The majority of denominational people today believe that the ordinances and doctrines of their church are Scripturally correct. Such an assumption should not be made until the various doctrines are examined in light of what the Word of God has said on any given subject. Since the Word of God is ALL Authoritative it should be our standard of Investigation. As a balance is used to measure foods and a rule is used to measure lines, the Word of God is the measure by which we should test and try the various doctrines which are presently being taught today.
Since the doctrine of Calvin is taught concerning the Election and the Perseverance of the Saints
in many denominational bodies, one must conclude that one is either saved eternally and cannot
fall from the Grace of God or that one is lost eternally and cannot come to know the Grace of
God. Nothing you do or say or pray for will ever change this fact. In light of such teaching one
must ask the question, "IS ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED SCRIPTURAL?"
As we study the Scriptures we shall see clearly that Eternal Life is Conditional and not Unconditional and that it is in the Future.
1. "Take heed ... continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself,..." 1 Tim. 4:16
2. "... give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: ....abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:10-11
3. "..., There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,....and in the world to come eternal life." Mk.10:29-30.
4. "But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life." Romans 6:22
5. "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life,..." 1 Timothy 6:12
6. "..., 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." Rev.2:10
7. "Blessed {are} they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Rev.22:14
8. "...; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." Gal.6:8
9. "And ye shall be hated of all {men} for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved." Matthew 10:22
10."And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward {is} with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Rev.22:12
11."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." Matthew 7:21
12."..., Well done, {thou} good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." Matthew 25:21
{Note all the Scriptures are taken from the King James Version}
As can be clearly seen from the above scriptures and table, salvation IS CONDITIONAL and in
the FUTURE. Should we deem fit to stop here this should convict us that Once Saved Always
Saved is NOT taught in the Word of God and that it is another Gospel of which Paul warns; "I
marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a
different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert
the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you
than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:6-8)
Let us note yet another segment of the Scriptural Conditions upon which one is saved. The very fact should be clear that though one is saved at some point in their lives it is possible for one to lose that condition should one do the things which are mentioned in the column entitled "BUT ONE".
The next avenue of our study concerning the conditions of keeping one's salvation centers on a study of the Word IF.
1. 1Corinthians 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain."
2. Hebrews 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end."
3. Colossians 1:22-23 "In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblamable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and {be} not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, {and} which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;"
4. 1John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
5. 2Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
6. John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, {then} are ye my disciples indeed;"
7. John 8:51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
8. John 12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will {my} Father honor.
9. Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
One must recognize that the word IF is conditional. Since this is the fact one must also
recognize that one's status is conditional upon his keeping those conditions laid out by the Lord.
In our last segment of this study let us note from the Scriptures a few things that the child of God can do:
1. "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." Gal.5:4
2. "Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know {these things} before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness." 2Peter 3:17
3. "Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." (James 5:19-20)
4. "And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?" 1Corinthians 8:11
5. "But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and {your} nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation." James 5:12
6. "If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and {be} not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, {and} which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made minister;" Colossians 1:23
7. "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction." 2Peter 2:1
8. "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God." Heb.3:12
9. "But I keep under my body, and bring {it} into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have
preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." 1Corinthians 9:27
From these scriptures we see that a Child of God Can:
Friend this tract was not written to anger anyone, but, simply it is an investigation of one of the most commonly held beliefs in religion today. Should you realize that the Scriptures teach something different than what you have believed and held to, then you must either conform your life to God's Will or stay in your present state hoping that God will understand at the Day of Judgment. It is our prayer that you will conform for life to God's Way. Remember that nothing suffers from investigation except error.
We at the Spruce Pine church of Christ are interested in helping you know more of God's Word. We have several programs designed to accomplish this and we list them below. Just fill in the form, mark the programs that interest you, and mail it to: Spruce Pine Church of Christ, P.O. Box 401, Spruce Pine, NC 28777. We will be happy to assist you in any way we can.
Bible Correspondence Course
A Series of Bible Classes in My Home
Transportation to Attend Your Services
Response to a Particular Spiritual Need or Problem
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