed from all iniquity and purified to Christ for good works. Peter tells us that were are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light… ~ 1 Peter 2:9

Notice, we are called out of darkness into God’s marvelous light.

Peter draws on the language of the Old Testament regarding God’s deliverance of Israel out of Egypt saying, “ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people …”

Where did Peter get this from? He got it from Exodus 19.

In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount. And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. ~ Exodus 19:1-6

Notice the expectation that God placed on the children of Israel after he had redeemed them from Egyptian bondage through the blood of the Passover lamb. Israel’s deliverance from Egypt is a type and shadow of our redemption from sin and darkness through Jesus Christ, who is our Passover lamb.

Being delivered out of Egypt wasn’t the completion of God’s redemptive plan for the Israelites. God brought them out of Egypt, so that he could bring them into the land of promise.

And he brought us out from thence, that he might bring us in, to give us the land which he sware unto our fathers. ~ Deuteronomy 6:23

Between the deliverance from Egypt, and the entrance into the promised land, there was God’s expectation of their faithful service to him. We know from the book of Hebrews that Israel’s failure in the wilderness serves as a warning to us against neglecting our great salvation. We also know that the things which were written concerning Israel in the wilderness were written for our admonition. Let’s take a look at what Paul says regarding this.

Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. ~ 1 Corinthians 10:1-12 

Now, let’s consider the words of Jude that we opened this article with by reading them again, but this time let do so with Israel’s sins in the wilderness in mind.

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. ~ Jude 1:3-6

Notice that Jude tells us that God destroyed those whom he had previously saved because they refused to believe after he saved them. Jude then doubles down on this truth by telling us of the angels whom God has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day, because they kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation.

In closing, I want you to consider how truly evil it is to believe that God’s grace will welcome into Heaven those who once believed but have since renounced Jesus and teach others to deny him as well. Teaching that they maintain their salvation is contrary to the whole counsel of scriptures and sets forth a false testimony against a Righteous and Holy God.

He brought us out so that he might bring us in, and you won’t get that from the lie of the free grace theology, but you will get it from the true grace of God that is given to us through Jesus Christ.

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 Savior 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 2:11-15

Within Western Christianity, there is a theology known as free grace theology. This is the theology embraced and taught by many who advocate the Once Saved Always Saved (OSAS) view. Free grace theology is the belief that saving grace requires nothing but a one time belief in Jesus Christ. Those who meet this basic requirement have eternal life with the assurance of an eternal home in Heaven, even if they do not repent or turn from their sins.

According to this theology, absolutely nothing is required but an acknowledgement of belief in Jesus at a specific point in time. Even if a person goes on to deny the faith later, that denial of the faith will not undo the salvation they obtained through free grace given because of a one time believing experience.

Is this the grace of God spoken of in the New Testament? No it isn’t.

To be clear, the free gift of salvation through grace is biblical, but the “do nothing because nothing is required” free grace theology is not. Now let’s compare the free grace theology mentioned above with Paul’s description of saving grace in his letter to Titus. Paul says that the grace of God that brings salvation, teaches us…

Now stop and allow that to sink in. Saving grace teaches us something. Does it teach us that we only need to have a one time believing experience, in which no repentance is required, and no change in how we live? 

Absolutely not!

Paul says, it teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and that we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. Furthermore, the grace that saves us teaches us to look for the blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.

Paul goes on to tell us that Jesus gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar (special bought) people, zealous of good works.

True salvation that comes through the grace of God works a zeal within our hearts for righteous and godly living. If the grace you believe you have received doesn’t, then you need to seek for the true grace of God.

What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. ~ Romans 4:1-5  

And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. ~ Romans 4:19-22

The two references above are both part of Paul’s teaching on justification by faith. The first reference (Romans 4:1-5) tells us about Abraham’s faith as recorded in Genesis 15. God promised Abraham that his descendants would be innumerable as the stars in the heavens. Abraham believed and his faith was counted to him as righteousness.

