Five Truths of the Bible….Once Saved Always Saved
Special thanks to Dr. Harlan Betz…..From whom I found this list:
There has been some question as to what my theological leanings are so I wanted to provide some picture into what I believe. I did not create this list but it accurately describes my view of Salvation. The “Theological Puritans” over at the Calvinist web-site Old Truth use their belief system to exclude people from Christian faith. It is a weapon by which they deem who is and is not worthy for “election” into the presence of God. The principles below make up the core of my beliefs but at the end of the day I just think God sent his son to be murdered on a cross and rise 3 days later so that ALL people would have the opportunity to repent and recieve the salvation of Christ. I think God is big enough to save us all. Watch My King to hear the REAL TRUTH!
1.Total Depravity
Man is totally depraved. Every facet of man’s nature and faculties is corrupted by the sin nature. There is nothing in man that can enable him to earn or deserve eternal life. God, in grace, draws all men (John 12:32; Titus 2:11), Man is able to receive and respond to the grace of God (Mt 23:37;John 5:24-25; Eph. 2:8-9). Man is a free moral agent with responsibility to respond to God’s grace (John 1:1-9; 3:16-17). Man can respond to God’s grace and come to Christ and he is called to do so (Rev. 22: 17)!
2. Unmerited Election
God elects a man without regard to that man’s merit! In fact, man cannot merit God’s saving grace! Election is an act of God’s grace (Eph. 1:4-6). Believing is a response to God’s grace. The Bible teaches both God’s sovereignty in choosing and man’s responsibility in believing. The Bible places foreknowledge before predestination (Rom.8:28-30). God desires for all men to be saved (1 Tim. 2:4). God is not desirous that any should perish (2 Pet 3:9). Whosoever believes in Jesus has eternal life (John 3:16)! Men who go to Hell, go there because they are sinners who rejected God’s grace.
3. Limitless Atonement
Christ died for all mankind (Is. 53:6;John 4:14, 42; 1 Tim. 2:3.6; Heb. 2:9; 1John 2:2). His death is sufficient for all, but efficient only for those who believe (John3:15-17; Rom. 4-5).
4. Instrumental Grace
God’s common grace reaches all people and enables them to respond to Him (Mt 5:45; Tit 2:11; Ps. 19; Rom. I). God, in His grace, offers salvation to all. Some resist God’s grace and remain condemned (John 5:40); others respond to His grace and at the very moment they place their faith in Christ, they are made alive and have eternal life. They are saved by grace. (Eph. 2:8.9). Faith and regeneration in Christ are simultaneous (John 1: 11-13; 3: 117).
5. Preservation of The Saints
“Once saved always saved”, a believer is secure because of God’s preservation. If a person has placed his faith in Christ alone for salvation, he is guaranteed eternal life, regardless of what he: thinks, says, or does. If a person is a believer, he should live like it, but if he doesn’t, God will discipline him. He may sin, but he is still saved (Rom, 8:31-39: Heb. 12:1-11).
Filed under: Bartow County, Christianity, Church, Uncategorized
I have been thinking about this idea that man has no role in his own salvation a lot and I just don’t think that washes with the example given to us by Jesus.
What about the Thief on the Cross at Calvary? He recognized his own sin…..Recognized the Divinity of Jesus and asked that Jesus save him.
Jesus saved this man at his request only after he saw the sin in his own life and sought out the creator to redeem him. By the way the grace of Jesus was immediate……and that was pretty important in the case of this thief. No one had to wait to see if it took……Jesus said you will be with ME. The thief played a role in his salvation……maybe the one on the left was elected and therefore did not need to call on the creator for salvation.
By Calvinist standards the Thief on the right would have never had to speak……I don’t think that this is the model Jesus would have us to use.
Grace is a gift given freely by Jesus but it comes through mans ultimate recognition that God is sovereign and the only way to Heaven is through his son Jesus.
I think we have this story for a reason and that is to teach us that Jesus paid the price for our sins so that we could call out to him and ASK him to save us. This may be the most overlooked part of the death and resurrection of Christ.
(Pavich from Old Truth Asks) WHY did the one thief “get it” and the other one didn’t?
I think one thief “got it” because he realized that he was in the presence of God and that he had lived his life in sin. Realizing this he called out to the only one who could do something about it and that was Jesus.
The other thief never turned from his sinful nature and became one of those broken pots Pavich mentioned.
You cannot escape the fact that essentially this thief was the first Easter decision for Christ……One that was recorded and still “counted” today.
It was immediate grace for this man and all who call on the name of Christ. ALL people are eligible for the salvation of God if they repent and turn away from their sinful nature and ask God to save them and they believe all of this in their heart…which no other man can ever truly know by the way.
I celebrate the decision of this thief just like those who raise a hand or walk an isle at churches all over America.
2000 years ago….Easter Weekend Decisions for Christ (1).
Nice treatment Matt.. pretty much agree with what you wrote. I am okay with “once saved always saved” as long as we factor in Matt 7:21-23 & 25:1-13.. the idea is not making a decision but really knowing God and He us.. having a relationship with Him.
Bob,
I agree…..That has been one of the points I have been making all along. I care a whole lot more about my relationship with God than meeting the tenants of man inspired religious doctrine.