Once Saved, Always Saved?
Recently, I struggled with the idea of whether someone could forfeit their salvation. Not "lose" your salvation -- I have never considered the possibility of "sinning enough" to fall out of the reach of God's grace ("My grace is sufficient for you.") -- forfeit. I'm talking about a willful act that says, "God, I don't want your grace, I don't want you, you don't exist."
This struggle began when I heard about people who were once seemingly committed Christians who now claim God doesn't exist... or at least not the God of the bible. I couldn't understand how this could be true. How can someone have the Holy Spirit reside in them, yet they now deny its existance? Did the Spirit leave?
Through the course of this struggle, I found many verses that seemed to support both sides -- however those supporting the idea that you can lose your salvation were easily interpreted in other ways (such as the process of sanctification, Heb 10:19-39; John 15) while the verses supporting the "once saved, always saved" (1 John) doctrine were much more conclusive and abundant.
I have come nearly full circle, back to the belief that you can neither lose nor forfeit your salvation. In fact, God's grace is not only sufficient for all your sins but it is irresistable to those who have experienced it. Hence, the name of this journal and my discovery of the idea of "irresistible grace."
I also came to the hard conclusion that there are many people out there who have been raised in the bible belt, believing they are a Christian -- evening claiming to "love God," yet they still "walk in darkness." (1 Jn 2:9; 1 Jn 4:20) They have accepted a false gospel of works/rules or have willfully ignored what God says in scripture altogether (while still carrying the label of Christ) in order to hold on to their lifestyle. (Mt 10:39) Is that you?
1 John 2:19 says, "For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed than none of them belonged to us." John referred to them as liars. Scripture says to "test our salvation" and I think it's high time many in the church do so. There's no shame in admitting you need a savior -- but eternal consequences for lying to yourself, your friends and your God.
This struggle began when I heard about people who were once seemingly committed Christians who now claim God doesn't exist... or at least not the God of the bible. I couldn't understand how this could be true. How can someone have the Holy Spirit reside in them, yet they now deny its existance? Did the Spirit leave?
Through the course of this struggle, I found many verses that seemed to support both sides -- however those supporting the idea that you can lose your salvation were easily interpreted in other ways (such as the process of sanctification, Heb 10:19-39; John 15) while the verses supporting the "once saved, always saved" (1 John) doctrine were much more conclusive and abundant.
I have come nearly full circle, back to the belief that you can neither lose nor forfeit your salvation. In fact, God's grace is not only sufficient for all your sins but it is irresistable to those who have experienced it. Hence, the name of this journal and my discovery of the idea of "irresistible grace."
I also came to the hard conclusion that there are many people out there who have been raised in the bible belt, believing they are a Christian -- evening claiming to "love God," yet they still "walk in darkness." (1 Jn 2:9; 1 Jn 4:20) They have accepted a false gospel of works/rules or have willfully ignored what God says in scripture altogether (while still carrying the label of Christ) in order to hold on to their lifestyle. (Mt 10:39) Is that you?
1 John 2:19 says, "For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed than none of them belonged to us." John referred to them as liars. Scripture says to "test our salvation" and I think it's high time many in the church do so. There's no shame in admitting you need a savior -- but eternal consequences for lying to yourself, your friends and your God.
posted by Brad at 10:27 PM
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