At this point in Abraham’s journey of faith, he was still known as Abram and was childless. Ishmael, who was about 14 years old when Isaac was born, had not yet been conceived.

Now, the second reference which also speaks of the imputation of righteousness to Abraham refers to many years later, the time of Issac’s birth. According to Paul, Abraham was declared righteous both when he believed God while he was childless and when Isaac was born many years later. Sandwiched in between is the walk of faith.

And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all… ~ v 11-16

Notice the language, he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised…

Paul, speaking from the vantage point of Abraham’s faith, looks back and declares that the same faith he had when he was circumcised, is the faith he also had years earlier before he was circumcised. This is key to understanding Paul’s argument in Romans 4. Paul is not arguing the soteriology of Calvinism or the Southern Baptist Convention.

In Paul’s mind, Abraham’s faith is synonymous with his faithfulness to God. In Galatians, Paul says, So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. ~ 3:9.

You will not find a single text in the New Testament that sets forth Abraham’s faith as justification for a one time believing experience. Abraham’s faith is spoken of in view of the walk of faith that we are called into. This is what Paul has in mind when he speaks of justification by the free grace of God. He is not referring to the grace of God justifying someone who only has a moment of decisional belief not followed by a walk of faith. He is referring to belief in the promise of God by those who walk it out as did Abraham.

In Genesis 15, Abraham believed God and was counted as righteous. In chapter 16, he tried to help God’s promise by having a child with Sarah’s maid servant. In chapter 17, he was given the covenant of circumcision because he was still walking by faith. In chapter 18, God informed him of what he was planning to do to Sodom and Gomorrah because of Abraham’s faith and righteous life in the sight of God.

And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. ~ Genesis 18:17-19

Notice that God boasts in Abraham’s integrity of heart and in his faith. Keep in mind that this is many years after Abraham believed God and was declared righteous. Abraham is still abiding in the faith he had in the beginning at this point in his life.

According the the scriptures, Abraham had integrity of heart (Genesis 20:5-6) and a faithful heart towards God (Nehemiah 9:7, 8) and Abraham is called the friend of God (2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23). All these are a testimony to Abraham’s faith to which the one who is justified is called to follow.

Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all… ~ Romans 4:16

You cannot consider yourself a child of Abraham if you are not following in the steps of Abraham’s faith, and doing the works of Abraham. Consider the following from the words of Jesus to the Jews who opposed him in John 8.

I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. ~ John 8:37-40

If these Jews to whom Jesus speaks had been Abraham’s true children, they would have believed Jesus and followed him as Abraham believed God and followed him. Abraham’s faith grew until he was strong in faith, giving glory to God and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

When the New Testament speaks of Abraham’s faith, it is the whole life of faith (Abraham’s faithfulness) that the authors are setting before us. For instance, the author of Hebrews takes us even further than Paul does in Romans 4, where Paul teaches justification by faith in view of Abraham’s faith from the promise (Genesis 15) to birth of Isaac (Genesis 21).

The writer of Hebrews warns against giving up on our faith by setting forth the example of Abraham’s offering of Isaac on the altar when Isaac was a young man.

And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. ~ Hebrews 6:11-14

These are the words that God spoke to Abraham when his faith was tried and he offered up Isaac. In chapter 11, the writer of Hebrews tells us,  By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. ~ v.17-19

Now, notice those words, in Isaac shall thy seed be called. This echos God”s promise from the beginning, the middle and comes to fruition in the end by a foreshowing of the resurrection of Jesus.

This was God’s promise in the beginning:

And Abram said, Lord God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. ~ Genesis 15:2-5

This was God’s promise in the middle:

And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee! And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. ~ Genesis 17:18-19

God’s promise grew in Abraham and took root and became so strong, that Abraham did not flinch when God asked him to offer up Isaac as a burnt offering. Abraham was so convinced that God would fulfill his promise that through Isaac he would become the father of many nations, he expected God to raise him from the dead. Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

Abraham’s faith serves as the example of the kind of faith we are called into. The longer we walk with God, the more persuaded we become of his faithfulness to us, and thus our faithfulness to him grows into righteous and godly living that cannot be divided from our faith.

