Once saved always saved (OSAS) debunked

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Fillan

Well-known member
Oct 25, 2022
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Are you familiar with the situation of the man in 1 Cor. 5? Maybe you can help me see it from your perspective. I don't see how this man was not going to lose his salvation if he did not repent.
Hello turbo. Thanks for your Q. It's good to discuss this emotive subject in a friendly manner and share viewpoints. I'll think about what you said. That's a tough passage you quoted, in more ways than one!

In 1 Corinthians 5 there's a specific case then a general principle.

Verse 5: hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.

This man in verse 5 who is handed over to Satan, the purpose it says is that his spirit maybe saved. A shock to cause him to repent. If he is indeed born again he will be saved.

Verse 11: But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler.

The key word in verse 11 is 'claims'. Claiming is not automatically being. Professing to know God but denying him by their works (Titus 1:16). It reminds me of the Lord Jesus talking about watching for wolves in sheep's clothing (Matthew 7:15). A wolf was never a sheep, it's a predator in disguise. When a wolf is unmasked as a wolf it hasn't lost it's salvation, it hasn't lost it's membership of the flock, it was never of the flock to begin with. So booting an immoral person out, it seems like protecting the flock from a wolf in disguise, however in the perhaps less likely case of verse 5, a born again believer in some dreadful situation, the shock of being turned over to Satan is that he may be saved on the day of the Lord.

Hope this is of some interest, God Bless :)
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
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You have no love for God's people.
1 John 4:7 - Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. :love:
8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
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1 John 4:7 - Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. :love:
8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
Great verses. He's probably just got something else going on that is difficult to deal with. Everyone has tough days.
 
Sep 23, 2023
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Paul said "I wish they would cut their penises off!" You guys are liars.
Galatians 5
12I wish that the ones who are upsetting you would castrate themselves!

It really is perturbing to have people knowingly rebel against the truth all day and all night long.
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
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Jesus also said thru the Apostle James to "be ye DOERS OF THE WORD, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves" (James 1:22)

Jesus apparently expects His people to DO some stuff after getting born again.
Of course Jesus expects His people to do some stuff after getting born again. We are saved to serve and not saved to sit. Ephesians 2:10 - For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Yet we are still saved by grace through faith, not works. (Ephesians 2:8,9)

Reckon Jesus didn't get the memo from the so called reformers that salvation is by faith only??? (see James 2:14-26)
Faith "only" here in James is referring to an empty profession of faith/dead faith that remains "alone" - barren of works, as we see in James 2:14. SAYS/CLAIMS to have faith - key word. *Not to be confused with faith that trusts in Jesus Christ "alone" for salvation. (Romans 4:5-6; Ephesians 2:8,9) Big difference!

In James 2:14, we read of one who says/claims (key word) they have faith, but they have no works (to evidence their claim). That is not genuine faith, but a bare profession of faith. So, when James asks, "Can that faith save him?" he is saying nothing against genuine faith, but only against an empty profession of faith/dead faith. So, James does not teach that we are saved "by" works. His concern is to show the reality of the faith professed by the individual (James 2:18) and demonstrate that the faith claimed (James 2:14) by the individual is genuine.

The Lord says the following thru the Apostle James:

James 2:24
Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
Again, "faith only" here equates to an empty profession of faith/dead faith that remains alone - "barren of works." James is not using the word "justified" here to mean "accounted as righteous" but is shown to be righteous. James is discussing the evidence of faith (says-claims to have faith but has no works/I will show you my faith by my works - James 2:14-18) and not the initial act of being accounted as righteous with God. (Romans 4:2-3) Works bear out the justification that already came by faith.

In the Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, the Greek word for justified "dikaioo" #1344 is:

1. to render righteous or such he ought to be
2. to show, exhibit, evince, one to be righteous, such as he is and wishes himself to be considered
3. to declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous, or such as he ought to be

In Matthew 12:37, we read - "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." This is because our words (and our works) reveal the condition of our hearts. Words/works are evidence for, or against a man being in a state of righteousness.

God is said to have been justified by those who were baptized by John the Baptist (Luke 7:29). This act pronounced or declared God to be righteous. It did not make him righteous. The basis or ground for the pronouncement was the fact that God IS righteous. Notice that the NIV reads, “acknowledged that God's way was right.." The ESV reads, “they declared God just.” This is the "sense" in which God was “justified.” He was shown to be righteous.

Matthew 11:19 "The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax-gatherers and sinners!' Yet wisdom is justified/vindicated/shown to be right by her deeds."

