"You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace." (Gal. 5:4)
"Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins." (James 5:19-20)
"For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: 'A dog returns to his own vomit,' and, 'a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.'" (2 Pet. 2:20-22)
QUESTION: Based on these three verses and many others that exist, how can anyone justify the Once Saved, Always Saved doctrine? Isn't it clear that salvation can indeed be lost if the child of God is unfaithful?
I think a really good one is found in the book of Revelation. We see in Revelation chapter 20:12-15 we see people are judged out of the book of life... if their name is not found in the book then they are cast into the lake of fire.
ReplyDeleteSo the saved are obviously written in that book... once written can it be removed? Yes or No?
The answer is Yes because Christ himself in Rev 3:5 states the following.
"He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels."
Its apparent that Christ is stating those who are Christians are written there if they over come there name will remain written there.
However if they do not over come what is the implications? That he will blot out or erase their name out of the book.
So from what we see in Rev 20 our name can be clearly written there in to allow us into eternal life... however it can be removed as easily as it was written... if we can't be lost why would Christ even mention removing anyone's name from the book as he did in Rev 3:5.
Anyway interesting topic, one I have given a lot of thought to.