But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. ~ James 2:20-24

Abraham’s continued faithfulness to the end fulfilled the scripture that declared him righteous in the beginning. If Abraham had not continued to believe God’s promises, or had refused to offer up Isaac, the scripture would not have been fulfilled.

So it is with us, if we want the scripture of God’s free grace fulfilled in our lives we must be followers of them who through faith and patience, inherit the promise, as did Abraham. It’s not the beginning of our faith that will be rewarded, its the end of our faith that will be rewarded at the appearing of Jesus Christ ~ 1 Peter 1:8-9

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. ~ Romans 1:16-17

The righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. Ponder that in view of Abraham’s journey and the scripture being fulfilled which said, “he believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness” when Abraham offerer up Isaac.

May God give us all understanding.

I recently heard a Once Saved Always Save (OSAS) advocate make the claim that those who teach that you must love God in order to be saved are teaching heresy. He claimed that loving God was a commandment under the law and that we are not justified by the law, and he cited Paul’s teachings in Galatians as his proof-text for this doctrine.

Wait? Am I under the law for loving God in relation to my salvation? Am I teaching heresy if I teach that saved people love God and love others? Was Paul confused when he said, If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! ~ 1 Corinthians 16:22

Jesus’s teaching regarding the good Samaritan is one of the most well known throughout the entire world. Unbelievers who couldn’t tell you the story, could tell you the concept. Being a good Samaritan is pretty much a universal view of being someone who cares and helps their fellow man. This is the standard that the world often holds the church to, and our failure to live up to this standard is the reason people in the world often don’t take the faith of many Christians serious.

Have you ever considered that Jesus’s teaching about the good Samaritan is a salvation related text?

And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. ~ Luke 10:25-28

Before we read the further into Jesus’s story of the good Samaritan, notice that Jesus describes loving God and loving your neighbor as eternal life. Jesus was asked, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? His specific answer led the man to the great commandment under the law which is to love the Lord your God will all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. 

Now this may come as a surprise to some, but this truth is embedded in the teachings of the New Testament as the genuine evidence of our salvation. We see it throughout the teachings of Jesus, and the letters written to believers. Consider for a moment the following from the first epistle of John.

We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. ~ 1 John 3:14-24 

If you, as a Christians, are wondering why you can’t sense the Lord’s presence, consider checking up on your love for others. Notice how much John mentions loving your brother in the reference above. How we treat our brother is a reflection of our genuine love for God. It is how we express our love for God, and to God.

According to John we know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers, not because we made a decision to ask Jesus into our heart and are now politically conservative. Now, there is nothing wrong with asking Jesus into our hearts, but we must let Jesus live in our heart and the proof that Jesus lives in our heart is our love for others. John’s words, And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us, is a reference to this love that he has been speaking about. The Holy Spirit causes us to be people of love. The love of God has been shed abroad in our heart by the holy Spirit who has been given to us ~ Romans 5:5

The fruit of genuine salvation in the life of a Christian is love. Jesus laying down his life for us is the reason why we are lay down our lives for others. John tells us to love in deed and in truth and not in word or tongue. This echos what James says. 

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. James 2:15-17

James and John are talking about the same thing. Real faith in Jesus is empowered and motivated by love. Paul tells the Galatians, For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. ~ Galatians 5:6

Now, let’s return to the story that Jesus told us about the good Samaritan and keep in mind that the question under discussion is eternal life. 

But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? ~ v. 29

And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise. ~ Luke 10:25-37

Doesn’t this sort of remind us of what James and John tell us? Look again.

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. ~ James

Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. ~ John

Let’s make sure we aren’t like this man who asked Jesus, “who is my neighbor?” because he wanted to justify himself. We all know good well who our neighbor is! Let’s get real with God and let the love we have received from him flow through us, otherwise, all we have is dead faith.

Dead faith is not saving faith. Faith which works by love is, and this is the fruit that we have truly received the great salvation that Christ came to give.

