see a video on this topic here:
https://www.dontperish.com/videos.html
The debate of Calvinism and once saved always saved goes on, it will never stop till Christ returns. We are always running into people who tell us the unbiblical calvainist way called once saved always saved and they state if you're born of God you CANNOT ever be lost again!
We push against that man made way and have written this article full of scripture that refutes that ill heresy.
https://spiritandtruthdiscernment.blogspot.com/2014/03/can-christian-backslide.html
But the battle for truth goes on!
Recently, a man called us because he saw our website or our signs as we were out witnessing in Missouri. He wanted to discuss security of a believer and we had a long enjoyable talk about it.
He was in agreement to much I proclaimed from the Word, but he was stumbling over the idea that one can be born of God then fall away and be lost! He believes if you fall away, you were never really of God at all. I hope I helped him to see it is possible to fall away and here are some of the points I made to help him shed those Calvinistic ways so he can have all truth.
1) If it is impossible to fall away once your in Christ, why does Jesus WARN us to endure in Matthew 10?
2) If no sin can separate us from God once we are born of Him, why does Jesus say if we do not forgive we won't be forgiven?
see Matthew 6:15
3) If we cannot miss out on eternal life why does Revelation say some will be blotted out of the book of life?
see Revelation 22:19
4) If we do not need to remain and continue in the faith, why does Paul say we will be blameless before Christ IF we remain in the gospel in Colossians 1 and 1 Corinthians 15?
Those are just a few verses Calvinist people cannot answer and they tend to ignore them to their demise???
It gets worst for once save always saved folks though.
In perhaps the most famous parable on a Father and a son relationship, we turn to Luke 15 and the Prodigal son.
The man who called me said this:
"He did not believe the prodigal son was LOST while he was in his rebellion" and living like a pig. He stated "you cannot be alive then dead, then alive again".
The way to answer that is to go to God's Holy Word and let it answer for us. Luke 15:32 tells us the condition of the son.
It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
Do you see what it states clearly?
The son was alive with the father, he then rebelled ( sinned ) and went away and he was lost at that time. At some point, he repented and came back to ask forgiveness and was made alive again!
How much more clear can the Word of God be?
The prodigal son was alive, then dead in sins, then alive again, was he not?
This is a HUGE nail in the coffin of once saved always saved man made theology.
Some other examples I gave the man was this:
Calvinists like to say God seals us to salvation and in some places a seal is mentioned. But please know, seals can be broken as they are seals, NOT eternal locks!
In Genesis 7 they often say that God sealed up the ark and the flood came. It does NOT say seal it says shut up. ( cagar is the hebrew word it means shut up) This shutting up was NOT to lock them inside, against their will. No, the shutting was to keep the flood waters out of the ark and protect them from the wrath of God to come. ( Jesus is our ark today that floats us above God's Wrath that we deserve!!! )
I then asked the man 'do you think Noah, as gifted as he and his sons were to build such a huge ark, could have had the tools on board to cut their way out and leave the ark?'
He said... 'well, yes they could.'
So Noah was alive IN he ark, he could have jumped ship and been dead in sin / unbelief and suffer the wrath of God, then he could have repented and got back in the ark to be alive for salvation?
He said well, yes I guess he could have.
More nails in the coffin of once saved always saved!!!
Christ is the light and He has come to the world. If we walk in the light ( via our faith/new life ) we are not of the darkness. But if we turn to go walk in the light ( leave him in sin / unbelief ) we are NOT in the light and there is no hope for us. See John 3:19-21
Also, since this man believes you cannot fall away once born again I also asked him:
"So can a born again believer fall into sin?"
He said, "oh yes indeed. "
I then said:
"What if a born again man falls into theft, covetousness or drunken-ness, will that born again thief, drunk or coveteous man go to heaven or hell per Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 6?"
Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
He would not answer that???
He tried to say well those are bigger sins, not lesser sins. So I reminded him a married couple were both killed in Acts 5 for just one sin, a lie! Sin is sin is it not and he agreed, though reluctantly?
All of these biblical examples stumbled his ideas and theology. Oh how we pray it will make him go deeper in the Word vs his man made notions that will deceive him and so many today via man made evangelical religion.
Salvation and eternal life is made possible by Christ alone and a man being IN Him. It is impossible/foolish to claim once you are born of God you can NEVER fall away. That would be the same as a man saying he is married and his marriage can NEVER fail, even if he abandons his bride! The marriage is maintained via the faithfulness to his bride just as our salvation is maintained if we remain focused on Christs work on the cross and obey Him as fruit we are in Him.
We born again believers are the promised bride of Christ and our Holy Groom will return for us. But He will NOT come for a harlot disobedient bride with a filthy garment of sin, false religious ways and worldliness. We are indeed made new via being born again via His blood as the lone way to redemption. But our part is abiding in that saving faith with works / obedience as the fruit ( not works based salvation ) we are remaining/enduring in Him to the end. see Matthew 10
Apostle Paul makes it clear...
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled. In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable 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;
Colossians 1
Do NOT be deceived.
Place your faith in Christ, repent to new life then obey Him in holiness/obedience enduring till the end.
That is the gospel good news!!!!
See our resources below to help you in the biblical faith.
God be praised
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Here is a 10 point biblical test:
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