If our salvation is based upon Christ's finished work, us being saved by grace through faith, how is it that people profess that we can lose our salvation? There are believers opposed to OSAS and usually its opposed for the reason that they believe people end up excusing sin, living like a heathen and being perfectly fine with it. I find this to be a straw man of sorts, and a misunderstanding of God's grace.
Anyways, I know this topic is probably discussed all the time, and there are going to be some groans that I opened up another thread on the topic, but if someone could, I would like an awesome response in defense of OSAS. In like manner, if someone could make a rebuttal to OSAS.
I just want to see both sides, clearly presented. Relatives I have discuss this and it can be heated at times, because so much of one's doctrines can be influenced by this one belief. The accusation being, "You always revert to OSAS", but if that is true (OSAS), then there is no systematic reason for the other doctrines to be false (or used as an excuse to not make a rebuttal).
My doctrine is the New Testament only (with Old Testament as back reference). I do not follow man-made doctrines. I am in no way biase to my own personal thoughts or opinions, but have an open mind to what the scriptures are telling me. And there are many scriptures that disprove OSAS. This would have to be a book to mention them all.
For one, the parable of the prodigal son. He was genuinely born of the father, was with the father, then left the father. He did return to the Father before he died. And his father said "My son was dead, but now he is alive." The son did not die physically- that means that while he was away from the father he was spiritually dead.
Lets talk about this kind of dead/alive. God says He is the God of the living, not the dead (spiritually). So if this parable represents God the Father (and it does), that means that if we leave Him, we are spiritually dead- which means we are not in a safe spiritual state, and if we die physically in that state, we have lost our salvation.
Jesus said "Let the dead bury the dead" He meant let the spiritually dead bury the physically dead. Jesus says "I tell you the truth, unless you eat of the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His blood (Lords Supper) you have no life in you." In the physical body, the life is in the blood. The heart continuously pumps the blood through the whole body to keep all tissues alive. In the same way spiritually, the life is in Christ's blood- which gets distributed throughout His whole body (the church). So if you leave the church, you leave Christ's body, and His life-saving blood, and it's only a matter of time before you die (spiritually).
I'll mention one more for now- the Elect (of God) (Christians), and the VERY Elect. What's the difference? Say you have a bullseye. The outer circle represents the worst of humanity- the most evil and depraved people you can imagine. But inside that circle are people who live for pleasure. Their bumper sticker says "Whoever dies with the most toys wins." But inside that circle are people who seem genuinely good. They don't go to church, but they are kind to their neighbor. But inside that circle are Christians. They go to church, but when they walk out the door, they deny God by their lifestyle- these are the Elect of God- those who profess His name.
And you would think that that's where it ends. But inside that circle is the Very Elect of God- Christians that not only go to church and profess His name, they OBEY Him in every day. They are not just Christians on Sundays, but are faithful the whole week, and the whole rest of their lives. Now listen closely, cause I'm going to biblically prove what I'm about to say...
The Elect of God will NOT make it to heaven. Only the VERY Elect of God will make it to heaven...
"For if it is
hard for the righteous to be saved, what hope is there for the ungodly and the sinner?"
And how is it hard for the righteous to be saved if all they have to do is trust that Jesus did everything for them, and they can kick up their feet and relax? How is that "carrying your cross daily" or "working out your salvation with fear and trembling"?
Judas lost his salvation.
King Saul lost his salvation.
The couple who brought a strange fire before the Lord lost their salvation.
You must, must, must remain faithful till the end.