When the topic of salvation comes up it is often spoken of as a gift, and it is, but did you know that salvation is also a calling?

In 1 Thessalonians Paul expresses his desire for the Thessalonians to understand this by saying, As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. ~ 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12

Being called to God’s kingdom and glory is no other than the call of our salvation, and Paul strongly urges and encourages the Thessalonians to walk worthy of God as a result. Now, I want you to consider Paul’s words in his second epistle to the Thessalonians. Paul writes the following:

…the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. ~ 2 Thessalonians 1:7-12

I want you to notice that even though Paul acknowledges that the Thessalonians had believed the gospel, his continual prayer for them was that they would be counted worthy of the calling of Christ being glorified in his saints at his coming. It wasn’t enough that they had believed the gospel on that day as Paul puts it, they also needed to walk worthy of God, thus Paul prays and admonishes them to walk worthy of the Lord.

With this in mind consider Paul’s words to the Ephesians.

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. ~ Ephesians 4:1-6

Now, in this reference I want you to notice that Paul mentions walking worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called. In this text, Paul is not referring to calls such as missionary, pastor, teacher, worship leader, etc. He is referring to the new life in Christ that we are called to walk in.

The Amplified Bible says,  So I, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior—a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation]

As we continue reading we see that Paul refers to this calling as being called in one hope of our calling. This is said within the context of one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and One God and Father of all. I am persuaded that Paul’s understanding of this call is what he is referring to as the high calling in Christ Jesus in his letter to the Philippians.

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 3:8-14

The call of our salvation is a high calling, and the prize is conformity to the image and likeness of Jesus. This is what the salvation we have received in Christ works in us from day one until we see our Lord face to face.

The apostle Peter also chimes in, telling us to give diligence to make your calling and election sure. He says this within the context of godly and holy living so that an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The Bible has much to say about the calling of our salvation. For instance, we are called to holiness according to 1 Thessalonians 4:7 and we are called to share in the glory of Christ according to 2 Thessalonians 2:14. In his first letter to Timothy, Paul tells Timothy to Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called… ~ 1 Timothy 6:12.

The Bible speaks often of the importance of holding firm to what we have in Christ and standing firm in the grace that we have received in Christ. In the reference above, Paul tells Timothy to fight the good fight of faith. That is how we lay hold of the eternal life to which we are called. Notice the use of the word “called”. We are called to eternal life and we must hold to the faith (fight the good fight of faith) so that we obtain the promise. This is what continuously shows up in Paul’s writings.

I could go on, but I hope this teaching has given you something to think about and something to encourage you to search within the scriptures for yourself as you work out your own salvation with fear in trembling, knowing that it is God who works in you both to will and to do his good pleasure.

Salvation is much more than a one time gift. It is a call to follow Jesus, to live by faith, and to sojourn through this life in the fear of God, who has called us to be holy, even as He is Holy!

Below I am linking an article by Chad Bird. This is an outstanding perspective on the meaning of Jesus’s words from the cross. I hope it blesses and encourages you.

https://www.1517.org/articles/my-god-my-god-why-have-you-me-rethinking-psalm-221

And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.~ Revelation 2:8-10

Everything that Jesus says to the church of Smyrna is important, but I want to draw your attention to his instructions to them to be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. We then have the interpretation of what Jesus means by that saying in the very next verse, He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.~ Revelation 2:8-10

Remaining faithful to Jesus even as they faced death, would be the ultimate test of their faith in Jesus. Remaining faithful meant they were overcomers and would not be hurt by the second death. 

So what is the second death? The book of the Revelation tells us exactly what it is.

And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. ~ Revelation 20:14

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. ~ Revelations 21:8

Continuing in faithfulness to Jesus is what insured the Smyrna believers that they would not be hurt by the second death. And we are explicitly told that this same truth applies to us who believe today by the words, He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Jesus’s instructions to the church at Smyrna is something we all need to heed because we must be faithful to the end to receive a crown of life. The scriptures reveal that our faith will be tested and it is the faith that has been tried that brings honor and glory to God.

