"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified."
I Corinthians 9:24-27
It takes both the carrot and the stick. I am picturing a mule harnessed to the wagon, and a long pole extended beyond his nose with a carrot tied to it. I can see that mule pulling the wagon forward in the hopes of getting a nibble of the carrot. Do you suppose the mule might get tired at some point and just decide it was not worth it anymore? What if your wagon has not quite reached the barn yet? You just might need that stick to tap Mr. mule on the flank and encourage him to finish his day's work. Jesus Christ has taught us all we need to know about heaven and hell, to get us home with our God. The doctrine of "once saved always saved" has taken away the fear of hell as well as the fear of God from those who believe that they were saved forever the moment they first believed. They will never make it into God's barn.
In 2 Timothy 4:2-4, the apostle Paul clearly specifies that there is only one revealed, sound form of doctrine that is approved of God, the Word. Unfortunately, much of what is taught in the religious world today is a mere reflection of the constant stubbornness and desire of men to turn away from the Truth of God. Today as in the days of the apostles, many in the religious world have rejected “the yoke” of our Lord and Savior (Matt. 11:28-30) going after a different Jesus, a non-biblical pattern (model, form). Why? Because they refuse to abide in God's Word choosing to adopt other forms (patterns) of man-made inventions of religion since they are not satisfied with the one ordained by God. Thus, obedience to God's Word is replaced by loyalty to traditional religious practices and human doctrines. It is that simple!
Many passages in the Bible warn us about continuing steadfastly in the faith to remain in God's favor, Grace, to receive eternal life. Many people believe that a Christian can sin and not be lost eternally. This doctrine is called "the eternal security of the believer," "perseverance of the saints," "impossibility of apostasy," or "once saved, always saved." This is one of the major tenets of Calvinism. They believe that a Christian's sins do not affect his soul for eternity nor the way he lives, what he says, his character, his conduct, his attitude toward others. None of these things, according to them, have anything to do with the salvation of their soul. Those who believe that they still will receive eternal life regardless of their sins have no reason to be on guard against sin or repent of their sins since they believe in a false sense of security. They don't realize that they will be lost if they do not repent of their sins, ask forgiveness for their sins, serve God faithfully, and study His Word diligently to receive salvation, eternal life. There can only be assurance and eternal security when we obey God and do His commands. So can a child of God become disobedient, stop being faithful, fail to repent and show fruits of repentance and be lost? Absolutely yes! We must remain faithful and endure until the end to receive eternal life. I must stress that we Christians are warned that unforgiven sins will lead us to be lost eternally. Consider some Scriptures that show that a Christian can sin and be lost eternally.
- John 15:1-6: We must bear good fruit, or otherwise we will be cast off, cast into the fire, and burned.
- Romans 8:12-17: We must live according to the Spirit and not satisfy the works of the flesh.
- Galatians 6:7-9: We must sow to the Spirit and not the flesh, for corruption cannot inherit the kingdom of God (Gal. 5:21).
- 1 Corinthians 9:27 and 10:12: We must control and discipline our body and bring it into subjection, for we must avoid sin at all cost, or we will be disqualified and rejected (Rom. 1:28; 2 Tim. 3:8; Tit. 1:16). Those who are guilty of sin will not inherit the kingdom of God.
- Hebrews 3:6, 11-14; 4:9, 11: We must avoid rebelling like the Israelites. Israel failed to enter God's rest because of their lack of faith and because of their disobedience to God. So we must hold fast our confidence (our faith) firm, steadfastly to the end. If we depart from the faith and do not endure to the end, we will not enter the rest God has promised and prepared for His faithful ones. The eternal reward is conditional based on our steadfast faithfulness.
- Hebrews 10:26-31, 39: We must avoid willful sin, for there is no sacrifice for their sin. But if they repent, God will forgive them. As long as they refuse to repent and their sinful conduct continues, there is no sacrifice, for they trod underfoot God's Son and count the blood of Jesus with which they were sanctified unholy. Their destiny is a fierceness of fire and punishment and vengeance from God.
- 2 Peter 1:8-11; 2:20-22: We must grow in Christ and never return to the world of darkness. There is security for those who keep growing in the Grace of God, adding those excellent qualities mentioned in verses 5-7 and making their calling and election sure to prevent stumbling and have an entrance in the everlasting kingdom of God (verse 11). Remember, eternal security is conditional, for the Christian must not be entangled again in the kingdom of darkness (verse 20) and turn from the holy command (verse 21). For if he does, he will be worse off than when he was ignorant of the Truth (verse 20).
- Romans 6:12-18: We must not allow sin to rule in our bodies nor present our members as instruments of sin, unrighteousness for that will lead them to spiritual death.
- Hebrews 6:4-8: We must avoid at all costs falling away, for it will hard to be restored. Our destiny is to be burned like a field of thorns (verse 8).
- Revelation 3:5; Exodus 32:30-33: We must avoid having our names removed from the Book of Life, for only those who are in the Book will enter the eternal city. Those who are not in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 21:27).
CONCLUSION:
The false doctrine of “once saved, always saved,” is based primarily on the Calvinist error that man is born with a sinful nature, totally depraved of all good and unable to understand and obey the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thus, the Holy Spirit has to intervene directly on his heart to regenerate and save him. And since God is in charge of converting and saving him, He also has to prevent or spare him from falling (falling from Grace) so that he would not be lost.
The doctrine of "the eternal security of the believer," or "once saved, always saved" is a tempting doctrine, for it is comforting and tells people what they want to hear. Many refuse to believe that they can fall into sin and be lost eternally. It contradicts the Bible. We Christians can only be secure when we heed the dangers, and guard our souls and avoid sin. We must be watching for sin in our lives and repent from a sincere heart (i.e., a change of behavior and habits) when were are guilty because of the weight of our sins. The Bible proves that a Christian can fall from Grace and get entangled in sin and be overcome by it, thus running the risk of eternal punishment (2 Peter 2:20-21-22). "And so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith" (I Timothy 5:12). For further reference (I Corinthians 15:2; 1 Timothy 4:1; I Corinthians 8:11; James 5:19-20; and Galatians 5:4). God has continually warned His children of the danger of being lost eternally. Are you resolved to continue faithful, guarding your service and devotion to God so that you will not lose your eternal reward and be cast into the lake of fire for all eternity? Remember, the destiny of our souls is at stake!!
Therefore, the doctrine of “once saved, always saved,” "the eternal security of the believer," "perseverance of the saints," "impossibility of apostasy," taught by Baptists, Presbyterians, and many others is completely false. Such a doctrine contradicts all of the Scriptures that simply affirm that any Christian can indeed sin and fall from Grace and be lost eternally. The man-made system of Calvinism from beginning to end is false. It is a system of doctrines of men! whose primary purpose is to deceive millions of souls not to obey the Gospel of the Grace of God (Romans 10:16; 2 Thess. 1:8; 1 Peter 4:17). Let us be wise to differentiate between the Bible Grace of God and the false Grace of Protestant theology!
May the Truth prevail over the false doctrines of men, and may we all see with clarity the great dangers that may drown us in perdition. May our Lord preserve us perfect and entire until we reach our goal.
Luci
No comments:
Post a Comment