James 2:20
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
In James 2:20, "faith without works is dead" does not mean that faith is dead until it produces works and then it becomes a living faith or that works are the source of life in faith. That would be like saying that a tree is dead until it produces fruit and then it becomes a living tree, and the fruit is the source of life in the tree. James is simply saying faith that is not accompanied by evidential works demonstrates that it's dead.

If someone merely says-claims they have faith, but lack resulting evidential works, then they demonstrate that they have an empty profession of faith/dead faith and not authentic faith. (James 2:14) Simple!

James 1:21,22
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness (walking after the flesh – see Gal 6:7,8), and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
In regard to Galatians 6:7-8, the one who is continuously (Greek present tense) sowing to his own corrupt, flesh which is opposed to God and unrenewed by the Holy Spirit shall of the flesh reap corruption. Our life here is sowing of one kind or another. But he who sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap everlasting life. In opposition to reaping corruption, eternal life is reaped by those who sow to the Spirit, which is only those who have placed their faith (belief, trust, reliance) in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. (John 3:15,16,18; 6:40,47; 11:25,26; Romans 1:16; 3:24-28; 4:5-6; 5:1; Ephesians 2:8,9 etc..).

Apparently one is justified by faith AND by works.... and the man that believes justification is by faith only is a "vain" man.
We are justified (accounted as righteous - to render righteous or such he ought to be) by faith and not by works (Romans 4:2-6) and we are justified (shown to be righteous - to show, exhibit, evince, one to be righteous) by works. (James 2:21, 24)

Sounds like either Jesus is wrong or the so called reformers are wrong since they teach an partial truth and leave the part out about works leaving the door open to sinful living (license to sin). Martin Luther was a known drunk so I can see how he would want to leave the part about works out so he could continue drinking his beloved booze which is living in sin! (see 1 Corinthians 6:9-13
Straw man argument. Attacking Martin Luther does not help your case and Roman Catholics are no strangers to drunkenness. 1 Corinthians 6:9 - Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. Verses 9 and 10 is descriptive of the unrighteous and not the righteous. You seemed to have missed that.

In Galatians 5:19-21, we read - Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

1 John 3:9 - No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
*You need to properly harmonize scripture with scripture before reaching your conclusion on doctrine.*

Quite the quandary here... who shall we say is in error the Lord or the reformers??? That tis the question!
Roman Catholics along with other works-salvationists are in error. That is the answer.
 

turbosixx

Active member
Sep 16, 2023
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Thanks, and yes, turbosixx, I know and understand what you're saying - sometimes it does feel like I'm trying to drive a car through a rear-view mirror - I suppose an inherent limitation of the written medium.



Okay, let me ask you this: if it is a gift as you say, and with which I completely agree, then as a true gift, why would it need to have works or faith for it to be completed by us to be received? Were that needed, wouldn't that make it not a gift but something else? Have you considered that a gift - and a true gift should necessitate nothing more than it is one - and given that faith and works are its requirements - that maybe the giver of the gift had also already considered, addressed, and satisfied those aspects too - they, therefore, are of the gift?
I agree that faith and works are requirements.... but.... requirements in its creation in order that it should be made as a gift, but not for the receiving of it. Consequently, both the faith and works had to be, and were, included in it by its giver, Christ. Consider also that to satisfy God, both had to be absolutely perfect, otherwise, we would be placing before God the imperfect to try to purchase and receive the perfect, which would be meaningless or much worse - an insult to God in His eyes. But were it possible that our faith and works perfect in God's eyes, then we would have no need for a Saviour because we could do it all ourselves, which, of course, we cannot.
The "faith without works is dead" pertains to Christ's faith to and His works not ours. Christ is the man portrayed in Jas 2:18 - it is not just a generic man representing everyone. In other words, if we are going to justify ourselves for salvation by our faith, it had better be a faith perfected by our works, which only Christ's faith was, not the haphazard and sinful faith and works of unsaved man. Instead, Christ's perfect faith is reckoned to us upon our becoming born-again. When the Bible mentions someone's faith, that faith originated from Christ's faith and was reckoned to them.
Based upon my understanding (at least), that is precisely what we are told in the Bible. Here are just three verses (of many) which informs of that. Notice in Rom 1:17 the "faith to faith"; that is, that faith originates from and within Christ, and is given to those He saves and justifies, the result of which is life eternal. In Phl 3:9, notice that Paul desired the faith and the righteousness of the faith, of Christ, and rejected his own faith and its righteousness. Notice also that in 2 Ti 1:9, the value of our works for salvation in any sense are worthless in God's eyes. Only through Christ, according to God's purpose alone, are we saved - nothing else counts nor is to be valued or pursued by us.