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. ~ 1 Peter 1:7-9

It is the end of our faith, not the beginning that assures that we will be with Christ forever. This is why those who receive Christ need to be discipled and grow daily in their faith in Jesus. A faith you possessed when you were 15 years old will not benefit you when you are 50 if you have rejected the Christ that you once believed and trusted.

In his second letter to Timothy, Paul writes, But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. ~ 2 Timothy 4:5-8

Notice that Paul explicitly states, I have kept the faith, henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness.

There is no text anywhere that tells us that we will receive a crown of righteousness by simply believing in Jesus at one point in our life. We must live by faith, and keep the faith. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. ~ Hebrews 10:38

Do we hear what the Spirit says to the church of Smyrna?  Do we truly understand how important it is to remain faithful to Jesus? Saving faith is not a one time believing experience. Saving faith is faith that overcomes by faithfulness to Jesus. It is the faith that endures to the end. Those who possess this faith will not be hurt by the second death.

If you have come upon this article, and you once knew the Lord, but you have not kept the faith, now is the time to repent and pray for God’s forgiveness. God is faithful and he will forgive and establish you again if you will trust him, but you must follow Jesus and remain faithful to him to receive the crown of life.

Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. ~ Isaiah 55:6-7

For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins… Hebrews 10:26

Who are those who sin willfully in this text? Some who teach Once Saved Always Saved (OSAS) claim that it is referring to those who never accept Jesus, but this cannot be the case because this verse is connected to the previous verses by the conjunction “for.”

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins… ~ Hebrews 10:23-26

In verse 29 those to whom this verse refers were once sanctified by the blood of Christ.

Now, the reason I say that some who teach OSAS make this claim is because there is another group among the OSAS advocates who claim that this text is referring to believers and the warnings which follow do not equate to a loss of salvation. According to this view of OSAS, those referred to in verse 26 and the following verses are still saved and going to Heaven as part of the bride of Christ.

For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. ~ Hebrews 10:26-31

I heard one Pastor argue that where verse 26 says, “there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,” the text is referring to the end of the offering of animal sacrifices because Jesus’s sacrifice is eternal and that the Christian who commits apostasy is still saved.

Honestly, I was stunned that anyone could twist this portion of Hebrews 10 to make such a claim. First and foremost, just a plain reading of these scriptures and following the flow of thought ought to be enough to convince the reader that this Pastor’s claim is not correct. Allow me to show how we would have to understand this portion of scripture to read it in such a way by providing the following example.

“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins because Jesus’s sacrifice is once for all. But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries… “

As you can see, this would make absolutely no sense with the flow of thought. Making such claims by interjecting the idea that the one who sins willfully (becomes apostate) still maintains the salvation provided by the sacrifice of Jesus, is completely contrary to what is being communicated by the writer of Hebrews.

So what do the words there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, actually mean? In simple terms this is a reference to no more sacrifice for sins beyond the sacrifice of Jesus. Based on the whole teaching of the book of Hebrews this is referring to a person who has been a believer, but has turned away from Christ and hardened their heart beyond the point of repentance.

Once there is no place for any repentance in heart of one who has become apostate, they have blasphemed against the Holy Spirit and will experience the eternal judgment mentioned in Hebrews 6. Now, If this causes fear in your heart, then you have not committed this sin. The fear of the unpardonable sin torments a lot of people. As a young man it tormented me and almost cost me my sanity. It was my desperation to overcome this fear that drove me to seek and understand the power of the blood of Jesus, and that led me into much learning about the cross of Christ.

If the blood of Jesus is precious to you – YOU ARE SAFE!!!!!

Do not live in fear of this sin. Live with the fear of God in your heart, and hIs Holy Spirit with keep you from ever being a candidate for this sin. The Spirit of God will keep you in saving grace of Christ.

A believer who loves Jesus can not commit this sin. A believer who is hardened by sin to the point that he no longer has a place for repentance in him, can. No one becomes an apostate because God refuses to forgive them. All sins are forgivable except the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which is the sin that the writer of Hebrews details throughout his epistle. This is the sin of permanently hardening your heart (beyond repentance) against the Lord after you have received the knowledge of the truth (after you have known the Lord.

The one who has committed this sin has become apostate because they have permanently rejected the grace of God. Thus they sin willfully with no regard for Jesus. They have trodden underfoot the Son of God, counted the blood of the covenant that sanctified them as an unholy thing, and done despite the Spirit of grace.

They have consciously and deliberately chosen to reject the grace of God and for this reason there is no longer any sacrifice to save them, there remains no more sacrifice for sin. There is nothing beyond Jesus except a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. ~ Colossians 1:25-28

Notice that Paul states that he labored in ministry by God’s working which worked mightily in him so as to present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. Now, what is Paul talking about? Throughout the epistles we see a repeated promise, hope, and expectation of the faithfulness of God working within us.

For example, consider Paul’s words to the Philippians in chapter one.

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace. ~ Philippians 1:3-7

The promise, hope, and expectation that we have in Christ is that God will complete the work he has begun in us. Paul takes hold of this in his prayers, so much so that he says to the Philippians, “I have you in my heart.” Not only in his prayers, but also in his preaching and ministry service, Paul served by the truth that God is faithful to complete in us what he had begun.

Notice again, Paul’s words to the Colossians: Whom (Christ) we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Not only did Paul believe that God is faithful to complete the work he had begun us, he also believed that those for whom he prayed and served, should participate.

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. ~ Philippians 3:12-13

The promise, hope, and expectation of the faithfulness of God to complete the work he has begun in us must be coupled with our faith in God to do exactly that! And that is where the disconnect is for so many Christians who have embraced the eternal security of the Once Saved Always Saved (OSAS) doctrine.

Eternal security within the context of OSAS is not an expectation of victory which results from the faithfulness of God accomplishing his work within us. Instead, it is a safety net for failure. Eternal security focuses on going to Heaven after you die, rather than living in victory over sin and darkness in this present world. Yet, Paul believed that Jesus had given himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father ~ Galatians 1:4

The message of eternal security is that of believing and then going to heaven, while skipping over the importance of overcoming in this life, by the walk of faith. The Bible has far more to say about our walk of faith in this life than it does about going to Heaven. Yet many who embrace OSAS doctrine view faithfulness to Jesus in this life as salvation by works.

This is evident in a statement made by a OSAS advocate who opposed my position that the OSAS gospel is about the benefit of going to Heaven, and not about true cleansing from sin so that we might serve God faithfully as a redeemed people.

My position regarding serving God faithfully in this life was met with the following reply: So what you’re saying is Salvation is by WORKS.  Like I said, you’re NOT Saved.  Is Salvation a Gift or Not?

According to this person, my focus on true cleansing from sin so that I can serve God faithfully as a redeemed person, meant that I believe that salvation is by works, and that I am not saved, and that I don’t understand that salvation is a gift. That’s the conclusion he reached! This is the same fellow whom I mentioned in a previous article that stated, “if you don’t believe in OSAS, then you’re Not Saved because you are Trusting in your Works to get you to Heaven.”

In response to another, this same person said the following: Christians Shouldn’t Drink Alcohol, but if they have Believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and Received Eternal Life, they can NEVER “Lose” their Salvation, even if they Kill Someone like King David did.  Salvation is NOT by Works. For by Grace are ye Saved through Faith, and not that of yourselves,  it is the Gift of God, not of Works lest any man Boast.

It doesn’t take a detective to understand that this fellow thinks that believing in Jesus is about having the security of going to heaven even if you kill somebody. The real tragedy is that the OSAS doctrine he has embraced could cause him to miss out on the knowledge of the faithfulness of God to keep us and give us victory over sin in this present world.