[Rom 1:17 KJV] 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

[Phl 3:9 KJV] 9 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:

[2Ti 1:9 KJV] 9 Who hath saved us, and called [us] with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

So, when the Bible mentions that a person is justified by faith and/or works, it is justification fully and completely achieved by Christ; that is, Christ's faith has within it, righteousness and works. Otherwise, of ourselves, how could we know when and if we had supplied sufficient faith and works to receive salvation? They would be requirements without knowable criteria to satisfy them. That is why Christ is the Saviour and man not - because His faith and righteousness were perfect.



Well, if we could give up our salvation, then by any assessment, it could not have been eternal. But we have been given unconditional conformation by God that it is eternal.
It is impossible for us as sinful men who have the mind of natural man, to comprehend and accept the extent and depth of the graciousness, mercy, and love that God given freely to those whom He has so chosen for it- one must ponder it a lot to get even a slight sense of it - man by nature just cannot grasp those kinds of eternal things. However, nevertheless, salvation is God's to give to those whom He had so chosen for it based solely upon His divine prerogative and good pleasure.

The "lambs" of Matthew 25 were made so by Christ. Man cannot make of himself a lamb. Notice below, that they who Christ sent out had already become saved - the unsaved cannot be lambs because they neither understand nor believe the gospel. The same with feeding the hungry (which is spiritual not physical hunger). What I think you miss is that spiritual good works can only come from salvation, they cannot give or lead anyone to salvation - salvation must come first with good works from it.

[Luk 10:3 KJV] 3 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.

If you haven't already done so, I would suggest you read Jimbone's posts 6927 and 6934. He explained it much better than I.
I should have asked if we could take it slow, sorry. If we put too much out there at one time, points tend to get buried and never realized. I’m glad you use scripture and explain your understanding of the scripture. You’ve made a lot of statements I would love to address and hopefully we will in time. So If it's ok with you, I would like to go back to the point I was trying to make.

You said and remain so, by what Christ alone did, not by what they may do or not do. I submitted my rebuttal proof text in Matt. 25 because it directly addressed your statement.
Your reply The "lambs" of Matthew 25 were made so by Christ Could you point to the part of the passage, and/or context of the chapter, that tells us that?
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
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The New Testament speaks to this as being Truth...

Jude 1:5,6
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.
The Israelites were saved out of Egypt in the sense that they were delivered out of Egypt. They were not saved in the sense that they were all born again at the moment they left Egypt. Afterward God destroyed those who did not believe. NOT 'quit' believing. That is your eisegesis. The angels were not born into sin as mankind is. The fallen angels chose to leave their habitation and follow Satan. We choose to either receive Christ through faith or remain in darkness. (Acts 26:18) Moral self-reformation is not a substitute for regeneration.

If once saved always saved was true, then the Lord would not be speaking thru Jude to put us in remembrance about what happened to those that quit believing (turned their backs on the Lord to live in opposition to Him which is to live in sin).
Again, the text says believed not/did not believe and NOT 'quit' believing. Don't add your preconceived beliefs to the text.

Jude is exhorting believers to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints (vs. 3) because certain ungodly men have crept in unnoticed. Jude further describes these ungodly men as ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit (vs. 19).

In CONTRAST with those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and PRESERVED in Jesus Christ (vs. 1). Eternal security.

Psalm 37:28 - For the Lord loves justice and does not forsake His saints; They are PRESERVED FOREVER, But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off.

If angels having been created perfect turn away from the Lord and be separated from Him forever, we would experience the same. Thankfully, the Lord has provided a way for man to confess and forsake sin in order to receive mercy (see Proverbs 28:13), but if we continue in our sin we will not have mercy due having turned away from the Lord.
Humans are not born perfect but are conceived in sin. (Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:12) Do you claim to be sinless, without fault or defect, flawless, 100% of the time? (Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10) Works-salvationists remain fixated on sin, performance, self-effort because they are not trusting in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. Instead, they turn to works, performance, sinless perfection etc.. as the solution to their sin problem not realizing that Jesus Christ is the solution to their sin problem. (Romans 3:23; 6:23) SELF righteousness, SELF preservation and SELF promotion is all in vain.