He makes another statement, which echos the view that many sincere christians have saying, “We Christians SHOULD do good Works, and I’m trying my Best, but I’m not trusting in Good Works to get me to Heaven…”
 
I have no doubt in my mind that this person is a fellow believer and a brother in Christ, even though he told me that I am not saved because he interprets my take regarding faithfulness to Jesus as me saying we are saved by works and not by grace.

Where he and I part ways (doctrinally) is that the salvation that I believe I received through Christ when I believed the gospel, continues to work in me daily by the power of Christ. It will continue working in me to conform me to the likeness of Christ until the day I see Christ face to face. His belief is that his faith in Christ secured for him a place in Heaven while he does the best he can, but if he becomes terrible sinner, such as a murderer, he will still go to Heaven.

Can you see the difference?

Again, I accept him as a brother even though that doesn’t reciprocate from him to me, at lest not based on his comment to me. Let me encourage everyone reading this to stop doing the best you can in your service to Christ, and enter into rest trusting in the faithfulness of God. This is another fault I find with the OSAS doctrine. Its robs the child of God of the joy that our faithful God and Father will work in us unceasingly until we are fully mature and bearing fruit by the grace of God.

God’s word exhorts us to enter into the rest of faith. The rest of faith is the abiding trust that God will perform all his good will and work in our lives. The writer of Hebrews who teaches us and encourages us concerning this rest, says in the benediction of the epistle Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. ~ Hebrews 13:20-21

The biblical path into the rest that we are to enter, is not that of believing we will enter our promised land after death. Instead, it is abiding in the faithfulness of God who will perfect in us every good work to do his will, working in us that which is well pleasing in his sight. This, he will accomplish through his Son, Jesus Christ, who is our faithful High Priest!

Now, do you remember all those references in the New Testament about overcoming?

Overcoming is not about going to Heaven even if we murder somebody. It’s victory over the flesh and sin in this world so that we might glorify God in these mortal bodies. This is the victory that Paul is appealing to when speaks of being confident that God, who has begun a good work in us will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

It is not God’s will for us to live in failure, overcome by sin in this life. It is God’s will to give us victory over sin so that you may be testimony for the glory of God!

Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. ~ 2 Corinthians 2:14-17

Let’s delve for a moment into this. Paul says, thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ. Paul then tells us that through the triumph that we have in Christ, we are a savor or fragrance of the knowledge of God in every place.

God himself causes us to triumph in Christ Jesus. This echos Paul’s words to the Philippians that God will be faithful to complete the work he has begun in us and that it is God who is at work in us both to will and to do his good pleasure.

Paul tells us regarding the triumph that we have in Christ, that God (not us, but God) causes the fragrance of his knowledge to be known in every place, by the triumph he gives us in Christ. This is the faithfulness of God working in us enabling our lives to glorify him in this world. God’s desire is for us to overcome the sins that Jesus has cleansed, and continues to cleanses us from when we fail, so that by the power of his Holy Spirit we live in victory as overcomes. 

The apostle Peter says something similar in his second epistle, telling us that God’s divine power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that has called us to glory and virtue. Peter then says, Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Peter follows this by listing several virtues that we should add to our faith: virtue, knowledge, self control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. That sounds a lot like the fruit of the Spirit mentioned by Paul in Galatians, doesn’t it? Now notice what Peter says next:

For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 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. ~ 2 Peter 1:8-11

An entrance into the everlasting Kingdom is what every true believer who has embraced OSAS doctrine, desires, and Peter tells us exactly how to have assurance that we will have it.

Now, Paul says of the our triumph in Jesus, that we are the fragrance of Christ in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the fragrance of death unto death; and to the other the fragrance of life unto life.

To those who saved we are the fragrance of death to death. In other words, we carry the knowledge of the power of Christ’s death as victory over sin and the flesh by the work of God in us. Seeing your brother overcome is inspiring, encouraging, and causes much thanks to God for his glorious grace. For our brothers and sisters in Christ, our triumph in Christ ministers hope and expectation that God will do the same in them. To the other (the unsaved) we are the fragrance of life unto life. The power of the life of Jesus works in us to give life to those who are dead in this trespasses and sins.

That is a far cry from the safety net of eternal security. The only safety net that we need is the faithfulness of God who has promised to complete the work he has begun in us.

God is faithful!

Blessings…

In Ephesians 5, Paul likens the union of Christ and the church with that of a husband and a wife. Paul says,  For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. ~ v. 31-32

In fact, there are numerous places in the New Testament where our union with Christ through the saving grace of God is spoken of in marriage terms. It shows up, not only in the epistles but also in the parables and teachings of Jesus, as well as in the book of the Revelation, where it is a major theme. Furthermore, it is difficult to miss when reading the Old Testament, as it is often the illustration used by the prophets in relation to God and his people, Israel. This same theme is carried over into the New Testament as it relates to Christ and his church.

Within the context of the concept of marriage between God and his people we find other truths such as discipleship, and denying ourselves and taking up our cross daily to follow Jesus. None of which have any importance in relation to salvation as preached within the OSAS (once saved always saved) gospel, which is not the gospel but another.

Referring to OSAS as another gospel may sound extreme to some, but there is a sect of Christianity which believe that OSAS is in fact, the gospel.

OSAS is no more biblical than the idea of once married, always married. Marriage requires commitment. It is not a one night stand with no commitment. The real tragedy of the OSAS gospel is that it patterns the union of our faith in God after that of a one night stand,  but the whole counsel of scripture teaches that salvation is a marriage, not a benefit to be received by shacking up for a brief time.

Now, some may find the illustration of shacking up offensive, but the reality is that is exactly the message that the OSAS gospel conveys. This false gospel sets forth the notion that you have the benefits of being married to Christ for all eternity, even if you live in spiritual adultery your entire Christian life.

Some of the proponents of the OSAS gospel actually think that if you believe your salvation is dependent on your ongoing faithfulness to Christ then you aren’t really saved. Now I want you to think about that. Imagine being told that you are not saved if you believe that you must continue to be faithful to Christ. This is evident in the following comment that I recently read elsewhere: “…if you don’t believe in OSAS, then you’re Not Saved because you are Trusting in your Works to get you to Heaven.”

Claiming that a person is not saved if they don’t believe the OSAS gospel, is like saying a man is not truly married if he is faithful to his wife. The real tragedy of the OSAS gospel is that it sets forth salvation as a contractual transaction. You have the benefits of marriage without the commitment to faithfulness. This ideology comes through in the comment cited above. The OSAS gospel is about the benefit of going to Heaven, and not about true cleansing from sin so that we might serve God faithfully as a redeemed people.

In Luke’s gospel the Holy Spirit spoke through Zacharias (the father of John the baptist) concerning the promised Salvation which was to come through the Messiah.

And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. ~ Luke 1:67-75

Notice that the salvation prophesied by the Holy Spirit through Zacharias looks nothing like the salvation of the OSAS gospel, which is transactional for the purpose of going to Heaven, even if you choose to become a reprobate, and an apostate toward the faith afterwards.

According to the OSAS gospel, God is contractually obligated to bring you to Heaven in exchange for a one time believing experience, even if you don’t serve him, follow him, and you choose to live in sin by hardening your heart against him. 

This false gospel is patterned, not after marriage, but after the moment of passion in which two people have intimacy, committing fornication. I was recently told by a Pastor who teaches this gospel, “Those who believe in Christ ONE time have eternal life forever.” His point was that it does not matter how a person lives afterwards, he is eternally secure even if he later renounces the faith that he once embraced. In fact, his comment was in defense of his view that those who once believed, but afterwards become apostate to the faith are still going to Heaven.

This is not marriage, it is shacking up. It is not commitment, it is a one night stand, and that is exactly why the OSAS view is a false gospel and should be completely rejected. Neither the prophets in the Old Testament, nor the apostles in the New Testament ever set forth a salvation with no commitment. The only exception would be those who cry out for mercy at death’s door like the thief on the cross.

Salvation belongs to the bride, not a harlot!

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.  ~ Ephesians 5:25-27